Recording video and audio through iPhone/smartphone

[AndyHiams]

Does anyone know if it's possible to record a video whilst connecting the mixer output to the phone as a line in microphone? Are there any apps? Otherwise I will need to use my 2mp web cam which is a bit pants!

[djdisciple]

I've tried to look up a way to do this with my android samsung galaxy a year ago and it seemed like a big hassle if it was even possible (I gave up though.) I would have to sync the audio up later with a movie editing program. But I do this method with my go pro and I love the ease of not having to sync the audio later, but you have to be careful as its very very easy to run the signal hot this way.

[Guest Symatic]

[Ethanol]

Get a Rode SC4. Basically a TRS to TRRS adapter it's only Mono but cheaper than other options but works well. I use it on the booth out on my 56 turned right down but you may need an attenuator if using on an output without volume control. There's always the iRig range of adapters for guitars but I've not tried myself

[AndyHiams]

Great thanks for the input. I am amazed that it isn't more straightforward. Due an upgrade on my phone this year so my check out if some of the Android phones or the iPhone 7 have this functionality.

[Mutis Mayfield]

You could try to record directly with some adaptors like irig ones but the signal input to device will be mono.

 

If you want to use your smartphone as little stereo recorder it will be recomendable to find one compatible with class compliant soundcards like iOS devices. I think some Android ones are starting to be side to side but I haven't researched so much due the lack of advanced features and apps in comparision with iOS.

iOS has core audio and core midi implemented at low level giving to the platform some possibilities and developers some floor to code interesting apps which in Android is still a bit more difficult and device fragmentation didn't help too much.

 

Back in topic with the setup I recomend you buy or the new iPhone SE or old 5s but a good price (aka cheap as you can). It could be done with old 4 or 4s (more powerfull and not so expensive in 2nd hand market) but these are slow as regular phone nowadays and I only recomend these for audio purposes (I have an iPhone 4 and it could perform most audio task but as telephone is lagging)

 

With the right phone buyed you will need the proper usb adaptor. The most used is the Camera Connection Kit (cck) and it could be found for old 30 pin iPhones/iPod (the last was 4s generation) and even with 30 pins to lighting adaptor will work with new devices.

Good news have arrived with the release of iPad pro familiy due Apple has released a new usb 3 lighting adaptor which add a most demanded feature not included in cck: battery charge. I will write some links at the end of post for those you need extra info.

 

With the iDevice and proper adaptor you could plug any class compliant audio/midi device but you will need an extra gadget to avoid some "error" messages when you plug them: an usb powered hub.

The reason behind this is due limitations on energy draw in usb ports. If you plug something and it draws to much energy, iDevice will send you a message avoiding the use to keep battery power. If you plug an usb powered hub (or you audio/midi gadget has power supply itself) you will not have any problem.

 

About soundcards an iOS (9.3.2 at the moment for future readers) iOS only suits one audio device plugged to the system so plug more to a hub will not mean more inputs and outputs (like it could be possible in OSX or windows) then try carefully which one you buy. Also remember check class compliant (no driver required) before purchase. A simple behringer uca202 could perform the trick and other possibilities are akai eie (the red one) with integrated usb hub and power supply, lexicon omega (old but cheap and complete) or some focusrite scarlett series (it doesn't need to be the iTrack which was developed with iOS in mind, any class compliant will work) like 2i2 or 2i4 (midi and dedicated outputs for djing) or even bigger ones with more io.

 

As a final point related to hardware I will explain a bit about docks and special soundcards/apps for audiomidi in iOS realm like alesis io, iconnectivity devices or apps like midimux/audiomux.

Due the lack of features against desktop OS but big potential of iDevices as little computers (boosted by incredible apps from great independent developers) some solutions arrived to solve these lack of interconnectivity. Apps like audiobus (virtual audio cable), midimux (virtual midi cable), audiomux (virtual multitrack audio cable between iDevices and macs) or hardware solutions like Alesis io dock (or behringer is202 like mine) to transform iPad into full fledge sound studio (lacking in usb host but with audio preamps, midi connections or even phono preamp in the is202 model) and even more profesional and full options like iConnectivity devices like 4+ or audio4+ (with midi but also usb hosting for class compliant MIDI controllers, dedicated audio outputs plus charging iDevices and audiomidi streaming like audiomux but in hardware realm...) Crazy, I know. That's why new usb 3 with charging makes all of this easiest and cheaper today than a year ago.

 

About apps I will recomend kymatica Audioshare. In addition to the features like export and share, at its name points, it is a powerfull recorder and basic editor. There are others like Hokusai but I make everything I need with Audioshare and Garageband (also suitable for basic recording and free for new devices and cheap if not comes with your device)

 

 

Now the links:

 

iOS info for musicians

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2016/03/tested-apple-finally-lets-you-charge-and-use-usb-on-ipad/

https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/MusicAudio/Conceptual/CoreAudioOverview/WhatisCoreAudio/WhatisCoreAudio.html(techie but get the essence and scape!)

