I recall a while back on this forum discussed the future of music creation devices. It looks like Akai are heading in this direction with the iPad. This was touted as a possibility in the topic which I can't find (must be at least 4 years ago), but may have been dismissed due to the cost of touch screen technology back when we were discussing it. Anyway here it is a hybrid product from 2 manufacturers.

I can see this as being the new direction in synths as processors become ever more powerful and multifunctional. For some though I'm guessing that vintage will soon mean what we now have in our studio's? VST format on iPad anyone? It's already here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGkjPVSNAfo

http://www.akaipro.com/synthstation49

There is no reason an iPad or android couldn't play a vst instrument - they are about as fast as computers I started really using vsti's with.

I still say the best use is in conjunction with a " real"  computer as a controller.

Cool stuff, tho.

@

Soon with a small amount of doubt all the major DAW's will be porting a iPad version of their product that perhaps can link or be made to function with the full version or apart from it for whatever reasons. Perhaps a bit like Mainstage by Logic or maybe Live on Ipad. Programming the hybrid controller for the performance will be easy no doubt. However isn't this the way we have been doing it for years anyway with laptops. A pull out QWERT at the bottom of the Akai would be nice though, probably overkill though with bluetooth keyboards.

Project 5 for the IPad????

I was thinking along the lines of iPad and hybrid keyboard controls serving as the controls for any VST settings. It will be interesting to see how the likes of Yamaha, Korg and Roland cope with Apples little invention in a few years to come, we could see a change in market pressure. Seeing that iPad processors might start to be as sophisticated as dedicated keyboards like the Kronos or Phantom or Yamaha XF. Maybe it won't be long before a hybrid controller has ports for 2 iPad's too.