How to Use Kronos, iPad Air2 and Mac Laptop using Pro Tools?

[lluvaas]

I recently purchased a new iPad and I got the lightning cable as well as the usb cable to connect to the laptop, or kronos. I wanted to see if I could record an audio, or midi track into Pro Tools using an iPad app as an instrument. I am getting no sound into PT's, so I know I'm doing something wrong. I can't find info on the web that relates to this and wonder if you might know what I should do. I also want to use the Kronos with the iPad not to record onto the iPad, but play iPad audio apps on the workstation.

[SanderXpander]

In order to use an iPad app aa an instrument you have to make the iPad the host computer, so you will need Apple's "camera kit" USB adapter to hook up the lightning connector on the iPad side to the squarish USB connector on the Kronos. You don't say how you've hooked up the Kronos to the Macbook but there can be only one host computer so you can't use USB. If you have a separate interface you can hook up the Kronos audio outputs to the interface inputs.

Finally, make sure in the global menu the USB ins are directed to whatever outputs you like (probably Main L/R). Good luck!

[lluvaas]

I tried hooking up the iPad with the lightning connection and USB to the Kronos. The Kronos's USB cable is connected to a USB Hub which is connected to my MacBook Pro. What I want to do is use the iPad to record a track into my DAW.

So, I connected the iPad to the Kronos and the Kronos is connected to the computer. Then I went to Pro Tools and created both a midi track and an audio track. I tried recording from Thumbjam on the iPad to the audio track 1st and got no recording and then the midi track and got the same. So I'm stumped.

[SanderXpander]

Like I said, to use the iPad as an instrument you need to use the iPad as a host computer, hooked up to the single square USB port on the Kronos. Essentially the Kronos becomes the audio and midi interface for your iPad. In order to use the Kronos as an audio interface for your Macbook you ALSO need to make the MacBook the host computer, using the single square USB port on the Kronos. You can't do both at the same time.

[lluvaas]

Thanks Sander. I tried to connect the IPad to the Kronos as you mention here, but I get no sound from the iPad. I do get the piano from the kronos. So, I'm doing something wrong and would so appreciate getting someone to tell me what to do. I already have the kronos set up with my laptop. I record from the Kronos into Pro Tools. Are you saying I should have the kronos only connected to the iPad? and if so, does that mean I have to export to pro tools after recording? I was hoping there was a way to record directly into Pro Tools using the iPad.
So there are two issues here: how to integrate the iPad with the Kronos so that I can hear what I'm playing with iPad apps and how to use it potentially with Pro Tools.

[SanderXpander]

Again, you can only use one or the other, because you need to use the same USB port on the Kronos and it can only have one host computer in the equation - either the iPad or the MacBook.

Also, like I said, make sure to check in the global menu on the Kronos that you have the USB inputs enabled and assigned to an output (e.g. Main L/R).

[lluvaas]

Okay and thanks I'll try this, but is there a way to use the iPad to record into Pro Tools? that's the output I want in the end.

[SanderXpander]

Not with your current setup. You would need an audio interface for your MacBook (so you can use the Kronos USB connection with the iPad) or an audio/midi interface for your iPad (so you can use the Kronos USB connection with your Macbook).

[lluvaas]

I use Scarlett Focusrite as my audio interface when recording from the Kronos to my laptop. How would I use the iPad then? I would need a different connection since the interface doesn't use usb.

[SanderXpander]

The Scarlett has audio ins. Connect the main Kronos audio outputs to the Scarlett inputs. Make sure you can record just the Kronos. Now use the Apple Camera Connection Kit USB/Lightning adapter along with a regular A-to-B USB cable to hook up the iPad to the Kronos' single square-ish USB port (not one of the two flat ones). Open the synth app on your iPad. In the Kronos global/audio inputs menu, route the USB L/R to the main L/R outputs and make sure the level faders are up. This will make sure incoming audio from the iPad passes through the Kronos and comes out of the main outputs.

[lluvaas]

Thanks and I will try this. The kronos is always plugged into the interface. The issue is mainly how to get the iPad recordings into my DAW. I am having trouble finding support materials for this.

[lluvaas]

Thank you so much for your help! I now can record into Pro Tools from the kronos using Thumbjam as an example app on the iPad. The only other thing I wonder about is: in the Audio Setup/BGlobal: what about the other functions? Bus Select-Imput 1 and 2, FX Control Bus, the Sends? I assume all I change is the USB connections here? Thanks again!

[lluvaas]

One more thing: I'm hearing the piano from the kronos a little with the samples from the iPad and I'm not sure how to eliminate that. Sorry for all the questions, but I'm almost totally there! Thanks!

[SanderXpander]

Quite a few ways to do it. Easieast is probably to set the control surface to the timbre/track and mute the first (and/or second) oscillator/Exi by hitting the first (two?) mute switches.

EDIT:
You could even save this state as your "iPad program". In the Program audio in/sampling tab uncheck the box "use global setting" and route the USB ins to Main L/R like you did before in the global audio menu. Now in the global audio menu, remove that routing. This means that for every generic sound the iPad will be muted, but when you select your "iPad program" suddenly the iPad will pass sound through the Kronos.

[lluvaas]

Thanks so much! I'll try this. You've been such a help!!