# Well, That Was Easier Than I Thought It Would Be... - Site: Analog Industries - Author: Chris Randall - Date: 2011-03-01 - URL: https://analogindustries.com/2011/03/well-that-was-easier-than-i-thought-it-would-be/ [![Well, That Was Easier Than I Thought It Would Be...](https://analogindustries.com/images/ext/farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5489906994_f081a67079.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisrandall/5489906994/) I've now submitted SimpleMidiPad to the App Store for review. Normally this sort of thing isn't so quick, but for this particular app, which I dearly wanted anyhow, I had all the parts lying around from other projects, so it was just a matter of piecing them together. I'll make a video showing it in use, and simple techniques for hooking things up. If you don't have the Camera Connection Kit and a compatible USB MIDI interface, or do your music on an OS X machine, you're kinda outta luck. It defaults to a Network Session MIDI node, and looks for a host on your Wi-Fi network. As those of you who have used this know, it's a little tweaky. For realtime CC it's fine, but I wouldn't want to play a synth over it. But it works. If you plug in a USB MIDI interface via the Camera Connection Kit, it grabs on to that and stops sending to the Network Session. There are a number of MIDI interfaces that work; I have [this one](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006I5HD?ie=UTF8&tag=analogindustr-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00006I5HD), which works fine, but doesn't have anything in particular to recommend it otherwise, except perhaps that it doesn't have integral cables like so many 1x1 interfaces do (and which I intensely dislike.) I was amusing myself for a bit by driving my modular directly from the iPad. The MIDI->CV interface I have only has two CC out, so I could only use one pad, but it works as advertised regardless. Anyhow, four pads, and you can set the X, Y, and Z CC destinations for each. (Z is just off/on, of course.) It remembers your previous settings, but I didn't provide any sort of preset mechanism aside from that. I put it in at what Apple calls "Tier 2 Pricing," which is $1.99 in the US and Canada, and whatever your local equivalent is. I'll keep you informed on the progress, of course. Should know in a couple of days if it was approved or not, but unless I made some silly mistake (entirely possible) it'll be rockin' sooner rather than later. Assuming it is approved and those of you that try it provide some good feedback, I'll adjust the framework accordingly and bang out a couple of the other simple ideas I have. Then we'll give porting the Axon sequencer a whirl, which is necessarily a much more involved process. If you have a request for a specific MIDI generator for the iPad, now is the time to bring it up. ## Comments (18) **beauty pill** (2011-03-01): Does the Apple app-approving process seem less arcane/arbitrary to you than it did in the beginning? (Maybe I'm mis-characterizing, but I recall some early frustrations). I figure they've probably been streamlining all this time, right? - c **Chris Randall** (2011-03-02): The only time I've been rejected it was due to a pretty glaring bug on my end. I've either submitted or hand-held others' submissions quite a bit since then, without any problems. I haven't submitted anything in the last three months or so, though, and I'm given to understand it is pretty quick now, at least compared to the early days. -CR **BirdFLU** (2011-03-02): I'll use this chance to put in my yearly request for a Muse-type sequencer. I still run an OS9 Mac specifically for the OASYS card it contains and running Turbosynth and Adam's MacMuse sequencer. The Muse interface would nicely translate to the iPad. **the_woof** (2011-03-02): "...or hand-held others' submissions..." Is this a pun? Being without an iPad, I have no requests. **coyoteous** (2011-03-02): Does the IWB button only appear after the B have/has posted? **Chris Randall** (2011-03-02): Yes. You can't be with boobs if there's no boobs to be with. That would be silly. (For the record, boobs can't be with boobs either, as he is boobs.) -CR **DBM** (2011-03-02): I'm still waiting for an Automaton app ;) But to request the up most needed app . I would love to see a 16-32 track midi sequencer with the basics : Piano roll , Drum xox step , arp Then add Ableton like clips and envelopes that can launch both midi loops and send sysex files Add super tight midi timing with groove selections from mpc , emu 1200 sp , atari 1040st - lol wrap it all up with a user configurable control page and you got my purchase ! **coyoteous** (2011-03-02): Thanks, that's some fairly elaborate comment posting programming. Also, I hear your second sentence is a common complaint in prison. I guess one thing's for sure: boobs is/are no boob. Okay, so you may write an ios app for yourself, if you can. But, you can only distribute it to others through the store. And for that, it has to be sanctioned by Apple. **Chris Randall** (2011-03-03): I'll assume from your second paragraph that you don't know I've done quite a few apps that are currently on sale in the app store. I'm well aware of what is involved. -CR **bub** (2011-03-03): me and my new orange Tenori-On laugh about your little apps - ok, ok, i'm just jealous... ; ) **robbster** (2011-03-03): I have several MIDI generators/sequencing requests, in fact. 1) Some sort of MIDI router effect: play a note, have it fan out to different channels, pitch-shifted intelligently, and with in delay on certain channels, etc. Think like the AKAI ME10D, or back like we used to stack rack synths in a MIDI daisy chain for oomph.... with more bells and whistles on the MIDI flowchart. 2) just a MIDI delay in itself. 3) speaking of pattern sequencers: a software version of the Akai ME20A. 4) be the one that writes the codec that makes AudioUnits function with MIDI OUT, e.g. Axon in Logic Pro... some sort of a MIDI buffer app running in tandem between the iPad and Logic? iAxon? I bought Axon and get rather frustrated not being able to capture or route its MIDI output easily, and would love a non-hack solution without having to visit the Audio-MIDI Setup app or Plogue ugliness. **xmodz** (2011-03-03): @Chris Randall You are probably already aware of this app but, in case you aren't, you may want to take a look at Electrify( http://www.electrifyme.net/ ) for the IPad. I personally don't have an IPad but I think the app is theoretically pretty badass and you might enjoy it and find some use for it in your adventures. **oniwe** (2011-03-03): @cr ... You probably have hundred of ideas for midi apps. So, since you have an affinity for constraints in the creative process. What about a midi sequencer that does not use visual feedback? Just touch and accelerometers (like 'real' instruments) **coyoteous** (2011-03-03): CR: That probably should have had at least one question mark somewhere. I've only recently started paying attention to the iosverse. I guess my question is, can one distribute apps other than through the app store? Oh, I had also wanted to ask if you'd considered Inductor for a Micronaut title? That's probably my favorite electrical component, with the Henrys and all. Maybe you've already covered that coil ground with Transformer. Me most likely go back to lurking now. **thechrisl** (2011-03-03): Mmmmm.... Boobs with boobs.... **seancostello** (2011-03-04): A few other weird-ass electric components for Micronaut names: Tunnel Diode Thyristor Zener **Chris Randall** (2011-03-04): I'm done with the electronics series. Moving on. -CR **Computer Controlled** (2011-03-09): I just got myself an iPad yesterday. Which I am using to type this out =0) I love DBM's ideas. But I would suppose that would be quite the app to code up. Hell, even a Tenori-On app would be cool! Cellular based sequencing.