iPad and iPhone For Musicians For Dummies

Book description

The easy way to use your iPad or iPhone to make amazing music

If you are a budding or established musician looking to use your iPad or iPhone as a portable musical instrument, recording studio, or composition tool, then you've come to the right place! iPad and iPhone For Musicians For Dummies explains in plain English how to hook up your preferred instrument to your iPad or iPhone to work on music projects within a plethora of recording apps. You'll also learn how to incorporate both real and MIDI instruments and audio, edit individual tracks, work with effects and chain multiple apps together, and mix and master songs.

Thanks to apps such as AmpliTube, AudioBus, and Apple's own GarageBand, musicians can record entire songs in the comfort of their own homes and then mix, master, and distribute them right there on their iPads or iPhones. Packed with tons of step-by-step instructions, this friendly guide shows you how to use your device to go from recording a basic piece of music to creating and uploading complete songs with full instrumentation and multiple tracks, instruments, and effects.

  • Demonstrates how to hook up your guitar or keyboard directly to your iPad or iPhone to record professional-grade tracks
  • Helps musicians get the most out of their iPads or iPhones as portable musical instruments, recording studios, and composition tools
  • Written by an industry expert and former senior writer for IK Multimedia, a leading manufacturer of music apps and hardware accessories for the iOS market
  • Coverage goes beyond GarageBand to include other popular technologies

Don't let the limitations and expense of yesterday's home studios keep you from recording awesome music—let iPad and iPhone For Musicians For Dummies show you how easy it is to record and master your own music right from your living room.

