At this year’s NAMM Show, Focusrite introduced the iTrack Dock, an iPad docking system for musicians. It’s now available, with a street price of about US $200.
This video offers an overview of the iTrack Dock and demo of how it works.
Note: The first 4 minutes focus on unboxing and registering the device. A technical demo follows.
The iTrack Dock offers dual Focusrite microphone preamps, two line inputs and an instrument DI, independent stereo monitor and headphone outputs, and a USB port for class-compliant MIDI instruments and controllers. The iTrack Dock is designed to offer everything needed to record, monitor and control music on a Lightning iPad. It even charges and powers the iPad at the same time.
The iTrack Dock is compatible with all Lightning iPads including iPad (4th Gen), iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad mini with retina display. See the Focusrite site for more info.
Does its usb a type work as USB host? Anyone know?
It’s a good question (I don’t know why all the hate).
Another way of asking is does it act like a one-port hub, i.e., passing the input straight into the iPad. E.g., could you plug a QWERTY keyboard into it, etc.
Yes! It works as USB host!
I guess that would mean that a simple USB to MIDI DIN interface could be attached. (Like a MIDI Sport UNO).
A *gross* omission from this product is the MIDI DIN ports! So my Supernova, Virus C and other pre-USB machines are all officially junk now eh? This is a seriously dumb design choice, and leaves the market wide open for Alesis and Behringer, at least to those with hardware in their studios more than a few years old.
Not just old stuff. My two year old malletKAT is midi only. No midi no buy. Everything should have standard midi, leaving it out is taking a dump on 30 odd years of legacy hardware. At least a breakout cable for the usb port…
Why so many dislike? all you people threw out your midi cables?
DIN MIDI would have been nice, but connect this to an iConnectMIDI hub and you’d have a very flexible setup.
You don’t have a USB to midi adapter? They are rather inexpensive. I suggest you pick one up … even if you don’t buy this product …
Can’t you just get a Midi to USB cable to control the older synths?
Who knows if that would work or not? Can’t tell from any of their info. Can anyone work this out?
Admin: Personal attack deleted. Please keep your comments on topic and constructive!
FYI – the Alesis StudioDock has DIN MIDI In/Out, if you need that:
http://www.alesis.com/iodock
This looks like it’s got a lot better audio IO, though.
Just my 2c but I have two iO Docks and am very happy with them, mainly because for a 30pin iPad, they were the best option at the time for me. For my iPad 4 (before I got my iCM4+) I was using a 30pin extension cable and a 30pin to lighting connector, so it wasn’t hanging out the side and could put it on a stand.
I’m quite surprised that there hasn’t been a competitor before now, whether this is it or not.
The Behringer iStudio is a competitor to the Alesis IO dock. I have one – it’s nice. 😉
As someone notes below, Griffin’s StudioConnect HD is also a competitor.
i would buy this in a heartbeat if it had midi. whoever decided to omit it is a poopy head.
This looks like the one to beat. Not out yet. I guess the focusrite pres are probably better than Griffin’s, but this has a great feature set.
http://store.griffintechnology.com/studioconnect-hd
I’ve used two of the Griffin StudioConnects, and they are kind of problematic. It’s a bit noisy (especially when idle). I’ve had glitchy audio with itI’d say pass on that one unless you just need something cheap and not that hi-fi. OTOH, it does have all the connectivity for a decent price (got my for the blow-out price at Sweetwater).
Do you have any experience with the StudioConnect HD?
What a clever way to accommodate the different models of iPad!
I guess if they did some market research and decided that MIDI i/o wasn’t worth the added cost, then they can afford to lose whatever group of us would have insisted on it. I do think it is unfortunate. Especially since it could have been managed with a breakout cord and not much added cost (I imagine).
It’s interesting that they use “Instrument” input instead of “high-z”, leaving you to wonder if it is truly a high impedance input. A keyboard is an instrument, an acoustic guitar with a piezo is an instrument. But the impedance difference is night and oranges.
I have this item. It has a USB port that will connect and power (500ma) any USB controller. Now if you actually own an midi DIN only keyboard, I guess you need to figure something out if you really want this. But really, modern devices like this are probably not for you. 😀
Actually, to be honest (with no lame attempts at humor), I haven’t tried this yet. It’s pretty stange the way they did it no? I’m wondering if one of my (I have about 4) USB midi cables with works with this.
Apparently it IS USB host. How this can be is beyond me, but if it is like an iConnect HUB, then that would be interesting. (I just don’t have time to try it (just though i’d join the lively dialog 🙂 )
if you connect a usb keyboard that also has hardware midi in and out can you access it throught the apps?
I don’t know I haven’t tried it yet but it’s weird. I’ve never seen a AUDIO/MIDI USB interface with a USB host port. The only non Computer device i’ve seen like this is the iConnect MIDI hub.
I suggest you download the user guide to see. I just don’t have the time to play with it now, but am curious about this. Very odd indeed. Roland has some odd USB ports on some of there controllers for wireless midi, but my experience is limited.
correction: that’s ‘their’ controllers not ‘there’ controllers. (I hate that 😀 )
The AKAI EIE interfaces also have USB host ports, arguably the earliest ones with that feature.
Anyone knows can its usb be used with an external powered usb hub and then plugged multiple usb midi controller?
Not for a single midi controller but multiple
I can do that with camera connection kit. Btw
Occasionaly, can I use just the DOCK to conect USB to may IMAC and record using LOGIC? Thanks.