Genius Asian Chinese iPad Band Big Deal
Chinese iPad Band “Big Deal”
What This Video Shows
This is the official release from the Big Deal iPad Band. The song title “Play Go” comes from the Chinese phrase that can also be translated as “Go Play.” This Chinese music group took the concept of iPad music-making to a creative and entertaining level, performing complete songs using only iPads as their instruments.
When this video was first released, the iPad was still a relatively new device. Most people thought of it as a consumption gadget for reading and browsing. Big Deal flipped that assumption by turning iPads into legitimate musical instruments for live performance.
Why This Matters
The Big Deal iPad band represents something I find genuinely exciting about technology: the moment when an everyday device gets repurposed for something nobody expected.
The Technology Behind iPad Music
What makes iPad music performance possible is a combination of the device’s multi-touch screen, low-latency audio processing, and the growing ecosystem of music apps. Each band member can run a different instrument app. One person handles drums, another plays bass lines, someone else manages melody. The touchscreen interface allows for expressive playing that goes beyond simple button pressing. You can slide between notes, control dynamics with touch pressure, and manipulate sounds in real time.
Why a Full Band Format Works
Solo iPad musicians had been posting videos online for a while before Big Deal came along. What set this group apart was the full band format. Having multiple performers on stage, each contributing their part, created the visual and auditory experience of a real band. The audience could see who was responsible for which sounds, and the performers could feed off each other’s energy the way any live band does.
Cultural Significance
Coming from China, Big Deal also highlighted how technology was being embraced creatively across different cultures. The iPad was an American product, the music apps came from developers around the world, and a Chinese band put it all together into something original. That kind of cross-cultural creativity is what modern technology makes possible.
Quick Tips for Making Music on an iPad
If watching Big Deal inspires you to try making music on your own tablet, here are some practical starting points.
Start with GarageBand. It comes free with every Apple device and includes a surprisingly powerful set of instruments and recording tools. You can layer tracks, add effects, and produce complete songs without spending anything on additional apps.
Invest in a good music app. Beyond GarageBand, apps like Korg Gadget and various synthesizer apps offer deeper control and more professional sounds. Many cost just a few dollars.
Get a pair of decent headphones. If you are creating music, you need headphones that let you hear the full frequency range and subtle details of your sounds.
Consider a MIDI controller. Small portable MIDI keyboards can connect to your iPad via Bluetooth or USB-C. They give you a more tactile playing experience than the touchscreen alone.
Record and share. Do not wait until your music is perfect. Part of what made Big Deal compelling was the energy and fun they brought to their performances.
If you enjoy creative uses of technology, check out my video on the interesting displays at the Maker Faire or the history of computer storage for more examples of technology evolving in surprising directions. Happy music-making.