[Niteshade]

Looks like Apple came out with a new super high-res Ipad! I have been interested in one of these and this new model makes it even more intriguing. A couple of things I wanted to know: What kind of (good) music software is available for recording from sources and/or microphones w/ external DAC's and can this software record on MP3 format? If not- is the IPad powerful enough to convert a WAV file to MP3?

[Niteshade]

Nobody uses an IPad for recording?

[JohnR]

You might be better off with a laptop...

[Crimson]

Apogee Digital makes iPad/iPhone-specific interfaces for use with Garage Band, and there are additional multi-track recording apps available form the app store. I haven't used either.

[Blackmore]

Hi Blair,
Alesis makes a dock for doing what you're describing.  iPad fits in and the you get two mic inputs and some phone jacks for plugging in a guitar.  Saw it at a music education conference and it did seem pretty slick, BUT it is really designed to be a replacement for those little "4 track studio in the bedroom"   

I'm with JohnR, a laptop with a FireWire or USB mic preamp so you could record in WAV or Aiff would be what you want.