In our previous accessories article from late November last year, we featured a number of iOS DJ accessories that would have been more than welcome around many an iOS DJ’s Christmas tree.
As with most digital technology though, things move fast, and with the new iPad and a rash of new DJ software come another batch of accessories. Today we look at four of those that have most caught our attention.
Get the perfect angle for your iPad with the iKlip Studio.
iKlip Studio
Price: US$29
Rating:
IK Multimedia not only produces the iRig Mix unit we reviewed earlier, but it also make stands for iPads.
This one is useful because it can be folded down flat for easy transportation. It can be adjusted to a number of angles and the iPad rests snugly (horizontally or vertically) in the groove along the bottom of the stand. This stand also includes a detachable iRig mountable bracket for those musicians among us who want to plug in a guitar or microphone. The four rubber foot pads ensure the stand doesn’t slip around during use.
I found the iKlip Studio to be a perfect companion to my iPad when using DJ apps. I could set the angle to be shallow when using the iPad in isolation, or increase the angle for use with a USB Midi controller. So for those of us who can’t afford the luxurious Arktis stands featured in the last article these are a practical and affordable alternative.
Buy from: Amazon.com
The new AIODJ Pro cable has taken on board some of our suggestions from last year's review.
AOIDJ Pro Cable
Price: US$52
Rating:
We reviewed the AIODJ All-In-One DJ Cable last year and made some recommendations about the length of the cables. These points were taken on board and the cable has been updated, with the Pro version now available.
All audio connectors and jacks are gold plated, the cable is higher quality and the length of the USB cable has been extended to 1.5m, which means you can set your iPad up for DJing further away from the power source. The rest of the functionality provided by the cable is identical to the version we reviewed previously; it’s still the “Swiss Army knife” of cables, and only concerned with audio. If the cable could handle charging the device or Midi transport then you could use it conjunction with a USB Midi controller; give me that functionality and it’ll get the full five stars!
Buy from: eBay
Give your device a boost!
Stereomusik Systems Output Booster
Price: €129 €49.90
Rating:
Stereomusik Systems produce a number of high quality audio products, including the original audio splitter cable for iOS devices, but the recent addition of the Output Booster connectors has got our attention. iOS devices have low audio output volumes, so when connecting up to a mixer you may need to raise the gain considerably.
Of course, you can use these with any audio device with a low audio output volume. With a gold plated connections and a spring loaded ground mechanism, these connectors provide a boost of an impressive 30dB.
Buy from: Stereomusik Systems on eBay
The most compatible controller for iOS DJ apps?
iDJ2Go Midi Controller
Price: N/A
Rating:
This budget USB midi controller from iON Audio is almost identical to the Numark DJ2GO
The reason I’ve listed this particular controller is that it currently works with a couple of apps with another soon to be added: Algoriddim’s djay; iDJ2Go / Deej from Inqbarna; and DJ Dex (support coming soon). Full details can be found on the iON Audio website.
Buy from: Due soon
What do you think?
Are there any accessories for iOS that we’ve missed? Have you got any of the above? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Now go to:
Review: iRig Mix Mobile iOS Mixer
Review: DJ Dex for iPad
Review: DJ Rig For iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch
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Tags: dj splitter cables, ios, ios djing
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Hi –
[ link ]I think it’s quite useful to mention that the Yumatron Output Boosters do not actually amplify the signal, but change the specifications, so they are only compatible to a mixer with a phono Input. But the question still is:
when will there be a devive or cable which charges your Ipad and lets you use a USB midi controller at the same time?
Well clarified. Great thinking from the designers though – a crafty idea indeed!
[ link ]Great article. However, the iOS accessory that I am most interested in is a wired MIDI connection (ideally one that also charges the iPad). I’m using TouchOSC to control Traktor over wifi and the latency is an issue. I would love to see a Digital DJ Tips comparison review of some of theses products:
[ link ]1) Alesis IO Dock
2) iConnect MIDI
3) TASCAM iU2
4) iRig MIDI
5) Behringer iStudio
There actually is a device that has already been featured on this sight that uses a wireless midi connection and charges the iOS device…the Vestax V-Midi. It will let you charge your device, use a controller and cue music (although its still in mono).
[ link ]Yes, but what I want to do is use the iPad as a midi controller to control Traktor on my laptop. So I need a wired midi USB connection between my iPad and laptop. I don’t believe this is possible with the Vestax V-Midi.
[ link ]Yes! Me too!
[ link ]Have you considered the Numark Mixdeck quad
[ link ]I can’t believe the how identical the “IDJ2G0″ is to the “DJ2GO” by Numark…Curious to know if I can use my Numark “DJ2GO” with the Djay application?
[ link ]Not directly (at the moment). There’s a directory in the DJay app set of folders on your iOS device that holds the midi mappings for each midi controller;
ION iDJ2GO.djayMidiMapping
[ link ]Numark Mixdeck Quad.djayMidi
Numark iDJ Live.djayMidiMapping
Vestax Spin.djayMidiMapping
STEREOMUSIK SYSTEMS one of the developers of DJ PLAYER and Red Bull BPM DJ invented the Output Booster
They’re made for professional usage in clubs not exactly for home usage, praxis tested in many famous clubs all around the world. They work perfectly with club DJ mixers from Rane, Allen & Heath, Denon, Pioneer and others, providing high quality sound and giving you an incredible boost to your iPad audio output.
It’s hard not to love the warm sound that the phono input adds to the Output Booster, and once DJs play with them they never want to do without it again.
It’s fact, not marketing, and we’re happy sending you a pair for a review.
BTW we do not agree that DJs will need to charge their iPads during their sets – too many unnecessary cables. The iPad runs for 10-12 hours so you need just one RCA cable and an Output Booster, plug it in, switch to Phono and you’re good to go.
Greetings from from Germany // DJ PLAYER Support team
[ link ]This is a brilliant idea – well done. Shame the price seems very high.
[ link ]If you are going to mention the IDJ2GO then you should also really mention the Behringer CMD Micro, which is similar but looks like it could be superior in a number of ways:
[ link ]http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/CMD-MICRO.aspx
No word yet on what software it will work with though…
We’re looking forward to reviewing the CMD Micro.
[ link ]