iConnectMIDI: link musical gear to Apple iPad/iPhone/iPod touch [NAMM11]

There are plenty of music creation apps for iPad but they don’t all necessarily have the ability, on their own, to interface with other equipment.

Enter iConnectMIDI, a MIDI interface designed specifically for Apple’s portable products.

The box can be connected up to an iPad, iPod touch or iPhone’s dock, as well as to PCs, keyboards and other MIDI devices. It lets users put their Apple gear right in the loop, and can be particularly impressive when used with the iPad.

Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS version 4.2, uses a CoreMIDI framework which is fully compatible with the iConnectMIDI.

The box features 2x mini USB device ports, 2×2 MIDI DIN ports, and one USB host port. It runs off a 5V DC connection.

The iConnectMIDI is constructed from rugged steel and finished in black powder.

iConnectivity.com

7 New GrooveMaker Packs for the iPad Now Available

Club, Techno, Trance, Electro, Rock, Reggae and Reggaeton

In celebration of GrooveMaker for the iPhone app one-year anniversary, IK Multimedia is proud to release seven more new GrooveMaker packs for the iPad. Debuted in April 2010, GrooveMaker for the iPad now comprises a total of 12 style–based versions including Free, Hip Hop, House, Progressive-Tech House, D’n'B, Club, Techno, Trance, Electro, Rock, Reggae and Reggaeton covering all genres of dance music. This also means that all the packs for the iPhone are now optimised for the iPad.

GrooveMaker for the new iPad offers the same smart features and streamlined workflow as theiPhone/iPod version for making music with loops, but also takes advantage of the new larger multi-touch surface to provide enhanced operation with an integrated, advanced controller.

Pricing, Versions and Availability

7 new GrooveMaker packs for the iPad:

• Club
• Techno
• Trance
• Electro
• Rock Ace
• Reggae
• Reggaeton

GrooveMaker Club contains over 189 loops and is only $6.99/€5.49 from the iTunes App Store.

GrooveMaker Techno, Trance, Electro, Rock Ace, Reggae and Reggaeton contain over 250 loops each and are only $9.99/€7.99 from the iTunes App Store.

unrealBook: Music manuscript display app for iPad

After I finished yesterday’s 22 iPad Music Creation Apps feature, I stumbled across Aron Nelson’s blog and found his unrealBook for iPad app.

It’s the sort of app I’ve been thinking of for quite some time, but until now the only way to execute such a thing was to use a laptop / notebook — a bit unwieldy, even on the lighter models — or put up with the smaller screen of a PDA or iPhone.

With the iPad comes a much larger screen in a thinner body. Assuming you find something satisfactory to prop it up with, it becomes a great storage and display device for printed music manuscript and chord / lyric sheets.

It works with PDF files, so if you can get your music collection scanned in / saved in that format, you’re away. Fully alphabetised and indexed, it’s ready to go wherever you need to get hold of your music.

Version 1.2 includes text annotation, drawing with multiple pens, wireless methods (email, dropbox, URL download), hiding of toolbars, go menu enhancements, more responsive page turning, better zoom and more.

It’s worth noting other music display apps are available for the iPad.

unrealBook

You might also consider Sheet Music Mobile, forScore and Music Reader for iPad.

22 iPad Music Creation Apps

The iPad is a beautiful device for all kinds of music-making and synthesiser goodness. Here’s our selection of iPad-ready music creation and learning apps that we think you’ll like (and if you’re a Mac user who likes these, why not peruse our 35 piano, synth and sound apps from the Mac App Store too?):

Click on the title to go to the iTunes Store for more information.

ThumbJam – $6.99

Over 30 high-quality multi-sampled real instruments and hundreds of musical scales allow you to play a range of styles.

It’s endorsed by Jordan Rudess, and comes with two of his signature sounds.

TouchOSC – $4.99

For sending Open Sound Control (OSC) messages to other devices via Wi-Fi. Includes touch controls for faders, rotary controls, toggle buttons, XY pads, multi-faders, multi-toggles, LEDs and labels, with full multi-touch of up to five controls at once.

miniSynth PRO – $9.99

Grab hold of analog synthesis on your iPad with this completely revamped version of the original iPhone synth.

Fully-featured, professional grade virtual analog synth incorporating an improved version of the zero-latency “push-pull” Yonac keyboard algorithm.

A huge range of specs include dual subtractive / FM virtual-analogue polyphonic / monophonic synthesis, fully configurable FM filter or modulation based tone shaping, 16-bit quality stereo output, dual syncable oscillators, six optimised custom waveforms per oscillator, adjustable dual keyboards, BPM-based arpeggiator module, and so much more.

Korg iElectribe – $19.99

A faithful virtual recreation of Korg’s ELECTRIBE-R sound engine, featuring analog synth modelling, PCM samples, virtual valve force tube modelling, patterns and effects.

Pianist Pro – $9.99

The original iPhone piano now arrives in a pro version for the iPad, featuring full recording and overdub, standard MIDI output, MIDI to OSC, multiple instruments, pitch bend, modulation and swell pedal, arpeggiator and a drum machine.

