Live setup

From your device to the PA

Three ways to connect Pads to a mixer, from a single cable to a USB audio interface, and how to control it hands-free on stage.

Simple

Small rooms, rehearsals and a mixer a few metres away.

Signal path

  1. Phone or tablet headphone output. Without a headphone jack, use a USB-C or Lightning to 3.5 mm adapter.
  2. 3.5 mm TRS to two 6.35 mm (1/4") TS cable.
  3. Two line inputs on the mixer, panned left and right.

You need

  • USB-C or Lightning to 3.5 mm adapter, if the device has no headphone jack
  • 3.5 mm TRS to dual 6.35 mm TS cable, 1.5 to 3 m

Only one free channel? Switch Pads to mono output in Settings and use one of the two plugs.

Stage

Recommended

Bands, churches and venues with a stage box and long cable runs.

Signal path

  1. Phone, tablet or Mac headphone output, through an adapter if needed.
  2. 3.5 mm TRS to two 6.35 mm TS cable.
  3. Stereo DI box with ground lift.
  4. Two XLR cables to the stage box or the mixer.

You need

  • USB-C or Lightning to 3.5 mm adapter, if needed
  • 3.5 mm TRS to dual 6.35 mm TS cable, short
  • Stereo DI box with a ground lift switch
  • Two XLR cables

The DI box turns the unbalanced headphone signal into a balanced one, so long runs stay quiet. Its ground lift removes the hum you can get while the device charges.

Digital

The cleanest signal, and a Mac that keeps its alerts on the laptop speakers.

Signal path

  1. Phone, tablet or Mac USB port. iPhones with Lightning need the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, which also charges the phone.
  2. Class-compliant USB audio interface.
  3. Balanced outputs of the interface (TRS or XLR) to the mixer.

You need

  • Class-compliant USB audio interface with two outputs
  • USB-C cable or Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter
  • Two TRS or XLR cables

On the Mac, choose the interface under Audio out in Settings. Some digital mixers take audio over USB directly; check your mixer’s manual.

Hands-free

MIDI controllers

Keep your hands on your instrument.

MIDI controller

Play the keys and move the filters, volume and crossfade from a MIDI controller. Pads has ready-made layouts for the Korg nanoKONTROL2, Akai MPK Mini mk3 and Arturia MiniLab 3, and MIDI Learn for anything else. Connect over USB on every device, or Bluetooth MIDI on iPhone, iPad and Android.

Checklist

Before the show

  • Use a cable, not Bluetooth audio. Bluetooth speakers and transmitters add delay and can drop out in the middle of a song.
  • Follow Live mode in Pads, so calls and notifications cannot reach the PA.
  • Set the device volume high and the level on the mixer, so the signal stays well above the noise.
  • Plug in the charger for long shows. If it hums, lift the ground on the DI box.
  • Set the low cut so the pad stays out of the way of the bass and kick drum.
  • Try the setup at soundcheck, in every key you will play.