Which Ipad / windows laptop do you use with stagetraxx?

LynnMarie

May sound a silly question, thinking of going back to performing in small venues, and have been trialling the free version of the app on my iPhone which is fab, and want to upgrade to the full version. I have an iMac desktop and it works great with screen mirroring/hosting etc, but obviously to large to take to a gig. My current obsolete iPad (very old iPad 2 now unsupported with most apps) and my 10 year old windows laptop (which doesn't even pick up my bluetooth from my iPhone) need to be buried and I need to invest in a refurbed or 2nd hand iPad, or laptop of some kind so it can support Stagetraxx. I previously have been using Bandhelper which was great on my windows laptop but am experiencing more issues with this on my iPad and I like the versatility and ease of use of Stagetraxx. Trying to figure out what would be my best option to purchase without breaking the bank, and what is your gig setups? I would need to bluetooth to my Yamaha stagepas for sound, but need something larger than a phone screen for lyrics. (older age setting in!)

Lishy

I bought a mint condition ipad air 3 not that long ago for £200. It has a 10.5" screen which I think is an ideal size for attaching to a mic stand (I certainly wouldn't want anything bigger) and it still has the headphone jack which I need for running backing tracks to our mixer. This also saves on having any other adapter too. I've also come from using bandhelper too and find Stage traxx much more user friendly.

peter

I would recommend a 2021 iPad. It still has a headphone output, is fast enough and can run with the latest iOS versions for a couple of years to come. If you want to buy used/refurbished don't buy anything older than 2017. The device should at least be compatible with iOS 15.

LynnMarie

Thanks both, I’ll keep an eye on eBay. Was thinking 2018 6th gen iPad. My stagepas is Bluetooth only.

rockit

peter peter do you know if stagetraxx works with 9th generation i pads im thinking og getting that or a ipad pro 10.5 inch, any advice as per how to connect it to mixer? and ios version lifespan etc thanks

rockit

Lishy peter do you know if stagetraxx works with 9th generation i pads im thinking og getting that or a ipad pro 10.5 inch, any advice as per how to connect it to mixer? and ios version lifespan etc thanks. how would these models compare to your air3 thanks

peter

Do you really need to ask this question in so many threads?

MAXX

Lishy and, don't forget, using a ST3 compatible device With A Headphone Out, you can send a stereo signal to FOH using a compact DAC device (in lieu of a much larger interface. Your Headphone Out can handle monitor duty.

peter

True, but a decent audio interface with 4 outputs can be bought for just 100 Euro and that will have the benefit of a much cleaner setup (less cables to the iPad). So personally I prefer using a multichannel audio interface.

Damir

rockit do you know if stagetraxx works with 9th generation i pads im thinking og getting that or a ipad pro 10.5 inch,

I’ve just purchased another 10.5 inch iPad Pro 9th gen 256 gb wifi only for $640 au that has headphone Jack , apparently they are selling like hotcakes and are sold out in lots of shops, I thought I would grab one as a spare as the absolutely new one I bought drove me nuts not having the headphone Jack so I gave it to my wife and kept my original iPad Pro, I hate going backwards with shitty adapters and tack on outboard gear when all I want is a stereo out.
I am hoping in my lifetime there won’t be any cables needed and a perfect audio connection would be always present at a 100m distance with once off simple setup.
Bluetooth is a start, it’s a baby that’s learning to crawl I want to be able to run 😂

Tecboy

Now that I am using stems, I see my ipad air 3rd gen cpu levels are getting up there. I have a gig tomorrow and I m worried that im going to start popping. Happened a few times while setting up. Any suggestions to get me through? Higher buffer. i have now set it to 1024, higher ok? I love the stems, my sound is so much more controllable. Now im addicted to stems. That could be a bad thing for my cpu, I guess

peter

1024 is the highest buffer iOS devices can use. Higher than that has only effect on macOS.

If you already get audible artefacts during testing, there is only one way forward: reduce the number of stems. Mixdown stems where you don't need separation to multiple outputs or live balance control.

Avoid speed & pitch changes in Stage Traxx. Bake them into the files in your DAW.

The only other alternative would be a faster device. The iPad Air 3 has an A12 CPU which is quite slow by todays standards. Even the current entry level A16 iPad is more than twice as fast.