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Description

Represents the latest - or general, in case the model cannot easily be determined - Apple iPad tablet (any screen size, any generation).

The Tech Chap

The Tech Chap

iPad Buying Guide (2024) - Don’t Waste Your Money!

Video thumbnail for iPad Buying Guide (2024) - Don’t Waste Your Money! by The Tech Chap

iPad Buying Guide (2024) - Don’t Waste Your Money!

The Tech Chap

The Tech Chap

Video thumbnail for Which iPad to Buy in Early 2024 - Don’t Choose WRONG! by Max Tech

Which iPad to Buy in Early 2024 - Don’t Choose WRONG!

Max Tech

Max Tech

Video thumbnail for NEW iPad Buying Guide (2024) - Don’t Waste Your Money! by Pete Matheson

NEW iPad Buying Guide (2024) - Don’t Waste Your Money!

Pete Matheson

Pete Matheson

Video thumbnail for Don't Make This Mistake! Buy This iPad in 2024! by AppleInsider

Don't Make This Mistake! Buy This iPad in 2024!

AppleInsider

AppleInsider

Reviews

PROS

  • Versatile platform for music creation with apps like GarageBand and FL Studio Mobile

  • Acts as a reliable third monitor for home studio setups

  • Excellent for live performances and DJ sets with apps like Traktor DJ

  • Seamless integration with external devices via Camera Connection Kit

  • Compact and portable, ideal for musicians on the move

  • Long battery life supports extended music production sessions

  • High-quality screen enhances music app usability

  • Affordable alternative to expensive hardware synths and instruments

  • Compatible with various MIDI devices, expanding creative possibilities

  • Reliable performance with low latency issues

CONS

  • Expensive accessories like the $60 camera connector dongle needed for some functionalities

  • Microphone issues reported with some iPad models

  • Older models may experience lag with newer applications

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Apple iPad (General).

Value and pricing

  • The iPad Mini is perceived as expensive due to its compact form, being priced close to an iPad Air 11, which offers more screen real estate for a similar cost.

    Source
  • The 9th Gen iPad is noted for its cost-effectiveness with features like a home button, Touch ID, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, available new for $250.

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User experience

  • Some users report that the "jelly effect" on the iPad Mini 6 has been addressed in the Mini 7, improving the reading and scrolling experience.

    Source
  • Owners find the iPad Mini 7 fits comfortably in jacket pockets, enhancing portability for reading or note-taking without the bulk of larger models.

    Source
  • After switching from a Surface Pro 8, users find the base iPad A16 perfectly adequate for daily media consumption and light office tasks, replacing their previous device for these purposes.

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  • Users switching from Windows laptops to iPads for note-taking and research found the pencil compatibility and storage limitations significant factors in their choice.

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Software and compatibility

  • Users express interest in an LTE version of the iPad Mini for reliable connectivity where Wi-Fi is unavailable, highlighting a gap in the current lineup.

    Source
  • Concerns about the iPad Air M3 include potential battery drain issues, but its longer software update cycle makes it appealing for future-proofing against upcoming Apple features.

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  • The iPad Air M2 includes Apple Pencil Pro support and is anticipated to be compatible with upcoming iPad OS 18 features, enhancing long-term value.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Users note the iPad Mini lacks a landscape front camera, which can be a drawback for video calls in landscape mode.

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  • The iPad 10 and 11 generations feature stereo speakers and a landscape front camera, offering improved media consumption and video call quality over the 9th Gen.

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  • The iPad Mini 7 has the highest pixel density (ppi) among iPads, offering sharper content display, particularly noticeable in text clarity and image detail.

    Source
  • The iPad Air M2 supports magnetic charging for the Apple Pencil, a laminated screen, and a much better chip for gaming compared to the base model.

    Source
  • The iPad Air supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which users find significantly enhances note-taking by allowing tool changes with gestures, making it feel more intuitive.

    Source
  • The iPad Mini's portability is highlighted as ideal for on-the-go entertainment, but its small screen may be impractical for reading textbooks.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The iPad Pro's OLED screen and ProMotion feature are noted for their superior refresh rate and color accuracy, though some users find these features excessive for basic tasks.

    Source
  • The iPad Mini 7, with 8GB RAM and an A17 Pro chip, is noted as powerful yet inferior to the M chip iPads, making it a niche choice for portability over performance.

