Audiofile Engineering has released MIDI Surface for iPhone OS. Designed for use with Line 6’s MIDI Mobilizer hardware accessory, MIDI Surface gives iPhone and iPod touch owners the ability to quickly and easily build their own fully customized MIDI control surfaces. Seamless touch-screen control of MIDI-enabled instruments such as keyboards, drum machines, software synths and more is now available in the palm of users’ hands.

“There’s no reason to sacrifice utility for convenience when it comes to MIDI control,” said Matthew Foust, co-founder and Operations Manager for Audiofile Engineering. “When used with the Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer, iPhone and iPod touch are more than powerful enough to store many full-featured control surfaces under one roof. We created MIDI Surface to harness that power and make it accessible for musicians at all levels.”

Suitable for use on stage, at home or in studio settings, MIDI Surface offers four elegant interface styles, each with its own set of changeable parameters: The Keyboard interface features Channel and Velocity controls. The Sliders interface includes Channel, Controller (Mod Wheel, Expression, etc.), Low Value and High Value controls. The Drum Pads interface includes Channel, Category (Note On, Controller, Program Change), Note, Note Off (Immediate or Touch Up) and Velocity controls. The X-Y interface supports up to four touches and includes Channel, Controller, Left Value and Right Value controls.

Users can create and save as many MIDI Surface interfaces as they like. Each customized control surface can be configured in precise detail and adjusted on the fly. Users can even store their own unique Presets for quick recall.

Audiofile Engineering previously developed MIDI Memo Recorder, a free application that allows iPhone and iPod touch users to record, store and playback MIDI sequences using Line 6’s MIDI Mobilizer accessory.

MIDI Surface is now available for download via the iTunes App Store for $5.99. Installation on iPhone or iPod touch requires iPhone OS 3.1 or higher. The required Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer accessory is sold separately.

Discuss MIDI Surface for iPhone in our iPhone OS forum.

IK Multimedia is pleased to announce AmpliTube iRig, the ultimate mobile guitar amp and effects rig system for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. AmpliTube iRig is a combination of an easy-to-use instrument interface adapter and the new AmpliTube for iPhone app for guitar & bass. Now you can jam anywhere with world-class guitar and bass tones, from the leader in studio-class guitar and bass software.

Simply plug the iRig interface into your iPhone, plug your instrument into the appropriate input jack, plug in your headphones, amp or powered speakers, download AmpliTube FREE for iPhone and start rocking. You’ll have at your fingertips the sound and control of 3 simultaneous stompbox effects + amplifier + cabinet + microphone just like a traditional guitar or bass stage rig. Add amps and effects as you need them — you can expand your rig with up to 10 stomps, 5 amps, 5 cabinets and 2 microphones in the AmpliTube iRig app custom shop.

The new iRig interface adapter is the easiest way to get your instrument’s signal into your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Simply plug iRig into your mobile device, plug your instrument into the iRig, plug headphones or amplifier to the output and you are ready to rock! The iRig is the ideal companion not only to the AmpliTube for iPhone app, but also works with any other recording, processing or tuning app. Plus, you can also use the iRig with line level signal sources such as synthesizers, keyboards or mixers.

At the core of the AmpliTube iRig System is AmpliTube -- the leader in gear modeling software for professional recording studios. Now AmpliTube for iPhone gives you incredible, ultra- realistic sound and functionality in a convenient mobile platform app. With the AmpliTube for iPhone software, you’ll have an entire guitar/bass rig at your fingertips, comprised of 3 simultaneous stompbox effects, an amp-head plus cabinet and a microphone. With AmpliTube fully loaded, you will be able to choose between 5 amp models (clean, crunch, lead, metal, bass) with full tone and drive controls, 10 stompbox effects (delay, flanger, phaser, overdrive, distortion, filter, wah, fuzz, octaver, chorus), 5 cabinets and 2 microphones (dynamic and condenser).

Plus, AmpliTube for iPhone features a chromatic digital tuner and a metronome. You can also import and play along with songs or backing tracks, and create, save and recall up to 36 presets on the fly!

