New 2025 iPad v11, A16 cpu.
I just noticed it's missing off the first click of all my backing track count-ins, as if there was a noise gate. Same tracks on older iPad does not do that.
Anyone found and fixed that problem?
Please submit a help ticket and describe an example of the problem so I can look at your setup.
Ok thanks
If you don't mind, please publish whatever insights you might find on this... I find the first tic of count-offs in backing tracks often squelched (still there, but as if a few initial audio frames are dropped), though even true on older iPads. I've just learned to expect & tolerate it, but would be nice if there was a fix (other than adding silence padding to the start of all backing tracks, which works, but not going to do ;-)
Quote from: Ahiru on June 17, 2025, 06:49:25 AMIf you don't mind, please publish whatever insights you might find on this... I find the first tic of count-offs in backing tracks often squelched (still there, but as if a few initial audio frames are dropped), though even true on older iPads. I've just learned to expect & tolerate it, but would be nice if there was a fix (other than adding silence padding to the start of all backing tracks, which works, but not going to do ;-)
My new iPad A16 is not directly responsible for this and possibly not at all, except that the now-discontinued 3.5mm socket required use of an adaptor - one that can also charge the iPad.
I think the adaptor - which in this case is not just a USB-C to 3.5mm 'cable' but also includes a USB-C socket for simultaneous charging - is probably converting USB Digital to Audio and trying to be clever by switching off the power to that D-to-A converter (in the adaptor) when there is no audio to convert. I wish it wouldn't.
Then, when some digital audio arrives, the adaptor switches on the D-to-A converter, but slowly, over more than 0.5 seconds at a guess, so that we don't hear a click. Of course, that's also hiding my wanted 1st click of the count-in.
This is largely guesswork but seems likely.
Another, similar adaptor but with Lightning connectors, from the same manufacturer, does not have this problem on my older iPads.
A cable-only adaptor works fine too but of course I can't also charge the iPad.
I've heard of this problem with USB-C to audio adapters before, but I don't know if the problem is specific to adapters with a power jack or also affects off-brand adapters with just an audio jack. To be safe, I would either buy adapters made by Apple or adapters that are listed as "Apple MFi Certified."
What's baffling me is why those adaptors with a USB socket for charging need to also have a D-to-A converter at all.
The simple USB-C to 3.5 headphone cable doesn't have one. Is it better? Doubtful.
I found this, written about the Apple adaptor:
"It's so much more than just an "adapter", as written on the packaging – it's a fairly smart sound card with a built-in DAC, ADC, automatic detection of if anything is plugged into it, and even supports in-line remote control commands."
Another, looking like a 2-tailed connector (i.e. no box) still claims to have a DAC.
Is it possible that the iPad (A16) doesn't send plain old audio to the USB socket? I suppose USB doesn't include spec for audio pins, so anything connecting headphones, or in my case an audio mixer, requires a DAC.
What a pest. So I guess I have to try several and hope to get lucky. Apple don't list one here in UK, with a charge socket.
"automatic detection of if anything is plugged into it"
Sounds promising. Sounds like it might power-up the DAC if there's a 3.5 plugged in.
I'll have to try to source one here, outside of Apple.
Quote from: JerryK on June 18, 2025, 07:51:44 AMMy new iPad A16 is not directly responsible for this and possibly not at all, except that the now-discontinued 3.5mm socket required use of an adaptor - one that can also charge the iPad.
I think the adaptor - which in this case is not just a USB-C to 3.5mm 'cable' but also includes a USB-C socket for simultaneous charging - is probably converting USB Digital to Audio and trying to be clever by switching off the power to that D-to-A converter (in the adaptor) when there is no audio to convert. I wish it wouldn't.
Then, when some digital audio arrives, the adaptor switches on the D-to-A converter, but slowly, over more than 0.5 seconds at a guess, so that we don't hear a click. Of course, that's also hiding my wanted 1st click of the count-in.
This is largely guesswork but seems likely.
Another, similar adaptor but with Lightning connectors, from the same manufacturer, does not have this problem on my older iPads.
A cable-only adaptor works fine too but of course I can't also charge the iPad.
Thanks for posting your findings! Seems like a good guess, and could be also what is happing with our setup using an older iPad. It uses an older interface... lightning to a (now old) charging / DAC / MIDI adapter (iConnectivity Audio2+). In addition to a DAC power-up delay theory I've also wondered if there's simply a bug in the way the Audio2+ buffers initial audio frames such that it effectively drops the first frame or two when starting up the DAC.
I've been shopping, to various stores in local towns, including what used to be an actual Apple store but is now a franchise, trying to locate an Apple-certified USB-C headphone adaptor with a charging input. No luck at all.
The few non-certified ones that I've managed to find and test, exhibit the same problem.
Something tells me this is a universal state of affairs. I am suspicious that all such devices, which necessarily include a DAC (as they call it) might all be fed from the same component factory in China and will therefore all function the same.
This must include the adaptors which appear to be just a wire and a 3.5 socket because there is no audio signal on the USB connector. So they must all include a DAC.
One interesting occurrence, as I connected the iPad, adaptor and headphones for another test, in another shop, was that there was another song already playing, not the one I was about to start with BH.
I found no other app running and that unexpected song stopped as I closed BH. I have never experienced that before.
Curious.
I wonder if a background song can be persuaded to run when I want, like after the start of a setlist. A song with just 1-bit audio and therefore inaudible but enough to start the A-to-D.