My iPad Live Rig (BIAS FX)

Having more experience using the iPad/iOS device rig (running BIAS FX by Positive Grid) for my live guitar tone, as well as using an alternative (Neural DSP Quad Cortex), I wanted to give my final verdict on the iPad rig.
In this video I go over my specific iPad setup and its pros and cons.
Gear:
iPad Pro 11 inch 2020
XSonic XTone audio interface
Boss WL-50 wireless system
TC Electronic Polytune 3 Tuner
Pedaltrain Nano Pedalboard with soft case
LTD M-1 with Seymour Duncan Distortion bridge pickup
My instagram: / bedroom_guitar_hero
My band: / @bringtobearband
#metalguitar #guitargear #metalband

[@angrybuzzy]

Super light and effective! Very cool, BGH.

[@MrRMB1]

Now that's the way to incorporate technology into your shows! Personally, I love the idea. Great job!!

[@juliettamusic2864]

Very cool information,professional way to explanation 👌

[@artyomhvans]

Thanks for showing your workaround the preset switch drop. I've been so frustrated with it, and I've notified the company several times. But for now, I'll do what you do - two channels to have different amps.

[@Figure8trading]

I had to tell you, you’re a creative and smart person

[@Thormodz]

I came here to see the iPad Live Rig and found your band! GOD, what a discovery! AMAZING!

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Oh thank you so much, we are going to be releasing more music this year, and the new songs are quite a bit stronger than the existing ones if I do say so myself :D

[@billwarrior234]

With the splitter go in to live view mode and make a scene where it changes and apply that to the midi pedal, it should work where it changes with just 1 push

[@user-yv5ex4nw2d]

It is necessary to assign channel switching differently! Click - Live View, hold any bottom block and the splitter assignment will be there. And assign the block itself to the footswitch.

[@DielectricFailure]

I think that sounds really cool. I like the original song that you did too. It’s very modern but it has nice drums and guitar parts. On a sidenote, I didn’t know if there is a way to explain away something I’m doing wrong. I’m using amplitube in my iPad for recording, but whenever I have monitoring, turned on or listen to the recording, it sounds like there is no impulse response being used.

[@godzilla964]

Sounds like the ultimate minimalist rig. I'm looking to do the same thing because I live in an RV while going to college.

[@Xplorer228]

Same. Just bought a class c 6 months so and planning to do a plein air painting in every state. Also going with a similar minimalist rig.

[@DVRKSHVYVN]

I really like the in-depth yet unbiased opinion bro! Keep it up Also Jackson JS video upgrade WHEN!?!?!!!!!!11one

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Thanks bro! "Ubiased" - I see what you did there 🤣 Yeah man, suuuuuper excited for the warrior transformation vid, the guitar is done, just gotta film and edit, but I've been so busy recently that I've had to do one vid every 2 weeks. Its gonna be one of the next 2 vids (I wanna do it as the next one)

[@MaceJams]

You should trigger your button to trigger a scene with all the things on the LEFT out off and vice versa. That way it’s one click to change between your two settings :)

[@vio4jesus]

QUESTION - Now that Logic is on the iPad, are you considering using it? I have something similar, I was sooOOOOOooo infuriated with Xtone, because it does NOT send the MIDI signal on press, but only on release, which is so difficult to work with. ALSO - what about a pedal to send MIDI CC messages to like increase/decrease volumes, or to raise/lower a mix??? THANKS - for the video

[@billwarrior234]

So keen to get the Xtone going to get the pro one

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

I can say the regular one is defo good and built like a tank

[@timmorrissey1607]

Awesome video

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Thanks a lot! :)

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Great demo. Really cool is the Ipad 10 Pro you are using? also what case is that's holding the iPad? I just bought the Riff interface by Positive Grid.

[@reallife5416]

interesting. Could you also use the hotone ampero control connected through midi or usb (not via bluetooth) to control bias fx presets?

[@farhadshidfar]

Hello, TNX for your lovely and helpful videos. İ have a question and be glad to share your experience if possible. Q1- do you use wireless for guitar in this video? Can you use wireless over this setup on the stage? Q2- İs it possible to use wireless in this setup with just a mere pieso microphone mounted under bridge or any simple patched mic stick over the acoustic instrument without interfering any preamp? İ mean pieso mic + wireless + Bias setup with they work? Q3- the reason that you didn't use normal irig pro or apogee jam interfaces that are much more smaller and portable ? Do they have latency or what is interfaces ? So many thanks and best regards.

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Hey man, yes, I use wireless with this setup, I use a Boss WL-50. I just hook it up between guitar and the interface as you would expect. I havent tried using wireless with piezo, but I’m pretty sure its possible, well as sure as I can be without trying it 😅 Reason for the interface is simply that it has footwitches so I can control BIAS with my foot like you would with regular pedals. I’m sure any of the other reputable interfaces would work, but again, havent tried them

[@farhadshidfar]

thank you very mucah, because of your fast reply, helpful videos, deep interest in music and master performance. All bests

[@runedamgaard4319]

Hey, great video. You don’t experience any latency with this setup?

[@SteveRayDarrell]

It's super cool, if only they made Ableton for iOS this would be a better solution than using a laptop because you get much better battery life and portability

[@eliezerbradiones]

There are a necessity to use a DAW in live situation? Or can i use Just plugins with no DAW?

[@Yosser70]

I’m really interested in getting the xtone but a few people are moaning about the switches sending the midi signal when you release the switch, not as you press it. Do you find it ok or is it actually an issue?

[@Benjenip36]

What is your output pal? Esp when you go to rehearsals you definitely won't use monitoring speakers for that purpose So do you use a headphone or something else? Tnx for your video btw

[@ronrobins3513]

Maybe go into an FRFR speaker onstage as a monitor, then send the output to FOH. Headrush makes a lightweight inexpensive one, and it won’t add much weight to your rig.

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

That would be fine if I drove, but I dont. I have to hitch a ride with our accordionist and there wouldnt be space in his car :p

[@benjamin-lieb]

There are a number of people saying their XTone stopped working after a few months. Did yours?

[@bobmaerten]

Nice recap! I am tempted to build such a rig for bass playing, where I obviously need less of channel/effects switch during the songs I usually play. The real downside I see, as you mentioned, is the USB cable not being reliable enough outside of having the all rig set up on a strong stand, which destroy the all idea of small portability😢. Thanks for your feedback. And your transitions are pure gold! 🤩

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Haha thanks! Regarding the usb cable, if you can not have the setup on the floor (if you don't need to trigger the switching with your foot) , it makes it better, because you can place the setup in a safer place like on top of an amp in the backline, then the usb connector isn't so exposed :)

[@panan7777]

I'm going to build custom board, with everything close together. Already found short USB C to Lightning cable. Currently figuring out the details of cables routing, etc. Also thinking of adding a hub to power the iPad and route the guitar signal thru, the same I've got for my Win laptop. Then everything goes on sturdy stand. Will make the first from cardboard and bond everything together with hot melt glue. Ideal for experimenting; cheap and fast. Still figuring out how to hold iPad in place, have several solutions. Clips lined with thin rubber, adhesive magnet strips,....But this is simple for me, I own and run a complete metalworking shop.

[@ivanyeungtc]

@@panan7777 Do you find the iPad hub in lightning for both charging and guitar? I tired serveral product in Amazon, and it doesnt work, currently i only using the iPad hub for USB and charger adopter one.

[@azimut2azimut218]

Can you display sheet music on your ipad in the same time you use Bias fx ?

[@micahperrego3334]

Hey just wondering, do you have latency issues when switching presets? If so what’s your solution because with mine there is a noticeable delay when switching patches with my foot switch.

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Yeah the iPad rig with BIAS has a sound gap when switching presets, I bypass that for solos by having two signal chains and switching between them rather than switching patches. But if you need more than two sounds, and switch between them seamlessly during a song, it is not gonna work that well, but tbh, all units have some gap when switching presets, so on my quad cortex I have to use scenes instead

[@leorosendow9728]

Tem diferença de qualidade entre iOs e Mac Os?

[@ianwalking]

Sub. Hi, I'm also planning to do an iPad rig for my bass for live setup. Any alternative for Xtone? I'm currently using Sansamp.

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Hey man, unfortunately I dont have first hand experience with other interfaces used with a mobile device, so cant confidently recommend a different option

[@billwarrior234]

And what's that wireless transmitter you got and the pedal train, can you leave a link to them

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

The board is the pedaltrain nano pedaltrain.com/collections/nano/products/pt-nano-sc The wireless system is the Boss WL-50 www.boss.info/uk/products/wl-50/ The wireless system is good if you're ok with that transmitter sticking out of your guitar, which is honestly not the best looking thing, plus you can bump it on something. If I were to buy one again, I'd probably go for the WL-60 or something similar where the transmitter is more fit for attaching to a strap (you can attach the WL-50 transmitter to a strap using DIY, but not in any elegant way, and you'd need a TRS extension cable, which is not the most common thing around).

[@Spacerboy]

Can you route this further to a guitar amp as well? Does this make sense or would you only connect to the main PA in a live setting?

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Yeah for sure, you can run in into the front or fx return of an amp. You could even do both, XLR to front of house and a TRS to an amp

[@Spacerboy]

@@BedroomGuitarHero thats cool. any suggestions for an affordable sound interface and maybe foot-controller for an ipad?

[@musicafteroldage]

@@Spacerboy The xtone is both: interface and foot-controller. I personally own the Midi Commander. I am considering the xTone so I have everything in 1 unit.

[@bhance1988]

I'm doing a similar rig for a live show. I keep being told by "experts" there will be too much latency for my band. I feel and hear almost zero latency with my focusrite 3rd gen in bias FX2. Just wondering if you can confirm the low latency is a non issue for live? I think I'm around 5ms of latency

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

I've never had latency issues, no one's brought it up either. If there is any latency it's only a problem for you, so I dont quite get how it can be "for the band", and you said you dont feel any so

[@bhance1988]

@@BedroomGuitarHero just needed to hear it. Some guy from Sweetwater was trying to convince me to not use this type of rig. Thanks and cheers from MontanA 🍻🤘

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Well that guy from sweetwater probably knows something, so I wouldnt completely dismiss his words, I can just say for sure that this rig has worked for me flawlessly through several gigs :)

[@bhance1988]

@@BedroomGuitarHero worked just how I thought it would. Even ran my rig in stereo which sounded huge. Other guitar players were very curious and blown away by my tone at the show. I can confidently say I'm glad I didn't listen to the Sweetwater rep. The future is looking awesome for sound technology 🤘

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Great to hear man, stereo rigs are where its at! :D

[@ac8704]

Do you know what the total latency with this system is?

[@remistgelais]

Same for me

[@ricardbennett6487]

Doesn’t cut off on any Boss GT, or Line6 xt.

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Cool, that’s great!

[@fabriziograsso5113]

What cable do you use to link audio Inter face to the ipad?

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

Any USB C to USB B cable. I have a long one and a short one :)

[@ivanyeungtc]

Do you use Expression Pedal in your setup?

[@BedroomGuitarHero]

I have a bit, but learned to live without it, as I dont use an expressive effect like wah, just used it as a volume pedal, definitely doable

[@ivanyeungtc]

@@BedroomGuitarHero One more questions, What Sampling rate you use for the Live Performance? I found out 96khz use too much CPU on my iPad Mini😶‍🌫Just wonder if i should swtich to iPad Pro , so it can handle 96khz easily.

[@mohdmazihan]

This for who looking low budget rig

[@ronrobins3513]

Not really noticeable... I understand you want that “EPIC” ending but not a big deal.