• Real-time guitar and bass mobile multi-FX app
• Full rig made by 3 simultaneous stompboxes + amp + cabinet + mic
• 10 Stomps, 5 Amps, 5 Cabinets, 2 Mics available
• Import and play along with songs and backing tracks with real-time effects
• 36 presets can be saved/recalled on the fly
• Includes tuner/metronome
• FREE, LE and Full versions available
• FREE and LE versions expandable with a-la-carte downloadable gear
• Same low-latency as Mac/PC system

AmpliTube iRig is available for pre-order from the IK online store as well as from IK selected dealers and distributors worldwide for $39.99 / €29.99 MSRP. AmpliTube for iPhone will be available in 3 versions from the iTunes App Store:

• AmpliTube FREE: Includes 2 stompboxes, 1 amp+cabinet, and 2 microphones.
• AmpliTube LE: Includes 4 stompboxes, 1 amplifier + cabinet, 2 microphones for $2.99 / €2.39.
• AmpliTube FULL: Includes the entire collection of available gear with 10 stompboxes, 5 amps + cabinets and 2 microphones for $19.99 / €15.99.

More gear can be added to FREE and LE through in-app purchase of a-la-carte models with stompboxes costing $2.99 / €2.39 each and amplifiers + cabinets for $4.99 / €3.99 each.

www.amplitube.com/irig

Discuss AmpliTube iRig in our iPhone OS forum.

ReBirth is back! Propellerhead Software’s legendary Techno Micro Composer has been resurrected and made available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. ReBirth faithfully emulates dance music’s three backbone devices: The Roland TB-303 Bass synth and the Roland TR-808 and 909 drum machines. Combine these with FX units, fully featured pattern sequencers and a quick-acting, scalable iPhone interface and you’ll soon be making techno on the train, trance on the tram or beats on the bus.

With the original desktop release of ReBirth RB-338 in 1997, Propellerhead pioneered a new era of music making by realistically emulating historic hardware synthesizers and drum machines in software on personal computers. For the first time, users could get the actual sound of those vintage analog devices without hunting down, paying exorbitant prices for and having the headaches of maintaining classic gear. This “virtual instrument” concept, seemingly impossible at the time, started a trend to the point that it now is commonplace in music software.

Now ReBirth literally puts faithful emulations of dance music’s vintage analog hardware at iPhone users’ fingertips. With dual bass synths and pattern sequencers, two sets of drum machines plus FX and mixer sections, ReBirth gives you an extremely streamlined but very powerful music production environment. Every knob and button on ReBirth’s devices can be tweaked and turned in real time, so when you plug your iPhone into that massive sound system, you’re in charge of everything from pattern selections to the depth of those nasty Acid filter squelches.

ReBirth for iPhone may be small and cute, but it’s no toy. With a fully-featured song mode and advanced copy and paste capabilities, ReBirth is a deep iPhone music application that lets you arrange and compose full tracks. You can even share your songs with other ReBirth users -- one single click will upload your composition to the ReBirth server, allowing other users to enjoy your music on their iPhones.

Main features:

• 2 x TB-303 Bassline Synthesizers with pattern sequencer. The original Acid House and Techno bass synth. Unmistakable sound.
• TR-808 Drum machine, Roland’s sub-heavy 1980 beat computer. Instant Hip-Hop.
• TR-909 Drum machine. The go-to beatbox for everything House and Techno.
• A number of great sounding effects and audio shapers, including tempo-synced digital delay, distortion, compression and special pattern controlled filter.
• “Mod” support: Includes 5 original user modifications with alternative sound sets and graphics.

rebirthapp.com

ReBirth is available exclusively through the Apple iTunes Store for €5.49 / $6.99.

Discuss ReBirth for iPhone in our iPhone OS forum.

Audiofile Engineering has released Backline Calc 2.0, an update to their professional music calculator app for iPhone and iPod touch. Backline Calc is an indispensible tool for musicians, music students and teachers, DJs, audio and video engineers and broadcast technicians, featuring more than 20 calculators and converters to cover virtually any musical situation.

