Looking for a Cost Effective Lightning to USB 3 Adapter and Portable Audio Interface for GarageBand

ozchappy on 19/10/2024 - 19:52
Last edited 06/11/2024 - 13:05 by 1 other user

I hope this is in the right forum - please move to the correct forum if necessary.

I'm trying to help my brother who is a moderately experienced musician, but not very tech savvy.

He wants to learn how to make music on his iPad and/or iPhone, preferably with GarageBand. He first had an Android tablet, and I showed him how to use its microphone and an app called BandLab, which he managed to get the hang of, but he's used GarageBand in the past, prefers it and now that he has Apple devices, he'd like to use GarageBand again.

I want to help him set up his iPad Air (3rd Gen) to record his guitar, singing, keyboard etc. directly to GarageBand without using the built in microphones on the iPad Air.

This Youtube video explains what I want to do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LlQkBY5HII

I've been told that the best way to do this is with the official Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter which costs $65 AUD plus a portable audio interface such as a Focusrite, which I have no knowledge about whatsoever.

The reason I'd need the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter is because the portable audio interfaces need power from the extra lightning input on the Apple Camera Adapter, it then uses the USB input to connect to the audio interface. I hope that made sense.

I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience doing something like this, whether there are any cheaper options than the official Apple adapter, which isn't that much TBH and I know how finicky Apple can be without their genuine products.

The main bargain I'm looking for would be a decent portable audio interface that will work with the setup I've described above. I don't know anything about these audio interfaces, so any tips or recommendations of decent and reasonable inexpensive ones would be very helpful, I'm happy to buy refurbished or second hand, if the discount is good enough, so long as there's some kind of warranty.

Also, I'd be happy to hear any other advice, or options I have, or perhaps other ways to get direct instrumental input into an iPad or iPhone without relying on their built in microphones.

Thanks in advance.

• 

  sumyungguy on 19/10/2024 - 21:15

  +1

  I suggest you head over to r/ipadmusic. Please consider Logic Pro in preference to GarageBand.

  • 

    ozchappy on 19/10/2024 - 21:36

    Thank you kind sir!

  • 

    admira on 19/10/2024 - 22:07

    Why Logic Pro for someone starting out? Garage band is pretty functional for something included for free in IOS - sure logic pro has an actual mixer functionality and others but for starting out, nothing wrong with garageband, and the skills transfer pretty easily to logic pro when they are ready - at least thats my view but probably something I'm missing?

    • 

      sumyungguy on 19/10/2024 - 22:22

      +1

      It became available for iPad only last year and is rated a killer app. So why in 2024 start out in Garageband then have to migrate? Not hating on GB, just that when OP's brother, a moderately experienced musician moves on to a desktop he'll likely go with LP. To quote from a Redditor: you don’t need to learn how to ride a bike to learn how to drive a car; just start driving the car.

      • 

        ozchappy on 19/10/2024 - 22:30

        Back when he started GarageBand, it was from a Macbook Pro that I bought him, unfortunately that was stolen within 6 months and he lost a lot of his music because back then, the cloud wasn't a thing, or if it was, it wasn't a very big thing. This was like, over 10 years ago at least, probably longer. That's when he became familiar with GarageBand and loved its ease of use.

        But I do imagine that he will want to get either another Macbook or Mac going forward. Again, I appreciate your advice sumyungguy.

        • 

          sumyungguy on 19/10/2024 - 22:45

          +1

          @ozchappy: Also, here's the Scarlett connection guide in case you haven't seen it already

          • 

            ozchappy on 19/10/2024 - 22:51

            @sumyungguy: Thanks, I'll check it out. I have what looks like 20 tabs open right now, I've put that link in a bookmark folder and will definitely get around to it.

            I do appreciate the help from this community, OzBargain has a really nice community. Thanks again.

        • 

          BewareOfThe Dog on 20/10/2024 - 09:58

          @ozchappy: 16gb ram is better for music than 8gb, especially if he starts using mainstage or gig performer.

• 

  admira on 19/10/2024 - 22:24

  +1

  Have a look at this video:

  https://youtu.be/oZGd2tHDRPE?si=LfqApd9FpntDOODj&t=128

  Recommendations there are:

  Steinberg IXO22 2x2 USB Audio Interface - ~$170
  Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB Interface - ~$200
  Prosonus Audiobox USB96 (with the note of reduced audio quality) - $99

  Thats new, you can look on marketplace and see what you can pick up :)

• 

  ozchappy on 19/10/2024 - 22:27

  +1

  Cheers admira, that's given me a couple of other things to research.

  I appreciate it a lot. Right now, at this early stage, I'm trying to get him back into creativity and he has talent as a musician for sure. It's just that life hasn't dealt him the best of hands.

  • 

    admira on 21/10/2024 - 09:08

    Quite possible those ideas I gave are a bit over the top - I certainly began recording on a similar setup to what you suggest, a Apple lightning to USB that allowed me to plug in a USB mic to that. It worked pretty well, I would recommend getting a legit one though as I tried with a non name brand version which worked for about a week.

• 

  Davo1111 on 20/10/2024 - 02:36

  Keep in mind he will could be upgrading his devices and they will be USB c

• 

  teajay74 on 21/10/2024 - 00:53

  +2

  Where are you located? It's possible I can give you mine. I was selling it for $10 on Facebook Marketplace but the buyer seems to have given up.

  If you're in Melbourne area I could give it to you for nothing. I used a Blue Yeti mic with it at one stage.

  • 

    ozchappy on 21/10/2024 - 19:02

    Unfortunately I'm not close to Melbourne. I appreciate the offer though.