Now you can enjoy using your own keyboard to easily play a stupendous array of musical instrument apps that deliver serious sounds and convenient functions. You can use your iPhone/iPad while charging it.
Audio interface functionality with stereo output is also provided, so the plugKEY is an ideal choice for those who want to use musical instruments apps in the studio or on stage.
Your iOS device becomes a musical instrument.
With the plugKEY, a rich selection of iPhone/iPad musical instrument apps such as KORG Module and Apple GarageBand can be played seriously and easily from your keyboard.
Certified as ‘Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad’
Take advantage of your iPhone for piano practice. Do you have an old, unused digital piano at home? Use plugKEY to connect your digital piano to an iPhone that has KORG Module installed, and your old digital piano will be reborn with the latest high-quality piano sounds.
Use while charging your iOS device
Since the plugKEY is equipped with a DC5V microUSB port, you can charge your iOS device via the plugKEY. This allows you to use your musical instrument app without worrying about remaining battery life, an important consideration for extended music production sessions, studio rehearsals, or live performances.
Compact design can be taken anywhere
With carefully selected minimum functionality such as MIDI input, audio output, and charging, the plugKEY features a compact design that’s similar in size to the iPhone.
Retronyms Wej bluetooth MIDI interface and LED light show is now available on Amazon.
Material: Soft Touch, 30 durometer, silicone body in Tabletop Grey.
Width: 200mm.
Depth: 134.4mm.
Height: 25mm – 35mm.
IK Multimedia tell us that iRig MIDI is an ultra-compact standard Core MIDI interface for iOS that connects any MIDI compatible device to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Here’s the rest of the details from IK:
iRig MIDI connects MIDI keyboards, drum machines, drum pads, pedal boards and more to an iOS device to control not only the included SampleTank FREE* but also a world of MIDI-compatible apps such as GarageBand®. You can also use iOS apps to control external MIDI equipment such as sound modules, DAWs or lighting systems right from the mobile device.
iRig MIDI is the only compact iOS MIDI interface sporting 3 MIDI ports: IN/OUT/THRU. These connect to any standard MIDI jacks using the included 2 x 1.6m/5.2′ cables. iRig MIDI also has 2 LEDs for displaying the MIDI activity on the IN and OUT ports.
iRig MIDI also exclusively provides a micro USB port – with included cable – that connects to any standard USB power supply source so that the iOS device can stay fully powered during long sessions.
Features:
Standard Core MIDI interface connects any MIDI hardware device to Core MIDI-compatible apps like SampleTank FREE and GarageBand®
Directly connect MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, drum machines, drum pads, pedal boards and more using the included 2 x 5.2′ (1.6 m) MIDI 5-pin DIN cables
3 MIDI ports: IN/OUT/THRU
2 LEDs for MIDI IN/OUT activity display
Micro USB port can charge the iOS device while in use
Free apps included: SampleTank FREE the powerful sample-based sound module app and iRig MIDI Recorder FREE
The Alesis iDock, or iO Dock, is as good as it gets if you’re looking for a professional audio and midi interface for your iPad. There seems to be some issue with the name Alesis originally had for this device. Their copy went out calling it the iDock but their Youtube video is calling it the iO Dock. Either way it’s cool and it’s finally here. We recommend ordering it from zZounds because they offer free ground shipping. Price $199 http://www.zzounds.com/item–ALEIODOCK
The iO Dock (patent pending) is the first device that enables anyone with an iPad or iPad 2 to create, produce, and perform music with virtually any pro audio gear or instruments. The iO Dock is a universal docking station specifically designed for the iPad and iPad 2, and it gives musicians, recording engineers, and music producers the connectivity they need to create and perform with iPad. Connect all your pro audio gear to virtually any app in the App Store with the iO Dock.
FLEXIBLE FUNCTIONALITY
Songwriters, music producers and performers of all kinds will find that the iO Dock connects the iPad’s powerful processor, touch-screen interface and extensive library of apps to their collection of microphones, instruments, professional speaker and PA systems, MIDI controllers, sound modules, video projectors and much more.
With the iO Dock and an iPad, musicians and producers can record, perform, craft and create music in virtually any situation or location. Built to accommodate all current app-development standards including Core MIDI, the iO Dock is a universal device that bridges your choice of music-creation apps, instruments, and devices.
