Recording with Garageband for IOS

Question

I wanted to share a recording or two using the ipad so that people could see that garageband for IOS doesn't suck.  I didn't spend too much time throwing them together, but at the same time they're not too horrible either. They give a pretty decent idea of what a 1st gen ipad with a 5 dollar app is capable of in regards to guitar and shred-type guitar stuff. I'm kind of sick of reading and listening to scathing reviews on how the ipad and Garageband in particular is for non-musicians and noobs who want to sound like they're making music... (ooo that could describe me... yikes!) If I could have had an ipad-like device when I was just getting started, I think that I would be a much better player today. I am totally blown away at the expectations people have of a 5 dollar program, when they haven't spent the time trying to see what it does do well. Anyways, here's hoping that this post helps people out that are trying to find out what the capabilities of an ipad with GB are, especially if they are a guitarist. At the end of the day, it is still the person using the device that either makes it sound horrible, mediocre or amazing...
So anyways, I decided to make a quick track where I didn't spend too much time on the music, and I used only what was in GB in regards to my tones and stuff; That means all stock amp and pedal combinations. I also wanted a track that focused on guitar parts, and making the best of what the app has to offer. I'm sure with some tweaking and mucking around there could be some much cooler tones generated, but hey... it is what it is. Also, I used a Godin LGXT direct into the ipad with an Apogee Jam. Very inexpensive. Bass and drums were recorded with the Line6 Mobile25. The tablet's screen works too, but I find that the keyboard is a lot more accurate, especially for drums. Obviously, you could go into the drum and guitar parts and edit and tweak the parts further, creating drum parts that feel and sound a bit more lifelike, but I didn't do that here; this one was about direct recorded electric guitar...
https://soundcloud.com/jayesskerr/ipadgination
Arguably, you could also record your stuff via microphones also. In this case I used a Roland VS880 as a mixer (It was handy), with 4 CAD microphones connected to it to capture my drum kit. (I'm not much of a drummer, but you get the idea...) I then just lined out of the VS880 into the apogee Jam into the ipad. BANG! This app could work very easily for drummers also... or people who must have their tone and not a digital preset...
https://soundcloud.com/jayesskerr/just-drums
I own a couple of good mac boxes loaded with killer software, and I also have some decent interfaces. They are pretty superior in regards to the amount of options that they present, without a doubt. And then when you include all of the 3rd party plugins and loops and stuff that you can get... well, it's very, very nice. The ipad intrigued me because it's self contained, and is extremely portable. It has limitations which force one to be kind of clever in order to work around them. Also, the recording process with an ipad is very, very quick. Setup time is minimal.  So anyways, with just Garageband, and an Apogee Jam (I have the irig connector also, but in my opinion the Jam is so much superior...). The only other thing I'd reccomend is the Line6 Mobilekeys25 which I used here; MUCH easier to enter notes in on bass and drums. Here's some points to sum up my opinions on my experience with the device;
No it's not better than Logic or Cubase or prottols or something with an interface. It's only a 5 dollar app on a 600 dollar tablet (In my case an outdated 1st generation ipad).
There's only 8 tracks, but you can bounce and merge.
The amount of sections is limited, but you can work around that too...
It's extremely portable. Way less gear to haul and set up, but feel free to use your own stuff with it also...
GB on a tablet is very, very easy to learn. Super intuitive and quick to use.
The amount of sections is limited, but again you could always just make another song project and then stitch it together later...
The amp and pedal emulations aren't as good as Guitar Rig, a line6 Pod Pro hd, or a FAS Axe-FXII. But they aren't horrible, they are certainly pretty good for the price of 5 bucks...
If you're broke/poor and want to get into recording and sharing your music, this is the ideal way to go about it. Your recording device (The ipad) also makes documents, does email, takes and edits pictures, takes and edits video... The only thing standing in the way of you sounding great is you...
The 'merge track' option is a powerful tool, especially on your midi tracks.
No pitch correction. Waaaaaahhh boo hoo! You're gonna have to learn how to sing. Plus, it's only 5 bucks!
Don't want to use the internal drum sounds? Or want to use your amp's miced sound? Get a small mixer, and connect your mic to that. Then connect the mic to the Apogee Jam (There are other products out there that work better and in stereo, but this would do in a pinch) and you should be good to go.
I recommend using a small keyboard like the Line6 Mobile Keys 25 to enter your midi/virtual instruments stuff in. For me, using just the pad means more track editing after I enter it...
The last point is this; there's other software besides just GB. Cubasis anyone?
Anyways, thanks for checking this out, I hope that it helps, and if anyone else has any opposing viewpoints or points to add, please do.
http://www.guitarius.net
http://www.youtube.com/user/Scottulus

Answer 1

Yes, I do it all the time. The best I have found is the Apogee iMiC. Here is a link.  http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/mic.php