What is the most failsafe Multi-Track/USB setup?

ginacc

Hi - I've been running my system with an iPad 9 (lighting port) using the headphone port (click R, tracks L) -- I use the lighting port with the Apple camera adapter to run my video show, so I cannot run the sound out the lighting port.

This has worked PERFECTLY for 3 years and I've never had any issues with playback (EXCEPT the one time the iPad got overheated during an outdoor show.) I really do not want to "fix" what's not broken, BUT I also would really love to upgrade to the USB-C iPad so I can take advantage of running multi-tracks out to our X32. For some reason I am terrified to take this plunge. I just do not want to introduce any issues. I've been reading on the forums that some folks are having their tracks stop in the middle of a song and that would be catastrophic for us. We're playing big 2-3K seat shows. I can't have mistakes like that.

So what's everyone using that has been failsafe so far? I'm wondering if I should buy a MacMini instead of another iPad and run the tracks from there. I already own a MacBookPro but it's running the video show, and I can't afford a second one.

Share your multitrack setup, please?

peter

Playback only stops when the audio output is disconnected. So the most important step is to ensure that the connection is stable. With usb-c that might be a bit of a problem on stage with lots of moving components. Make sure that whatever you connect to the usb-c port is secured.

Using a Mac for playback might be a good idea but there is currently no good way to remote control it. Version 4 will improve that. Then the most reliable way to playback could be a Mac backstage remote controlled via iPad on stage.

ginacc

peter Ah, thank you Peter!

SmoothMoodProject

Also consider incorporating a second completely identical iPad playing exactly at the same time the same track on a separate channel on the mixer muted. Should something happens you can just understand mute the channel and continue with the smallest interruption possible.

Maybe a side chained ducker also could be utilised or automix so the process is automatically activated.

Damir

SmoothMoodProject good thinking! Its very important to have a good simple backup plan , if you run more devices that have identical ST3 software it would be great to have them runing the audio in parallel and use one as an instant backup,
Why not if its there, and you have a very important gig you cant afford big mistakes.

peter

SmoothMoodProject Also consider incorporating a second completely identical iPad playing exactly at the same time the same track on a separate channel on the mixer muted. Should something happens you can just understand mute the channel and continue with the smallest interruption possible.

This is very good idea but you need to make sure that both iPads start playback at the same time. So you need some kind of midi solution that sends the start / stop commands to both iPads.