“Playing, teaching, practicing or writing music, mixing live sound and producing music all involve calculations and conversions of musical and technical data,” says Matthew Foust of Audiofile Engineering. “Backline Calc lets you calculate musical, acoustic, video and even electrical data quickly and easily, so you can get on with the music and not the math.”

The Backline Calc app is free to download and includes three basic calculators: Note Length, Frames to Time code, and File Size. The rest of the calculators can be purchased and unlocked directly from within the app. The length calculators include Bar and Song Length, Song Length, Beats to Tempo, Time to Samples, Compare Tempos, Change Tempo and Sum Times. The pitch calculators convert Note Name, MIDI Notes, Frequency, and Wavelength. The additional time code calculators include Frames to Time code, Convert Time code and Change Time code. The acoustics calculators include Distance to Time, Time to Distance and Sound Pressure Level (SPL). The electrical category includes Compare Power and Compare Voltage calculators. There is also a Files calculator for converting sizes of audio files.

In addition to a newly designed, streamlined interface and a fully integrated Help feature with examples and instructions, version 2.0 includes a new Time to Samples calculator as well as the addition of a Tap Tempo and number keypad for easy tempo input.

Backline Calc is now available on the Apple App Store for free with 3 calculators unlocked, or $2.99 with all calculators unlocked.

Discuss Backline Calc in our iPhone OS forum.

Grammy Award winning recording engineer Tony David Cray, perhaps better known around here as OS X Audio founder TDC, is proud to announce the release of AudioToolkit for iPhone and iPod touch. AudioToolkit is an easy to use, compelling suite of tools for audio and music industry professionals, designed to fulfill Tony’s session requirements at the Sydney Opera House Recording Studios.

AudioToolkit includes:

• Media: Calculate media size required for input recording format and track count
• Tempo: Tap tempo, Ultra accurate metronome, with display of musical tempo names and user selectable bar length, and rhythm.
• Pitch: Oscillator, Tuner, and Pitch Detection. Show pitch as Note on Stave, Hertz, Midi with definable reference “A” and cents meter.
• Time: Calculate time delay in seconds, distance (based on temperature) and samples (based on Sample Rate).
• Phase: Measure Phase of signal based on either generated click or pre-recorded audio file.
• Additional tools are currently in development.

iPhone OS 3.0 or later is required. AudioToolkit performs audio analysis and thus requires the connection of an external microphone on iPod touch devices.

AudioToolkit is available via download from the Apple iTunes Store for $4.99.

www.audiotoolkitapp.com

Discuss AudioToolkit on our iPhone, iPad & iPod touch forum.

Line 6 has announced MIDI Mobilizer, the first MIDI interface available for Apple iPhone and iPod touch. MIDI Mobilizer is a low-profile device which fits into the standard 30-pin docking connector. Together with MIDI Memo Recorder, a free app available for download via the iTunes Store, it will present MIDI musicians with a host of performing, recording and data backup solutions.

“We’re very excited to announce MIDI Mobilizer, the first MIDI interface of its kind,” remarked Marcus Ryle, SVP of New Business Development at Line 6. “It will connect MIDI musicians to the most portable platform ever, and allow them to play, record, and store any MIDI information.”

MIDI Mobilizer is compatible with millions of pieces of classic and modern MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) devices such as synthesizers, digital pianos, effects processors, and even Line 6 guitar amps and POD products. Virtually any gear with standard MIDI 5-pin DIN connectors can now be directly connected to an iPhone or iPod touch.

