Controller That Connects To Ipad

Something exciting for DJs who own iPads only happened. In a nutshell, the respond to the question "Will my DJ controller work with my iPad?" has just changed from "probably not" to "yes, it'southward pretty likely"!

With iOS6, we've learned that equally long every bit your DJ controller is "course compliant" (best test: when using it with a Windows laptop, information technology doesn't need audio drivers to be installed), it should work with iPad only as information technology is. The short of it? You may no longer need a Numark iDJ Live, iDJ Pro or Vestax Spin2 if you desire to use a DJ controller with iOS. And as iOS6 includes multi-road audio, your controller's sound card should work just fine too.

Before we start…

This is all new stuff. Many of the manufacturers we spoke to at BPM 2012 weren't fifty-fifty aware of this, and they too didn't know if their controllers were class compliant. It's also massive news because potentially your iPad could replace your laptop as your DJ computer – every bit of now!

Just information technology'south all experimental too. Nosotros want to know what does and doesn't work, then nosotros'd love yous to share your results. We've started a list of USB class compliant DJ controllers, but we want your help as well. Here'southward what you lot need to know and practice in club to exam your controller and showtime using your iPad in place of your laptop for DJing…

You'll demand a Photographic camera Connection Kit. This basically plugs into the connector on the base of your iPad and gives you a USB; information technology's this you'll plug your controller into. (As it simply works with iPad, currently if you lot want to use an external DJ controller with iPhone or iPod touch, you'll take to utilise 1 of the Apple approved models similar the iDJ Alive or Spin2 mentioned higher up)
Something'due south got to power your DJ controller. It more than likely the case that your iPad tin can't provide enough power. You'll therefore demand a powered USB hub, which has the added reward of also charging your iPad. If your DJ controller has a mains pb, you could plug it in and see what happens
You're going to need DJ software that can work with this. The start DJ app for iPad that advertises the ability to work with multi-route audio and have Midi mapping is DJ Histrion 5, so if you're serious about doing this, you'll want to go and take hold of a copy of that should you non already have one, and be prepared to start doing some mapping. But just for testing purposes, you can use free app Midi Monitor

How to practise it

Get Midi Monitor (or DJ Player 5) installed and running. Plug a camera connection kit into your iPad and USB that into your plugged in, powered hub. Put another USB between the hub and the iOS device fitted with the camera connection kit. That'due south it! Playing with controls on your DJ controller should now testify Midi messages beingness received on Midi Monitor, and on DJ Player 5 you should additionally see your DJ controller'south audio card recognised.

So, does your controller work? Great! Please let u.s.a. know. Your next stride is to come up with a mapping. Doesn't yours work? Sorry to hear that, but again allow us know – manufacturers ought to be because this stuff or adventure getting left seriously behind, so we can help by making them aware.

Video

Here's my video explaining all about this. I will be monitoring the comments below to answer bug, share tips and update the list of what does and doesn't piece of work with iOS 6.

Listing of course compliant DJ controllers

Here's the current list of controllers we know will work in this way with iPad. We'll continually update this as we discover out more…

Vestax: VCI-100, VCI-300, VCI-380, VCI-400, VFX-1, Spin, Spin2, Typhoon
Numark: MixTrack, MixTrack Pro, MixDeck Quad, iDJ Live, iDJ Pro, DJ2Go, N4
iONAudio: iDJ2Go
Behringer: CMD series (forthcoming)
DJ Tech: iMix, VTT 101
Faderfox: Most controllers
Novation: Dicers
Stanton: SCS3D and SCS3M
Pioneer: CDJ 900, CDJ 2000
American Audio: VMS4
AKAI Pro: LPD8
DJ TechTools: MidiFighter Classic, MidiFighter Pro
Korg: Nano Series 2
Denon: All

Then – don't forget to allow us know how it goes for you. If you lot've got any questions nigh using iPads and DJ hardware together, please enquire below.