The Buyer’s Guide To Creating An iOS Studio

Welcome to our new feature in the MusicTech Essential Guide, where we choose a starter studio for a specific task or budget. This time, it’s everything you need for an iOS studio…

Headphones

You’ll want headphones rather than monitors for your mobile-music making sessions, and while there are many to choose from, they don’t come better than these…

Yamaha HPH-MT8
Price £170 (street)
Contact Yamaha
0844 811 1116 (UK)
Web www.yamahaproaudio.com
We said: “These ’phones stand up to models that cost a lot more – a great buy.”

Fostex TR Series
Price £155
Contact SCV London
0330 122 2500
Web www.scvdistribution.co.uk
We said: “Magnificent and dynamic. Our new go-to ’phone choice for music listening”

Audio Technica ATH-E70
Price £280
Contact Audio Technica
0113 277 1441
Web eu.audio-technica.com/en
We said: “If you want streamlined listening, these are as good as it gets.”

Blue Ella
Price £699
Contact Blue via website
Web www.bluemic.com
We said: “A spacious, tight, detailed and accurate sound. And they glow in the dark!”

Microphones

There are many solutions to record directly into your iOS device via a microphone. Here are our best four to choose from…

RØDE i-XY
Price £135 (street)
Contact Source Distribution
020 8962 5080
Web www.rode.com
We said: “Two mics in one, for a wider capture and a great RØDE sound make this a great iOS option.”

Sennheiser ClipMic Digital
Price £199
Contact Sennheiser
0333 240 8185
Web en-uk.sennheiser.com
We said: “A professional-sounding clip mic, that can be used for anything from journalism through to singing.”

Apogee MiC 96k
Price £185 (street)
Contact Sound Technology
01462 480000
Web www.soundtech.co.uk
We said: “A proper mic that plugs into your iOS device, delivering the quality you’d expect from Apogee.”

Shure MOTIV MV88 phone mic
Price £135
Contact Shure UK 01992 703058
Web www.shure.co.uk
We said: “A great phone mic – and you get some vintage Shure vibe, too.”

Interfaces

You don’t always need an interface when you’re out with your iOS device, but they’re great when you want to plug back into your studio.

Korg plugKEY
Price £85 (street)
Contact Korg on 01908 304600
Web www.korg.com
We said: “Turns your iPad or iPhone into a sound module/instrument. A great way to welcome your iOS device to your studio.”

Focusrite iTrack One Pre
Price £119 (street)
Contact 01494 462246
Web uk.focusrite.com
We said: “Use pro mics without external power. That, and the quality Focusrite preamp, makes this one of the best mobile devices we’ve looked at.”

IK Multimedia iRig Pro
Price €158
Contact IKM via website
Web www.ikmultimedia.com
We said: “You can plug pretty much any instrument into it, and therefore your iPad for recording.”

Apogee JAM 96k
Price €129
Contact Sound Technology on 01462 480000
Web www.soundtech.co.uk
We said: “Interface your guitar with your iOS device. The JAM is little bigger than a cigarette lighter, making it about as portable a solution as you could possibly desire.”

DAWs

The DAW is still the central component in your iOS studio – as it is with your desktop setup. Here are four great options to consider…

GarageBand
Price £4.99
Contact via website
Web www.apple.com
We said: “Your first port of call for iOS sequencing. It does so much for so little outlay. Astonishing.”

Korg Gadget
Price £19.99
Contact via website
Web www.korg.com
We said: “Probably the best music-making app on iOS. Amazing!”

Auria Pro
Price £34.99
Contact via website
Web auriaapp.com
We said: “The most ‘pro’ app here – and the ideal choice if you’re in a band and want to record gigs or studio sessions.”

Steinberg Cubasis 2
Price £49.99
Contact via website
Web www.steinberg.net
We said: “Among the best DAWs to blend old-school sequencing with new-school touch.”