TUTORIAL: AC-7Pro & iPad/iPhone for DP 6.02 through 7.12!!

[Gerk]

Thanks for the reply James. I'll check out an airport card for my mac pro one of these days.

On the banks, yes that's the problem. Does it work the same with all control surfaces? I was eyeing up one of the Euphonics units but if it behaves the same way I don't think I'd bother

[James Steele]

Dunno about other control surfaces. But I think it's a MOTU setting.

[wabbitguy]

Thanks for the reply James. I'll check out an airport card for my mac pro one of these days.

On the banks, yes that's the problem. Does it work the same with all control surfaces? I was eyeing up one of the Euphonics units but if it behaves the same way I don't think I'd bother

The Euphonics MC Mix does the same bank thing. Haven't found a way around that so maybe, it is a DP thing.

[wabbitguy]

I finally got my iPad and the AC-7 Pro app for it. Had a bear of a time getting to going with sharing because there is no ethernet in or around the studio, it's all wireless network access or nothing.

Once I got that figured out, I tested the App in the studio and then out on one of the mastering Macs but via a wireless router. I think it was James that said it's faster without the router that's what I found. But it's not much of a lag, even less when I use the N router instead of the G (kill the mixed band for max speed). Quite impressive.

Cerntainly not as responsive as my MC Mix and maybe a little chatty from the MIDI stream I was picking up internally (just going to the wifibridge app not wireless; I think this is a DP thing). Apart from trying to figure out what works with DP and what doesn't, what sort of took the excitement out of it for me was:

Couldn't get the scrub wheel to work.
No Pause button in the transport controls.
Missing db level meters on the strips.

But there's no argument that it's worth every cent even in it's current state. I just really need those other things.

[James Steele]

I finally got my iPad and the AC-7 Pro app for it. Had a bear of a time getting to going with sharing because there is no ethernet in or around the studio, it's all wireless network access or nothing.

Well, I may amend my tutorial to suggestion going with the Computer-to-Computer option first. It may well have been that the issues I had with it were just an odd glitch and not typical at all. But having an airport card inside your DAW machine really is a must as you discovered.

Once I got that figured out, I tested the App in the studio and then out on one of the mastering Macs but via a wireless router. I think it was James that said it's faster without the router that's what I found. But it's not much of a lag, even less when I use the N router instead of the G (kill the mixed band for max speed). Quite impressive.

Glad that's working for you. One of the main issues with the router is not just the latency, but a problem inherent with DSMIDIWiFi. The method in which it communicates wirelessly has not sort of error checking for lost data, hence if you have a weak wireless signal or whatever other factors that come into play, data can be dropped and you might find yourself pressing a button twice to get something to happen or track names not updating, etc.

Couldn't get the scrub wheel to work.

That shouldn't be. You obviously have to have DP focused on a window where scrubbing works. You also have to enable the button next to the jog wheel or the wheel won't do anything. When you say scrubbing, what were you doing? I know that just going forward or backward on the timeline in the SE or TO works okay here.

No Pause button in the transport controls.

That's interesting... it didn't occur to me I guess because I just personally never use Pause... just Stop.

Missing db level meters on the strips.

You mean no numeric readout of the level? Unfortunately, that's a limitation of MOTU's Mackie Control driver from what I understand-- it just doesn't support this. That's why when the AC-7 Pro is in Logic mode, it actually can show you the track levels due to Logic's Mackie Control driver supporting this.

But there's no argument that it's worth every cent even in it's current state. I just really need those other things.

I hear you. Scubbing should work. db levels is MOTU's fix. Pause button... that's one Colin should consider adding I guess. Still it's a fun app for $10.

[wabbitguy]

Glad that's working for you. One of the main issues with the router is not just the latency, but a problem inherent with DSMIDIWiFi. The method in which it communicates wirelessly has not sort of error checking for lost data, hence if you have a weak wireless signal or whatever other factors that come into play, data can be dropped and you might find yourself pressing a button twice to get something to happen or track names not updating, etc.

Well, it's MIDI, which is essentially serial data and as such doesn't have error checking any way. So it's not something I expect at any level. Even the MC Mix doesn't have error checking. The broadcast about a zillion UDP packets and every now and then toss in a TCP packet to get things "in alignment".

