April 24, 2010

iPad Camera Connection Kit as a Digital Audio Interface

Filed under: Podcasts — Victor Cajiao @ 6:54 am
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I have been experimenting with the new iPad Camera Connection Kit and today I hit the mother load as an audio geek.  I wanted a way to be able to put clean high quality audio into my iPad with more than just a 1/8 inch jack headphone\mic combination. Today I experimented with this by using a Plantronics USB to 1/8 mic input that came with a PLANTRONICS .AUDIO 650 USB  Multimedia Stereo Headset($33.98U.S.). This  USB dongle that comes with the headset is in essence a sound card (like a Griffin iMic) .  I plug this USB \audio converter  into the iPad, and take stereo out of  the Mackie ONYX 1220 mixers main outputs and turn on the Bias iProRecorder app for iPhone on the iPad.

Much to my surprise, I’m able to record out of the Mackie board with very high quality (please listen to the audio on this post). There fore able to use the iPad as a full on digital recorder. This is huge as if I use something like the Griffin iMic (or potentially another USB sound card, I can use the iPad as my recorder in the field etc. I did not alter the sound in any way (you will hear some hiss) and I did convert the 44.1Khz WAV recording to mp3. This alone makes the iPad Camera Connection Kit worth the price $29 U.S., and it keeps reminding me that when Apple says the iPad is Magic… well there maybe something to that.

 

Update: I also tried to plug in a Blue Snow Flake and a Samsom COU1 USB mic, using another iPad audio application. Both worked perfectly well. Sounds like this is baked in. I can’t tell you if it’s on purpose or not.

 

 

 

 

 

IPad being used as a digital interface with the iPad Camera connector Kit

IPad being used as a digital interface with the iPad Camera connector Kit

 

 

 

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  • Anonymous

    Now, let’s just hope there’s a way for developers to use the built in headphones out and a soundcard out via the Camera Connection Kit simultaneously… Then DJ apps can let you cue/audition the song you’re not currently playing for example… That would seal the deal for me.

  • Anonymous

    Excellent. :)

  • Anonymous

    Absolutely it should work

  • Anonymous

    I’m wiling to bet it will

  • Anonymous

    Yes the Bias app worked normally it was just using the USB mic or soundcard instead of built in.

  • Anonymous

    All features on the app worked normally. You can use the SnowFlake or I think any USB or most cards.

  • Anonymous

    This is great news. I’m expecting my 3G iPad to arrive on Friday. I already have the iPad Camera Connection Kit in hand and will be resting it out with my Blue Microphone Yeti USB mic. Your audio sounds great. Looks like the iPad will make a great mobile recording device in addition to all the other cool stuff it does. Thanks for posting this.

  • Anonymous

    Great news – I had been looking for comments about the connection kit and the Blue Snowflake as I’ve got one. Haven’t got my ipad yet (in the UK) but very pleased to hear it works. What sort of options do we get to control the input gain ? Do input gain controls on recording apps (I’m thinking of Multitrack from Harmonic Dog specifically) work ?

  • Anonymous

    Were you able to record in stereo using the Bias App? (Enable stereo recording in the app prefences in the control panel)…

  • Anonymous

    Thats great news! Thanks for checking out!nWould be interesting if it works with my m-Audio prokeys sono 61…

  • Anonymous

    I agree with Victor. In my previous testing it cuts the audio input/output to the usb connected audio interface.

  • Anonymous

    Yes I believe the internal mic does turn off

  • Anonymous

    Hi Victor – You have no idea how glad I am that I found your site. I have been using FiRe with an ipod touch and an Alesis protrack before the mixer. I understand the idea of using the DSP from the Plantronics – RIght now if I run FiRe on the Ipad the internal mic works and I can get it to record. If I connect the Plantronics to the camera adapter etc, do you know if the internal mic will turn off? Thank yournWayne

  • Anonymous

    Glad to hear it

  • Anonymous

    thanks- Victor a great help- i had tried about 6 apps and none had worked (inc blue fire) but just tried Fire and it works.nnhave had universal success with the Blue Yeti and a Zoom H2 in usb mode.nnagain many thanksnGraeme

  • Anonymous

    Iphone app on the iPad called FIRE

  • Anonymous

    Hi Victornyou mentioned you had success with the blue snowflake- which app did you find success with as you don’t mention it by namenthanksnGraeme

  • Anonymous

    You are right! it really works!