COMPLETE CONNECTIVITY
The iO Dock provides microphone and instrument users with two combination XLR and 1/4-inch inputs, each with its own gain control and switchable phantom power for condenser microphones. Guitarists and bassists will appreciate the iO Dock’s guitar-direct switch, enabling them to play, perform and record right into amplifier- and effects-modeling apps. Bands can connect outputs from their mixer and easily record their performances and rehearsals or use the iO Dock as a metronome or loop-playback device. Producers can use the iO Dock’s MIDI jacks to sequence external keyboards, samplers, drum machines and synthesizers, or perform using the iO Dock as the sound module and their favorite MIDI-compliant keyboard, drum pad or other controller. An assignable 1/4-inch footswitch input enables remote control of any app-defined function such as stop/start or record. Users can also connect the iO Dock to their Mac or PC using the USB port to send MIDI back and forth for creative, new applications of the iPad and computer used in tandem.
Users can connect the iO Dock’s stereo pair of 1/4-inch main outputs to studio monitors for critical listening, or to PA systems for use in performance settings. They can monitor on headphones, and independently control the levels of the two outputs, each on its own knob. Recording musicians will appreciate the iO Dock’s direct-monitor switch, which enables them to toggle between the incoming and playback signal on their headphones. Rounding out the iO Dock’s output section is a composite video connector, enabling users to employ the iO Dock as a source for video projection behind bands on stage, or for connection to most televisions and computer monitors.
RUGGED RELIABILITY
The iO Dock was built for the real world. Whether you’re keeping it in the safety of the studio or taking it out for recording or performance use in the club or on tour, the iO Dock will not only deliver the connectivity you need for audio applications, but it also serves as a rugged, protective case for the iPad. The iO Dock completely houses the iPad on the bottom and three side surfaces. It also encases the iPad’s screen in a protective bezel on three of its four edges, further shielding the mobile computing device from the potential for damage in punishing environments.
The applications of the iPad for music creation, production, and performance are limited only by your creativity. As an imaginative, cutting-edge music maker, the iO Dock empowers you to seamlessly connect the world of pro audio gear and instruments to the iPad and the massive collection of apps.
The i-MX1 by Yamaha was just recently announced. It is not yet available but we have some info here from Yamaha.
Yamaha introduces the i-MX1 on the Frankfurter Music fair – a MIDI interface that‘s connected to the Apple iPad and thus offering vast possibilities to control MIDI equipment.
The Apple iPad has proven itself as a very handy tool, combining a very nice touch panel with a reasonable size. It has sold in large quantities. On Winter NAMM 2011 Yamaha introduced a series of Apps that will allow a wireless controlling of the MOTIF XF Music Production Synthesizer.
To be able to control synthesizers that won‘t allow a wireless connection to the iPad, Yamaha now presents a MIDI interface that‘s connected to the iPad.
In a small, black device the i-MX1 carries the needed electronics and two connectors for the included adapter cables which represent the MIDI input and output (with the well known 16 MIDI channels each).
It does not just connect to the iPad, but to the iPhone and the iPod Touch, too. Since these devices are much smaller, they are even more handy controllers.
The i-MX1 is compatible to the drivers provided by the iPad-OS (iOS, Core MIDI), there‘s no need for special drivers. So even thirdparty applications that are using the iOS drivers can use the i-MX1 as MIDI-Interface.
The i-MX1 will help the iPad to continue its triumphal procession to the shores of ‘old school’ MIDI.
iPad Loops is an iOS music production blog dedicated to exposing the best iPad apps musicians, producers, and Djs. This is not a database of every app. It is, however, one of useful recommendations from someone with many years in music production. I try to update it on a daily basis (ok sometimes every two days) and I do my best to post useful apps only. My name is Jason Donnelly (Dj Puzzle).
You might know me from my royalty free loop packs and sound design. Some of the apps that contain my sounds are Synth One, EG Segments, Hammerhead, Retronyms AudioCopy, Audio Evolution Mobile, LP-5, iPRO.DJSAMPLER, Looptastic. My work is published by Roland, Antares, Magix, Soundtrack Loops, Sample Logic, Acoustica, Loopmasters and many more. Subscribe to our RSS feed below to get updated when new apps are posted.
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