audio devices – Studio Six Digital

Lightning and USB C Audio Devices

There are several ways to get audio into an iOS device for the AudioTools app. For Lightning devices, you can use the Apple Camera Connection kit, which is compatible with many USB audio devices, or you can use a Lightning connector audio interface.

We make iAudioInterface2, and have designed it to work closely with our AudioTools (and our other) apps, as a pro test & measurement interface, and for maximum portability and field use. We also make iTestMic2, and the iPrecisionMic and uPrecisionMic for precise, calibrated measurements.

Camera Connection Kit

Apple makes an adapter for the Lightning connector iOS devices that allows you to connect many digital audio devices. The main limitation is the the connected USB device cannot take any power from the iPad, so generally you have to power it with an external USB hub..In general, AudioTools will take input from any device that works with iOS.

MFi Devices

The other option is to use an Mfi (Made For iPad) device. Theses devices have passed Apple testing, connect via USB digital audio using the dock connector, and have the ability to either run from iPad power, or to charge the iPad.

This table summarizes the devices that we have tested with AudioTools.

Feature	iAudioInterface2	Alesis IO Dock	Focusrite iTrack Solo	Tascam iU2	Apogee Duet iOS
Phantom Power Microphone Input	Yes — One channel	Yes – 2 channels	Yes – One channel	Yes – 2 channels, uses 1/4″ – XLR adapter	Yes – 2 channels
Line Input	Yes, balanced, +50 dBu maximum	Yes, shared with mic inputs, 0.0 dBu max	Yes, guitar input, 0.0 dBu maximum	Yes, -1.0 dBu maximum	Yes, share with mic, max input +20 dBu
Portable operation	Yes	No	No	Yes, w/o phantom	No
Phantom Works Without External Power Supply	Yes	No – Requires AC adapter	No	No	No
Charges iPad	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Fixed Input Gain Settings	Yes	No	No	No	No
Impedance Test*	Yes	No	No	No	No
Digital Audio Output for 5.1 Signals*	Yes – Toslink	No	No	SPDIF out, does not work for 5.1 signals	No
Measure Loaded Output Signal*	Yes	No	No	No	No
*using AudioTools app

We will be adding more devices as we test them