MIDI Mobilizer specifications

• Compatible with all models of iPhone and iPod touch (iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch, iPod touch 2G)
• Compatible with all MIDI devices that have standard 5-pin DIN MIDI connections
• MIDI In and Out signal-active LEDs
• Connects to the 30-pin connector on the bottom of iPhone or iPod touch
• MIDI In and Out on MIDI Mobilizer via 2.5mm TRS connections
• Includes a pair of 5-foot, 2.5mm-to-5-pin DIN Planet Waves MIDI cables
• Powered by iPhone or iPod touch — no batteries or power supply required

MIDI Memo Recorder app specifications

• Free download via the Apple iTunes Store
• Records all MIDI data received, including notes, controllers, and sysex
• MIDI data time stamped to one millisecond accuracy
• Standard MIDI File format compatible with virtually all DAWs
• Access to Memos via email or WiFi connection

Musicians who rely on computers to store and recall MIDI data during performances will celebrate the ease and reduced setup time afforded by an iPhone or iPod touch, and the simple interface of MIDI Memo Recorder. Plus, no longer will musicians need to travel with the extra weight, bulk and fragility of a computer.

The size and simplicity of MIDI Mobilizer make it ideal for inspiration capture as well as for performance support. Whenever inspiration strikes, MIDI Mobilizer will allow for the capture and review of even the most fleeting of keyboard ideas. Recorded inspirations can then be emailed as an SMF (Standard MIDI File) and opened and edited within virtually any digital audio workstation on your Mac.

MIDI Mobilizer can also be employed as a safety net for performing musicians. During equipment failure, or when using rented gear for a gig, MIDI parameter data stored on an iPhone or iPod touch can be imported into replacement keyboards or other MIDI equipment to quickly restore the exact settings and sounds needed. MIDI Mobilizer is the most portable and affordable solution for transferring MIDI information.

MIDI Mobilizer will ship April, 2010.

line6.com/midimobilizer/

Discuss MIDI Mobilizer in our iPhone & iPod Touch forum.

Put some fun back into audio recording with Retro Recorder by McDSP. The highly stylized yet simple interface makes recording easy on any iPhone. Patent pending Audio Level eXtension (ALX) technology improves recording quality beyond the capability of hand held recorders costing many times more. Even without an external microphone, Retro Recorder can capture detail other recorders cannot – up to 32 times more signal level.

McDSP Audio Level eXtension (ALX) algorithms improve audio recording and playback performance using patent pending techniques derived from McDSP’s experience in professional audio software development over the last decade. The McDSP Retro Recorder is the first consumer audio product to incorporate ALX technology.

Recorded files can be exported individually or in batches. Exported files may then be downloaded to a PC or Mac, using a Wi-Fi network.

Feature highlights:

• Up to 30 dB (32 x) more signal level with ALX technology
• Audition ALX processing instantly during playback, the original recording is preserved
• Export original recordings or ALX enhanced versions in WAV format
• Wi-Fi download page allows downloading to any Mac or PC with most web browsers
• Batch rename, delete, and export makes organizing a snap
• User interface rotates 180 degrees for better iPhone microphone orientation when recording
• External microphone support
• Record short ideas or lengthy meetings for hours, even in sleep mode
• Pause, fast forward, or rewind signals during playback
• Filter list of recordings by keyword to find your recording fast
• Recorder page allows quick review of last clip recorded, great for level checks
• Supports mono signals only, up to 22,050 Hz sample rate
• Developed and supported by a professional audio company with over ten years experience

Supports iPhone and second generation iPod Touch. An external microphone is required to use Retro Recorder on the second generation iPod Touch.

Retro Recorder is available now via the Apple iTunes Store for $2.99.

Discuss Retro Recorder in our iPhone & iPod Touch forum.

Steinberg has released the Cubase iC remote control app for iPhone and iPod Touch. First announced at this year’s NAMM show, you now can download your copy from the Apple iTunes Store for free.

Cubase iC transforms your iPhone and your iPod touch into a powerful remote control for Cubase 5 and Cubase Studio 5. Whether you are using Cubase in the studio or on stage, Cubase iC gives you fast and precise control of essential functions from anywhere within your Wi-Fi network’s range. Cubase iC gives you access to basic transport functions, allows you to monitor playback position and control the unique Arranger Track.

Recording — Cubase iC is of great assistance to musicians recording in a rehearsal room or home studio. With it, basic functions for recording different takes and parts are controlled via your iPhone or iPod Touch without using your computer each time.

