Re: X16 Preview
Ugh.. please no. ...on several fronts.
Fundamentally I agree - I would much rather see an "x16" that is a smaller version of the X32 with physical control surfaces. But I think some of your criticisms of the iPad are a little over the top.
Apple has targeted it as a personal device tied to a personal account, so its not good for sharing.
Your seriously telling me that a piece of equipment integral for the operation of another piece of equipment wouldn't be permanently associated with it? How much sharing would you really be doing with the iPad needed for your mixer? And even if you do - there is more than likely only one app needed to run the mixer. How does that require profiles (not that I don't think profiles are sorely missing from iOS, but I fail to see it as a liability for this use case).
Apple has a long history of changing the dimensions and connectors for all of their computers and devices every other model (and even the software interfaces).
This is the statement that pushed me to respond. What rubbish!
The iPod 30 pin dock connector is over 10 years old! When I can walk into just about any store and see just as many iPod connector only chargers as USB chargers, your fears of instability are clearly and completely unfounded. As long as their console has a USB port and you can choose the cable, it's magically compatible with the iPads with 30 pin dock connectors, and all devices going forward that have the (long overdue!) lightning connector.
Apple updates their models, until recently, on an annual basis. Which is generally derided as being "too slow" when manufacturers for other platforms literally pump out new iterations weekly. Often with vendor specific and proprietary software on each model. Products are routinely outright abandoned or don't get updates for YEARS (*cough* POS work provided Droid Bionic *cough*).
Again, the springboard app interface hasn't change much since the original groundbreaking iOS release - what five, six years ago? This is regularly derided as Apple "loosing their edge" and being stale, yet for some reason your convinced they are shifty and inconsistent? And I have no doubt that part of the reason it took forever for Verizon to get the iPhone is Apple wouldn't let them bastardize it to timbuktu and back like they do every other phone they push.
Apple is the paragon of stability compared to the rest of the industry!
So you can guarantee that this board won't work with new iPads 2 years from now.
That's a valid question. A more valid one for me is the opposite of your concern. Will they guarantee it will work with my current iPad (probably my iPad one that was replaced by my iPad 3) for a significant amount of time and that some new feature or release wont REQUIRE me to update to a newer iPad? And if a new version requires a new iPad, will it be a separate app with the old app still being maintained in the app store for those of us with older devices and who possibly don't care about the new features if it means having to buy a new iPad?
And you've now made the core of your system something who's stability you don't control. You might as well make the x16 a PC software mixer, because you have just as much control over the OS and bugs that creep in as you would on a PC. (yes -- I've had my ipad crash due to badly written apps).
I think this is far less an issue than on traditional computers. Many of the problems I have seen happen due to bad code/poor programming. Pretty much any EA iOS game, for example
For me it's aesthetics - I'd much rather have physical sliders and buttons/knobs that I can reach for and adjust blind than having to fumble and shift focus to a touch screen.
BMW or Cadillac - I forget who - has a really annoying commercial out right now that talks about tablets and touch being modern and that "isn't it time that cars catch up" or some other nonsense - absolutely not! The last thing I want to do in a car is having to stop looking at the road and fuss with a touchscreen to adjust the temperature or do something routine. That's just bad design - changing something for the sake of changing it without having a valid, non-marketing, reason for the change. It actually makes usability worse!
Keep your ipad interaction as a remote -- something that is not physically connected and not in the signal path. That way you can adjust to their new models with software changes... and when Apple pulls the rug out from under you, you can connect to other devices too. No way I'd pay even $500 for a board tied to a sure-to-become-obsolete physical device.
Again, overall I agree with you but I think your "concern" is over the top and your exaggerating to prove your point (which I also don't think you need to do and weakens your argument instead of helping).
It'd be like buying a board that only works with some other company's microphone or amps. Hardware lock-in is really something that should be avoided.
I think you aren't giving them enough credit. If they stick with USB and the dock connector isn't built in (and with the recent switch by Apple from the 30 pin to lightning, I doubt they will build in) then not only will they potentially cover anything Apple produces, but should be able to support Android, Microsoft and whatever else is out there if they decide to. Or if they continue to publish specifications as they have been with OSC and MIDI, then someone else who really feels compelled to can write their own app. There are some pro's to this approach - it's not all cons.
Not that I'm still interested myself either
But let's be reasonable here....
The devices should be related. An X16 should be a smaller version of the X32.
On this I
heartily agree. I want physical control surfaces and I'm willing to pay for them!
I have no problem with them making this product - there are plenty of people for whom it will no doubt appeal to; just not me. But I do agree strongly with you and others
it doesn't deserve the name x16.
