Now available on the iTunes App Store
Now available on the iTunes App Store
MIDI Melodeon is a WiFi-based wireless Button Accordion / Melodeon MIDI control surface for the iPad.
MIDI Melodeon doesn't produce any sound on it own, it is designed for controlling hardware or software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via a WiFi connection to a Windows or Mac OS X based computer.
The button layout is identical to the real instrument and, and the built-in note guide makes it easy to learn your way around the buttons!
Touch the buttons with the fingers on your right hand to play. Buttons light up in green when touched.
Multiple buttons may be pressed at the same time to make chords.
This style of accordion plays different notes depending on whether you are pushing or pulling on the bellows.
Touch the anywhere in the bellows image at the top of the screen for PUSH notes, lift your finger for PULL notes.
The PUSH/PULL indicator shows the current bellows direction. Also, the sides of the bellows light up tracking the bellows motion
You may slide your fingers between the buttons.
Touch the MIDI connector icon at the upper left corner to show the MIDI controls.
Using the controls, you may set the overall instrument MIDI volume, MIDI modulation, MIDI channel (1-8), key attack velocity playing style (fixed or variable), velocity min/max, and transposition (+/- 12 semitones).
Both fixed and variable velocity modes are provided to allow for expressive playback. In the variable velocity modes, the X or Y touch position within the bellows sets the velocity for the notes being played. The range for the velocity is set using the Min and Max Velocity sliders.
For fixed velocity, the Max Velocity slider value is used.
You may also set the Max Velocity to less than the Min Velocity to reverse the direction for velocity mapping in the bellows touch areas.
The current velocity is displayed just below the bellows.
Select between B/C or D/G based layout. Other common tunings can be achieved by setting the transposition control.
For example, for C#/D tuning, select the B/C layout and set a +2 transposition. For G/C tuning, select the D/G layout and set a +5 transposition.
Touch the '?' icon to show the base layout note names for each button (without transposition).
Touch the '!' icon at the top center to send an "All Notes Off" message to silence any "stuck" notes should they ever occur.
Touch the 'i' icon to show the instructions page.
Multiple iPads can run MIDI Melodeon on the same wireless network, each sending messages on its own MIDI channel to the hardware or software synthesizer.
All settings are saved when the app exits.
MIDI Melodeon requires two pieces of software to do its job. The first is the MIDI Melodeon app itself, running on your iPad.
The other is a small free open-source DSWiFiMIDI server application that you run on your PC or Mac before launching MIDI Melodeon.The server application receives the MIDI messages from MIDI Melodeon via WiFi, and sends them along to either an external MIDI interface or a loopback MIDI driver to talk to software synthesizers running on the same computer.
Please read the instructions below for information on downloading and installing the open-source DSMIDIWiFi server application for your system.
For the most reliable performance with the lowest possible latency, I highly recommend that you connect the PC or Mac to the wireless access point that will be used by the iPad via a wired ethernet cable rather than use wireless for both the computer and the iPad. The computer and wireless gateway that the iPad is connected to must be on the same network.
To get the full benefit from MIDI Melodeon, you should be familiar with the use of MIDI control surfaces, hardware and/or software VST synthesizers.
High dynamic range melodeon button images provided by Roy Griffiths at http://melodeonmacro.roygriffiths.com
Demonstration video #1 - Controlling different sounds on different MIDI channels (version 1.0)
Demonstration video #2 - Playing an orchestral patch on my JV-1080 (version 1.0)
Main Screen:
To play, just touch the buttons. Multiple buttons may be touched at the same time to create chords.
Touch the bellows for PUSH notes, lift your finger for PULL notes.
You may slide your fingers between the buttons.
Touch the "?" icon to show the note names for the base layout (B/C or D/G).
Touch the MIDI connector icon at the upper left to show the MIDI controls:
You may select the base button layout, volume, modulation, MIDI channel, attack velocity mode, min and max velocities, and transposition (+/- 12 semitones).
