Best iPad Pro for Musicians

Thanks to its powerful M4 architecture, the latest gen of Apple’s iPad Pro makes it easier than ever to create music without the assistance of a computer. As a songwriter, performer, and/or producer, the main questions you need to answer before investing in the new iPad Pro are how much internal storage you’re looking for, what kind of processing power you’ll need, and how big you want your screen to. You will also want to consider which accessories you’ll need. Let’s go over some of the different iPad Pro options to determine which is the best fit for your workflow.

How Much Storage Do You Need?

In terms of internal storage, you’ll want to think about how big your projects are going to be and where you want to store them. Given that a DAW like Logic Pro 11 needs about 75GB of space for installation, it should be clear that you’re going to need a significant amount of storage, especially if you plan on adding any supplemental features, effects, or plugins. And considering that your more substantial project file sizes can reach up to 14GB or more, buying a 512GB model might be risky. Yes, you can make use of external hard drives to store your projects and then bring them back into your DAW while you’re working on them. But we highly recommend getting an iPad Pro with at least 1TB of storage to allow for software expansion and upgrades down the line.

How Much RAM Do You Need?

If you plan to create sizeable projects on your iPad Pro’s DAW, one of the specs you’d want to consider is your iPad Pro’s available RAM. The latest iPad Pro lets you choose between 8GB and 16GB of RAM. More RAM means your iPad Pro can juggle more operations at once without slowing down. So, with respect to music production, we always recommend getting the highest amount of RAM. There’s nothing more frustrating than having your project stall in the mixing process after you have all your tracks, automations, plugins, and effects populating your project.

What About CPU Cores?

Another spec to consider is CPU processing. This also dictates the power to handle tasks. Each core can process a certain amount of information. So, the more cores you have, the more power you have available to handle multiple things at once. Especially if you’re working with a lot of tracks, effects and plugins, a stronger CPU will help things run smoother. The latest iPad Pro offers 9-Core or 10-Core CPU. The models with 1TB or 2TB feature 10-core CPU, while the iPads with less storage offer 9-core CPU. Is the difference between the two CPU options significant enough to spend the extra cash? We can’t say for sure. But this difference may be yet another reason to opt for greater storage.

What Type of Display Do You Need?

Unless you’re also planning on using your iPad Pro for graphic design or video editing, the type of screen you choose will probably less consequential. All the latest iPad Pros sport close to 4K imaging (264 ppi), and they all deliver 10-Core GPU, which provides fantastic graphics processing performance.

But in terms of screen size, we will once again suggest that bigger is better, especially if you don’t plan on hooking up your iPad to a monitor. As most music producers know, you’ll be dealing with multiple plugin and instrument panels, and you want to have the fullest view of your sequencer and mixing console. So, if your wallet allows it, we suggest dropping an extra couple of hundred bucks on a 13-inch screen.

Lastly, you’ll have to choose between a standard glass screen and nano-texture glass. Nano-texture adds a subtle matte-like surface to the iPad display, which means less glare and sparkle. And this can be particularly important if you’re a live musician using your iPad Pro to read scores during your performance. Certainly, if you’re working in challenging lighting conditions, you’ll want to consider nano-texture glass. This type of glass also feels more responsive to swiping and gliding with your fingers or the Apple Pencil Pro, which can be important while editing audio on your DAW or controlling external hardware like synths or beatmakers. The only downside to the nano-texture glass is that you’ll get slightly less contrast. And yes, you’ll have to get the 1TB or 2TB models to get this fancy nano-textured glass included in the package.

iPad Pro Accessories

Now, let’s take a quick look at some accessories you may need for your music production or performance endeavors.

Keyboard Cases

Granted, with respect to the iPad Pro, certain keyboard shortcuts may not work with your DAW like they would with your MacBook Pro. Command-S, for example, has been a problem for users of Logic Pro. Still, attaching a keyboard to your iPad may speed up your workflow in many respects, especially if you’re accustomed to working with a DAW on your computer.

Logitech makes a popular Combo Touch Backlit Keyboard Case, which not only features a detachable full-sized keyboard with a large trackpad, but also doubles as a kickstand and protective case. It’s powered by your iPad, so you’ll never need to charge it. And the backlit keys allow you to work in dimly lit conditions. It also has a side cut-out that allows you to magnetically attach your Apple Pencil Pro.

But if you’re prepared to spend a little more and want to stick with the Apple brand, you can opt for the Apple Magic Keyboard, with its intuitive multi-gesture touchpad that’s enhanced by integrated haptic feedback. The foldable case features a slim floating stand integrated into the design to provide smooth adjustability for obtaining the perfect viewing angle.  

USB Hubs

A decent multiport hub will not only expand your iPad Pro’s connection possibilities but it will also help you power your iPad Pro and all of the external devices that you’re using with it. As an example, for just under 70 bucks, you can get the Verbatim 14-Port USB-C Pro CMH-14 Multiport Hub, which converts a single USB-C port into a plethora of useful connections, including HDMI for an external monitor and SD and microSD card slots in addition to common USB connectivity options. Most important, it features a dedicated USB-C Power Delivery port that provides 85W of passthrough charging with your iPad Pro and other devices. 

Audio Interfaces

An audio interface is a necessity if you plan on recording good quality vocals or external instruments. I decided to put this category right under the USB Hubs section because although you can power a lot of small interfaces from your iPad Pro, the more sophisticated ones, like the famous RME Babyface Pro FS, often require more power than your iPad can handle, even if they are iOS compatible. But since the Babyface Pro supports bus power, simply hook it up to a powered USB hub (like the one from Verbatim) and you’re good to go. Another great option for the iPad Pro, which is also more wallet-friendly, is the PreSonus Quantum ES 4, which can also be bus powered. 

MIDI Controllers

It’s likely you’ll want a midi keyboard controller rather than having to rely on the virtual keyboard on your iPad’s DAW. Consider a compact model to complement the portability of your iPad. The super cute and always popular Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3 is a great 25-key option as it comes with an arpeggiator, 8 touchpads, 8 assignable knobs, and a pitch/modulation thumbstick, giving you tons of creative power and flexibility in one tiny unit. It even has a sustain pedal input.

If you want to ditch wires altogether, check out a Bluetooth model like the Korg microKEY Air. With 30 hours of battery life, it includes an arpeggiator, a Key Transpose feature and octave shift selectors that let you extend the note range by 4 octaves in either direction. 

For the sake of all the musicians who use iPads to aid in their performances, I thought I’d also mention the AirTurn DUO 500. This 2-pedal silent Bluetooth page turner/midi-controller allows you to scroll lyrics and tabs, start and stop backing tracks and metronomes, cue effects and more. All you need is feet and a compatible app or software.

Apple Pencil Pro

The Apple Pencil Pro is a great tool for editing your tracks on your DAW. With Apple’s Logic Pro, for example, you can engage in more precise editing when drawing automation curves or adjusting regions and note events, for instance. You can also double tap on the side of the Apple Pencil to toggle between edit modes. You can even interact with Logic Pro by hovering over the screen without touching it. Is the Pencil absolutely necessary? Maybe not. But if you’re looking to increase the speed of your workflow and you have the extra cash to spend, we recommend trying it. And of course, for performing musicians who intend to add notes and edits to scores on supported software, an Apple Pencil Pro is a must have.

For more information about the new iPad Pro and compatible accessories, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product pages. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all of your comments and questions.