"—Transforming your Apple® iPod touch™, iPhone™ and iPad™ into a complete music production studio—
CALABASAS, Calif.—November 18, 2010—Line 6, Inc. (line6.com), the industry leader in digital modeling technology for music-creation products, is proud to announce a dozen new apps for the MIDI Mobilizer™, the only MIDI interface for Apple iPod touch, iPhone and iPad.
“Developers are doing an amazing job of harnessing the power of the Apple devices and turning them into serious music-making MIDI machines – all made possible by MIDI Mobilizer,” remarked Chris Grigg, Mobile Products Manager at Line 6. “Prepare to be completely amazed at how much you can do with such tiny, affordable gear.”
MIDI Mobilizer is the most simple, compact, and portable Line 6 device yet. It easily connects directly with any Apple iPod touch, iPhone or iPad and coupled with MIDI Memo Recorder (a free app available for download on the Apple App Store), it allows musicians to conveniently play, record, and backup MIDI data any time, anywhere.
Following the announcement earlier this summer of the free MIDI Mobilizer Third Party Developer Program, over 70 app developers around the world are working on new apps that will support MIDI Mobilizer. In addition to MIDI Memo Recorder, there are currently a dozen apps available for MIDI Mobilizer:
NanoStudio,
NLogSynth Pro,
NLog MIDI Synth,
Music Studio,
Pianist Pro,
StepPolyArp,
MIDI Surface,
Little MIDI Machine,
MIDI Live,
bs-16i, and
S1MIDI Trigger. [brief descriptions on each further below]
NanoStudio, for example, is a techno-styled, full-featured virtual recording studio complete with 16 sample trigger pads, a comprehensive sequencer, a sample editor, a mixer and 10 FX units. Another is NLog Synth PRO, which is a professional virtual analogue synthesizer with 192 factory sounds, powerful synth features, and more. Pianist Pro, an 88-key virtual piano for the iPad, has been highlighted in Apple commercials and recommended by the New York Times, Rolling Stone magazine, and others.
These apps are just the beginning – many more are in development and will be available soon.
MIDI Mobilizer is compatible with millions of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) devices, from classic to modern, including synthesizers, digital pianos, effects processors, and Line 6 guitar amps and POD® products.
MIDI Mobilizer is available now, with an estimated street price of $69.99."
iPads on eBay
iPads on Amazon
iPod Touch on eBay
iPod Touch on Amazon
Be sure to see the Line 6 label below for demos of apps supporting the Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer.
Update: brief descriptions on each app (links take you to iTunes where you'll find full info):
NanoStudio
"NanoStudio is a virtual recording studio for iPhone/iPod Touch. It has 4 virtual analogue synths, 16 sample trigger pads, a comprehensive sequencer, a sample editor, a mixer and 10 effects units all integrated into a single application.
Record samples using the built-in microphone*, resample NanoStudio's own output or upload your own samples over WiFi using our NanoSync tool for Mac or Windows. NanoStudio comes with a range of samples, loops and drum kits to get you started...."
NLogSynth Pro
"The N E X T L E V E L of IOS musical instruments:
- A PROFESSIONAL GRADE synthesizer in your pocket with extreme value
- 192 IMPRESSIVE FACTORY SOUNDS
- including fresh new soundset by the trance producer 7 Skies (www.7skies-music.com)
- ENDLESS options for SOUND EDITING
- Over one 150 parameters and options
- More than your beloved hardware synths might offer
- Store up to 96 own edits in 3 user banks
- Exchange sounds with your friends by email
- STUDIO QUALITY sounds
- Professional 44.1 kHz Stereo CD quality
- Internal 32bit floating point engine
- Highly efficient sound algorithms
- Enabling maximum CPU performance of your iPad..."
NLog MIDI Synth
"This app is an extended version of the famous "NLog Synthesizer" app providing external access from MIDI keyboards or other MIDI controller. The synth engine has been rewritten to provide polyphonic realtime response. Now you have a real synthesizer out of your IOS device which you can play with your keyboards. A MIDI interface is needed to operate with external keyboards. This version supports Line6's Midi Mobilizer. Other interfaces like Akai's Synthstation will be supported in future updates once they become available. The app is also usable without MIDI interface with on-screen keyboard..."
Music Studio
"Music Studio offers a complete music production environment on the iPhone/iPod touch with features and a sound quality previously only known to desktop applications and expensive audio hardware.
It combines a piano keyboard, 40 studio-quality instruments with sustain, a fully fledged 128-track sequencer, extensive note editing, reverb, real-time effects and much more on a user-friendly interface."
Pianist Pro
"As featured in the latest Apple "iPad is Musical" TV Ad, recommended by The New York Times, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, Rolling Stone Magazine, and played live by legendary band Squeeze on the Jimmy Fallon show (NBC).
Pianist, the ORIGINAL iPhone piano, turns Professional in an all new iPad-only app with photo-realistic graphics and an unbelievable sound. Pianist Pro was the number one music app for the iPad at release and has remained high in the charts ever since."
StepPolyArp
"StepPolyArp is a midi step polyphonic arpeggiator. The arpeggiator does not play any sound itself, it transmits midi notes to a Mac or a PC to be used in combination with any sequencer, virtual instrument (VSTi, Audio Unit) or midi synthesizer.
The arpeggiator can transform chords into sequences of notes played one after the other in several ways. A matrix polyphonic step modulate arpeggiated notes in time and pitch. The main controllers (velocity, modulation, panning, volume, aftertouch, and pitch bend) are also programmable through a step editor. The integrated keyboard automatically adapts to the selected musical scale."
