Pro Music Apps

Not another MIDI control interface, I hear you say!? Well this one looks pretty interesting, given you’re able to customise the the layout to suit the type of software instrument you’re planning on controlling. Seems as though it started out life as a Windows application, then for Mac, and now iPad. It’s certainly worth checking out if the current crop of MIDI controllers don’t offer enough flexibility.

Oraison is a music software application that allows you to use a multi-touch screen as a control interface for software synthesizers, audio effects, digital audio workstations, and other applications. Oraison enables you to create interfaces using its library of buttons, sliders, and other components and to configure these components to send out MIDI or OSC messages whenever and however you think best. Oraison also comes with a built in sampler, and it allows you to download sounds directly from freesound.org and use them in your interfaces.

There is more info available on the developer’s site - http://www.sound-fantasy.com

Grab Oraison now –

Control GarageBand using your iPad!

Toggle record, mute and solo for each track, adjust volume, manipulate transport functions, adjust effect parameters and more. Untether yourself from the computer mouse and screen!

One great way to reap the benefits of gbTouch is to use GarageBand to get some tracks down in your composition, then sit back with your iPad – or even move around your studio – and use gbTouch’s track and transport functions to evaluate your mix. It also makes recording a breeze!

gbTouch automatically orients for landscape or portrait mode. It emulates the operation and look of many GarageBand features, but is optimized for a touch screen device. Like GarageBand, most gbTouch functions are contained on the Main screen, with Track Info (Details and Effect Parameters) available on command.

gbTouch communicates with GarageBand using our gbLink application, a small user agent program that is installed on your Mac. gbLink is free and available at www.delora.com.

REQUIREMENTS

* iPad running iOS 4.2 or greater
* Apple GarageBand ’11** music application installed on your Mac
* Delora gbLink, an OSX application, installed on your Mac (available free at www.delora.com). gbLink runs on G5 Macs running OSX 10.5.8, or Intel Macs running either OSX 10.5.8 or OSX 10.6.5 or greater
* Wi-Fi access to same computer where gbLink is installed
* iPad Bluetooth must be set to OFF to insure reliable communications with GarageBand

** gbTouch works with GarageBand ’09 but with a few limitations. See www.delora.com for details.

Grab some more details here – http://www.delora.com/

Grab gbTouch now –

NAMM 2011, the bi-annual music industry trade show has kicked off in Anaheim, California. Amongst the plethora of new music toys, there’s a whole bunch of apps and idevice hardware being released.

Akai have dropped this monster in the ring, the Akai Synthstation 49. Check out the video below which also has a rundown of the Synthstation for ipad app.

Here’s what they have to say.

SynthStation49 is the most advanced, intuitive music controller designed specifically for use with the iPad and the first true iPad performance tool for musicians. Working seamlessly with Akai Professional’s heralded SynthStation software, SynthStation49 provides unparalleled music creation capabilities, including direct in-app MIDI recording from its velocity-sensitive keyboard, nine MPC-style drum pads and array of transport controls. In addition to its integration with the SynthStation app, SynthStation49 is also completely iOS CoreMIDI compatible, making it instantly compatible with dozens of music apps already in the App Store and hundreds more on the way.

Dock, power and position the iPad perfectly using the adjustable-angled cradle, or establish commanding control over your favorite computer software using SynthStation49‘s USB/MIDI port. Professional ¼” outputs and extreme portability ensure you’ll be able to take your sequences straight to the stage at a moments notice.

SynthStation49 is the only full-featured, professional keyboard controller allowing direct MIDI performance recording onto an iPad. Bridging Akai Professional’s popular MPK controllers with the previously released SynthStation25, SynthStation49 provides immense software control with forty-nine, full-size velocity-sensitive keys, nine backlit MPC-style drum pads and full transport buttons. An adjustable-angled dock for iPad allows the user to easily slide their tablet into the SynthStation49’s cradle and position the screen to their preference.

SynthStation49’s keyboard, pitch/modulation wheels and sustain pedal input provide great feel and the essential controls for musicians and producers to compose, record and perform. The nine drum pads of SynthStation49 give users immediate, intuitive beat-creation capabilities over the 50 classic and modern kits available within the SynthStation software. Program, Sequence, Song select and Transport buttons also provide quick navigation to the SynthStation App’s most used components for a seamless, efficient workflow.

SynthStation49 also contains a stereo pair of professional ¼” TRS outputs with volume knob for easy connecting to other pro audio equipment on stage or in the studio. A headphone output also lets users practice and compose in private. The SynthStation49’s USB port can be connected directly to a Mac or PC computer to receive power in addition to transmitting MIDI to and from music software – a great way to turn the SynthStation App or other CoreMIDI compatible App into a sound module. You can even use SynthStation49 as a traditional USB MIDI controller with your computer – no iPad required!

AkaiConnect SDK allows third-party developers to take advantage of all the professional controls and capabilities of Akai Pro’s SynthStation49 keyboard controller and incorporate support for those controls within their iPad applications. Software developers interested in creating programs compatible with SynthStation49 can submit an application now at SynthStationApp.com.

Known for their range of midi controllers for iPhone and iPad, Saitara Software have announced the availability of the AC-7 Core mini. The new baby in the AC-7 range. this new mini version is designed to run on the iPhone and iPod Touch. I first saw it posted over at the always excellent Palm Sounds. Here’s what they had to say.

he AC-7 Core Mini is a wireless touch control surface for Apple’s Logic music production software as well as many other environments.
This Mini version had almost all of the features of it’s big brother (the iPad app AC-7 Core), and has full support for the Retina display in iPhone 4 and newer iPod Touch.
It uses iOS4.2′s CoreMIDI for simple setup and reliable operation. There are dedicated modes for controlling:

• Apple’s Logic
• Pro Tools
• MOTU’s Digital Performer
• Cubase/Nuendo
• Cakewalk Sonar
• Reaper
• Ableton Live
• Propellerhead Reason/Record
• Sony Vegas/Acid Pro
• FruityLoops Studio
• Presonus Studio One
• Adobe Audition
• Mackie Tracktion

Other software which supports the Mackie Control protocol will work with the “Generic Mode”

Works without additional server software on OS X “Tiger” and above.
Also works on Windows XP, Vista, And 7 with free rtpMIDI driver.