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  • The M1 chip in the iPad Pro is praised for performance, making the device comparable to Mac computers, especially beneficial for multitasking and gaming.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The iPad Mini is favored for its ergonomic design, allowing prolonged handheld use without fatigue, making it ideal for streaming and web browsing.

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  • For office work, including voice-to-text functionality, the iPad Air M3 is favored for its longevity and potential AI support, despite some users debating between it and the A16.

    Source
  • An owner found the iPad 10th gen lacking for productivity features like Stage Manager, influencing their upgrade to a Pro model for more intensive tasks.

    Source
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 36 Reviews and 169 Ratings

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danasmusic

Convenient on trips

The iPad is the best tools of a nomadic musician. Thanks to its large screen, it's ideal for your trips and allows you to do some of what a computer offers. For me, singer and songwriter, I use it to compose into software like GarageBand or FL Studio Mobile. But it's specially convenient to note down your ideas and record demos so you don't forget them with the Memo App.

geminimaverick

You get out of it, what you put into it...

|| I use my iPad for virtually everything. For my home studio I use my iPad as a third monitor via the Duet app, which allows me to extend my workspace without sacrificing valuable real estate. Plus when I'm on the go I load my FL Studio app to create instrumentals and then I can transfer my data to my CPU and fully design the record in my DAW [Digital Audio Workstation]. If you can think of it... then there's an app for it.

insert

i use this to record on the go

you have this, the stupid 60$ camera connector dongle, and you can record into garageband or whatever you prefer. i don't like, it, but id you already have an ipad and an audio interface, it's not a bad use.

makemusicandbehappy

Make music everywhere !

iPAD is all you need to begin to create your own music. iOS ++++, Screen Quality ++++, Battery Life ++++, Design ++++, ... and a lot of very good iOS music app (see below) ! I love create rythm on my iPAD with CAUSTIC or FIGURE. Here is some of the best iOS music app : CAUSTIC, FIGURE, FL STUDIO MOBILE, GARAGBAND, iMACHINE 2, iMini Synthesizer, iMPC Pro, KORG Gadget, KORG iKaossilator, KORG iM1, KORG iELECTRIBE, KORG Module, Notion, Tabletop, Thor Polysonic Synthesizer, ThumbJam, Traktor DJ.

grbugi

Powerful device for musicians

First gen iPad with iOS 5.1.1 is still can be used for musician purpose in 2019 . Most of applications still works well. Sequencers, synth, drum-machines and etc. With Camera Connection Kit you can also use many external devices such as sound cards, MIDI keyboards, analog synth and etc.

jasenlinc

1st entry in world apple and she love doing my music

apple so dam expensive, but they know how to make the music work without eating up all your memory and then having latenacy issues. I'm still running IOS 5, my motto is if she ain't broke no need to fix it, plus I love the interface in GB (garageband). For my act she fills in the drummer and bass and works oh so well with my mac, but super portable for live gigs.

Its a great intro into the apple world when on a tight budget and then turns into the very best that money can buy, oh yeah 16gb is more than enough to begin with and later u may choose a mac for all back up needs

charlieysasi

New instruments.

I just love the fact that I can take a bunch of music apps that have lots of diferent instruments and sounds! When I realized that Gorillaz made an entire álbum mostly with iOS apps I decided it had to be a part of my music production set, live and studio.

thetimeripper

Great durability except for the Mic went bad. twice!

This is actually my second iPad 2, the first time within the 14 day period the Microphone went bad, so I exchanged it for a brand new out of the box one and the same thing happened again (but it happened about 1 year later). So yeah. Seems to be a consistent defect, but otherwise this iPad2 is still in great shape and I use it ALL the time. Perfect for traveling, and especially now that they have DeeJay2 with Spotify integration. WIN and WIN. Who needs the mic as long as I still have functioning output, right?

toroid

Songwriting Instrument

Demos for majority of our songs were written in iOS Garage Band on iPad 2017

molwax

ios 9

the ipad 2 is not only a mobile platform for creating music, it is also a live performance controller. versatile but not too cheap to buy. definitely recommend it for those into more contemporary production using emulation apps that are so much more affordable than purchasing the modular analogue hardware!

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Madlib uses Apple iPad (General)

Madlib

Rapper, Music Producer

Madvillain

...
Verified via Twitter

Madlib mentioned on Twitter that he created all the beats for his album "Bandana" using an Apple iPad. This highlights his innovative approach and encourages producers to embrace technology in their music-making process.

