How do you perform live with a groovebox app?
Build each section of a song (intro, verse, chorus, breakdown) as its own loop or scene before the show. On stage, keep playback running and switch scenes on the downbeat, mute and unmute tracks to build energy, and play a part live over the top. Set the iPad to Do Not Disturb, use a wired audio connection, and keep the app in the foreground the whole time.
This is different from live looping, where you record a new loop from scratch in front of the audience. For that, see Best iPad Apps for Live Looping.
What You Need
- An iPad (an iPhone works too, with a smaller screen) running a groovebox app with scene or loop switching
- A wired audio connection to the PA or mixer: a USB-C audio interface, or a headphone adapter and cable
- A charger or a full battery
- Optional: a MIDI controller for playing parts live
Step 1: Build One Loop per Section
Write each section of your song as a separate loop. Start with your main groove, then duplicate it and change it for the next section: drop the drums for a breakdown, add a lead for the chorus, filter everything for the intro. Duplicating keeps every section at the same tempo and key, so transitions line up.
Name each loop clearly (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Drop). On stage you won't have time to remember what "Loop 4" was.
Step 2: Set Each Loop's Mix
Balance levels inside each loop so you don't have to fix the mix on stage. A good test is to switch between loops while playing and listen for jumps in volume. The chorus should be louder than the verse because of what's playing, not because one fader was left high.
Step 3: Leave Something to Play Live
A set where you only press scene buttons can feel flat to you and the crowd. Leave one part unrecorded (a lead, a bassline, a drum fill) and play it on the pads or a MIDI controller. Scale-locked pads make this safer: every pad is in key, so a wrong pad is still a usable note.
Step 4: Rehearse the Transitions
Run the whole set from start to finish at least once. Most apps switch scenes at the end of the current loop cycle, so you need to queue the next scene a little before you want it to start. Learn how far ahead to tap for each transition.
Step 5: Prepare the iPad for Stage
- Turn on Do Not Disturb or a Focus mode so notifications and calls can't interrupt audio
- Turn off auto-lock, or set it to the longest time
- Close other audio apps
- Use a wired connection; Bluetooth audio adds latency and can drop out
- Plug in the charger if the venue has power near you
iOS stops or suspends many audio apps when you leave them, so don't switch apps mid-set.
Step 6: Perform
Start playback, let the intro run, and queue scenes as the set moves. Use mute and solo to pull parts in and out between scene changes. That gives you more variety than the loops alone. If something goes wrong, stay on the current scene, mute the problem track, and keep the groove going.
Tips
- Keep a simple "safe" loop you can switch to if a transition goes wrong
- Record a rehearsal and listen back. Mistakes you didn't notice while playing become obvious
- Put the iPad on a stand at a comfortable height; playing pads flat on a table for 30 minutes is tiring
Performing Live with ARC-24
ARC-24 has live loop scenes built into the Mixer. Once a song has two or more loops, the Mixer shows a row of loop pads labeled with each loop's name. Tap one during playback and the switch happens at the start of the next loop cycle, without stopping. Notes from the outgoing loop fade at their natural release, and reverb and delay tails carry across the change. Tap a queued pad again to cancel the switch.
Each loop stores its own recordings, drum kits, mix levels, mute and solo, EQ, effects, key, scale, and length. That means one loop can be a filtered breakdown and the next a full chorus. Build loops with Duplicate from the loop pill, and rename them in Loop Manager.
On iPad, the Mixer can sit in the right-hand pane beside the pads, so you can switch scenes and play live in the same view. A MIDI controller can play notes, drums, or sampler pads over the loop.
Some limits to plan around:
- Scenes can't switch while you're recording or while an arrangement is playing, so perform from the Mixer, not Play Arrangement
- Sending ARC-24 to the background stops playback and cancels any queued switch
- Mute and solo ramp smoothly, so toggling them during a set doesn't click
ARC-24 runs on iPhone and iPad with eight tracks for synths, samples, and drums. Pricing is a 7-day free trial, then a one-time unlock ($9.99 USD on the US App Store, varies by region).
FAQ
Can you use an iPad for live electronic music?
Yes. Groovebox and clip-launching apps let you switch sections, mute parts, and play live parts from an iPad. Use a wired audio connection and turn on Do Not Disturb before you play.
What's the difference between live looping and performing with scenes?
Live looping records new loops in front of the audience. Performing with scenes means building loops in advance and switching between them on stage, with some parts played live on top.
How do I connect an iPad to a PA system?
Use a USB-C audio interface with line outputs, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter and a cable to the mixer's line input. Avoid Bluetooth, which adds delay.
Can I perform live with an iPhone instead of an iPad?
Yes. The same apps work on iPhone. The smaller screen means more switching between pads and mixer, so rehearse the set on the device you'll use.
Why did my set stop when I opened another app?
iOS suspends or stops many audio apps in the background. Stay in the music app for the whole set, and turn on Do Not Disturb so calls and notifications can't pull you out of it.