We still don’t know when, but there is at least some progress being made – some screenshots of the famous app have been leaked (to who I don’t know, these are from matrixsynth):

Not many details yet, everything is still pretty sketchy. It claims ‘compatibility’ with the iPad, but from what we’ve seen it looks to be iPhone only which is a shame. From the release notes they state:

Created by a separate development team, no FL Studio development time was used.

Interesting! I wonder if it was made in house or they hired a separate development company to do it? The only problem if it isn’t being made in-house is that the updates probably won’t be as regular. Given their refusal to support Apple products I think they may have gotten outside help for this. (By the way, that page has only been there since the end of july last year and has almost 30,000 views… and I remember people crying out for a Mac version 5 years ago.)

Regardless, I’m really looking forward to this. I loved FruityLoops when I was just starting out (and still using PC’s), I think it will make a great iOS app. Full CoreMIDI & Line 6 support included also.

I’ve started a thread on the forum, so come and give us your thoughts!

After playing around with GarageBand for iPad for the last day or two, I’ve worked out a few MIDI messages other than normal key messages are recognized by the app.  They seem to be based around the official MIDI specifications for CC messages.  Overall I’d give MIDI support in GarageBand about a 5/10 rating.. it still has a way to go!

• CC 1 – Modulation (in keyboard, for synths etc)
• CC 7 – Current Track volume (only works in instrument mode, not in arrangement mode)
• CC 8 – Current track pan (only works in instrument mode, not in arrangement mode)
• CC 64 – Sustain Pedal
• Channel Aftertouch
• Pitch Bend

It’s great that these are included, but a few more would be nice.  Especially being able to control the filter & cutoff on the synths.

Here are the key mappings for the drums (reproduced here, from the Apple Forums):

Classic Studio, Vintage, and Live Rock Kits:

• C1 – Bass Drum
• F1 – Low Tom
• C2 – Mid Tom
• A1 – High Tom
• D1 – Snare Drum
• C#1 – Side Stick
• D#1 or E1 – Rim shot
• Bb1 – Open Hi Hat
• F#1 – Closed Hi Hat
• G#1 – Pedal Hi Hat
• C#1 – Crash Cymbal
• D#2 Ride Cymbal
• F2 – Ride Bell

Drum Machines:

• C#2 – Crash
• D2 – Mid Tom
• F1 – Low tom (Classic, Hip Hop), B1 (House)
• G#1 – Ride (House), Bb1 (House), D#2 (Hip Hop)
• Bb1 – Open Hi Hat
• F#1 – Closed Hi Hat
• D#1 or E1 – Clap
• D#2 – Cowbell (Classic) D#2 – FX (House), G#1 – Pedal Hi Hat (Hip Hop)
• F2 – Shaker
• C#1 – Claves (Classic, House), Side Stick (Hip Hop)
• D1 – Snare Drum
• C1 – Bass Drum

G1 & B1 are unknown Toms, and F#2 on House has an unknown Cymbal/Rim Shot combination.

Also note:

• MIDI Play, Stop or Timecode messages aren’t supported by GarageBand
• No MIDI feedback (i.e. it doesn’t send out messages)
• Program Change messages aren’t recognized
• The UI doesn’t always update to reflect the messages (for example with the mod wheel)
• MIDI Network Sessions are not supported

Let’s hope these make it into v2.0, or even before.

After more than 750 comments, and many many people asking for a forum, we finally have one!  Check it out:

iOSMidi.com/forum

From now on, comments on the main site will be turned off, and all discussion will be directed to the forums.  It’s divided sections to make it easy:

• Midi Touch Discussion & Support – iPhone & iPad versions
• Midi Touch Templates Sharing
• Midi Monitor Discussion
• Other iOS MIDI related apps
• Devices
• Share your Music
• Off topic discussion

Please welcome our hard working forum moderator and creator, Cubik (check out his website).  He is also the main reason we have the forum!

So what are you waiting for? Go register, share your templates and join the discussion!

At long last, Midi Touch is available for iPhone & iPod Touch!

It brings all the great features from it’s big brother – including the built in editor.  And it works beautifully on the small screen.  It’s launching at version 2.2, so it actually has some extra features not yet in the iPad version:

• Bi-Directional option for sliders and knobs for making pan controls and crossfaders
• Custom Label control
• Pitch Bend messages
• ‘Return to default’ option in advanced editor: makes the knob or slider move automatically back to a default value when you let go (great for pitch bends or filters)
• Tweaked slider to show values inline

(iPad users: the iPad version will soon be updated with these features, and more.)

