Oh my.
Well. For me the iPad has replaced every hardware controller and hardware synth that I used to drag around to performances and use for recording. With my primary focus on playing the Stick and guitar, I was always looking for just one piece of kit..and the iPad came along and fit the bill almost immediately. I don't miss the tactile interface of my hardware, because my primary tactile interface are my fucking strings, lol. But in no way am I saying that touch should replace hardware. For me, it was the way forward in order to streamline my entire process.
The title of this thread is really the issue, because it's stupid to set it up as a strict choice. Not only that, but just thinking of the iPad as a 'controller substitute' is really a shortsighted view.
Standard Controller
If tactile is your thing, then yeah...you're shit out of luck. But even if you want tactile AND wouldn't dream of anything else, there's still a place for the iPad. With the amazing touchAble app, you can quite simply get to nearly every single parameter in your Live set in seconds AND get far more visual feedback than what an APC can give you (or any other piece of hardware). You also have an extra set of drumpads or keys immediately at your disposal - as well as XYZ pads with fun physics options. Adjust track volumes and pans and whatnot with the APC, then reach over and tweak some macro parameters with touchAble - using 5 fingers at the same time, lol.
iPad as a new instrument.
There's a few bits of software out there that will allow you an unparalleled level of control and spontaneous magic over your synths or FX that NO piece of tactile hardware will give you. Konkrete Performer is an excellent example of an iPad app that will let you control 8 macros at one time using as many fingers as you've got. The combination of which will lead you to sonic discoveries that, quite simply, you'll not achieve WITHOUT a touchscreen. Something like KapturePad offers the same unique performing experience - giving you fantastic new possibilities that an APC or anything of it's kind simply cannot match. This isn't an opinion or fanboy nonsense. This is fact. If you don't agree, then you clearly haven't used them.
It also has more to do with the apps than the iPad *gasp*. Xoom or any other tablet product will - at some point if they all get their MIDI and audio shit together - offer the same experience.
iPad as softsynth replacement
The last point to mention is that iPad apps like the amazing iMS-20 fucking ROCK, and offer as good a sound and playing experience as any softsynth. There are many, many great synth apps now and one benefit is that they keep valuable CPU power free for other things like plugs and whatnot.
So there you go.