That shouldn't be. You obviously have to have DP focused on a window where scrubbing works. You also have to enable the button next to the jog wheel or the wheel won't do anything. When you say scrubbing, what were you doing? I know that just going forward or backward on the timeline in the SE or TO works okay here.

Yep, that's what it was, thanks for that James. I didn't have the window focus on the tracks. But having to have the tracks window selected is not all that logical to me either. The MC Transport didn't care, the Mackie MCU didn't care either. And if a window must have "the focus" for the controls in it to work, that doesn't explain why you can be working in the Mixing Board window, and yet move to the markers in the Tracks window. Even DP will listen to control surfaces in the background. Just strikes me as being illogical. Probably been writing software for too long myself.

I did notice the scrubbing is pretty erratic on the router connection. MUCH smoother on the direct airport link!

That's interesting... it didn't occur to me I guess because I just personally never use Pause... just Stop.

I use Pause in the studio extensively for everything from starting a recording to setting up a punch in. I don't think I've ever used the Record without using the Pause. I hit Pause, Record, and when everyone settles down, I hit Play and everything is a go.

You mean no numeric readout of the level? Unfortunately, that's a limitation of MOTU's Mackie Control driver from what I understand-- it just doesn't support this. That's why when the AC-7 Pro is in Logic mode, it actually can show you the track levels due to Logic's Mackie Control driver supporting this.

I guess that's why Euphonix have their own drivers. I only used the Mackie MCU for a few days and that was a long time ago. Mostly I use the MC Mix now but it's transport controls are horrid. The MC Transport is a tad pricey.

I hear you. Scubbing should work. db levels is MOTU's fix. Pause button... that's one Colin should consider adding I guess. Still it's a fun app for $10.

I can live without the DB meters in the live room, no way in the control room. But the Pause button I really do need and really I'd like to use the iPad in the live room. Those transport, record and RTZ controls are worth it for me.

[wayneconnor]

Does it work with cuemix???

[jandron]

Forgive me if this has been covered before, but is there any chance that this will work with blutooth? I HAVE blutooth in my Mac Pro, but no airport card.

[wabbitguy]

Forgive me if this has been covered before, but is there any chance that this will work with blutooth? I HAVE blutooth in my Mac Pro, but no airport card.

Nope, Apple doesn't support Bluetooth wireless connections for internet sharing on the iPad. Airport, router or nothing.

I added both an airport and bluetooth card to my Mac Pro (picked them up off eBay). First off, they aren't easy to install, make sure if you buy a card it comes with the mounting screws and watch those antenna connections, Apple had a number of them in some Mac Pros that weren't labeled like they should have been.

[Grigri]

Hello!
I want to report another happy user of AC7 pro and iPad here.

I've been mixing one song all day and it worked flawlessly on my system.
I basically use it for writing fader automation. Nice app and I have gain an iPad in this process.
(I was looking at the mc mix from euphonix and the price of the iPad and ac7 is almost half of the mc mix...)

So thank to James for your help and tutorial for this nice app!

David

[wayneconnor]

Just to confirm this does NOT work with Cuemix DSP. I have the latest version of Cuemix and an 896 mk3.

The AC-7 is working fine - I can control garage band, but Cuemix won't recognise it. I emailed motu tech help and they replied saying "Currently, Cuemix FX supports Mackie Contol, Mackie HUI and Mackie Baby HUI protocols. Cuemix FX does not recognize virtual CoreMIDI ports. " SO that is a bit disapointing.

[James Steele]

Some guy said he got it working. I think I saw it on the MOTU-MAC email list. He used some sort of other software to do this and I'm pretty sure you can't use the bridge app when doing this. I'll try to find the email.

[wayneconnor]

O yes please find out how!!!
I've spend hours on it...
Wayne

[James Steele]

O yes please find out how!!!
I've spend hours on it...
Wayne

Found it. Last message (so far) in this thread:

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... 14&t=42096" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Please let me know if it works?

[wayneconnor]

o dear - I have a mac!
I have tried the Mac equivalent of MIDI yoke - IAC, and midipipe, and MIDIpatchbay but cuemix won't see virtual MIDI ports at all.