Table of contents

    1. Cover
    2. Title Page
    3. Introduction
      1. About This Book
      2. Foolish Assumptions
      3. Icons Used in This Book
      4. Beyond the Book
      5. Where to Go from Here
    4. Part I: Getting Started with iOS Music
      1. Chapter 1: Digging into iOS
        1. What Is iOS?
        2. Understanding the History of iOS
        3. Exploring the Possibilities
        4. Surveying the App World
      2. Chapter 2: Choosing Your iOS Device
        1. Comparing the Advantages of iPad and iPhone
        2. Exploring Device Generation and OS Versions
        3. Looking at Ports and Connectors
        4. Checking Out the Music-Related Improvements in iOS 8
      3. Chapter 3: Downloading Apps from the iTunes Store
        1. Setting Up Your Account
        2. Understanding iPhone, iPad, and Universal Apps
        3. Searching for Apps
        4. Researching Apps before Buying
        5. Installing and Managing Your Apps
        6. Arranging Apps on Your iOS Device
        7. Updating Your Apps
        8. Expanding Your Apps via In-App Purchases
    5. Part II: Playing Music on Your iOS Device
      1. Chapter 4: Exploring iOS Instruments
        1. Emulating Conventional Instruments
        2. Exploring Dedicated iOS Instruments
      2. Chapter 5: Playing iOS Instruments
        1. Playing from the Touchscreen
        2. Playing from an External MIDI Keyboard
        3. Connecting a MIDI Controller
        4. Features of a Typical Controller Keyboard
        5. How Control Change Messages Work
        6. Playing with Alternate Controllers
        7. Understanding and Minimizing Latency
      3. Chapter 6: Playing Your Guitar or Bass through Your iOS Device
        1. Choosing Your Connection Options
        2. Using Multi-Effects Modeling Apps
        3. Adding a Virtual Pedalboard
        4. Exploring the Features in Guitar Multi-Effects Apps
        5. Choosing a Guitar Multi-Effects Modeling App
      4. Chapter 7: Connecting Your Mic to Your iOS Device
        1. Using a Dedicated iOS Mic
        2. Selecting an Audio Interface
        3. Understanding Mic Types
        4. Understanding Mic Response Patterns
        5. So Which Mic Should I Buy?
        6. Vocal Effects Apps
      5. Chapter 8: Performing with Your iOS Device
        1. Using Guitar Multi-Effects Apps Live
        2. Performing with Keyboard Apps
        3. Reading Music and Lyrics Onstage
        4. Holding Your Device Securely Onstage
    6. Part III: Setting Up Your iOS Studio
      1. Chapter 9: Planning Your Rig
        1. Getting the Gear You Need
        2. Deciding Whether to Go Fully Mobile
        3. Preparing a Gear Checklist
      2. Chapter 10: Working with Digital Audio Workstations and Other Recording Apps
        1. Using DAW Apps
        2. Surveying the Major DAW Apps
        3. Choosing the Right DAW for You
        4. Using MIDI Workstation Apps
        5. Recording with Loopers
        6. Remixing Apps
      3. Chapter 11: Monitoring with Speakers and Headphones
        1. Deciding If You Need Speakers
        2. Choosing the Right Type of Headphones
    7. Part IV: Your Recording Workflow
      1. Chapter 12: Recording Live or Layered?
        1. Weighing the Pros and Cons of Layering
        2. Choosing to Record Multiple Simultaneous Sources
      2. Chapter 13: Getting the Best Recording Quality
        1. Understanding Audio Settings
        2. Managing Your Audio Tracks
      3. Chapter 14: Recording in the Field
        1. Surveying Field Recording Apps
        2. Deciding on Stereo Mics
        3. Recording with the Best Possible Audio Quality
        4. Proper Mic Techniques
    8. Part V: Using Multiple Apps Together
      1. Chapter 15: Working with Multiple Apps Together
        1. Using Background Audio
        2. Copying and Pasting Audio between Apps
      2. Chapter 16: Using Inter-App Audio
        1. Understanding How Inter-App Audio Works
        2. Creating an Inter-App Audio Session
      3. Chapter 17: Using Audiobus
        1. Understanding the Basic Audiobus Structure
        2. How Audiobus Differs from Inter-App Audio
        3. Finding Audiobus-Compatible Apps
        4. Setting Up an Audiobus Session
        5. Staying in Sync
      4. Chapter 18: Other Multi-App Possibilities
        1. Using Virtual MIDI
        2. Using Korg WIST
        3. Using Retronym’s Tabletop
    9. Part VI: Editing, Mixing, and Sharing Your Projects
      1. Chapter 19: Editing Your Material
        1. Getting to Know the Typical Editing Features
        2. Cutting, Pasting, and Rearranging Sections
      2. Chapter 20: Mixing Your Music
        1. Adopting a Mixing Strategy
        2. Applying EQ
        3. Using Compression
        4. Adding Reverb and Delay
        5. Understanding the Soundscape and Panning
        6. Controlling the Mix with Level Setting and Automation
        7. Mixing Better with These Tips and Tricks
        8. Mastering
      3. Chapter 21: Exporting Your Finished Masterpiece
        1. Understanding File Formats
        2. Knowing Your Export Options
        3. How to Use SoundCloud
        4. Sharing Your Music on Social Media
        5. Heading to Bandcamp
    10. Part VII: The Part of Tens
      1. Chapter 22: Ten Music Apps You Can’t Live Without
        1. Korg Gadget
        2. Notion
        3. Thor
        4. iMaschine
        5. DM1
        6. iMPC Pro
        7. iStroboSoft
        8. Musyc Pro
        9. SampleWiz
        10. FL Studio Mobile HD
      2. Chapter 23: Ten Great Free Music Apps
        1. Novation Launchpad
        2. Take
        3. AmpliTube Free
        4. Keezy
        5. Modular Synthesizer
        6. Tape
        7. LP-5
        8. Hokusai
        9. TF7
        10. GrainProc
      3. Chapter 24: Ten Other Musical Uses for Your iOS Device
        1. Tuners
        2. Metronomes
        3. SPL Meters
        4. Real-Time Analyzers
        5. Notation Apps
        6. Sheet Music and Tablature Apps
        7. Computer DAW Controllers
        8. Live Sound Mixer Controllers
        9. Instrument Remote Controls
        10. Education and Learning Apps
    11. About the Author
    12. Cheat Sheet
    13. Connect with Dummies
    14. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: iPad and iPhone For Musicians For Dummies
  • Author(s): Ryan C. Williams, Mike Levine
  • Release date: February 2015
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781118991169