MIDI Integration

MIDI or "Musical Instrument Digital Interface" be a powerful digital communications protocol that ushered in th' age o' electronic music. Arrr, even though it was first released in 1984, its use be still prevalent in modern computin'. Apple has built CoreMIDI into iOS, makin' th' iPad and iPhone great tools fer musicians on-stage. In addition, MIDI be now bein' used t' communicate between music apps on th' device, as well as external devices.

Settin' Up MIDI

Th' first step in usin' MIDI on an iOS device be connectin' th' standard MIDI or USB cable t' th' device. This can be accomplished with:

• MIDI Adapters be devices that connect t' yer 30-pin or Lightning port and provide traditional MIDI "DIN-5" connections.
• USB with Camera Connection Kit allows MIDI devices with a USB port t' be connected directly t' th' iOS device.
• MIDI over Bluetooth can be used t' connect wireless MIDI adapters and pedals t' OnSong.
• MIDI over WiFi can also be used as long as ye have a computer or host device t' create th' MIDI network session.

Triggerin' Actions from MIDI

Once ye have a MIDI device connected, ye can map MIDI signals t' OnSong actions. Blimey, this can be used t' scroll th' chord chart, navigate yer set, or trigger backin' tracks. Any action that can be performed in OnSong can be mapped t' MIDI in th' MIDI Triggers screen.

*Note: MIDI devices may send signals differently dependin' on their intended use. Fer instance, th' iRig Blueboard device becomes a latchin' pedal with control changes. OnSong has advanced MIDI Settings t' handle some o' these differences.

Sendin' and Receivin' MIDI

OnSong can also be used t' send MIDI commands t' other MIDI devices when songs be viewed or when sections be selected. Savvy? Ye can configure these commands by tappin' and holdin' th' title o' th' song or a section o' yer song t' use th' Section Mapping Menu.

In addition, ye can have OnSong switch t' a song by listenin' fer specific MIDI commands. These be typically set up usin' Metadata with th' Metadata Editor in th' Song Editor.

Virtual MIDI

Ahoy, we typically think o' MIDI as havin' t' do with wires that connect instruments together. MIDI could also use wireless networkin' like WiFi or Bluetooth. But Arrr, MIDI can also operate directly between apps with Virtual MIDI.

Virtual MIDI has all o' th' power o' MIDI but travels between apps, matey. Ye can configure which apps can send and receive MIDI with OnSong usin' Sources and Destinations in th' MIDI Settings Menu.