From my experience, there is no general rule. You have to check the specific device combination. For a MIDI device to work with the camera connection kit, it has to have a USB connector, it must be class compliant (does not need specific drivers) and it must draw only a tiny amount of power from the iOS device. There was an extensive list of compatible devices on iosmidi.com, which unfortunately is not online any more. But you can find it here thanks to the WayBack Machine:
http://web.archive.org/web/20130128055004/http://iosmidi.com/devices/What type of MIDI connection you use depends on the available outlets on your specific device: If it has the traditional 5-Pin-MIDI Connectors, you need a MIDI interface. A "USB-to-MIDI cable" is nothing else than a MIDI interface, just one of the simple sort. If it does not have the MIDI connectors, but only a USB connector (e.g. most of the desktop MIDI keyboards) you would use a simple USB cable, but it does not always work. Using a powered USB hub and if available a "generic" driver setting helps in some cases.
All in all, I recommend not to use the camera connection kit, but instead a MIDI interface that is specifically made for iOS devices. Simply because of two reasons:
- Fragility: Set List Maker is made for the stage. Stacking up the camera connecting kit and some USB connector etc. in a live music environment is a questionable idea.
- Powering the iOS device: You do not want to run out of power during a show. Using the camerac connection kit prevents you from charging your device.
At the moment, my favorites are the
Alesis iO Dock and the
iConnect MIDI. Both provide reliable MIDI Inputs and Outputs, charge the connected iOS device and are rugged enough to survive a stage show.