Of course these features are in addition to everything else the app can do:

• Preset Export via Mail, and Import via Mail Safari, Dropbox & other compatible apps
• Accelerometer support
• Multiple gestures for more accurate control
• Control snap, and grid snap for each auto-alignment when creating presets
• Drum Pad velocity options: higher taps = higher velocity, or closer to middle = higher velocity
• Full Screen mode (in edit and perform modes)
• Options to change how values are displayed – Midi Number, Percentage or Hex values
• Nudge controls in editor to create pixel-perfect designs
• Tab Control – a tabbed container to place controls in to save space
• XYZ Controllers with full support for Z axis
• Preset Jump control allows quick switching between presets
• Multiple useful pre-made default controller presets
• Excellent latency – measured at 2-4ms over WiFi
• Midi Feedback support keeps your controls in sync with your devices & DAW (not supported for DSMidiWiFi)
• Multiple Touch enabled to support changing up to 11 controls simultaneously
• Turn Inputs/Outputs on or off selectively
• Advanced settings to change how controls respond to incoming messages

More Screenshots:

Grab it on the app store today!

itunes.apple.com/us/app/midi-touch-for-iphone/id419787826?mt=8&ls=1

Please note: the Camera Connection Kit is not support by the iPhone or iPod Touch.

GarageBand has just been released in the App Store (itunes.apple.com/us/app/garageband/id408709785?mt=8) and it is really, really, awesome.  Expect a full review soon.  For $5, this is an incredible app.  The bass synth sounds are out of this world!

I’ve been testing it with MIDI Keyboards via the USB Camera Connection Kit and it does support MIDI in!  It really feels like we’re getting close to have Logic on the iPad.  If you’re looking for a compatible device check out our devices page.

Just a quick update to let everyone know our free app Midi Monitor has been updated to version 2.0.

New in this version:

• Midi Monitor is now a universal app and works on iPhone/iPod touch
• Support for Line 6 Midi Mobilizer added
• Support for DSMidiWiFi added
• Support for Midi Network Sessions added
• Gestures for sliders: double tap to jump to a setting, slide finger on ‘rail’ to fine tune
• Bugfixes

You can download Midi Monitor for free on the app store.

An update to Midi Touch went out on the App Store a few days ago with a major bug – it caused all saved presets to disappear. This hasn’t affected all users, only a subset who got the recent updates in a certain order.  The most important thing at this point is do not delete/reinstall the app!

The good news

We are about 95% sure your presets are not gone.  I’ve created a fix and uploaded it to Apple and it is waiting for review.  When you update, your lost presets should re-appear.  Unless something very bizarre has happened, or you have deleted/reinstalled the app, all your previous saved presets should still be there.

The bad news

The update will have to go through Apple’s review process.  I’ve requested an expedited review which has worked in the past, but there is no guarantee that it will work this time.  Regardless, previous updates have taken 2-3 days to go through.  Unfortunately we are about to hit a weekend which might make it longer.

I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise for this.  We have put more than 6 months full time work into this app and it really hurts to see something like this happen, even if it’s likely not permanent.  Also – we know how much time you guys have put into creating presets, and to see all your hard work disappear like that would be quite a shock!

We are going to work even harder from now on to make sure something like this does not happen again, and hope that you aren’t too upset with us.

- Patrick

Another great update!

This time we have added:

• SYSEX
• NRPN/RPN
• All new graphics
• Tabs
• New theme colors (14 in total)
• Controls can be resized to any size
• All new editing options: select & edit multiple controls, cut, copy, paste, duplicate
• Option to make selected controls all the same size
• Option to rename the preset
• Added ‘nudge’ controls to make pixel perfect setups
• Accelerometer support
• Performance and reliability improvements

Read on for more details and screenshots..

Continue reading →

You might have noticed a few changes around here..  Here’s the run down:

The site is progressively being re-designed (starting off with our new logo).  We have removed all the ads and they will not be coming back.  Good riddance to them.  iOSMidi.com also has a new team member who is responsible for the new logo and design changes.  A very talented man who I’ll introduce soon!

We have another huge new update for Midi Touch coming, with lots more user requested features. More on that very soon, it’s in the final stages of beta testing and will be submitted soon.  Once it’s submitted, I’ll do a post with run down of the new features.

One final thing: we are adding a forum so everyone can share their presets, request features and talk about MIDI apps for iPad/iPhone in general.  Look out for that soon…

Here’s a quick Midi Touch tip for those of you using XYZ Controllers with your DAW such as Ableton or Logic.

A few people have emailed me with problems assigning the different values coming out of a XYZ.  The problem is that the XYZ sends out the three values one after another, but in most DAW’s you can only assign on CC at a time.

Read on to find out how.

Continue reading →