skip to content skip to category skip to footer
Shop Support
Audio Modeling Logo
Customer Portal
Audio Modeling Logo
Shop Support Customer Portal
support / Grow Your Knowledge

Grow Your Knowledge

Audio, MIDI, Music Production, Live Performance general knowledge and tip & tricks

Grow Your Knowledge

  • What is a plug-in in music production?
  • What do VST, AU, AAX, and AUv3 stand for?
  • What is VST? What's the difference between VST, VST2, and VST3?
  • What is a DAW and what is a host? Is there a difference between the two?
  • What is MIDI? What is CC?
  • What does USB Class Compliant mean?
  • What is audio latency? How do I fix latency issues while recording?
  • What is Core Audio? What is ASIO?
  • A Beginner's Guide To How Digital Audio Works

What does USB Class Compliant mean?

If your device - such as your MIDI controller or audio interface - is USB Class Compliant, it means you can plug it into your computer and it will work without the need for any other special software (which we call drivers). 

Both Mac and Windows computers come with pre-installed generic drivers. These drivers allow us to use external devices, like a soundcard or a camera, with our computers. 

Since there are many types of devices that can be connected through USB, there are different types of drivers. These types are grouped into different classes, such as the USB MIDI device class, the USB Mass Storage class, the USB Video class, and so on. 

An external device that is USB Class Compliant will work out-of-the-box both on Mac and Windows by using these pre-installed generic drivers.

If your device is not class compliant, it simply means you’ll have to install additional proprietary drivers on your computer. These drivers are generally provided by your device’s manufacturer when you buy their product. 

 

Important: iOS devices are slightly different

If you want to use a MIDI controller with an iOS device, you’ll have to make sure the controller is USB Class Compliant. If a driver installation is required, it won’t work on iOS devices. So do your research carefully before buying a MIDI controller you intend to use with your iPad or iPhone. Manufacturers that make devices compatible with iOS will usually state that fact very clearly when advertising their products. 

Here are some examples of MIDI keyboards compatible with iPad and iPhone:

  • CME XKEY AIR 37
  • Novation Launchkey 25 MK2
  • Novation Launchkey 61 MK2
  • IK Multimedia iRig Keys Pro
  • AKAI mpk mini

Here are some examples of Workstations compatible with iPad and iPhone:

  • Yamaha Montage, CP73/88, YC, MODX
  • Roland JUNO DS, FA, Fantom, JUPITER X / Xm (be sure that USB driver is set to "Generic" - requires device rebooting)
  • Studiologic Numacompact 2/2x, Numa X Piano

Note: some workstations, like Roland FA and Fantom, are USB MIDI Class Compliant but they are not USB Audio Class Compliant. It means that they work as MIDI controllers/sound generators, but not as Audio devices.

Here are some examples of Audio devices compatible with iPad and iPhone:

  • Zoom U series
  • Steinberg UR series
  • Roland Rubix series

If your device - such as your MIDI controller or audio interface - is USB Class Compliant, it means you can plug it into your computer and it will work without the need for any other special software (which we call drivers). 

Both Mac and Windows computers come with pre-installed generic drivers. These drivers allow us to use external devices, like a soundcard or a camera, with our computers. 

Since there are many types of devices that can be connected through USB, there are different types of drivers. These types are grouped into different classes, such as the USB MIDI device class, the USB Mass Storage class, the USB Video class, and so on. 

An external device that is USB Class Compliant will work out-of-the-box both on Mac and Windows by using these pre-installed generic drivers.

If your device is not class compliant, it simply means you’ll have to install additional proprietary drivers on your computer. These drivers are generally provided by your device’s manufacturer when you buy their product. 

 

Important: iOS devices are slightly different

If you want to use a MIDI controller with an iOS device, you’ll have to make sure the controller is USB Class Compliant. If a driver installation is required, it won’t work on iOS devices. So do your research carefully before buying a MIDI controller you intend to use with your iPad or iPhone. Manufacturers that make devices compatible with iOS will usually state that fact very clearly when advertising their products. 

Here are some examples of MIDI keyboards compatible with iPad and iPhone:

  • CME XKEY AIR 37
  • Novation Launchkey 25 MK2
  • Novation Launchkey 61 MK2
  • IK Multimedia iRig Keys Pro
  • AKAI mpk mini

Here are some examples of Workstations compatible with iPad and iPhone:

  • Yamaha Montage, CP73/88, YC, MODX
  • Roland JUNO DS, FA, Fantom, JUPITER X / Xm (be sure that USB driver is set to "Generic" - requires device rebooting)
  • Studiologic Numacompact 2/2x, Numa X Piano

Note: some workstations, like Roland FA and Fantom, are USB MIDI Class Compliant but they are not USB Audio Class Compliant. It means that they work as MIDI controllers/sound generators, but not as Audio devices.

Here are some examples of Audio devices compatible with iPad and iPhone:

  • Zoom U series
  • Steinberg UR series
  • Roland Rubix series

Related articles

What is MIDI? What is CC?

Other articles in this category

  • What is a plug-in in music production?
  • What do VST, AU, AAX, and AUv3 stand for?
  • What is VST? What's the difference between VST, VST2, and VST3?
  • What is a DAW and what is a host? Is there a difference between the two?
  • What is MIDI? What is CC?
  • What does USB Class Compliant mean?
  • What is audio latency? How do I fix latency issues while recording?
  • What is Core Audio? What is ASIO?
  • A Beginner's Guide To How Digital Audio Works

Categories

  • General Information
  • Product & License Management
  • How To...
  • Grow Your Knowledge
  • Compatibility
  • Known Issues
  • Sales, Billing, Offers
  • Educational & Special Programs
5 colums
column 1 of 5
  • SWAM
  • Camelot
  • iOS Products
  • Customer Portal
  • Support
  • Media
  • About us
  • Social

    1 of 4 opened in new window Twitter twitter social icon 2 of 4 opened in new window Facebook facebook social icon 3 of 4 opened in new window Instagram instagram social icon 4 of 4 opened in new window Youtube youtube social icon
column 2 of 5
  • Desktop Products

    Desktop Products
  • Solo Brass
  • Solo Woodwinds
  • Solo Strings
  • Camelot
  • iOS Products

    iOS Products
  • Solo Trumpets
  • Solo Trombones
  • Solo Horns & Tubas
  • Solo Strings
  • Camelot
column 3 of 5
  • Technology

    Technology
  • Swam-B
  • Swam-W
  • Swam-S
  • About us

    About us
  • Mission
  • People
  • Artists
  • Partnerships
  • Resellers
  • Education
column 4 of 5
  • Blog

    Blog
  • Support

    Support
  • Updates
  • Release Notes
  • Manuals
  • Installation Help
  • Learn
  • Beta Program
column 5 of 5
  • Company

  • Audio Modeling is a music and audio software company, and a leader in multi - vector expressive digital acoustic instruments.

  • Audio Modeling is an active memberMidi Manufacturers Association(MMA).

  • Get in touch
  • General info
  • Business inquiry
  • Product support
  • Address: via Giovanni da Sovico, 125 - 20845 Sovico (MB) ITALY

  • Payments methods

  • payments methods image

Copyright 2017 - 2021 Audio Modeling Srl - Italy | VAT ID: IT09851710963 | REA: MB - 1912150 | Cap. Sociale 15,000 EUR

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of service
Powered by Uppo