The NAMM show is currently in Anaheim, California and has many professional music tools designed work with iPhone, iPad and iPod. Devices designed for Android musicians were not as plentiful. A new way to add new X-Y dimensions to iPad/iPhone/iPod audio is the iRing and if you feel like singing you can sing into the iRig Mic HD. Midi devices can be connected to iOS devices with new connective devices. An iPad can be turned into 15 synthesizers to make personalized music.
A very popular booth was the IK Multimedia booth with its "i"product lines. You can use the iRing to control your music apps and effects without touching it by using the iRing touchless controller for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The new iRing uses hand gestures to control music apps to make them more like playing a musical instrument. iRig “rings” allowing you to control up to six parameters at a time. At the core of the iRing s the free iRing FX/Control app to control music apps.
iRing can also be used to create real-time, non-stop dance grooves and scores with the included iRing Music Maker app. iRing comes in White, -Silver and Green and sells for $24.95 for sets of two each from B&H Audio. iRing is Compatible with iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPod touch (5th, and 4th generation), iPad Air, iPad 4th generation, iPad 3rd generation and iPad mini. iOS 6.0 or later is required.
They also introduced the iRig Mic HD, the first high-quality digital handheld microphone for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac. The microphones in Apple products are not professional quality which is why many people use products such as the Tascam iM2. The company already makes the iRig Condenser Mic, however this microphone has a higher bit rate making it ideal for interviewers, broadcasters, presenters, singers and musicians. It comes with a lightning connector cable for the latest Apple iOS device but can also work with 30 pin for legacy iPods/iPhones/iPad or a USB connector for iMacs.
iRig Mic HD comes with free apps, VocaLive FREE a real-time vocal-effects processing and multi-track app and iRig Recorder FREE, a professional field recorder and audio processing app (download from the App Store). AmpliTube FREE, a multi-effects, recording and studio app for guitarists and bass players. iRig Mic HD will cost $99.99 and be available in Q2.
It was fun overhearing a distributor in another booth who sold may iConnectivity devices and was very interested in the latest models. These devices allow for midi device connection to iPads and computers are expected to be available on February 20, 2014. The iConnectMIDI4+, their flagship next generation MIDI interface for MAC, PC, and iOS, iConnectMIDI4+ is a multi-host MIDI interface for Mac, PC, and iOS that bridges MIDI and audio. With an MSRP of $249.99, street price or buy the iConnectivity iConnectMIDI4+ - MIDI Interface with Ethernet Connectivity is $199.99 from B & H.
iConnectMIDI2+allows for up to 2 computing devices to share the same interface as well as access and share MIDI resources over its 2 pairs of MIDI DINs and its 8 additional user configurable ports. The iConnectivity iConnectMIDI2+ is $89.99 from B & H. iConnectMIDI1 is a 1 in 1 out USB or iOS16 channel MIDI interface to connect a MIDI compatible controller, keyboard, synthesizer, or drum machine to a Mac, PC,or iOS iPhone/iPod/iPad for MSRP of $79.99 and street price of $59.99.
For musicians who want to turn their iPad into a musical instrument Korg announced Gadget Synth for iPad with 15 different synthesizers and drum machines called "Gadgets" than can mixed and matched to create your own music. Each synth offers a keyboard featuring a Scale function that makes it impossible to play wrong notes. It also works as a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to bring with you. Korg is running special price at $28.99 through iTunes. Songs that you create using KORG Gadget can be shared on "GadgetCloud," a music sharing site for KORG Gadget users worldwide.