I too was a bit of a cynic when it came to the iPad. What would I use it for? Do I really need one? Well, we've got our early iPad delivery, and I've been putting some of the audio software through its paces, starting with Saitara's AC-7 DAW controller.
There'll be a full review over the next 24 hours, but as it's a bit fiddly to get AC-7 Pro up and running with Logic, here's a getting started guide.....
Installing the ap on the iPad is as simple as ever, but once you open AC-7, you'll quickly realise there's no setup menu - everything else has to be done from the computer.
Edit: we've heard from the guys at Saitara, and they recommend setting up a private network between your Mac and the iPad. Given it a try, and it's a much more stable option. This is easy:
Step 1: Go to System Preferences> Sharing
Step 2: Turn on internet sharing (From Airport)
Step 3: From the Airport menu bar, create a Network
Step 4: Give the network a name
Step 5: Open the iPad WiFi settings, and choose your new network
That's it, your network is ready. OK, you won't be able to use wireless internet at the same time, but let's face it, you should be concentrating on mixing...
You'll need a couple of applications installed on the Mac, starting with
DSMI Server for OSX (this is confusingly called DS MIDIwi-fi).
This allows you to send MIDI from one device to another over W--Fi, without having to set up a LAN. Once you open the ap, DS MIDIWi-fi appears as a MIDI port.
Open up Logic, and from Preferences, go to Control Surfaces Setup
Select a New Install, and select a new Mackie Control, and press Add
Next, set the Out Port and Input to DSMIDIWiFi
Open up the AC-7 ap on your iPad, and you're up and running. It can be a bit buggy, so try moving a few faders up and down, as well as moving along banks of faders (as a good indicator, the play button on AC-7 should glow green when the sequence is playing).
Trouble is, there is currently no way to see the Logic track names on the iPad. For this, you'll need
MIDIPipe installed, and
this .mpmi file (MIDIPipe setup file).
Run the AC-7 ProMC.mpmi file, and change the Out Port in the Logic Control surface setup to MidiPipe Input 1
That's it - you're up and running.
We'll do a proper review over the next couple of day, so we'll see you back here soon!
