Routing multitrack output to bluetooth earbuds

DuskDave

Hello all,
I know the manual specifically says that you can't combine USB and headphone out for bluetooth earbuds but is this likely to change anytime soon or is it just impossible?
It would be very handy to have the USB handle the backing while clicks and cues are routed to earbuds direct from the iPad.
Thanks
D

peter

No, most likely this will never be implemented by Apple. In fact, I think the combine option will vanish completely in the future because devices with a headphone output will get extinct.

Another reason why it will never be implemented is the latency of bluetooth earbuds. You can not combine an output with near 0 latency and one with at least 50ms latency.

DuskDave

peter
Thanks for the reply, Peter. I just needed to know.
My iPad runs iOS 17 but it also has the 3.5mm output so I'm thinking of getting a low-latency bluetooth dongle in the headphone socket as a way of pairing the earbuds?
I'm hoping I can mitigate any noticeable latency in the studio. It's only cues and reminders which don't need to be spot-on as far as timing goes.
Thanks again 🙂

Skid

the only way for zero latency it to use RF headphone wireless trans/receiver. Lots on Bay for $40

DuskDave

Skid
Thanks, Skid.
The stuff I will use the earbuds for is not hugely time-critical: my actual backing tracks are going front-of-house via usb and an interface. All, I want in my ears is the occasional reminder of when a looper is kicking in to record something or which verse I should change from guitar to keyboard so even 500ms latency would not be unworkable.
I'm hoping a bluetooth 5.3 / aptx capable transmitter in the ipad socket will give me much better than this so I might post my results once I've had a chance to do some bench tests.