See how Jordan Rudess uses Apple iPad (General)

Jordan Rudess

Keyboardist, Composer

Dream Theater

...
Verified via YouTube

At 5:12, Jordan Rudess can be seen using Jordantron on his Apple iPad in the live concert at Luna Park.

See how Kraftwerk uses Apple iPad (General)

Kraftwerk

Composer, Music Producer

Kraftwerk

...
Verified via YouTube

During Kraftwerk's 2015 performance at Amsterdam Paradiso, as shown in Willy Billiams' YouTube video, the band uses two Apple iPads. One iPad is configured with Lemur/TouchOSC for their third rig, while the other operates the video rigs in the fourth setup.

See how The Glitch Mob uses Apple iPad (General)

The Glitch Mob

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

In these photos from Jim Logiudice's Tumblr blog, we see that he used 4th-Gen iPads while creating the performance consoles for The Glitch Mob. The background/lock screen shown on the iPads in the photo are identical to those found on 4th-Gen iPads.

"Check out these electronic consoles, drum enclosures and stage surrounds we made for The Glitch Mob."

See how Sub Focus uses Apple iPad (General)

Sub Focus

Music Producer

Sub Focus & Danny Wheeler

...
Verified via Askaudiomag

"Basically, the really cool thing about the iPad, it may sounds kind of obvious, but you can change the interface whilst you are using it. Before I started using the iPad, I was using things like 8 x 8 button-grid controllers to play drum patterns, chop up samples or things like that. The problem with that is you can't change the amount of buttons on the grid. When I'm using the iPad for step-sequencing or sample chopping, I can change what the grid is, which is especially useful when using different time signatures. The iPad definitely opens up a hell of a lot of possibilities for live music applications that I wanted to do for ages. It’s been really cool to be able to realize a few of these, thanks to the iPad!"

See how Mord Fustang uses Apple iPad (General)

Mord Fustang

Music Producer

...
Verified via Sonicgrammagazine

Q: What single piece of equipment do you favor the most, whether on stage or in the studio, and why?

Mord Fustang answers: The iPad. I can program a new control layout for each and every show if I want to, just to keep myself as entertained as the crowd.

See how Orbital uses Apple iPad (General)

Orbital

Music Producer

Orbital & Angelo Badalamenti

...
Verified via YouTube

In their full performance on KEXP, Orbital uses an Apple iPad, visible at the 24:51 mark.

See how Richard Devine uses Apple iPad (General)

Richard Devine

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via YouTube

"He uses an ipad on the go. He find it to be a great device."

See how PewDiePie uses Apple iPad (General)

PewDiePie

Podcasters & Streamers

...
Verified via YouTube

When Felix was mentioning that "Fridays with PewDiePie" is about love and how his fans care about him, he chose to do a video revealing something of the opposite. When he was going to check mean comments from his fans/haters, an iPad 3 tablet is spotted as what he is using to check out those mean comments.

See how The M Machine uses Apple iPad (General)

The M Machine

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

The iPad is used to interface with the MacBook Pro, and send MIDI information controlling the visuals of The M Machine's live show.

See how Getter uses Apple iPad (General)

Getter

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

Getter integrates an Apple iPad into his Visceral sets to operate "Lemur," as shown in an Instagram post by nerdmatics.

See how Vernon Reid uses Apple iPad (General)

Vernon Reid

Guitarist

Supergroup B

...
Verified via YouTube

At 2:15, Vernon says, "The signal is also going to this iPad...using an iOS application called Audiobus."

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Apple iPad (General), it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Korg KAOSS Pad 3
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Community setups

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donca

donca

Gear IQ 537

sinkingfeeling

sinkingfeeling

Gear IQ 299

groovegsus

groovegsus

Gear IQ 264

issydl

issydl

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sofamusician

sofamusician

Gear IQ 855

andreleme

andreleme

Gear IQ 485

sinkingfeeling

sinkingfeeling

Gear IQ 299

tele_

tele_

Gear IQ 101

donca

donca

Gear IQ 537

sofamusician

sofamusician

Gear IQ 855

groovegsus

groovegsus

Gear IQ 264

minas_chantzides

minas_chantzides

Gear IQ 157

johndperales

johndperales

Gear IQ 60

minas_chantzides

minas_chantzides

Gear IQ 157

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compatibles2

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