Grab AC-7 Core Mini now –

Amos is a reactive MIDI instrument. It sends MIDI notes over a wireless network to almost any desktop host app such as Garage Band, Logic, Pro Tools, Live, etc. Think MIDI wind-chimes crossed with a pinball machine.

In Amos’s physics-simulated room, collisions between objects trigger MIDI notes. Up to three duration discs (half note, quarter note, eighth note) can be grabbed and thrown around the room. There are three 6-octave keyboards that can be configured via the Settings menu. When a disc strikes a keyboard key, it takes on that key‘s note value and emits that value for each collision until a new key is struck. Tilting the device controls the gravity in the room.

Requirements
• iPad
• A Mac, Linux, or Windows computer on the same WiFi network as your iPad
• A copy of the free DSMI Server running on your Mac, Linux, or Windows computer
• Some kind of MIDI capable desktop app (Garage Band, Pro Tools, Logic, Live, Sonar, etc.)

Grab Amos now –

MIDI Touch is the ultimate MIDI controller – it allows you to create your own custom controllers by placing knobs, sliders and other controls onto the screen wherever you want.

Send MIDI over Wi-Fi with latency as low as 2-5ms, and now with iOS 4.2 you can connect compatible MIDI hardware devices directly to iPad for near-zero latency using the USB Camera Connection Kit. For a list of compatible devices, go to http://iosmidi.com/devices.

Features:
★ Design & save your own MIDI controllers by dragging and dropping sliders, buttons and more where you want them to create personalised control surfaces
★ Native MIDI Device support – connect compatible devices via the Camera Connection Kit and your iPad becomes a proper MIDI control surface with almost zero latency
★ Excellent responsiveness & performance – measured latency over WiFi to OS X: 2-5ms, over Camera Connection Kit: 1ms
★ Send messages over Wi-Fi with easy setup (Windows: requires the free software driver rtpMIDI (http://www.tobias-erichsen.de/rtpMIDI_configuration.html), alternatively use DSMI Server for Mac, Windows or Linux, also free)
★ Several different control types – Add sliders, knobs, buttons (momentary or latched), drum-pads, X-Y controllers, transport controls and preset-jump buttons
★ Easily change the settings of each control – CC number, note number, minimum & maximum range, size & label
★ Standard & neon control themes to skin controls
★ Multi touch – control multiple knobs/sliders etc at once
★ In-app brightness control allows dimming of the screen to very low levels for performance
★ Full screen mode to reduce distractions
★ Controls snap to each other to help create aligned layouts
★ New invert values mode – perfect for drawbar organs
★ More to come!

Grab MIDI Touch now –

Enjoy some simple sound altering fun on iPad with this new app.

the intuitive musical instrument for ipad. you control three positions of circles. These positions modulate FM parameters and ‘delay’ FX. Unlike DAW or typical musical instruments, such as midi keyboard, you can perform transformation of the ‘sound’ more intuitively with using the multi-touch interface of iPad. ※ I recommend to use speaker to get better low frequency sound.

Grab modAxis now –

eyoControl lets you control your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software from your iPad in various ways, such as a control surface or a virtual instrument. eyoControl communicates with your DAW through the dedicated eyoControl Server running on a laptop or desktop Mac computer. The eyoControl Server lets you connect multiple iPads running eyoControl to play virtual instruments alltogether on the same DAW. eyoControl supports most DAW software such as Logic, Cubase

Get a full rundown on details here – http://eyosido.com/

Grab eyoControl now –

For those that can’t quite justify the full blown version of this app, it now ships in a ‘lite’ version.

The AC-7 Core XT is an 8 fader extension module for use with our AC-7 Core DAW control surface app.

It connects wirelessly to your recording/mixing software via wifi CoreMIDI.

Using multiple iPads, it’s now possible to control 16, 24 or 32 tracks simultaneously.

For example:
Run the AC-7 Core app on the first iPad… This will give you 8 + 1 faders and all the controls you need.
Run this AC-7 Core XT app on the other iPads…

The faders in this extension app are longer and more widely spaced, so more precise control is possible.

Of course, each track has a scribble strip, level meter, pan display, record arm, solo, mute and select button.

For detailed setup instructions and examples, see our website. http://saitarasoftware.com/Site/Home.html

Grab AC-7 Core XT now –

V-Control Pro provides a fully-featured, multi-touch control surface for Pro Tools on a Mac and soon for Windows. V-Control Pro uses WiFi to control transport, editing, and mixing functions with Pro Tools 9, HD, or LE. V-Control Pro provides advanced control of sends, automation, groups, auditioning, plug-ins, scrub/shuttle, I/O assignment, and other controls within an easy-to-use interface.

Features:

Large, touch-sensitive moving faders
Solo, mute, record, and pan controls
Flip mode send editing
Scrub / shuttle control
Automation mode controls and display
Automation and group suspend buttons
Automation and group status display
Automation write enable controls
Plug-in editing
Input monitoring switch
Big counter display
Save and Undo buttons
Pre-roll / Post-roll buttons
I/O assignment
Zoom presets
Window display controls
Keypad popover provides access to many Pro Tools features

Check the developer’s site for details on the standard and pro versions of this app – http://www.neyrinck.com/

Grab V-Control Pro now –