Using Korg (and other) apps on 1st Gen iPad

Yoa · Post by **Yoa** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:17 pm

Hi all,

So, before I start, I should probably say I'm an Android guy, but I can't simply ignore the fact that there are a LOT of great music apps for iPad. However, not being able to buy the latest and greatest iPad, I want to know: are most apps backwards compatible?

1st gen iPads are going on eBay for next to nothing (relatively speaking), and so I'm thinking that if I got one I might be able to use it as a studio tablet and use, say, the Korg and Moog apps, among others. It'd also be useful as a controller using TouchOsc or Lemur.

Thanks!

KaossLad · Post by **KaossLad** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:29 pm

I have iElectribe, iMs20, iPolysix, iKaossilator, Filtatron and Animoog

They all work fine with my ipad1 except iPolysix.
And since the last Animoog update it actually has some problems now too. virtual midi no longer works, can't use the 4 track recorder and i have occasional memory problems causing Animoog to crash.

There are a bunch of apps that work fine with ipad1 right now, the problem is they get updated. The trend is to add more to make use of the ipad 3 and 4 extra processing power. Can't blame them and it is a good thing, but in some cases it leaves the ipad1 in the dust. There are already some apps that will not work at all with ipad1. Others don't work that well.
Audulus, Audiobus, virtual midi with a lot of apps for example will not work.

When it comes to music apps you want extra stability not less which is why i've been thinking about finally upgrading to an ipad3. I don't like having limits on what i can do. And i don't like not being able to buy the latest app because my ipad can't handle it.

I guess it depends on what you want to do. Like i said those korg and moog apps for the most part work close to perfectly. But i'm not sure it is guaranteed they always will. I wouldn't recommend getting one at this point. I'd try to find a cheap ipad2 (i've seen them almost as low as an ipad1). Then again if you can get an ipad 1 for next to nothing it's not like it won't be useful. Just limited (and possibly unstable)

Yoa · Post by **Yoa** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 6:27 pm

But if it was never connected to the internet, it won't update and I'd be okay. I'll probably get an iPad2 just so that it can at least somewhat handle the latest updates. I'll get the apps I want and then disconnect it from the internet. Or, disable updating, if you can do that with Apple. Thank you!

KaossLad · Post by **KaossLad** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 7:21 pm

You don't have to update at all actually. Even when connected they don't update automatically. So if the apps in their current state do what you want then you're happy. and some will update fine anyway.
But at this point you won't be able to use audiobus with any of them which can be pretty useful. like i said ipolysix is very limited in what you can do on a ipad1 already.

I still think my ipad1 is awesome with all it can do, but i can see that in the future i'm going to need more. You might not.

Ideally you try one out and see if it does what you want.

Yoa · Post by **Yoa** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:44 pm

I do like the idea of audiobus, but I could also record it and use an interface to playback the sound through another instrument. I'm used to patching my studio together like that

I guess the only way to tell would be to get one and try it, but I don't see anyone with an iPad 1, let alone anyone with one that's willing to let me use it. I also won't be used to the limiting, but the price tag of a new one is a bit more limiting, I'd say!

Thank you.

Phabius · Post by **Phabius** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 3:37 pm

I would consider saving a little more money and get the iPad 4 if you can.
It has two times the processing speed of the iPad3, and I believe that from now on it will be very important, as new apps are being released and they will require more and more processing power (which is great because they're getting better quality).

I have the iPad 3 and all Korg Apps. They all work very well, but when you start adding things with Audiobus, you can have some problems, depending on the apps that are running together.

Auria, the most powerful DAW for iOS is about to get Audiobus compatibility.
I believe we're gonna need more power to run complex apps like Korg's with this system.

Yoa · Post by **Yoa** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 3:42 pm

Mmm, maybe. It's just that I can think of a TON of ways to spend that kind of cash that are more useful, y'know? $150 for a 1st gen doesn't seem so bad, but $800+? I can get some nice rack stuff with that, mate! haha

KaossLad · Post by **KaossLad** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:29 pm

yeah anything over $500 is a little crazy imo. you still have to buy the actual software that does the cool stuff.

maybe $150 for a first gen is a good idea. you try your favorite apps out and if you don't like how far you can go (or can't go) then you can always sell it for at least $100 i would think. And you can transfer all your content to a new ipad if you decided to upgrade.

the price of a new ipad is way too high (imo again). personally i would never spend $800 or $700 on one. What's crazier is most people who do spend that money end up playing angry birds and checking their email. At least the music apps available almost justify spending that money.