Pocket Organ C3B3 – $2.99

Optimised for the larger iPad screen, play a simulation of the Hammond Organ using a virtual tonewheel system controlled by nine drawbars as per the real thing. Features include scrollable keyboard, transposition, rotary speaker effect, harmonic percussion effect, reverb, overdrive, vibrato, chorus, and glissando via the accelerometer.

SunVox – $4.99

Another iPad app endorsed by Jordan Rudess, SunVox is a small and fast multi-platform pattern-based (tracker) sequencer with modular synths. This means you can use it across different operating systems.

Features include a modular interface, optimised synth algorithms, Wi-Fi import and export, including WAV samples, various generators and a sampler, DC blocking filter, effects including delay, distortion and echo, a three-band equaliser, low-, high-, band-pass and notch filters, flanger, LFO, loop, reverb, a vocal filter and vibrato.

bleep!BOX – $9.99

A combination drum machine and synthesiser box with sounds generated in real time (not from samples).

Features include real-time processing, audio copying, classic x0x drum emulation, analog style 2-Osc synths, 10 parts, 50+ parameters, ringmod, FM, PhaseMod, Sync, Distortion, global delay FX, eight waveforms, tempo, swing, pattern length, saving of patches and patterns, step sequencing and recording, automation, song mode, and recording songs and patterns to WAV files.

Ellatron HD – $5.99

Experience a virtual Mellotron synth on your iPad, featuring 27 voices, 16 banks of programmable chord buttons, ‘fat keys’ for better playability, save and restore of voice settings, and ready to take on the road. Jordan Rudess say’s “it’s pretty cool”.

Looptastic HD – $14.99

Create remixes and electronic compositions simply by dragging and dropping loops, using the built-in DJ mixer and adding effects with the touch pad.

Features include over 900 samples plus the ability to record your own, a dozen real time effects with X-Y touch pad, including Bit Crusher, Multimode Fingering, flanger, delay and glitchy repeater, time stretching, triple-zone mixer, scratch strip for triggering samples part-way through, importing of a range of audio sample file types, export in 16-bit AIFF, and sharing via SoundCloud.

GrooveMaker Hip-Hop for iPad – $9.99

The application for creating non-stop electronic, dance and hip-hop tracks in real-time.

Features include instantaneous control of eight stereo loop tracks, play, mix and randomise loops on the fly, combine studio-quality loops, manipulate loops in real time, arrange grooves with drag and drop, save and recall tracks and upload WAV files via Wi-Fi.

Nota HD – $5.99

Designed for pianists of all levels, Nota HD features piano chord and scale browser, piano and staff note locator, note quiz and reference library with over 100 symbols.

Raindrops for iPad – $1.99

Play music simply by touching the screen, either solo or over the Internet.

Synth – $0.99

Simply titled “Synth”, this cheaper app offers over 40 instruments, mod and pitch bend wheels, adjustable delay and distortion plus a built in sampler.

Bebot – Robot Synth – $1.99

Feature packed polyphonic musical synth with a unique multitouch control method — an onscreen animated robot character who moves and sings while you play.

Four synth modes, analog-sounding filters, versatile delay/loops, overdrive distortion, programmable scales, and full touchscreen control.

Music Studio – $14.99

A complete music production environment featuring dynamically configurable 85-key keyboard, 74 studio-recorded instruments, low-latency, high polyphony, real time effects, 128-track sequencer, note editing, quantising, transposition, repeat, move, velocity and so on, Wi-Fi transfer, MIDI import/export.

iSequence for iPad – $14.99

Music creation studio featuring eight-track sequencer, flexible mixer with DSP, real-time recording and control, 160 instruments, pattern editing, sampler, and wi-fi file sharing.

Electrify – $14.99

A virtual sample groovebox for iPad, designed to combine the best features of existing hardware grooveboxes and the ease of use of software applications.

Features include an eight-track sequencer with individual track lengths, two chainable effect buses with 8 effects, direct access to track parameters, step sequencer, pattern matrix, seven parameters editable per step, professional sample library, import of samples, sample editing, copy and paste to other iPad apps.

Mellotronics M3000 for iPad – $11.99

The only moxMatrix – $4.99

Turns iPad into a canvas for rhythm and melody, featuring a multicoloured, multitouch pulsating groovebox.

Features include tone matrix interface, loop creation, sampler, alternative scales, pattern storage and jam mode.

olsynth – $6.99

Classic monophonic synth with a clean and simple interface. Settings include dual oscillator with four waveforms, fine tune, modulation, filter, envelope volume and filter, and arpeggio.

TuneLab Piano Tuner

– $299.99

A highly specialised app designed for professional piano tuners. It can be calibrated to an accuracy of 0.02 cents, stores hundreds of tuning files for individual pianos, plus historical temperaments for period music, automatic note switching, plus a range of displays to aid in tuning.

