A geek live music investor report. Observations of a new MIDI USB gadget investment.
But Why?
I am using an iPad as a fundamental controller when performing live. Photos below. On stage the iPad is supplemented with hardware controllers. The iPad and my custom built control interfaces are critical elements for getting good sound, doing sudden improvisation, and in general clueless messing up and having fun because I have (theoretically) control.
Until now, the iPad (TouchOSC) has been talking to the laptop (Live via Osculator) via wireless networking. Yes, wireless networking! Also known as: A bloody f*#*ing nightmare.
I've performed or worked in hundreds of venues, rooms, places over the last two years. Statistically, in 40% of these places, I had terrible problems with the wireless networking. Too often and too much to be accidental or just freak situations. I've concluded, wireless networking are not trustworthy on the road. Maybe, theoretically in controlled environments.
And even when it DID work, there were always dropouts; not enough to be critical, but enough to be annoying. Especially when dropping note-off's, resulting in hung notes (the inevitable release of a pressed key is not transmitted so the note sounds forever or until you buy a new computer).
For some time this autumn I considered giving up custom touch-based interfaces. But with the recent
Lemur release, I just can't give up the future. So I'm trying a physical solution. The
iConnectivity iConnectMIDI.
It creates a cable connection from the iPad to the laptop. Barbaric, I know.
The Un-Box
It's a thing! It arrived by courier! I signed my name with a stylus!
It must be honored by proper un-boxement procedure and documentation.
The Happy Notes
It Just Works. And rather splendidly. I hooked it up and it just worked and that's it. No instructions, no WTFs, no issues. There's a slight latency compared to physical controllers, but I gladly enjoy those milliseconds for custom interfaces with NULL LOSS OF SIGNAL NEVER EVER AGAIN: If I touch it, it happens.
Possibilities. Right now, I'm simply using it to send MIDI signals from the Lemur app on iPad to the laptop. The box can do a lot more, which I'm not utilizing, too busy concentrating on album production. But look forward to more gadget play when album is finished.
Ease Of Connectivity. A comparison:
| Wireless |
iConnect Midi
|
- Wake up laptop
- Create network
- Create password
- Wake up iPad
- Preferences App
- Wi-fi
- Join Device Network
- Enter password
- Wait 30 sec for IP hook
- Controller App, refresh connection
- PLAY
|
- Wake up laptop
- Wake up iPad
- PLAY
|
This isn't so bad if you're only in a studio all the time and this routine is done maybe once or twice. But when you have to perform these start-up routines multiple times each day, and it then often does not work, works somewhat, needs a restart, drops connection, has connection but doesn't talk, HAD connection, NOW during performance HAS NOT, or just doesn't work at all, an then suddenly DOES, then WTF DOES NOT, then it kind of gets rosy cozy SPECIAL FLAMETHROWER MOMENT. Stability prevails over flexibility on stage.
The Not-So-Happy Notes. But OK-Then:
The Name. iConnectMIDI? It's a kind of like "My First Pony Is A Dwarf Horse" or "Let's Play Doctor Because I Am Sick". When something is stated too obviously there is always something uncanny lurking below.
Wireless-less. I'm not wireless anymore. Can't grab the iPad and run around on stage. Which I did for the first few times, but then it kind of got old. And anyway; I kept hitting the home button when running around. It's the custom interfaces that is the real value of the iPad, not the portability. And I still have the Wii controllers, which now should see less wireless signal competition, maybe that helps.
Power. I can't charge it during use, the iConnectMIDI device does not supply power. I have to remember to charge the iPad pre-show, which I know I will forget and therefore expect to perform highly stressful shows in the future on 5% battery. C'est la vie electronique.
Weight. And cables. Extra plugging when setting up a new place. The tiny little gadget is surprisingly… hefty. Not heavy, but kind of solid, well-built and set. And it has a power adaptor, which is very light but still Yet Another Thing. This adds more weight and space to my stuff. Not a lot, but if wireless was 100% stable, I wouldn't need it. (It's also one more thing that can and will break down.)
Conclusion
Laboratory testing concludes: Success investment! Applaud investor.
It's a while until next live expedition right now, but I have a school tour and album release tour in spring 2012, where this will see some proper field tests. Until then, I simply enjoy hassle-free, stable signals. And yet another little box with blinking lights.
PS. Photos above are from rigging and soundcheck before showtime, not during actual concert. So it's not like there are 3 or 0 people attendig my shows. There are actually 10 or even more sometimes.