MIDI Surface
"MIDI Surface is a full-featured MIDI control surface for iPhone and iPod touch, brought to you by the minds at Audiofile Engineering (creators of FiRe - Field Recorder, Backline Calc and other essential audio apps). Designed for use with the Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer hardware accessory, MIDI Surface allows users to easily create and save their own customized MIDI control surfaces. It delivers seamless touch-screen control of MIDI-enabled instruments such as keyboards, drum machines, software synths and more."
Little MIDI Machine
"Little MIDI Machine is an analog-style MIDI step sequencer app for the Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer interface. This app requires you own the hardware Line 6 Mobilizer MIDI interface hardware accessory for full functionality.
Little MIDI Machine gives you the step sequencing power of a hardware analog sequencer on your iPad! Program two independent sequencers that send note and velocity MIDI data out on two MIDI channels to control your hardware synthesizers. LittleMM includes many of your favorite hardware sequencer features such as mute and un-mute notes, skip steps, reverse the sequencer, adjustable clock speed, etc. If you do not have a Line 6 Mobilizer, LittleMM can generate very basic melodic sounds in place of sending MIDI. This will let you play around with the app and try it out, but it is not a feature that will be developed further and is not the primary purpose of the app. LittleMM is intended to be a MIDI sequencer driving external hardware.
With Little Music Machine you can use your Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer interface along with your favorite hardware synth and your iPad to create mind-bending loops and sequences."
MIDI Live
"This application is designed for live performance using the Midi Mobilizer from Line 6. It provides realtime modification of midi file parameters including:
* Song Tempo
* Key Change
* Instrument Assignment
* Song Cue
* Mixing Parameters
It is possible to alter these parameters while the song is playing or save for future playback. Playlists are also supported. Songs can be freely downloaded from the internet or loaded from your laptop.
Note: This application does not make sound on its own, it requires the Midi Mobilizer from Line 6."
bs-16i
"bs-16i is a 16 multi-timbral playback sampler. It supports SoundFont, and can be used for keyboard instrument, MIDI sound module, and MIDI player.
The sampler engine is ported from bs-1 / bs-16, which is developed as professional plug-in for Logic (Audio Units) and Cubase (VST instrument).
Using SoundFont libraries, you can play with your great number of Instruments.
It supports all standard MIDI messages, so it also can be used as a GM (General MIDI) sound module.
As a keyboard instrument, you can play with scalable keyboard, pitch bend wheel, and many control change controllers.
Internal MIDI player supports SMF (Standard MIDI File) format."
S1MIDI Trigger
S1MidiTrigger turns your iPad or iPhone into a customizable touchscreen MIDI controller that can replace hardware devices costing hundreds of dollars. Connect wirelessly to audio workstation applications on the PC or Mac, or use Line 6's MIDI Mobilizer hardware add-on!
You can use the built-in controller screens or design your own, with touch pads (for drums and other instruments), sliders, X-Y pads and more. (Note: This requires a MIDI application -- it does not play music by itself.)
S1MidiTriggger is compatible with the open-source DSMidiWifi server, but for even faster response you can download our free S1 server software for PC or OS X. (A fast wifi connection is recommended.)
Don't worry if you don't have the best musical skills! With S1MidiTrigger, it's very easy to just tap some pads to play simple notes or even complete chords.
Watch a demo of version 3.2 on YouTube" [
posted here]
If you have an iOS device and have been considering using it with MIDI there are currently four options.
4) Finally, and probably most importantly for us gear heads, there is CoreMIDI which is becoming the standard for most apps. You can go wifi with a computer as your MIDI device, or for use without a PC you need two things, one you need the USB Camera Connection Kit from Apple (if you pick up a used one, make sure it comes with the USB attachment/dongle and not just the SD card attachment), and two, you need a class compliant MIDI device that will support what you plan to use it for. For example you can use the KORG NanoKeys for MIDI IN to the iPad, but obviously not for MIDI OUT of the iPad. See http://iosmidi.com/devices/ for a list of devices and what they support. 
I hooked it up and it was instantly recognized by apps that support CoreMIDI. It uses the thin USB computer type cable as you can see. I wasn't sure if I would like it, but I do. For some reason, it feels thinner, lighter, and more flexible than some of the thicker MIDI cables I have. I should note the Line 6 MIDI mobilizer has even thinner, and flexible cables as well. Thinner is better with the iPad as the point is to be as unobstructed as possible. Length was also a concern for me and the cable is great at about six feet long. Again being light and thin is good and the device takes a very small profile compared to some other class compliant MIDI devices. One thing I did notice was when I accidentally nudged the Camera Connection Kit (the white square you see the HDI MIDI Cable connected to) and lost the connection, I had to completely remove it and re-seat it to get the app to pick it up again - the Camera Connection Kit that is, not the USB cable. The USB cable sits snug in the CCK. The only reason I mention this is to remember to keep the CCK snug if you are performing or recording! Another reason I have my fingers crossed for a wireless CoreMIDI device. 
"What's New in Version 1.3
"—Transforming your Apple® iPod touch™, iPhone™ and iPad™ into a complete music production studio—
NanoStudio
NLogSynth Pro
NLog MIDI Synth
Music Studio
Pianist Pro
StepPolyArp
MIDI Surface
Little MIDI Machine
MIDI Live
bs-16i
S1MIDI Trigger
You can now control your gear directly with the Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer. Click here for all posts including videos.
