thoughts
iPad Guitar Possibilities
Today, Apple released the iPad. While I have little that doubt it will be a success as a web browser and game machine, I can’t help but imagine its possibilities as a music device for guitar players.
First Things First
Naturally, to be useful as an audio device, it needs audio input and output. It appears that the dock jack will be able to provide this. Hopefully one of the many audio or guitar companies out there will create a dedicated audio input device with 1/4” input and output jacks. Even cooler would be a wireless input/output device. Once this initial obstacle is removed, the possibilities start to take off.
Basics
At heart, the iPad is a tablet computer with a touch-screen interface. So software is the key. Of course, it could be used as a tuner or metronome, but those are minor applications. I imagine even bigger possibilities. Let me share a few...
Live Use
Because the iPad is thin, light, and flat, it would be ideal for placing on a music stand. Imagine a music notation application with a foot pedal to change pages. How cool would that be. The most basic text reader application could probably hold and dsiplay all your chord and lyric sheets. This would be a great thing for a guitarist playing in a church worship band, for example.
If it is powerful enough, versions of guitar software like Guitar Rig or AmpliTube could be used live making it the ultimate portable rig. Individual effects could be made into apps also.
Recording
A basic DAW should be easy to pull off. Something like Garage Band would be great for capturing ideas and building tracks. Again software modeling could play a big role. It could also be a great DAW contoller, either a DAW running on the iPad or one running on a seperate, and more powerful computer (with some form of USB or wireless connection.) Since it uses touch screen technology, sliding virtual faders on the screen would be the next best thing to actual faders on a mixer.
Education
Imagine having a guitar method book that plays back audio or video with a touch of the music on screen. While not the same as interacting with a real teacher, it would be better than what we have now. With a wireless connection and video chat software, it could possibly even be used for remote lessons.
Other Ideas
These are just obvious (to me) ideas I came up with quickly. I am sure there will be many more possibilities I (and others) haven’t yet thought of (and publishers are probably working on.) It should be interesting to see how things progress...