iLounge

Griffin StudioConnect for iPad

By Jeremy Horwitz

Editor-in-Chief, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Category: DJ Mixing, Karaoke, and Audio Tools, Recorders - Audio

Borrowing its general shape from the earlier Loop stand, Griffin's new StudioConnect ($150) is the company's flagship audio accessory for iPads, combining a unique dock, MIDI and guitar connectors, and dual monitoring options into an attractive, streamlined product. Made from a mix of matte and glossy black plastics with a prominent chrome volume dial, StudioConnect features a 3.5mm headphone port on the front, enabling GarageBand and other music app users to preview the music they're making without changing the recording. A gain control knob on the right side adjusts the level of incoming audio, while rear monaural 1/4" and stereo 3.5mm ports sit along MIDI IN, MIDI OUT, and RCA-style stereo outputs. Griffin powers your iPad with an included wall adapter and a flexible Dock Connector cable, which accommodates landscape or portrait iPads, using a thin plug that -- like the docking area -- is highly case-compatible. StudioConnect won a 2012 Best of Show Award at CES for its impressive design and features; as a treat for Griffin fans, the illuminated blue ring around the volume dial recalls the company's PowerMate accessory for computers.