All MIDI settings are saved when MIDI Melodeon quits and restored the next time it is run.
Touch the '!' icon at the upper center to quiet any "stuck" notes if they occur.
Touch the "i" icon to show the instructions screen:
MIDI Melodeon requires two pieces of software to do its job. The first is the MIDI Melodeon app itself, running on your iPad.
The other is a small free open-source DSWiFiMIDI server application that you run on your PC or Mac before launching MIDI Melodeon.
The server application receives the MIDI messages from MIDI Melodeon via WiFi, and sends them along to either an external MIDI interface or a loopback MIDI driver to talk to software synthesizers running on the same computer.
Please read the instructions below for information on downloading and installing the open-source DSMIDIWiFi server application for your system.
For the most reliable performance with the lowest possible latency, I highly recommend that you connect the PC or Mac to the wireless access point that will be used by the iPad via a wired ethernet cable rather than use wireless for both the computer and the iPad. The computer and wireless gateway that the iPad is connected to must be on the same network.
To get the full benefit of using MIDI Melodeon, you should be familiar with the use of MIDI control surfaces, hardware and/or software VST synthesizers.
If you have any concern about the compatibility of MIDI Melodeon with your own MIDI setup, I recommend first testing with one of these free DSMIDIWiFi-based apps available on the iTunes App Store before purchasing MIDI Melodeon:
You may play along with tunes in your iPad's music library by starting a track using the iPad iPod app, then launching MIDI Melodeon.
Installing the LoopBe1 MIDI Loopback Driver
To communicate with your Windows MIDI applications such as software synthesizers or sequencers, the DSMIDIWiFi Server needs a MIDI Loopback driver to send the data through to your application. If you have a hardware MIDI interface, and only want to directly control external MIDI synthesizers with MIDI Melodeon, the loopback driver is not required and you can skip down to the section below on installing the DSMIDIWiFi server.
For non-commercial use, there is a free MIDI loopback driver called "LoopBe1" available from nerds.de (click on the image for more information):
The download page for LoopBe1 on nerds.de is at:
The LoopBe1 installer is available for download at the bottom of that page. Click the link that says "Download setuploopbe1.exe"
Save the file to your hard drive and then run "setuploopbe1.exe" to install the loopback driver.
Download and Install the DSMIDIWiFi Server:
1. Please download the DSMI server installer for Windows from the DSMI Project Page on Google Code (click the image):
The file to download is labeled "dsmidiwifi-v1.01.zip - DSMI server for Windows"
2. Save the file "dsmidiwifi-v1.01.zip" to your hard drive.
3. Open the .zip archive by double-clicking on the downloaded file.
4. Copy all the files in the .zip archive to your desktop or another folder. This includes the DSMIDIWiFi.exe application and several supporting .dll files.
Running the DSMIDIWifi Server and Connecting via MIDI to your Music Programs:
1. Running the server is very easy, simply double-click the DSMIDIWiFi.exe application in the destination folder where you previously copied the unzipped files.
2. Select the MIDI Loopback driver as the MIDI output in the DSMIDI Server.
3. In your Windows MIDI application, select the loopback driver as your MIDI input.
4. Make sure your iPhone/iTouch is connected over WiFi and you should now be able to send MIDI data to your desktop applications.
Running the DSMIDIWifi Server and Connecting via MIDI to Hardware Synthesizers:
1. If you have a hardware MIDI interface on your computer connected to external hardware MIDI sythesizers, you may play them directly from your iPad. No additional loopback driver is required.
2. In the DSMIDIWiFi.exe Server application, select your hardware MIDI interface output port that is connected to the hardware synthesizers.
3. Please check that the hardware synthesizer is set to receive on the MIDI channel MIDI Melodeon is transmitting on (Left side on channel 1, right side on channel 2 by default).
