Introducing the DriverKitAPI, a new platform for building drivers for external devices to use with iPadOS. While also enabling support for external web cameras, the main area of interest (for many musicians and those who record on the iPad) will be the ability to include drivers (for hardware that requires it) in a companion app, which will then function system-wide, enabling use in Logic for iPad and other apps.
This is really exciting news to come out of WWDC and iPadOS 17, considering that one of my original concerns with Logic Pro for iPad was the limits on external devices that would be supported. You can read that article here.
The main application of a feature like this is enabling support for hardware that requires dedicated drivers, such as some higher-end audio and MIDI interfaces, and hybrid analog-digital instruments, amongst others.
It’s worth noting that this enhanced driver support will only be coming to M-series iPads, so even if you’re running an iPad with an A-series chip that Logic Pro supports, you’re out of luck. If you’re curious as to how the nitty-gritty technical details work for developers, check out this page from Apple.
As a general rule of thumb, make sure to hold off on updating your OSes until you know that all the software and hardware you rely on works with the newest versions. Usually, it does, but the older your gear or software is the greater the risk of something not showing up or not opening.
