12 ways to use your iDevice in the studio

In recording sessions it's usually a good idea to keep the phone on silent and keeping it out of sight until it's actually needed. Avoid the distraction. This goes for engineers, musicians and especially interns. Give the client your full attention. If your phone goes off in the session, guess who's buying the first round.
Aside from being a tremendous distraction in the studio, the iPhone actually does have several helpful uses for music making.
Here are 12 reasons why an iPhone or iPad are useful in the studio

1. Sound sources - There are an enormous number of synths, drum machines, sequencers, samplers and more available very inexpensively that can be used for songwriting or integrated into your DAW.

   

   Rhythm Studio

2. Handy recorder - Want to capture a sound or idea anywhere? The FiRe 2 app turns the iPhone into a great field recorder. With an iRig Pre (shipping next month) you can now use your studio condensers for much improved audio quality.
3. Transport controls - Play, Stop, Record remote control away from the computer. Great for the drummer or guitarist that records himself.
4. Touch automation controller - Using an app like Touch OSC or AC-7 you can also have mixer and plugin control over wifi.
5. Lyrics and notation pad - It's not uncommon to have singers and rappers come into the studio and have all their lyrics with them on their phone. The iPad works great for sheet music.
6. Photos, video and documentation - There is now no excuse not to take a photo to document amp or pedal settings, make notes or just capture the moment. Fans and audio guys love seeing behind the scenes studio photos and video.
7. Musical calculator - There's a great free app called Backline Calc that can handle a 23 common conversion and calculation tasks that come up in the studio. Timecode, delay times, pitch to MIDI note number,
8. Virtual guitar amp - Use the IK Multimedia original iRig or new iRig Stomp to get studio quality guitar tones anywhere with the free Amplitube app. 
9. Vocal effects - The iRig Mic is a handheld condenser mic that is great for podcasts and interviews but combined with the VocalLive Free app, you can have studio style vocal effects anytime.

   

   IK Multimedia iRig Mic

10. Metronome - Every musician needs a click to practice with, a quick search in the App store comes up with 50 different apps including many highly rated free ones. No excuses.
11. Ear training - Quiztones is an app to help improve your listening and frequency identification skills.
12. Order takeout - There is nothing better at the end of a long workday in the studio than having pizza and wings or Thai food delivered as a reward for your hard work.

 Bonus tip: If you're using your iDevice in a live situation, which is becoming very common these days, set it to 'airplane mode' to prevent notifications or phone calls from interrupting your set.

Check out our selection of iPhone and iPad accessories in the Revolution Audio Online Store.

Featured Equipment Of The Week: RME Fireface UCX

RME Fireface UCX USB/Firewire Interface
The Fireface UCX is a highly integrated pro audio solution in an ultra-compact format for studio and live recordings. It continues RME's long tradition of designing compact high-end interfaces, packing into a half-rack size unit what usually would be spread out over two or three 19 inch panels.

The result is an awesome combination of RME's most successful products: Fireface UFX, Firefaces UC/400 and Babyface. The Fireface UCX is not just a smaller version of the smash hit UFX, with the HFX-core, the preamps and the complete effects engine, the UCX continues the tradition of RME's tremendously successful compact interfaces, and combines it with the great usability of the Babyface through the included RME remote.
 Find out more: Fireface UCX

 
Top Features

• Low Latency mastering grade converters with outstanding specifications.
• Two mic preamps with the premium technology from RME's high-end recording bestsellers Micstasy and UFX, including the AutoSet overload protection.
• A newly developed Hammerfall audio core, supporting USB and FireWire with the maximum performance and ultra-low latency operation, combined with the legendary RME driver stability and maintenance, on both bus protocols.
• TotalMix FX with the complete Fireface UFX DSP engine, including all effects up to 192 kHz.
• Monitoring Controller: combining the impressive flexibility of the TotalMix FX monitoring tool set and the included RME Remote Control.
• RME's unique DIGICheck metering and analysis toolbox for Windows PC and Mac.
• Plus support for RME's Advanced Remote Control, active jitter suppression technology, professional reference level support, advanced stand-alone functionality, full 192 kHz operation, and last but not least two high speed MIDI I/Os.
• On top of it: The Fireface UCX is the first professional audio interface with Class Compliant mode to work with Apple's iPad, for perfect stereo up to 8 channel recording and playback, and the addition of truly professional I/Os.

Check out all the details: Fireface UCX USB/Firewire audio interface

Sony Professional Audio now available at Revolution Audio

Revolution Audio is proud to announce the addition of Sony Pro Audio to our Online store.
Last week we began adding several Sony products to our shop.

Looking for a rugged professional handheld field recorder? The Sony PCM-D50 is among the best in the business. 24 bit, 96kHz capable and equipped with 2 rotatable cardioid condenser microphones, the PCM-D50 is a popular choice for professional users. The 4GB Flash memory is easily expanded with MemoryStick Pro-HG Duo cards.

Need something more compact? The Sony PCM-M10 is a compact handheld stereo recorder capable of 24/96 recording. Two omnidirectional condensers are built-in for high-quality on-the-go audio capture. Memory is expandable with micro-SD or Memory Stick Micro storage.
The PCM-M10 is available in red finish.

Sony makes a full line of professional headphones.
Sony's attention to detail and outstanding quality control have earned them a place in top studios worldwide. Professionals trust Sony headphones to provide accurately detailed monitoring day in and day out.

Check out the full line of Sony professional headphones: Sony Headphones