Download and Install the DSMIDIWiFi Server:
1. Please download the DSMI server installer for Mac OS X from the DSMI Project Page on Google Code (click the image):
The file to download is labeled "dsmidiwifi-v1.02.dmg - DSMI Server for OSX"
2. Open the .dmg file by double clicking on the downloaded file.
3. Locate the DSMIDIWifi Server program file and copy it to your Applications folder
Running the DSMIDIWifi Server and Connecting via MIDI to your Music Programs:
1. Running the server is very easy, just double-click the DSMIDIWifi program in your Applications folder to start.
2. When the server is running, your MIDI capable applications will show a MIDI in port called "DSMIDIWifi-out". Choose this as your MIDI input.
3. Make sure your iPhone/iTouch is connected over WiFi and you should now be able to send MIDI data to your desktop applications.
Running the DSMIDIWifi Server and Connecting via MIDI to Hardware Synthesizers:
1. If you have a hardware MIDI interface on your computer connected to external hardware MIDI sythesizers, you may play them directly from your iPad.
2. In the DSMIDIWiFi Server application, select your hardware MIDI interface output port that is connected to the hardware synthesizers.
3. Please check that the hardware synthesizer is set to receive on the MIDI channel iJammer is transmitting on (channel 1 by default).
FAQ:
Q: What do you use as a hardware setup for portable use?
A: I use an older Windows XP based laptop (Pentium M based) and a small WiFi router that I connect to the laptop via Ethernet. LoopBe1 is installed on the laptop for MIDI loopback. I found this much simpler and more robust than trying to setup an Ad-Hoc WiFi network. I set the WiFi access point up with the SSID "DSMIDIWiFi" and then connect my iPhone via WiFi.I then run the DSMIDIWiFi program on the laptop and launch my software synth programs.
Q: I'm using MIDI Melodeon on Windows with the default "Microsoft GW Wavetable SW Synth" and the latency is very high, what's wrong?
A: That isn't anything having to do with my app, that's because the Microsoft GS synth wasn't designed for realtime playback. MIDI Melodeon really is intended for use with low latency VST software synths and/or hardware MIDI modules, I've tested on both of those configurations and have extremely low latency.
Q: I'm getting dropped notes and very bad latency, what can I do?
A: If your computer is connected to the network via a wireless adapter, try switching to a wired ethernet connection. The most reliable performance and lowest latency can only be acheived if the PC or Mac is connected to the network via a hardware ethernet interface. This is particularly true for older/slower laptops.
Q: I'm on a Windows system and nothing is working! Help!
A: Make sure that you don't have the Windows Firewall blocking data from getting to DSMIDIWiFi or the LoopBe1 driver. Also check that no other network-aware components, such as realtime network virus scanners are filtering or interfering with the flow of data from the network to the DSMIDIWiFi server.
Q: Can I play along with music on my iPad?
A: Yes, you can play along with tunes in your iPad's music library by starting a track using the iPad iPod app, then launching MIDI Melodeon. While the music is playing you can double click the home button to bring up the iPod music controls.
Using the iPad's Settings app, under General/Home, enable the "iPod Controls" setting to allow you to bring up the iPod music control panel by double-clicking the home button while the app is running.
Q: Are the fingerings the same as a real Button Accordion?
A: Yes, exactly the same. About the only thing you can't do is press two buttons with one finger because of the limits of the iPad's touchscreen hardware.
Q: Where can I learn more about how to play the button accordion?
A: Please visit the following site for more information and online learning materials:
Q: Now that I've learned the fingerings for some tunes on the iPad app, I'd like to buy a real button accordion. Who do you recommend?
A: The Button Box carries a wide range of new and vintage instruments.
Damien Connolly has a DVD course and instruction book that has been recommended to me, I intend to get a copy for myself:
Damien Connolly's B/C Button Accordion Tutor
Future Plans:
I am very interested in any suggestions for features or improvements to MIDI Melodeon for future updates, please drop me an email anytime with your ideas!
More Apps to Enjoy:
For more information, please contact Michael Eskin or visit the Tradlessons.com website:
