Ipad Air 4th Generation. Any cable on the market to connect to a MIDI master keyboard?

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Ipad Air 4th Generation. Any cable on the market to connect to a MIDI master keyboard?

Hello, I am really upset, and I hope anyone can help resolving my anger. It appears that Ipad Air 4th generation cannot be used with a midi master keyboard connected via cable because it has a USB C socket as opposite to the lighting USB port of the old Ipads.

I could not find any cable, so far, able to resolve the issue.

I suspect Apple genious believe I should be using bluetooth midi devices, but as they know this does not work well, master keyboards connected via bluetooth are usually affected by a tiny delay which makes dodgie, imprecise and very unprofessional the use of bluetooth.

Of course someone may tell me if I was a professional then you i should be using a macpro or something like that.

Very possible. But for now I can't. so I want to use gargeband on my Ipad and i should be able to!!!!!!

How on hearth Apple genious need to complicate simple things?!?!?!

This sucks big time.

Please let me know if you foresee a workaround (any cable I have missed or similar tricks).

Thanks in adavance.

Espaguetis

iPad Air, 16

Posted on May 13, 2023 1:08 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LotusPilot

Level 10

307,301 points

May 15, 2023 2:27 AM in response to Espaguetis

Neither cable illustrated above will address your problem. As the Keyboard has a USB Type-B connection, you’ll need to use something different…

While USB-C to USB Type-B cables are available from specialist outlets, I recommend that instead you use something much better that adds flexibility to your iPad. For example:

USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MUF82ZM/A

This Apple Adapter provides a USB3 Type-A, HDMI (supporting HDCP) and a USB-C pass-through power connector with which to connect your iPad’s USB-C Power Adapter or a USB-C portable PowerBank. With this you can use your existing USB Type-A to Type-B cable - and keep your iPad powered (and charging) if needed. You also have benefit of being able to simultaneously connect an external monitor should you ever need to.

Alternatively, consider a USB-C hub - this potentially providing a combination of additional USB-C and Type-A ports and other interfaces. If considering a hub, I’d strongly recommend a Kingston Nucleum - this being known to work well with iPad and Mac:

https://www.kingston.com/unitedkingdom/en/memory-card-readers/nucleum-usb-type-c-hub

Given your presumed timezone, the above link is to the UK Kingston website - however, the Nucleum is relatively easy to find in other online retailers such as Amazon.

Other good quality hubs are available. In addition to the Kingston Nucleum, you might also consider Anker, Hyperdrive and Satechi - although there are many from which to choose. A Google Search for USB-C Hubs compatible with iPad will find a number of articles and recommendations, but if choosing an alternative, ensure that its specification explicitly list compatibility with iPad.

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Answer 2

LotusPilot

Level 10

307,301 points

May 14, 2023 11:26 AM in response to Espaguetis

So as to fully understand the nature of your connection difficulty, were you previously using a USB Type-A to Lightning cable - or something else?

If you were using the USB Type-A to Lightning cable as illustrated above, this clearly won’t be usable with an iPad Air4. Instead, you will require a certified USB Type-A to USB-C cable:

mophie USB-A Cable with USB-C Connector (1 m)

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/HN892ZM/A

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Answer 3

Espaguetis Author

Level 1

4 points

May 15, 2023 2:01 AM in response to LotusPilot

Hello LotusPilot,

many thanks for your reply. It helps a lot a gives me hope! :)

to clarify my post, in the past I used to have an old Ipad which would work with the lighting web camera Kit, but last year I moved to an Ipad Air 4th generation. Hence the issue.

Your suggestion sounds great to me.

However, now a new issue arises: the master keyboard (a piano Roland FP30X) has a USB port B, not C....

is there any cable like the one you suggested but USB-B to USB-C or at least an adapter (female USB-C to male USB-B) so that I can fully converta data signals?

Thanks!

Espaguetis

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