Mac user? Don’t miss our 35 Piano, Synth and Sound Apps from the Mac App Store feature.

Mellotron comes to iPad with launch of Mellotronics M3000 HD

I know we are going to see some incredible soft synths, emulators and simulators coming to the iPad over time, given its screen real estate and immense portability, and one of the first is Streetly Electronics’ and Omenie’s software implementation of the great Mellotron.

Mellotronics M3000 HD features 13 voices sampled directly from Streetly Electronics’ production tapes — those very same as used in classic tracks such as Strawberry Fields Forever, Nights in White Satin and Watcher of the Skies.

All 35 notes of each set have been sampled, and all keys are visible on screen and fully playable. There’s even a dozen programmable chord pads. See the demo video below for how these are used to good effect.

Martin Smith of Streetly Electronics, says “I was amazed to hear our classic sounds coming out of the iPad. This is the truest, most playable digital mellotron for iPhone OS, and it has to be heard to be believed.”

Apparently a version for the iPod Touch and iPhone is also in development, though I think it would be rather a struggle to play efficiently on such a small screen. You’d either need to select which keys to display on screen or perhaps use a stylus. Fat fingers beware.

The iPad version will be available from Monday 14 June priced $11.99. I’ll update with a link when it goes live in the App Store.

(Via)

Preschoolers get iPhone music app that teaches them keyboard skills

You know how much kids of all ages love to experiment with new toys, and how they are often irresistibly drawn to shiny technology like the iPhone and iPad. Well, to ensure they’re learning a whole host of things — including basic music reading and keyboard skills — while they’re having fun, we have the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Preschool Storybook Piano app, launched today on the iTunes App Store.

Full of cute, colourful characters, musical notation and a keyboard, the app lets young kids begin to learn how to read music from a stave and play the keyboard using well-known nursery rhyme songs.

Key features:

• Watch the story unfold and hear the song being sung
• Press the start button and sing along
• Record and hear their own voice
• Select 7 different types of instruments and learn about the sounds they create
• Add animal sounds to the song
• Watch the piano keys light up one-by-one with the melody
• Follow the lighted piano keys to play the song
• Match the colorful music notes to the piano keys and play along
• Sing and read karaoke-style lyrics in English, French and Spanish
• Include their parents as they sing and read together
• Increase their vocabulary and language awareness
• Improve their auditory comprehension and listening skills

Available now priced $0.99 (59p). iTunes Link (Via)

If you’re looking for other resources, here are 10 recommended books to help your child learn to play piano and keyboard

ReBirth Roland emulator for iPhone/iPad: TB-303, TR-808, TR-909 in your palm

Propellerhead Software (probably best known for Reason) has announced the availability of a three-in-one synth emulator for Apple’s portable devices.

ReBirth faithfully recreates the TB-303, TR-808 and TR-909 units on screen, offering all the functionality you’d expect from the real things but at a fraction of the cost, and completely virtually.

Features include:

• 2 x TB-303 Bassline synths
• TR-808 Drum Machine
• TR-909 Drum Machine
• Pattern Controlled Filter
• Distortion unit
• Compressor
• Mixer
• 5 user mods
• Pattern sequencing
• Full automation
• Combine patterns to build songs
• Share songs with other ReBirth users

Go retro or create something completely new. The choice is yours and for the tiny sum of just £3.99.

Get more information or go to the iTunes Link for ReBirth.

Mobeat Synthesizer launched for iPod, iPhone, iPad

We haven’t covered a lot of iPhone/iPod Touch apps recently, but with the recent launch of the iPad, and the possibilities that brings with it, we thought we’d start taking a keener interest again.

On that note, here’s the Mobeat Synthesizer, released yesterday on the iTunes Store.

It claims to be able to “create an almost infinite number of sounds” and has the following features:

• Dual Oscillator Module
• Fine Tune
• Waves Types, Square, Triangle, Sawtooh, Osc
• Glide Rate
• Octave Selector
• Scrollable Keys
• Modulation Module
• Resonance
• Envelope Generator
• Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
• Filter
• Arpeggiator

A free, ‘lite’ version is available, though the full version is only £1.19 ($1.99) so it isn’t going to break the bank.

You can see a virtual demonstration of the app over at the Mobeat web site, or find Mobeat on iTunes.

The app was designed for the iPod Touch and iPhone, but it will also work on the iPad.

Mantaray iTar: Custom frame for iPad and mini controllers launched

If you’ve been looking at Apple’s new iPad, with its large touchscreen and ability to run a wide variety of existing and soon-to-be-released virtual synths, audio and music apps, then you may already think it’s a great portable composition or performance tool.

However, one designer has taken it a stage further by building the Mantaray iTar, a custom piece of hardware that allows the iPad and additional gear to be held securely in a frame that is worn somewhat like a guitar.

The easiest way to get an idea of what it is and what it does is to watch this ten-minute video. If you can handle the style it’s recorded in, it may well open your eyes to some possibilities.

I can’t imagine seeing this centre-stage any time soon, but you never know. The prototype is available now.

Via

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