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A noob's journey to find the ideal rig. (Some experts may find it interesting too)

muzzamuzza
edited April 2013 in Equipment

When I 'discovered' loopy, I already owned an iPad 2 and a Presonus 22VSL interface, which I eventually found worked perfectly with Loopy IF it was powered via a powered USB hub.

My first job was to get hold of an Apple Camera Connection Kit (CCK)

I got it home, really excited, but the 22VSL is bus powered. My first problem was finding a powered hub that worked. I already had a Swann USB2 hub in the 'studio' (most folks have one, they just call it a 'garage') but the iPad said it required too much power, and the led next to the USB socket feeding the 22VSL wasn't illuminated.

So I tried a USB3 powered hub and the iPad didn't even see it. Nothing worked.

With all my mucking about and plugging in and unplugging, suddenly the whole thing works? What happened? Well, the USB2 hub had a 2 amp wall wart. The USB3 hub had a 3 amp wall wart. That's all it took - use a 3 amp wall wart with a USB2 hub!

So now I had the CCK in the iPad, a USB to USB mini feeding the hub, a cable coming up to the hub from the wall wart and another USB cable from the hub to the interface.

What a mess! AND that CCK/USB connection looked like it was just BEGGING to get knocked out.

image

And yes, if it DID get knocked, even just a little bit, I had to re-boot everything to get everyone talking to each other again.

But... it worked.

Next, a MIDI foot controller. I didn't like the look of the Behringer thing, and I've heard enough 'avoid at all costs' stories about Behringer products that completely turned me off the idea. (despite the positive comments on this board)

I was lucky enough to find a Yamaha MFC10 on eBay and the seller lived really close to where I work. I ended up getting it for about $30 less than a new Behringer.

Now my MIDI journey is another story. All I can say to any beginners out there is... just dive in and make some mistakes. You won't break anything.

So now, how to hold the iPad on the mic stand. I tried an iKlip. Hated it. It only holds the iPad on 3 sides, so in landscape, it could easily fall out if the mic stand got a hard knock.

I tried a few other styles of holder, none of which buttered my muffin, until I bit the bullet and bought the much more expensive K&M iPad holder. WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!! It holds the iPad on all 4 sides and can be rotated to landscape or portrait without a mechanical engineer's degree. Just rotate it!

Now, what to do with the interface? How to get it close to the iPad/mic stand? My first idea involved one of those heavy duty, industrial strength music stands. Worked OK, but geez they're big.

So I made a prototype 'rig' to hold the interface on the mic stand, below the iPad. It worked really well, so I got a metal fab friend to bend me one up using stainless steel.

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The reasoning behind having the opening below is so I can make all the connections outside the holder and slide the whole thing in - ready to roll.

So, here is my first 'not ideal' rig...

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So what's wrong with this picture? The CCK/USB sticking out like a guided missile target, and the MESS of cables. (I think I'm a little OCD?)

Solution? (it wasn't cheap)

Upgraded to a 44VSL - 2 extra inputs and not bus powered. No problem in that regard as I would just be replacing the USB hub's wall wart, and I needed power for the Yamaha MFC10 controller anyway.

And the remains of my tax return went on a new iPad 4 with the lightning connector. So I also needed a lightning to 30 pin adapter cable, NOT THE ADAPTOR BLOCK.

image

I'm not so much out of pocket now as a colleague wants to buy my iPad 2. I'm not sure whether I actually want to sell the 22VSL or not. It's a great bit of kit and is very portable, being bus powered

So, here is my final 'ideal rig'.

image

I've just wedged the interface above the old holder for the benefit of this photo. After the Easter break I'll get my friend to bend me up a new box to accept the wider 44VSL.

Now I've got no more excuses - just got to learn how to actually USE Loopy now - and improve my guitar playing A LOT.

I hope at least some of you found this interesting and useful.

Comments

  • stjambiencestjambience

    Cool :)

  • NextyoyomaNextyoyoma

    Very nice. What instruments do you run through there?

  • muzzamuzza

    Only a microphone and acoustic guitar. I mainly got the 44VSL to get rid of the cable clutter and powered hub. Pretty happy with the 'sleek' trimmed down rig.

    Ive so far only used the extra 2 inputs when jamming with my friend. It's pretty handy as a 4 channel mixer.

    But now that I've got those extra inputs, I might throw my bass into the Loopy mix.

  • eldeineldein

    Nice setup.
    The interface rig is an excellent idea. Might have to try to do something similar myself.

  • soundogsoundog

    Nice, Muzza ... thanks for taking the time to share this. I like to see other performance set-ups and ideas.

  • syrupcoresyrupcore

    Sweet. Thanks for putting this together.

  • monizmoniz

    Nice set up. How ever i like to mention the alternative to foot controller. Air turn makes foot controller that are Blue tooth and requires no cabling (Air turn 4 pedal BT-105). go through the Video on the link and see if would works for you.

    Second is a question, K&M iPad holder that are you using with new iPad which one is that because they make one for iPad 1 and for iPad 2 but no mention of iPad3 on there site. I wanted to buy K&M holder but not sure if it would hold my new iPad 3rd generation with lightening dock.

    Thanks and keep building the Rigs.

  • monizmoniz

    Sorry forgot to put the link.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBs4ZUgtL-I

  • muzzamuzza

    @moniz, I don't mind the MIDI cables going to the foot controller. They're out of sight and out of mind. I just velcro them to the mic stand. My 'problem' was the clutter of cables in my line of sight around the hardware on the mic stand, the ugly USB hub with cables going everywhere and the huge lump of stuffery sticking out the side of the iPad.

    Anyway, I REALLY like my Yamaha MIDI foot controller and I've only scratched the surface to what I can eventually do with it.

    I got the K&M holder for my iPad 2, before I got the iPad 4, (which is slightly thicker) but it fits in perfectly. There are a few different models available. The one I got was the one that resembles the iKlip.

    I'm thinking I might flip the whole thing upside down and have the iPad UNDER the boom and the interface on top.

    Gives the audience a better look at my gorgeous face... (Actually maybe I should whack a 23" widescreen monitor up there to hide behind)

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