Svelte and user-friendly interfaces that make digital recording a snap.
Putting together a simple recording rig that can yield stellar tracks has never been easier, more affordable, and less space-hoggish. WeĆ¢ā¬ā¢ve rounded up a few interfaces that can help transfer your ideas between instrument and computer.
Scarlet Solo
A sleek, light, USB-powered interface with phantom power thatās small enough to fit in a gigbag or backpack and tough enough for travel.
AudioBox iTwo
This portable, bus-powered USB 2.0 interface for iPad audio and MIDI has a pair of combo mic/line/instrument inputs with class-A mic preamps.
UR12
A compact, powerful, and portable interface featuring D-PRE mic preamps, 24-bit/192 kHz converters, and a loopback function for easy live-internet recording.
UH-7000
This 4-channel pro-level USB mic preamp/audio interface was designed for low noise and high-quality audio. It resides in a rugged, half-rack-sized enclosure.
M-Track Plus
This compact, user-friendly bus-powered USB interface accommodates most input sources. It comes bundled with light versions of Cubase, Ableton Live, and Waves Audio plug-ins.
Apollo Twin Solo
This 2x6 Mac Thunderbolt audio interface allows seamless tracking though Universal Audioās Realtime UAD plug-in processing.
Studio Connect Lightning
This audio/MIDI interface for iPad features a front-panel stereo headphone/monitor jack.
Griffin Technology Introduces StudioConnect with Lightning, GuitarConnect Pro, GuitarConnect Cable and MicConnect
StudioConnect with Lightning is Griffinās popular all-in-one audio interface for music creation on the iPad, now compatible with the new fourth generation iPad and iPad mini.
Nashville, TN (July 10, 2013) ā Griffin Technology, one of the world's foremost creators of accessories for home, mobile and personal technology, is increasing its presence in the music products industry with the introduction of several new accessories for Apple iOS at Summer NAMM 2013.
These new productsāStudioConnect with Lightning, GuitarConnect Pro, GuitarConnect Cable and MicConnectāwill inspire a new breed of musician that wants to practice, record and perform his or her music anywhere, using the power of an Apple iPad, iPod or iPhone.
āGarageBand and other computer recording programs have become immensely popular with musicians who want to create studio quality tracks on the go, and at any time,ā says Ethan Opelt, Line Manager of Griffinās Audio category. āOur new Apple iOS music accessories offer easy connectivity so artists can capture and build on their ideas whenever inspiration strikes.ā
StudioConnect with Lightning is Griffinās popular all-in-one audio interface for music creation on the iPad, now compatible with the new fourth generation iPad and iPad mini. In one compact device, StudioConnect provides great-sounding plug-and-play convenience for guitars, stereo audio, MIDI-In/Out along with a Lightning charging dock. It also features line-level RCA stereo output and stereo headphone output with separate volume control.
StudioConnect with Lightning
The streamlined StudioConnect interface features Audio In that enables users to plug in an instrument through a mono 1/4ā jack, or connect a mixer via the stereo 1/8ā jack. Audio Out includes left and right line-level RCA jacks. The 1/8ā stereo headphone jack, with its dedicated volume knob, allows for monitoring. Standard 5-pin MIDI In and Out ports accept a sequencer, patch bay or other MIDI gear, allowing the iPad and MIDI apps to act as a MIDI controller. The updated StudioConnect with Lightning is now available for $149.99 MSRP.
GuitarConnect Pro solves the connectivity problem between a guitar and an iPad, iPhone or Mac computer in one convenient 1/4ā instrument jack connector. Simple and intuitive, GuitarConnect Pro converts a guitarās analog signal into a 100% digital connection so users can play, record and even multitrack in 24 bit, 48kHz quality. GuitarConnect Pro features a built-in gain control wheel allowing musicians to easily adjust the strength of the instrumentās input signal. Offering multi-compatibility between Mac OS X and iOS, GuitarConnect Pro comes with three detachable cables, including the new Lightning Connector, a traditional 30-pin Dock Connector and a USB Connector. GuitarConnect Pro will be available late July 2013 for $99.99 MSRP.
GuitarConnect Pro
Similarly, Griffinās GuitarConnect Cable lets musicians hear their guitar as they play through effects apps on an iOS device. A 1/4ā jack plugs into a guitar or bass, a 1/8ā plug plugs into an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, while another attached 1/8ā jack accommodates a pair of headphones for monitoring. Musicians can perform along with pre-recorded tracks or effects loops, such as Appleās GarageBand and most Core Audio apps, in complete silence. GuitarConnect Cable is available now for $29.99 MSRP.
GuitarConnect Cable
Great for performance, practice or recording, Griffinās new MicConnect is an easy-to-use, battery-powered microphone interface for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. An XLR input on one end is used to connect a microphone, and a 1/8ā audio cable on the other end plugs into the iOS deviceās headphone jack, allowing for the recording of pristine vocal tracks. MicConnectās +48V Phantom power accommodates both condenser and dynamic microphones for the highest quality recording. In addition to its use with microphones, MicConnect also makes it possible to record amplifiers, acoustic instruments and other music-making tools right into GarageBand. MicConnect is now available for $39.99 MSRP.
