VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[sdaeley17]

Just a few questions about iStuff for current of ipads as productivity tools or part of their mobile set up:

1. Would an ipad mini be large enough to use as a script reader, or is the lack of screen real estate really a hindrance, even with the number of teleprompting as available?

2. I read a recent review on amazon that the itrack solo was having hiccups with ios7 (straight unusable hiccups, like distorted audio on playback) and was curious if anyone was experiencing similar problems with their own itracks, mics, or spark digitals.

I really like the idea of the I-interfaces, but I'm wondering with the latest updates, connector changes, and model upgrades if it's best to wait for the next generation to arrive, whenever that may be. Had high hopes for the iRig pro, but without HP monitoring, it falls short (and really, would that have been THAT difficult to add? Its the size of a pack of gum, I'm sure nobody'd notice a small increase in size)

Sorry that turned into a rant, I just feel the iboat is constantly out to shore, leaving confused hopefuls and its own tech behond with its planned obsolescence. As always, your experience and expertise are greatly appreciated.
_________________
"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

[bransom]

Is the Mini big enough to read scripts from? It all depends on your eyes. I have a Mini and a regular iPad, and while both work, I find the regular one easier to work with. But, then, I have 50 year old eyes, too.

I can't comment on #2.
_________________
Bob Ransom
"I really need a pithy quote here."

[jasbart]

I haven't use the iRig in any of its configurations. But I am happy to see that, with the introduction of the iRig Pro, they've made It compatible with the 9 pin and 30 pin docking ports of the iPhone and ipad. The introductory iRig was designed to plug into the headphone jack of the iDevice, introducing an unsatisfactory noise level at the outset. Or so I've read.

Jim
_________________
Jim Barton
Barton Voice & Sound
www.bartonvoice.com

[vkuehn]

I'm not part of the iStuff world but I keep an eye on it.

I went iSurfing to see what an iRig is and I also came across a Tascam product: the iXZ. Has an XLR input, and will provide phantom power.

Maybe or maybe not good enough for VO work, but for portable capture of sound for radio field reporting or maybe even a VO audition while traveling, it looks like an interesting addition to a ditty-bag.

[captain54]

No issues so far with the Itrack Solo and an Ipad 3, iOS7 and Twisted Wave..

normalized, eq'd, dynamics processing in TW with a SP C! v2

https://soundcloud.com/captain54/itrack-solo-test

although playthrough engaged in Twisted Wave gave some weirdness with monitoring.. once I disengaged playthrough and monitored direct from the iTrack it disappeared...
_________________
Lee Kanne
www.leekanne.com

[vkuehn]

I realized after my earlier post about the Tascam iXZ that it and some of the other input devices that allow connecting studio mics to an "iProduct" do not digitize. They feed analog audio into the iProduct and depend on the analog-to-digital conversion inside the Apple device. How well does that work? Are the results good enough for VO work or is a quality external input-converter really essential?

[captain54]

[vkuehn]

O.K. I'm getting some education here. When I asked about maybe the Tascan iXZ depends on the Apple device doing the digital conversion, I made a visual assumption which may be totally wrong.

The device, and some others, feed their audio in via the Tip-Ring-Sleeve 1/8th inch plug which I assumed would only be analog. Being something of a DOS/Windows heathen, I assumed externally digitized sound had to come in via a USB connection, or through one of those large Apple plugs that handles docking and other maneuvers.

Can that same round T-R-S jack on an Apple product also ingest digital?

[captain54]

The TRS or Xlr inputs the analog signal into the interface.. Once it's converted to digital, it's bussed to an ipad, an iPhone, laptop, or your desktop computer. You can take the digital and re arrange the X's and O's in your software, then send the digital to analog out of the ipad, iPhone laptop or desktop, or if you chose, route it out the D/A converters of the interface for your listening pleasure
_________________
Lee Kanne
www.leekanne.com

[georgethetech]

Modern iOS devices carry digital audio only via the 30 pin or 8 pin lightning connectors. Any device connected via this method must have it's own A/D converter. iTrack Solo is one of the most reasonable solutions, likely equivalent to the beloved Scarlett 2i2. The iRigPro could be good, but it has no zero latency monitoring. I find the TW monitoring in iOS useless, too much latency. Apogee ONE for iOS MAY be the best solution yet for something very portable and self-powered.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

[heyguido]

Earlier this year, I was gifted a 2nd Gen iPad, when my Apple geek sister in law moved up.... Giving me a chance to play with the TW/Garage Band environment.

I'm also an Android geek.... And was an early adopter of USB Audio Recorder Pro and Audio Evolution.

I've tried both on the road.... And while I've gotten satisfactory recordings from both... I still find I prefer a laptop for workflow.

I honestly was hoping it wouldn't be that way.... But it is.

I DO, however, like reading from them.
_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

[sdaeley17]

Thanks everyone for turning this into such a lively discussion!

I'm looking into the refurbished models to use primarily as a reading/productivity device, but at this rate I think I'm going to wait out this generation of iAudio devices and see what the next one has to offer! Hopefully we'll see such happy additions as an additional mic channel for the itrack, and a better proprietary cable (or better yet, an identical one to what comes with the ipad!) as well as 0 latency monitoring for the iRig Pro!

Pity you guys aren't being commissioned by the folks at Focusrite, Apogee, and IK to improve their products. Oh, the iRony of the unsung voiceover artist.
_________________
"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe