In this article, we’ll show you four different ways to connect your audio mixer to your iPad. The first two methods only provide a mono solution, while the options that follow allow for full stereo.
Quick Answer: The fastest, most straightforward way to connect your audio mixer to an iPad is to use an iPad to USB adapter and an audio mixer with USB audio out.
iPad Adapters
You’ll need an iPad to USB adapter for all of the solutions we’re about to show you. The adapter you need depends on the model of iPad you have.
Standard iPad: If your iPad has a lightning output, you’ll need what Apple calls the “iPad Camera Adapter.”
iPad Pro: If your iPad has a USB-C output, we recommend using the Apple Multiport USB-C Adapter.
iPad Camera Adapter Pricing: https://currentprice.io/lightning_usb
Apple Multiport USB-C Adapter Pricing: https://currentprice.io/multiport
USB Sound Card With RCA to 1/8” Cable
- Connect the iPad adapter to your iPad.
- Plug the sound card into the iPad adapter.
- Plug the 1/8“ (3.5 mm) jack into the microphone input on the sound card.
- Plug the RCA connectors into the outputs on your mixer.
USB sound cards aren’t our favorite way to connect an audio mixer to an iPad. The quality of these devices is often poor, and they will only deliver your audio in mono. Still, the methods above work and are valid, budget-friendly options.
USB Sound Card Pricing: https://currentprice.io/sabrent_usb
RCA to 1/8″ Cable Pricing: https://currentprice.io/18_rca
USB Sound Card With 1/4” to 1/8” Cable
- Connect the iPad adapter to your iPad.
- Plug the sound card into the iPad adapter.
- Plug the 1/8“ (3.5 mm) jack into the microphone input on the sound card.
- Plug the 1/4” jacks into the stereo outs on your mixer.
USB sound cards aren’t our favorite way to connect an audio mixer to an iPad. The quality of these devices is often poor, and they will only deliver your audio in mono. Still, the methods above work and are valid, budget-friendly options.
USB Sound Card Pricing: https://currentprice.io/sabrent_usb
1/4″ to 1/8″ Cable Pricing: https://currentprice.io/14_to_dual_18
USB Audio Mixing Console
The easiest, most straightforward way to connect an audio mixer to an iPad is to buy an audio mixer with a USB audio out. As you’ll see in the video, we connected our Yamaha MG10XU audio mixer to our iPad in 2 simple steps.
- Connect the iPad adapter to your iPad.
- Link your mixer and the adapter using a USB cable.
Yamaha MG10XU Audio Mixer Pricing: https://currentprice.io/mg10xu
USB Audio Interface
If your audio mixer doesn’t have a USB out, use a USB audio interface to link to your iPad adapter.
Most USB audio interfaces aren’t wall-powered; they rely on bus power coming from a computer. Your iPad can’t supply the required power, so you’ll need a powered USB hub to make this option work.
- Connect the iPad adapter to your iPad.
- Connect the USB from your powered hub to the iPad adapter.
- Plug your USB audio interface into the powered hub.
- Using XLR or 1/4” cables, patch the stereo outs from your mixer into the inputs on the audio interface.
PreSonus USB Audio Interface Pricing: https://currentprice.io/audiobox
Powered USB Hub Pricing: https://currentprice.io/usb_hub
Audio Mixer to iPad Connection Pricing
- Yamaha MG10XU Audio Mixing Console: https://currentprice.io/mg10xu
- Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_sm58
- USB Sound Card: https://currentprice.io/sabrent_usb (This will only provide mono input)
- RCA to 1/8″ Cable: https://currentprice.io/18_rca
- 1/4″ to 1/8″ Cable: https://currentprice.io/14_to_dual_18
- XLR to 1/8″ Cable: https://currentprice.io/xlr_headphone
- PreSonus USB Audio Interface: https://currentprice.io/audiobox
- XLR Cable: https://currentprice.io/xlr_cable
- iPad Camera Adapter: https://currentprice.io/lightning_usb
- Powered USB Hub: https://currentprice.io/usb_hub
- Apple Multiport USB-C Adapter: https://currentprice.io/multiport
Connect An Audio Mixer to iPad Topics
- 0:00 – Introduction
- 0:10 – iPad Adapters
- 1:00 – USB Sound Card With RCA
- 2:06 – USB Sound Card With 1/4″
- 2:41 – USB Audio Mixing Console
- 3:25 – USB Audio Interface
- 5:48 – Overview
- 6:40 – Final Thoughts
Related: How To Connect iPad To Projector