For more information:
Griffin
Griffin GuitarConnect Pro, Line 6 Mobile In, RapcoHorizon i-JAM 3-n-1, Tascam iXZ, Traveler Guitar MI-10, Griffin StompBox, IK Multimedia iRig STOMP, Blue Mikey Digital, and Tascam iM2X
One of the benefits of using recording interfaces and apps for iPhone and iPad is that they allow you to quickly lay down an melody or riff at a moment's notice without having to fumble around with setting up an entire recording rig. For most musicians the best musical ideas often pop into your head without warning, and losing that inspiration after 10 minutes of amp tweaking and mic placement can be extremely frustrating. And the absence of those hassles makes iOS guitar accessories attractive and useful for players who spend a lot of time on the road and away from their home studios.
We've taken a look at some of the most exciting new devices on the marketāincluding interfaces (Griffin GuitarConnect Pro, Line 6 Mobile In, RapcoHorizon i-JAM 3-n-1, Tascam iXZ, Traveler MI-10), controllers (IK Multimedia iRig STOMP, Griffin StompBox) and microphones (Blue Mikey Digital, Tascam iM2X)āand tested their durability, sound quality, and whether they're really worth your hard-earned dollars.
Ratings
Pros:
Rugged build quality. Simple operation. Low latency, click-free recording.
Cons:
Pricey. Canāt charge the iPad and use the interface simultaneously.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build:
Value:
Street:
$79.99
Griffin Technology
griffintechnology.com
Griffin has been a player in the electronics accessories business for a long timeāeven when the iPhoneās ancestor Newton PDA was still kicking around. So they know a thing or two about designing rugged accessories for portable devices. The GuitarConnect Pro showcases their eye for detail with a slender, weighty and rubber-footed enclosure, single Ā¼" input jack, input gain knob and 30-pin connector for low-latency digital tracking (as of press time, Griffin has not announced a Lightning jack-compatible version). The connection to the dock gives the interface the ability to help track 24-bit sound at 48 kHz, and pull power from the connected Apple device. Sadly, thereās no USB through-put jack to charge the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch being used, so youāll need to keep an eye on the deviceās battery level while youāre recording.
As far as simple iOS interfaces go, the Guitar Connect Pro is one of the best on the market. It tracks the instrumentās signal perfectly, and its weighty build and thick rubber pad keep it from sliding across the table. I experienced no latency issues when tracking with GarageBand, and the appās built-in modeling seemed to have extra sparkle and clarity with the interface than with most of the others in this roundup. Unfortunately, my iPad 2ās battery started to die while I was in the middle of a recording session, and I had to disconnect the cable to charge the tablet. A USB-through jack for simultaneous charging on the Guitar Connect Pro would have prevented that inspiration-killing moment.
Ratings
Pros:
Low latency. Highly portable. Audio quality with Mobile POD app is a cut above the rest.
Cons:
No USB-through jack for charging while being used. Canāt record Mobile POD tones into other appsāor within Mobile POD itselfāto create new songs or jot down ideas.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build:
Value:
Street:
$79.99
Line 6
line6.com
At half the length of a credit card, the Mobile In is one of the more portable devices in this roundup. It has no physical controls, and serves only as a barebones interface for apps that use Line 6ās CoreAudio technology (such as Mobile POD) via an included 1/8" to Ā¼" cable. The unit generates 24-bit/48kHz audio with a wide 110dB dynamic range. Latency is always a big concern when working with digital conversion and processing, so Line 6 designed the Mobile In to plug directly into the 30-pin jack of an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. This unfortunately leaves the iPhone 5, iPad Mini and the newest generation of iPads out in the cold due to their newer Lightning cable connections, but thereās always the possibility that Line 6 will introduce a Lightning-compatible version in the near future. And hopefully theyāll address the its lack of a USB-through jack for charging while in use, because resource-intense apps such as Mobile In and GarageBand can speed up battery drain quite a bit.
The Mobile In interfaces smoothly with the Mobile POD, displaying super-low latency, great dynamics with amp models and rock-solid stability. The Mobile POD app has a whopping 64 models including some of the most hallowed amps, cabs, and effects in history, and theyāre as tweakable as those on bigger PODs. The sound quality and crispness of the amp models is exceptional, and theyāre often near-dead ringers for the same models in full-sized PODs and Gearbox counterparts. Unfortunately, thereās really no way to record your own ideas with it through GarageBand or any other iOS DAW app. You can record directly to GarageBand with the Mobile In interface, but you canāt output the appās tones to the GarageBand app, nor can you record them in Mobile POD and paste them elsewhere. Itās downright frustrating, and limits the potential of what could be an extremely useful recording tool. And for the price it commands, it should offer this kind of basic functionality.