ChordWalk on an iPad, iPhone running Garageband

If you want to play and create meaningful compositions quickly on your iPad and have no experience using a DAW, Garageband is the best option. It is free for all Apple devices, easy to use, and already installed on most.

Alternatively, Cubasis LT 3 from Steinberg is a comprehensive DAW package for the iPad and is available for download from the App Store for around 70 dollars. The free version of Cubasis will get you up and running with four supported MIDI instrument channels. Cubasis's free version allows you to play four instrument tracks simultaneously with some effects and individual track controls. In-app purchases are available to install more advanced features as required.

Garageband is a free DAW developed by Apple for any Apple Device. In most cases, the Garageband icon is displayed on the home screen of your Apple device. When you select the Garageband Icon, Garageband will launch.

If the Garageband icon is not displayed on your Home Screen, follow the steps outlined below to download it from the App Store.

ChordWalk will play any virtual instrument sound supported by Garageband and allow you to Mix, Edit, Master, and record your virtual instrument sound creations.

Important Note: Garageband and Cubasis can run simultaneously with ChordWalk on an iPad. You should only advance to running both together when you are comfortable using both independently.

Garageband on an Apple device

If the Garageband icon is not display on your device, you can download it from the App Store.

ChordWalk and Garageband (or most DAWs running on your Apple device) will work together on your Apple Device. You will switch between the two applications for playing and creating.

For Garageband to receive MIDI data from ChordWalk, Garageband must be setup to run in Background mode as advised below.

Select the Settings Icon on a screen in Garageband (Red circle below).

The settings Dropdown Menu will be displayed. Select Advanced as identified by the red area below.

When advanced in the settings dropdown menu is selected, a further Dropdown menu will appear as shown below.

Select Run in Background as shown within the Red area below.

Download ChordWalk from the App store

When you have downloaded both Garageband and Chordwalk, they will appear on your Home Screen. To allow quick and efficient switching between the two applications, you must have both applications in your Dock area. The Dock area is the Icon row at the bottom of your home screen, as shown below in the Red area. You can select an Icon and drag it into the Dock panel.

When you have both Garageband and ChordWalk in the Dock area, you just slide your finger up from the bottom centre, into the screen area, and the apps in the Dock will be displayed as shown above. You toggle between Garageband (Cubasis or any other DAW installed), or ChordWalk.

Selecting MIDI playing Device within ChordWalk for iPad

When you run a DAW on an Apple iPad device with ChordWalk, just select Local MIDI in the Device routing selection dropdown menu, and the MIDI data from ChordWalk will be exposed to all DAWs running on the Device.