Yoa · Post by **Yoa** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:37 pm

I think I'd buy one for $150 or less and just keep it. If nothing else the battery life is epic and it works well as just a general tablet (and, seeing as how my Acer tab broke down, an iPad would be a fair replacement until it's fixed).

The thing with Apple is that, well, they are Apple. They look cool and do a fair amount of in-house fabrication, not to mention that if you don't have one you're obviously not popular (just going by how my high school seemed to be). I literally only want it for Korg's stuff and maybe the AniMoog. I'm sure there are other useful instruments and tools too, but I'll find those in time. I don't need a workstation (recorder, multi-track, sequencing, audiobus, etc.) because it'll be in my studio, which has an EIE coming and is running Live.

KaossLad · Post by **KaossLad** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:23 pm

you might not, but i had animoog crash on me because of ipad1 memory issues (they are looking into it) and ipolysix (think i mentioned) won't run smoothly.
But like you said, at $150 it's still a good tablet (better than most androids i would think), can email, browse, and use most kickass music apps.

Yoa · Post by **Yoa** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:37 am

Hm. I guess the real only way to know is to try it, eh?

KaossLad wrote:better than most androids i would think

Oh ye of little faith. Androids are kinda like pre-jailbroken iOSs, just with a slightly smaller market (but growing rapidly) and better service.

El Nino · Post by **El Nino** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:51 pm

Ipad 1 is seriously slow even for watching youtube and general internet stuff. Even typing is slow. Its like an old skool phone with a big screen.

ipad 2 has no problem running the korg apps, not sure about using audiobus and having them all open at the same time though.

If you want just a cheap touchscreen portable device for synth/sequencer android tablet like nexus is pretty powerful and the software called sunvox is seriously awesome software. But then if you want to emulate korg synths and drum machines you cant do it with android yet, although korg will be makig stuff for android in future (miselu, is an anroid tab with a midi keyboar attached, specifically for music and korg will be releasing stuff for that so i guess they will also release for other android tablets, i think they will sort out the latency pretty soon)

Sunvox is awesome man, check it out. Way better than the korg apps once you get into it you can make some crazy good sounds, building them up from scratch. Its not just some toy synth thing it really is super sweet.

If i was you id spend the money on google nexus quad core tablet...ipad1 would be wasting your money now that 4 and mini is already here. Also if you are used to android, i should say that on ipad, you have to go through crazy hassle just to access directory structure so that you can make folders to organise your samples and stuff and you must use itues file sharing which is lame compaed to android wher you can just naturally creae any diretctory structure you want and drag and drop like its a hard drive...

Sorry fr my ramblings...hope that helps

Yoa · Post by **Yoa** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:43 am

I have an Iconia Tab, but even with it being sent away for repairs I'd never replace it with an Apple. That's almost grounds for death, if you ask me. Sunvox is pretty neat, but literally half of my studio is KORG. And, I already have it for PC

I literally want an iPad mainly to play the KORG apps, maybe the AniMOOG, and anything else I find interesting.

I know about the Apple hassles, and the possible problems they can cause (and I especially hate how you are tied to Apple, whereas Androids are completely liberated), but I think I can risk it for KORG. However, if you open an iPad as a folder in Windows, you can do whatever you want to it -- even install dev apps, which is a good way to get around Apple's BS.

Don't get me wrong, I like Apple and Android deevices all the same, but I'd prefer the liberation of Android over the popularity of Apple. Besides, it's just something to throw in the studio, the one I get will probably have a cracked screen and need a wipe anyway

Pepperpotty · Post by **Pepperpotty** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:28 am

I own the first iPad and whilst I love it, if I had to buy another one I would buy at least an iPad 2. I find that some apps lag on the iPad and some crash at really annoying times. I have one music app which is a sort of piano game and it really struggles with that.

I would definitely try and stretch to an iPad 2 if you can as it will last you a lot longer and be more cost effective in the long run.

El Nino · Post by **El Nino** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 5:33 pm

@ Yoa,

Hey dude, would you mind telling me how you open an iPad as a folder in Windows. I thought it was only possible using itunes. That would be insanely useful for me.