Tim Behrens explains how he uses the audio to MIDI conversion in ThumbJam to play samples in Sampletank (it works for other programs, too).
Behrens notes:
I am not discouraging anyone from buying any apps here. Just showing how I use Thumbjam to achieve sounds close to what the dedicated midi conversion apps do.
For anyone who is serious about this kind of feature, I would recommend checking out the Midi Guitar app, as it is certainly tracks well and is polyphonic.
One last thing I’d say is that you have to practice with these apps. You can not just play your guitar like you normally do. Notes have to be muted more, there is a bit more latency, sustain will confuse it, vibrato jumps around. It takes time, but hopefully I demonstrated that you can get some very playable results.
ThumbJam is a powerful musical performance experience. You get over 30 high-quality real instruments multi-sampled exclusively for this app. Hundreds of included scales allow you to effortlessly play in any style from rock to classical, whether you are a musical novice or a seasoned professional.
What’s New in Version 2.3
– ALL orientations finally supported on iPad.
– JACK support added, another way to stream audio and midi between apps. Get more info at http://www.crudebyte.com/jack-ios .
– fixed stuck sustain issue on second loaded instrument slot
– fixed some MIDI output issues with split screen between first and second loaded instruments
– fixed crashing issue in MIDI settings when VoiceOver is active
Even if you’ve only played air guitar, ThumbJam lets you sound like a pro. Pick an instrument and jam — with all the scales to choose from you’ll never hit a wrong note. The high quality instrument samples will make you sound like you just skipped years of music lessons.
For the performing musician, this app is awesome for soloing on an instrument you didn’t bring along. Play in any key, any style — go from a string ensemble to a wailing guitar. ThumbJam was developed and tested by musicians to feel and sound like a real instrument. You’ll be surprised at how expressive it can be, make sure to check out the videos and audio at thumbjam.com.
ThumbJam makes use of tilt and shake to add vibrato, tremolo, note bends, and volume swells for more realistic and expressive results. It supports up to five (eleven on iPad) simultaneous touches and up to 24 voice polyphony. Delay and stereo reverb add depth to the sound, and a resonant lowpass filter gives you more tone shaping power. Put on your headphones or plug in to your home stereo to experience some of the highest quality instruments in the App Store.
Build your own loops from the ground up or import your favorites and jam from there. Layer as many loops as you want, with different instruments for each. Export your loops as audio files or Ardour DAW sessions via WiFi. Copy and paste audio from other apps using Sonoma Wire Works AudioCopy/Paste as well the general pasteboard used by BeatMaker, via email, iTunes Document Sharing, or open directly in another application. Now supports both Audiobus and JACK to stream audio between other applications!
Want to jam with your friends? ThumbJam lets you broadcast tempo, key, and scale to other nearby devices via Bluetooth so you can be in sync live. Even better, you can use it as a MIDI or OSC controller over WiFi, with any CoreMidi compatible device, Akai Synthstation, or Line6 MidiMobilizer to control software instruments on your computer, other apps on the same iOS device with virtual MIDI, or play ThumbJam with other hardware or software MIDI controllers or apps!
The app includes a huge variety of scales, from western to eastern. Save your favorites for quick access, or create your own in-app. You can even import new scales in the Scala format for complete flexibility.
You can also record your own instruments using a built-in or attached microphone, or from file import.
Included instruments:
+ Cello, Violin, Viola
+ Upright Bass (plucked and bowed)
+ Several drumkits
+ Darabukka
+ Djembe
+ Electric Guitar
+ Electric Bass
+ Trumpet
+ Trombone
+ Tenor Sax
+ Flute
+ Low Whistle
+ Acoustic Guitar
+ Hammered Dulcimer
+ Mandolin
+ Cittern
+ Grand Piano
+ Drawbar Organ (2 types)
+ Rhodes
+ Pipe Organ
+ Synth Strings
+ Synth Choir
+ Theremin
+ Sawtooth Waveform
+ Sine Waveform
+ Triangle Waveform
And from Jordan Rudess:
+ JR Zendrix
+ JR Smooth Steel
ThumbJam is a powerful musical performance experience. You get over 30 high-quality real instruments multi-sampled exclusively for this app. Hundreds of included scales allow you to effortlessly play in any style from rock to classical, whether you are a musical novice or a seasoned professional.
What’s New in Version 2.2
Introducing Audiobus support: Now you can stream live audio to and from ThumbJam directly with other Audiobus-compatible apps.
Other improvements:
– Optimized for iPhone 5 and new iPod touch
– Simpler background audio configuration, including auto powersave mode
– File open-in handling now works properly with instrument or loop ZIPs, scale files and audio files
– Added MIDI transpose options
– Added support for outgoing MIDI clock and limited MIDI clock input sync
– Added support for MIDI MMC Record event to toggle loop recording
Fixes:
– Fixed iPad popover windows persistence on iOS6
– Fixed instrument export list issue
ThumbJam makes use of tilt and shake to add vibrato, tremolo, note bends, and volume swells for more realistic and expressive results. It supports up to five (eleven on iPad) simultaneous touches and up to 24 voice polyphony. Delay and stereo reverb add depth to the sound, and a resonant lowpass filter gives you more tone shaping power. Put on your headphones or plug in to your home stereo to experience some of the highest quality instruments in the App Store.
Build your own loops from the ground up or import your favorites and jam from there. Layer as many loops as you want, with different instruments for each. Export your loops as audio files or Ardour DAW sessions via WiFi. Copy and paste audio from other apps using Sonoma Wire Works AudioCopy/Paste as well the general pasteboard used by BeatMaker, via email, iTunes Document Sharing, or open directly in another application. Now supports Audiobus as well!
Want to jam with your friends? ThumbJam lets you broadcast tempo, key, and scale to other nearby devices via Bluetooth so you can be in sync live. Even better, you can use it as a MIDI or OSC controller over WiFi, with any CoreMidi compatible device, Akai Synthstation, or Line6 MidiMobilizer to control software instruments on your computer, other apps on the same iOS device with virtual MIDI, or play ThumbJam with other hardware or software MIDI controllers or apps!
The app includes a huge variety of scales, from western to eastern. Save your favorites for quick access, or create your own in-app. You can even import new scales in the Scala format for complete flexibility.
You can also record your own instruments using a built-in or attached microphone, or from file import.
Included instruments:
+ Cello, Violin, Viola
+ Upright Bass (plucked and bowed)
+ Several drumkits
+ Darabukka
+ Djembe
+ Electric Guitar
+ Electric Bass
+ Trumpet
+ Trombone
+ Tenor Sax
+ Flute
+ Low Whistle
+ Acoustic Guitar
+ Hammered Dulcimer
+ Mandolin
+ Cittern
+ Grand Piano
+ Drawbar Organ (2 types)
+ Rhodes
+ Pipe Organ
+ Synth Strings
+ Synth Choir
+ Theremin
+ Sawtooth Waveform
+ Sine Waveform
+ Triangle Waveform
And from Jordan Rudess:
+ JR Zendrix
+ JR Smooth Steel
DigiEnsemble Berlin is a group of classically trained musicians who use iPhones and iPads to perform classical music. One of the apps they are using for the strings in this video is the Thumbjam app. The group’s members Solisten (Morgenstimmung): Matthias Krebs, Daniel Grote, Dustin Dick, (Uwe Schamburek) are all classically trained musicians. Visit their website for more info and booking htp://www.digiensemble.de
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.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
