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To use my MIDI controller apps with CoreMIDI compliant software synthesizers running on the iPad,
you will need to make a couple of settings changes in whichever synth app you have installed.

Generally, the two things you need to look for are enabling "CoreMIDI" and "Background Audio".

In the screens and video below, I show how to do this for two popular synth apps: SampleTank and ThumbJam.

This information reflects version 2.2 of ThumbJam. For version 2.1 or earlier please click here.

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Here's the settings changes you need to make for SampleTank, enable "Background Audio"

SampleTank enables CoreAudio use by default

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Here's a simple single instrument SampleTank patch setup for a flute sound
(full version SampleTank + Woodwind expansion pack), on MIDI channel 1

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Here's the settings changes you need to make for ThumbJam:

In the Prefs/Options panel, enable "Background Audio"

Starting with ThumbJam version 2.2, CoreMIDI is enabled by default

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iPhone/iPod Touch Background Synth App Settings

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Here's the settings changes you need to make for SampleTank, enable "Background Audio"

SampleTank enables CoreAudio use by default

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Here's a simple single instrument SampleTank patch for a flute sound
(full version of SampleTank plus Woodwind expansion pack), on MIDI channel 1

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Here's the settings changes you need to make for ThumbJam:

In the Prefs/Options panel, enable "Background Audio"

Starting with ThumbJam version 2.2, CoreMIDI is enabled by default

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This video shows how to change the MIDI and audio settings in SampleTank and ThumbJam
(iPad version, iPhone is similar)

Reflects version 2.1 of ThumbJam, please follow instructions above for changes for version 2.2

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I have one of your bagpipes control surfaces, either MIDIPipes or MIDIChanter.
How should I setup my iPad background synth app patches?

Both apps default to sending the chanter data on MIDI channel 1 and the drones data on MIDI channel 2.

For SampleTank, you will want to setup a patch with two parts, the chanter sound on MIDI channel 1 and the drones sound on MIDI channel 2.

Make sure both parts are enabled to receive data in the SampleTank Parts selector for the patch, and save the setup as a preset.

For ThumbJam, in "Prefs", under "MIDI Control", in "Input Options", turn "Omni Mode" off to allow the chanter and drones to be used on different sequential MIDI channels.

In ThumbJam the "Channel Start" value is already set to 1 by default.

In ThumbJam use the second instrument load feature (touch the "1" on the left bar, toggles to "2") to allow a second instrument to be played on MIDI channel 2.

The instrument in slot 1 (MIDI Channel 1) will be your chanter sound, slot 2 (MIDI Channel 2) will be your drone sound.

You can toggle between slot 1 and slot 2 to change the sounds in each slot by touching the number in the left bar in ThumbJam

Other CoreMIDI compatible synth apps will have similar settings.

Synthesizer apps running in the background often continue to consume power even after you are done playing.

Be sure to "Force Quit" the synthesizer app when you are done playing to ensure that you don't run down your battery.

Follow these steps to force an app to close:

On my iPad, I create user patches from the built-in patches that have the realtime tilt controls all disabled.

In ThumbJam into the Edit/Controls for the patch, set the Volume selector to "Fixed" and the Pan, Vibrato, Tremolo, and Pitch Bend to "None"

Then save the setup as a new user patch.

If the sound level is too low through the speaker on your device, go into the Sound/(Volume/iPod) page and turn the "App Vol Boost" up to where the sound is louder but doesn't distort.