Producing — Producers can access the essential transport functions from all over the studio. This comes in handy when recording and mixing and during listening sessions with musicians and clients.

Performing — Cubase iC controls the Arranger Track, making it also an ultra-cool live tool. Now you can start and stop the different sections of the song while playing live.

Cubase iC supports the following Cubase functions:

Transport Tab:

• Dual Position Displays
• Jog Band and Project Time Position Slider
• Go to zero
• Go to previous marker
• Rewind
• Play/Stop
• Forward
• Go to next marker
• Record (Punch In/Out)
• Arranger On/Off
• Metronome Click On/Off
• Precount On/Off
• Cycle On/Off

Arranger Tab:

• Arranger On/Off
• Play
• Jump

Cubase iC is available for free download from the Apple iTunes Store and requires the Steinberg SKI Remote extension for Cubase 5 and Cubase Studio 5.

Discuss Cubase iC in our Cubase & Nuendo forum.

D’Addario and Planet Waves have released Scale Wizard, a complete guitar scale and arpeggio library for iPhone and iPod touch. Our friends at Audiofile Engineering have developed the application. The scale library comes courtesy of our own by Marc Schonbrun.

Scale Wizard puts a massive library of guitar scales, modes and arpeggios into the palm of your hand. This revolutionary app will help you unlock the secret of guitar scales, modes and arpeggios in any key, for any position on the guitar.

Offering over 10,000 patterns, left-handed view and alternate tunings, Scale Wizard is the most complete scale application on any platform. With an interface truly optimized for iPhone and iPod touch, you can swipe your finger up and down the fretboard to hear ascending and descending scales or tap the screen to hear individual notes. You’ll hear the scales, modes and arpeggios come to life, played by a skilled professional guitarist. Multiple positions of each scale, mode and arpeggio exist, to ensure that you’ll always find a unique way to apply your new-found knowledge.

Scale Wizard has the following features:

• More than 10,000 scale, mode and arpeggio shapes
• Basic Major, Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Major and Minor Pentatonic, Blues and Chromatic scales
• Modes for Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian
• Unbelievable advanced, jazz and world music scales including Harmonic Major, Enigmatic, Man Gong, Ritusen and Hungarian scales
• Major, Minor, Dominant, Diminished and Augmented arpeggios, including 7th chords arpeggios
• User-selectable display of note names, intervals or fingerings
• Left-handed viewing option
• Supports 8 different alternate tunings
• “Swipe to play” functionality
• Switch on “big stretches” for unique, challenging fingerings
• Works in both portrait or landscape mode for the ultimate in flexibility

Scale Wizard is available now for $1.99 from the Apple iTunes Store.

Discuss Scale Wizard in the new iPhone and iPod touch forum.

miniMusic has released Pianofly, a music synthesizer and piano keyboard for Apple’s iPhone platform.  Pianofly includes never before seen features like a scrolling, multi-touch keyboard. Sound is generated by an powerful FM synthesizer, with an elegant interface allowing anyone to create and edit instrument sounds easily. Make quick adjustments while performing, altering sounds on the fly!

The first feature you notice in Pianofly is the keyboard. Other piano applications for the iPhone generally show just one octave of keys, then use tiny arrow buttons to shift up or down an octave. The keyboard in Pianofly moves with you, scrolling as you play; let your fingers fly up and down the full 88 key piano! This is how on-screen pianos always wanted to work, but didn’t know how.

Then you notice the sounds. Eight pages full of customizable instrument icons. Just tap one and start playing. Want to design your own instrument timbre? Of course you do; double tap on an icon and the editor is revealed. You actually see the waves and adjust their lengths to set frequencies and change waveforms. Rewire the nodes for modulation. Double tap on a node and edit its ADSR envelope for smooth amplitude changes: give it a hard, fast attack or fade it in slowly, rising gently on the breeze. Don’t forget to use any photo or image to make the perfect icon for your new instrument.

Pianofly can make a huge variety of sounds. You can play them alone, or jam with a song from your music library. A great way for DJs to add cool effects over their playlist or for students to practice. Come out of your musical cocoon; make music anywhere with Pianofly in your pocket.

