Who: This note is for producers and musicians recording in their own studio
Difficulty Level: 3/5
The iPad app AC7 Pro emulates a Mackie control surface. This gives you a totally wireless control surface for your DAW. Total cost of this is £5.99 which is for the App for the iPad. This also works for iPhone with minor modification. I read in a magazine about doing this job for Digital Performer. The instructions were not applicable to Logic and other DAWS so here is my version. Sorry, the configuration section is not the easiest but if, as a producer, you are used to how your DAW works then you should figure it out!
Well for me, the first reason was - because I can. Basically I just wanted to learn the iPad communications functionality. However it is not just a geeky thing; much better reasons are
You now need to assign the controls of AC7 to the control function on your iPad. At this time I have not completed the full mapping of the controls. If anyone has a mapping for this that can be imported then please let me know.
The iPad app AC7 Pro emulates a Mackie control surface. This gives you a totally wireless control surface for your DAW. Total cost of this is £5.99 which is for the App for the iPad. This also works for iPhone with minor modification. I read in a magazine about doing this job for Digital Performer. The instructions were not applicable to Logic and other DAWS so here is my version. Sorry, the configuration section is not the easiest but if, as a producer, you are used to how your DAW works then you should figure it out!
Why would you want to do this
Well for me, the first reason was - because I can. Basically I just wanted to learn the iPad communications functionality. However it is not just a geeky thing; much better reasons are
As a recording musician you can control your software from anywhere in the room. I can put my iPad/iPhone next to the piano or microphone stand and control the start and stop of the recording from there. Also the "Undo" last recording....
- Mixing, you can sit back in your chair and ride the faders. With the appropriate channels assigned as write or latch you can "live mix" the channels in a way that would be impossible with a mouse.
Installation
- The iPad and iMac should both be connected to your WiFi. (Alternatively use Airport service on the iMac and connect them to each other).
- On your iMac download DSMI Server for OSX (current version is v1.02). Install and Run
- On your iPad install the app AC-7 Pro Control Surface. Cost is £5.99. Run the app
- Start your Logic or other DAW software. The iPad is now already set up to send midi signals to your DAW but it will need configuring
Logic Configuration
You now need to assign the controls of AC7 to the control function on your iPad. At this time I have not completed the full mapping of the controls. If anyone has a mapping for this that can be imported then please let me know.
- Menu:Logic Pro/Control Surface. In this section you teach Logic the assignment of controls such as the volume slider on the channel strip. I found this a bit tricky and certainly tedious. Choose Learn Mode and define the slider in the menu options and then move the appropriate slider on the iPad. Alternatively this can be done by selecting the control in Logic and then press Cmd L and it takes you into the same menu
- Menu:Logic Pro/Key Commands. In this section you teach Logic the assignment of buttons such as the transport buttons. Choose a button function and choose learn. Press the button to be assigned on iPad control surface
Modifications and PC software
- If you want to the same with your iPhone (although the control surface is rather small then the iPhone app is called AC-7 DAW Control surface and costs £3.49
- You can also do the same with PC and DAWs such as ProTools by installing the appropriate communication driver available on the same website in step 2 of the installation.
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