  • Anonymous

    Great post, really enjoyed this article, many thanks for posting this.

  • Anonymous

    I’m with you on this, since both the input and output work, hopefully the developers can get creative.

  • Anonymous

    Now, let’s just hope there’s a way for developers to use the built in headphones out and a soundcard out via the Camera Connection Kit simultaneously… Then DJ apps can let you cue/audition the song you’re not currently playing for example… That would seal the deal for me.

  • Anonymous

    Excellent. :)

  • Anonymous

    Absolutely it should work

  • Anonymous

    I’m wiling to bet it will

  • Anonymous

    Yes the Bias app worked normally it was just using the USB mic or soundcard instead of built in.

  • Anonymous

    All features on the app worked normally. You can use the SnowFlake or I think any USB or most cards.

  • Anonymous

    This is great news. I’m expecting my 3G iPad to arrive on Friday. I already have the iPad Camera Connection Kit in hand and will be resting it out with my Blue Microphone Yeti USB mic. Your audio sounds great. Looks like the iPad will make a great mobile recording device in addition to all the other cool stuff it does. Thanks for posting this.

  • Anonymous

    Great news – I had been looking for comments about the connection kit and the Blue Snowflake as I’ve got one. Haven’t got my ipad yet (in the UK) but very pleased to hear it works. What sort of options do we get to control the input gain ? Do input gain controls on recording apps (I’m thinking of Multitrack from Harmonic Dog specifically) work ?

  • Anonymous

    Were you able to record in stereo using the Bias App? (Enable stereo recording in the app prefences in the control panel)…

  • http://lutheranlogomaniac.com Todd Peperkorn

    So this means I should be able to use my Snowball USB mic directly on the iPad? SWEET!

  • http://martymcpadden.com martymcpadden

    This is great news. I'm expecting my 3G iPad to arrive on Friday. I already have the iPad Camera Connection Kit in hand and will be resting it out with my Blue Microphone Yeti USB mic. Your audio sounds great. Looks like the iPad will make a great mobile recording device in addition to all the other cool stuff it does. Thanks for posting this.

  • http://typicalmacuser.com typicalmacuser

    All features on the app worked normally. You can use the SnowFlake or I think any USB or most cards.

  • http://typicalmacuser.com typicalmacuser

    Yes the Bias app worked normally it was just using the USB mic or soundcard instead of built in.

  • http://typicalmacuser.com typicalmacuser

    I'm wiling to bet it will

  • http://typicalmacuser.com typicalmacuser

    Absolutely it should work

  • rachael

    Excellent. :)

  • Vlad

    Now, let's just hope there's a way for developers to use the built in headphones out and a soundcard out via the Camera Connection Kit simultaneously… Then DJ apps can let you cue/audition the song you're not currently playing for example… That would seal the deal for me.

  • http://typicalmacuser.com typicalmacuser

    I'm with you on this, since both the input and output work, hopefully the developers can get creative.

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  • http://iphoneawareness.com/firmware/ iphone firmware

    Great post, really enjoyed this article, many thanks for posting this.

  • http://www.ipadaccessoriespro.com iPad Accessories

    You are right! it really works!

  • Graeme

    Hi Victor
    you mentioned you had success with the blue snowflake- which app did you find success with as you don't mention it by name
    thanks
    Graeme

  • http://typicalmacuser.com typicalmacuser

    Iphone app on the iPad called FIRE

  • Graeme

    thanks- Victor a great help- i had tried about 6 apps and none had worked (inc blue fire) but just tried Fire and it works.

    have had universal success with the Blue Yeti and a Zoom H2 in usb mode.

    again many thanks
    Graeme

  • http://typicalmacuser.com typicalmacuser

    Glad to hear it

  • Wayne

    Hi Victor – You have no idea how glad I am that I found your site. I have been using FiRe with an ipod touch and an Alesis protrack before the mixer. I understand the idea of using the DSP from the Plantronics – RIght now if I run FiRe on the Ipad the internal mic works and I can get it to record. If I connect the Plantronics to the camera adapter etc, do you know if the internal mic will turn off? Thank you
    Wayne

  • http://typicalmacuser.com typicalmacuser

    Yes I believe the internal mic does turn off

  • http://typicalmacuser.com Anonymous

    Yes I believe the internal mic does turn off

  • http://www.georgestarcher.com georgestarcher

    I agree with Victor. In my previous testing it cuts the audio input/output to the usb connected audio interface.

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