Hello!
Last monday on a gig i have to move my 61 keys midi controller, two stands, and big backpack with a 17" monitor laptop and a Scarlett Focusrite. I been doing this for a long time, and i just got tired.
So, i want to move to the tablet world for its easy transportation and weight.

I have no idea what's on the market, what i would need, or anything else about this world, so i start this thread with the hope someone out there, with knowledge and experience to guide me through.

This is what i'd be using it for:

I would be launching the base track (we are three musicians on stage + singer, so drums and bass are on a track), and i'd be playing VSTs with my midi controller from the tablet.

So, questions:
What tablet do i need minimum? Is Android ok for this job or i need to go Apple?
Are there any good apps for this kind of things?
What other gear do i need? sound card for reducing latency i guess.

Any advice on this issue would be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!

 

I use a windows tablet.

 

I was going to suggest this as well. If you need VST's, this is pretty much the only solution. Make sure to get one of the x86 based tablets as the ARM processors won't run x86 based applications such as DAWS and VST's.

 

cant go wrong with surface 4 i5 or i7, there are some good asus and acer too

you can use all kinds of programs, ableton and bitwig are especially useful for launching clips, but any daw can launch vsts, even cheap lite versions

you can still use your focusrite if you like, i prefer a motu since its simply better in every aspect

If you have more cash then time buy an rme babyface with your surface book, you wont regret it, unless you get really really hungry because you cannot afford to eat anymore

good budget solution would be an used surface 3 pro and an alva nanoface

 

Wow, so, no Apple? i was afraid all the responses were like "iPad Pro or nothing!", not only for the price, but also for IOS limitations. I want something that can run multiple things, if possible.

So you guys are saying a Windows Tablet is ok? and why do you say an x86 and not 64 bit one? Sorry if this is a silly question... i repeat: i know nothing about tablets!!

As for the sound card, do i need an adapter? or the tablet has usb ports? cos i would need to usb ports (one for the controller, the other for the sound card, i guess)

Thanks for your kindness!

 

I may add something: when i said i need to play VSTs, i don't mean to say i need an specific VST. I guess there must be several synths and software that has their versions (smaller and limited, but still) for tablets. I know iMaschine is out there, so it must be something.

 

basically x86 does not exist anymore, its merely a common name for the regular windows compatible architecture, they are all 64 bit

and they are all compatible with almost anything and you can use almost any software, ipad is more of a fancy toy in regards to what you want to do. There are solutions to use it with a few iOS daws.
Windows tablets can simply do more in that respect as you likely can use your "regular" vst. You do not need to scale down anything for use on windows "x86" tablets, they simply run regular w10 software

not all tablets have two usb ports, you have to check before you buy, or simply buy a powered usb hub. Many audio interfaces also have Midi, which works quite well. Then you would only need one usb port

price wise, great windows tablets are more expensive then an ipad pro, its a full pc in a slab with a proper notebook processor inside


If you have no idea what you are doing have someone with w10 experience set up the system properly for your gig, turn off automatic updating and crippling stuff like that

 

Thank you!

 

Yes, agree completely with the post above.
My suggestions were due to the fact that you already have the software and hardware required. (sounds like you do from your initial post, though I didn't see which OS your current laptop has) In this case, the Windows laptop would be the least expensive option if you were moving from a Windows laptop.
If your laptop is Apple, I still think that's the least expensive option as you already have the audio interface and it shouldn't be too hard to come by the software cheaply.
As for Android, there are interfaces which you can connect using a USB OTG connector (unless you have Acer A500 or such which has standard USB host connector already), and there are apps which support this. I'm not certain about the Focusrite. Also I'm not certain on VSTi availability, but definitely is more limited than Windows. I think it would be a bit too much of a hack to be considered stable enough for gig use.
I can't speak for IOS tablets as I have avoided that architecture for mobile devices because I like to tweak too much, but I would assume that the situation would be similar to Android in regards to stability.

 

Yeah I use Win tablets to build a "lite" version of my actual studio install on my main machine. I use it mostly to make synth patches on the go and then bring them into the "real" pc. But a decent one should give you the power you need for performance. Just rock ableton etc.

 

Last question: what should be, according to you, a decent tablet?
I would be using Ableton, and a few VTS.

 

I'd stick to speed, nothing stronger