2. The bridge between iPad and USB controllers: Camera Connection Kit
After you’ve chosen the right iPad, you’ll quickly notice that the device does not have a traditional USB port. For example, to connect a keyboard or audio interface, you need the Camera connection kit from Apple. Even if it is made for camera, the somewhat expensive adapter allows the musician USB devices to connect. When choosing the right adapter, you should be careful. Some China shops offers Apple adapter imitation which are available for a few dollars only. Here I advise you against these clone adapters, since most of these adapters neither work properly on the iPad or can cause problems for a long time. To be safe, you should spend a little more money and buy the original one. Also here you should be careful which Apple adapter you should buy.
In the beginning of music making on iOS, most musicians bought the traditional lightning to USB camera adapter but these purchase behaviour changed over the last years. Apple released some years ago a complete new adapter, the Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter, which allow musicians not only to connect their MIDI or Audio hardware in it but also to power at the same time the iPad. The biggest problem here was always the high energy consumption of these audio devices when they have connected to the iPad. With the release of the new adapter, there is finally a solution for this. With the help of the classic Lightning cable, you can charge the iPad either with the power cable or even with a mobile power-bank without removing the controller. For this I strongly recommend not to buy an older adapter but immediately to go for the larger adapter.
Even if you can find cheaper prices on Amazon, I absolutely recommend you to buy the adapter from an Apple store or web-store. In recent times, many people complained that they received cloned adapters from Amazon and for this reason, I prefer to buy at Apple itself.
You can find it here: Apple Camera Connection Kit
3. A power bank for the maximum use of mobile music making
Music apps, USB controllers, etc. can take very much juice of the iPad in a short time. So that you can make music everywhere without having to hang at the outlet, I recommend a PowerBank to the mobile setup. It doesn’t cost a lot but simply your workflow outside per example a lot. I currently use in my mobile setup a AUKEY Powerbank with 20.000 mAh which gives me minimum a complete full status for the day and allows me to use my iPad a whole day without charging it at a socket. This upgrade doesn’t cost a lot but worth the money a lot. Beside this particular powerbank, it exist a lot of other for the same price or even less.
Available here: AUKEY Powerbank 20.000 mAh
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