Pianofly is the first iPhone product from miniMusic, which has been developing award winning, mobile music software for the Palm OS since 1999. Over the years miniMusic built an entire suite of music tools for the Palm platform including: notation and pattern sequencing, MIDI playback and mixing, sound design, MIDI control surfaces, wave sampling and editing, and educational titles for sight reading and ear training.

Pianofly is available now from the Apple iTunes Store at an introductory price of only $1.99 USD. After an introductory period, the normal price will be $2.99 or higher as additional features are added.

Discuss Pianofly in our iPhone and iPod Touch forum.

Audiofile Engineering today announced FiRe, a professional field recording app built exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

FiRe was created for audio professionals by audio professionals. It’s powerful enough for the most experienced musicians and recording engineers, and its efficient workflow and intuitive interface make it a breeze for business and casual use.

FiRe will revolutionize what you expect from a portable recording application. It’s the first iPhone recorder to display an accurate audio waveform in real time, and the first to support markers, Broadcast WAVE metadata, and the instant downloading of files in multiple file formats. FiRe is also the first recorder of its kind to offer native SoundCloud integration. SoundCloud makes it simple to upload recordings directly to the web and share them with the tap of a button.

Features:

• Record in mono and stereo
• Live waveform view
• Scroll waveform with touch
• Navigate waveform via double-tap with configurable behavior
• Moveable Playback Head
• Tap Playback Head handle to add markers
• Editable Markers list
• Preference to add markers at time intervals
• Overdub mode
• Beautiful and accurate VU Input Meters
• VU meters change to output in playback
• Configurable time units display
• Tag Recordings with location data
• Pause gracefully when interrupted by phone call
• Countdown with gorgeous graphics
• Record for… settings
• Record until… settings
• Record over threshold… settings
• Quality settings: Low (11.025 kHz), Medium (22.050 kHz) and High (44.1 kHz)
• Preference to automatically move to end and/or add marker when recording starts
• Preference to limit recordings to 2GB
• Screen rotates 180 degrees for better control of the iPhone’s internal mic
• Broadcast WAVE metadata
• Preference for amount of info displayed in Recordings List
• Ability to lock recordings
• File export via local web server and FTP
• Choice of export file formats via web server and FTP: WAVE, AIFF, CAF (Core Audio Format)
• SoundCloud integration

FiRe also fully supports stereo recording with external microphones such as the Blue Mikey and Alesis ProTrack.

FiRe is available now via the Apple iTunes Store for $5.99. It is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch and requires iPhone 2.2 software.

Discuss FiRe in our iPhone & iPod Touch forum.

Yonac Software today announces the availability of MegaSynth, second in a line of iPhone and iPod Touch compatible synthesizers from the company. With its 3 true-analog-modeling VCOs, 5-note polyphony, dedicated LFOs, built-in sequencer, arpeggiator/chordmaker and recording feature, MegaSynth delivers a complete mobile synthesizer package that compromises none of that classic, luscious analog synth tone.

Developed by the same team behind the highly successful miniSynth, MegaSynth is packed with features that will keep the synth enthusiasts drooling for a good while.

• 5-voice polyphony (max number of fingertips allowed on the iPhone is 5)
• 3 Oscillators, 7 waveforms
• Triad arp and chordmaker (“Chordmatic”) with 23 scales
• 24-bucket step sequencer
• Dual keyboards
• Accelerometer-controlled pitch, cutoff, resonance
• Four LFOs (filter, pitch, volume, and the 4th is an optional audible LFO)
• Recording, wi-fi file export/import
• Saves infinite user presets; comes with 209 factory presets
• FX module with reverb and modulation
• Monophonic keyboard option also included

Yonac Software was founded in New York City in 2008. The company mainly focuses on the development of music and sound related software. Yonac’s first application for the iPhone was TuneORama, a guitar tuner released in early September 2008.

MegaSynth is available now via the Apple iTunes Store for $4.99.

Discuss MegaSynth in our new iPhone & iPod Touch forum.