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-use-coremidi-for-music-production-on-an-ipad-or-iphone-ios/(some info on midi basics and irig-like gear)

http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2013/12/use-ipad-dvs/

 

 

Cck

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC531AM/A/apple-ipad-camera-connection-kit(Old)

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD823AM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter(To recycle olds but take care about some missings like analog video adapters and so...)

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter(The new which are talking at cdm article)

 

Hardware info

http://auriaapp.com/Support/auria-audio-interfaces(some clarification about class compliant and mfi devices)

http://www.akaipro.com/product/eie

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-computers/486958-ipad-camera-kit-audio-interface.html(About uca202...)

https://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-2i4(Best choice for budget studio and djing)

https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/206849159-Connecting-your-Scarlett-interface-to-an-iPad(Larger scarlett devices)

http://alesis.com/products/legacy/io-dock-ii

https://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Computer-Audio/Audio-Interfaces/iS202/p/P0AJQ

http://www.iconnectivity.com/

 

 

Apps

http://kymatica.com/Software/AudioShare

http://www.apple.com/ios/garageband/

http://www.wooji-juice.com/products/hokusai/

https://audiob.us/

http://midimux.com/

http://djplayerapp.com/

http://www.akaipro.com/product/impc-pro

And korg has LOTS of synth, grooveboxes... The list is BIG for iOS.

 

Hope it helps someone

Edited May 19, 2016 by Mutis Mayfield

[Guest petesasqwax]

That's a DOPE resource-filled post there, man - big ups for that!!

I use a combination of the following:

- iphone 4 with Akai Synthstation 25 (using external power supply so that it charges the phone as well as powers the keyboard) running Animoog via Midibridge (which allows Animoog to be controlled with the Synthstation keys)

I then run the output of the Synthstation into an iphone 4s running Filtatron (via an iRig connector) in order to effect it before send it out to a gang of guitar pedals and into my DAW

There's also an awesome little Mellotron app called Super Manetron which allows you to use the Synthstation without even needing MidiBridge!

[Mutis Mayfield]

Hi Petesasqwax!

Well I spent sometime in researching this field and it will be a mess not share it

 

The problem with mfi hardware like synthstation is the danger at every iOS update causing unsupporting apps or features. My is202 has starting making pops and clicks and it seems related to core audio modifications in new iOS versions.. So I have to sell it or use with old iDevices like my iPhone or the next 4s I could grab cheap (and maybe make me an standalone dvs player or mpc...) :V

[Guest petesasqwax]

It's massively appreciated!

This is major problem I have too - I'm at the point now where I think I'm going to stop my iphone 4 and 4s from updating anything so that the iOS remains stable with the apps I use it for. Apple are complete shits for making their older products forcibly obsolete. Such an oh so socially responsible company, forcing users into sending their old phones to landfill

[Mutis Mayfield]

Or jb... I'm considering it for my old 3rd gen ipad.

[Guest petesasqwax]

Yeah - it pisses me off a little that I might have to ultimately do that, but at least it's an option if necessary

[Mutis Mayfield]

Me too mate.

[Dubba Dutchdj]

That's a DOPE resource-filled post there, man - big ups for that!!!

Fuck yeah, nice one Mutis, really really useful info

[Mutis Mayfield]

 

That's a DOPE resource-filled post there, man - big ups for that!!!

Fuck yeah, nice one Mutis, really really useful info

Thanks to you and community to make it useful.

As my concern I sold my later 2012 ( purchased 2014) mac mini due I feel more comfortable with iPad workflow (oldie 3rd gen) so invest the money in new ipad mini 4 64gb and I'm still drooling. I tryed the 30 pins to lighting adaptor with my gear (is202 dock, old cck adapter with class compliant midi controllers and midi interfaces for my non usb or compliant gear) and it works like expected with few issues (sometimes I need to replug it) that I expect will dissapear when I can buy the usb 3 one (and charge th iPad hoorai!).

 

I'm still wondering about audio interface between focusrite 2i2, 2i4 or similar. It seems akai eie has some bad reviews and lexicon omega is a bit bulky (less than akai but it has usb hub maaan! XD) meanwhile novation audiohub seems lost some inputs/outputs in class compliant mode (I didn't talk about it at my first comment but is another budget option)

 

About apps I'm discovering new ones thanks to new iPad increased power like aum mixer (very cool), midiflow (like bome translator and very useful), the new garageband (great) and doing fun things thanks to aum mixer cappabilities like route groovebox apps (dm1, funkbox...) into vocoders (voice synth, samvada...) and saving them (it exports one track for channel) to edit them a bit into Audioshare to import later into garageband. Next will be to the inverse mastering in aum from garageband with proper audiounits like Final touch or "Audio mastering"' app (it is its name xP)

 

As you see not need for desktop/laptop computer in the process so I understand why Apple has labeled pro for the 4 gb ram powerful A8x chip based new iPads. Mine is like Air 2 (maybe a bit less powered) and it's powerful for my "amateur" needs... So again the optimization has the key!

Edited May 20, 2016 by Mutis Mayfield