hotswank
Description:
When “Play in Background” is enabled and Loopy Pro is left unattended, especially with a USB-C hub connected (e.g., for audio interfaces like Focusrite Clarett+), the iPad battery can drain completely, even if the device was previously fully charged and on power. This has occurred multiple times, causing potential battery wear.
Problem:
Users may forget to manually disable “Play in Background” or quit Loopy Pro after a session. As a result, the app continues running overnight or for extended periods—even when idle—draining the battery to 0%. This issue is exacerbated when external accessories are attached. Apple discourages frequent manual app quits, but also warns against battery depletion through background processes.
Proposed Solution:
Implement an automatic "Idle Mode" or inactivity detector that:
  • Monitors user inactivity over a user-definable duration (e.g., 1–6 hours).
  • Automatically disables “Play in Background” or quits Loopy Pro.
  • Optionally triggers only when external USB devices are connected.
This safeguard could be bypassed during recording/playback or when flagged as active.
Benefits:
  • Protects battery health on unattended iPads.
  • Offers peace of mind for live performers and producers.
  • Reduces the risk of unintended overnight battery depletion.
  • Balances convenience of background audio with device safety.
Examples:
  • User works late with iPad plugged in via USB hub. After falling asleep, the iPad battery is completely drained by morning despite being 100% earlier.
  • No DSP was actively needed overnight, yet Loopy Pro stayed active due to “Play in Background”.
  • A hub-connected iPad with Loopy Pro left open on a music stand during rehearsal results in full battery drain the next day.
This summary was automatically generated by ChatGPT-4 on July 24, 2025.
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Original Post:
Serious battery drain when left unattended (v1.1.24)
When “Play in background” is enabled and LP is left unattended for a day, the battery of my iPad Pro M4 gets totally depleted and it’s damaging the (expensive) battery. This happened now 3 times with my Satechi USB-C hub attached (I tested this). When the “Play in background” option is disabled or LP is shut down, there is obviously no excessive battery drain (with or without the hub). This is unacceptable in my view. We should be leaving our hubs attached and apps open all the time without the risk of depleting (and possibly damaging) our batteries. Apple even suggests not to quit frequently used apps because of waste of battery and system resources. My suggestion is to build in a “idle” detector which turns off this ”Play in background” option or force quit LP when left unattended for one or several hours and/or any USB accessory is connected, in this case a simple USB-A to USB-C hub to allow my Focusrite Clarett+ as my audio interface for Loopy Pro.