Quicco Sound, creators of the mi.1 Wireless MIDI interface, have released mi1 connect – an iOS app that lets you wirelessly connect with your iOS music software.
It’s a free download from the App Store.
The mi.1 wireless MIDI interface, below, was introduced earlier in the year. It a pair of MIDI plugs that have a built-in Bluetooth transmitter, so you can plug them into any MIDI keyboard and turn it into a wireless MIDI controller:
Here’s a demo of the mi.1 system in action:
Here’s what they have to say about the app:
-What’s mi.1?
mi.1 is a Wireless MIDI interface that connects your MIDI device and iPhone/iPad.
-What’s mi.1 connect?
mi.1-connect is an application that bridges your mi.1 inserted MIDI device and Core MIDI application on your iPhone/iPad.
For example you can play GarageBand with your Digital Piano by sending MIDI through the mi.1-connect.
You may also use this app to connect your MIDI device with your MIDI sequencer application, to record/play your performance.
Firmware update of mi.1 and device name options will also be available via this application.
The mi.1 was originally available for $35 via an IndieGoGo campaign. Based on the developer site, it looks like it will get US, European & Japanese distribution in Nov 2014.
If any readers have used the mi.1, leave a comment and let us know what you think of them!
So far I’ve used it to 1) play my Disklavier from my iPad via MIDI files in the “Sweet MIDI” app, 2) play my Jupiter-4 from the iPad with the StepPolyArp app, 3) sync my TR-8 with the BassLine app (yes, there is some noticeable latency at this point)
Strange coincidence that my iPhone stopped steaming Bluetooth audio in my car after I had the “mi.1 Connect “app running in the background (by accident)… Bluetooth audio is still broken. Hmm…
There’s initial promise, but it’s a work in progress.
On a side note, the form factor isn’t perfect for all situations. For example, the Disklavier’s MDI jacks are oriented in such a way that the mi.1’s cord is facing up, making it impossible to plug it in. To connect, I’ve had to plug in a short MIDI cord connected to a dual female DIN adapter which in turn is connected to the mi.1. Not so elegant, but still functional.
How reliable was the clock sync? Would this be stable enough for wireless slaving of two ableton laptops?
Hello, I have a Mark 1 Disklavier grand wagon and am unable to replicate your success. I can connect the quicco to my iphone 5 through Garage band but am then unable to get the Disklavier piano to play back any music through the mi.1. The MIDI file just plays through the iphone speaker – not through the piano. Any ideass?
Question, could I buy 2 of these say for my a4 and rythm and control both hardware devices by ipad? No computer, no internet, no other cords, if so I’m in ????
I hooked a unit to my pa3x and another to my Roland v accordion. Using Garage band and midi bridge, I was able to connect from my accordion to pa3x through Bluetooth.
Any one know where you can actually buy the mi.1 – I want to buy it but can’t actualy find it for sale – was it just a one-off run?
The Quicco Sound site says it will be available for online purchase sometime this month. No more details, though.
I bought one during their IndieGoGo campaign. You have to have the app before it will do anything (apparently they got it working with the new MIDI over Bluetooth, but it’s not included in the current firmware). The app is a little buggy at the moment and crashed a few times. But I was able to send MIDI to and from my keyboard once I got things set up.
The company seems to be working hard to iron out the wrinkles.
It’s a great product!
I can use it with MAC (CoreAudio/MIDI)?
It does currently not work on MacOS X – apparently app promised, but they are clearly struggling with the iOS app. When it finally got approved and arrived today, I managed to make connection work from iPhone 5S to Korg piano, but not the other way and after trying to connect with iPad, the device died and refuses to connect. Also never managed to get the firmware update to work. This is why Apple’s strict approval process is excellent, only this time not excellent enough 😉 Great idea through!
I really like mine. Totally does what it’s supposed to do and next firmware update should make it compatible with Apple’s Bluetooth LE MIDI.
I have it, have been testing it a good bit but will wait to do a review after the next firmware update. Currently it’s quite buggy with drops, latency and connect issues. The form factor makes it a very tight fit on most midi ports. I’ve plugged it into Ultranova mpc2kxl and a m audio midi keyboard, it’s a tight fit on all of of em. My concern more is about about the inconsistency of the app. It also doesn’t work with native ios bluetooth midi just yet.
It would be nice if there were a forum where users could discuss… The loss of Bluetooth audio is bugging me.
I want to know if it will work w/ PC
I’ve had it a few days.
The iPad app is pretty simple, in a good way. It hasn’t crashed and connecting to the device has been without issue.
When sequencing hardware with the iPad, midi to my hardware synths, It’s been pretty smooth. I didn’t check to see how the clock was delay wise, but the timing seemed accurate for a lead. I didn’t use a drum machine yet to really check the swing/jitter.
When using a hardware midi keyboard to control iPad apps I did experience hung notes quite often. There is a new firmware coming any day they said with a number of fixes and new features (like multiple devices) so I’ll give them a bit to sort that out. They were rejected from the Apple store a few times so they’re a bit behind on the firmware itself I think but they’ve been very vocal to the customers about releases, nearly daily communication on status.
This is essentially what I posted on the Quicco Sound facebook page. The documentation for installing the firmware is fine now. However, they need to provide some documentation about the app in general. For instance after playing around and figured out that the app must be running and connected to the mi.1. I didn’t need to do anything else for the Alchemy, Sunrizer, SoundPrism Pro, Addictive Synth and Crystal Synth apps to start receiving (and sending if capable) midi data from/to the mi.1. These app’s names show up in the boxes in the mi.1 connect app when they are running. GarageBand is a little different though. To get GarageBand to receive the midi data I had to turn on the VirtualMidi buttons at the top of the app screen for in and out. Then it started working fine as well for GarageBand. The only thing that isn’t working yet is connecting to my MacBook Pro. They have confirmed that it shouldn’t be working yet but will in an upcoming firmware release. I like using it with my ipad but I’m looking forward to being able to use it with my mac as well.
Do you have any video of that? I’d want to find out some additional information.
Pretty! This was an incredibly wonderful post. Many thanks for providing this info.
Bluetooth audio issue resolved. (I had to disconnect the car battery to reset car’s system to factory settings.) …and I can’t reproduce the issue.
Anybody naving issues using it after the firmware update?
My TC Helicon Voice Live Play GTX only has MIDI in. Will it still power the M1?
I have been using the first gen for well over a year and now have the 3rd gen. There were issues with the first gen after the firmware upgrade but it had to do with using the original app for connection. If you use their Jukebox app to get a connection (make sure you have bluetooth turned on) it connects very easy. On a macbook you have to use the Midi Studio but it connects very quickly. I use the Mi.1 on two midi wind controllers that have enough power on batteries to power the Mi.1 and I can connect both simaltaniously to the same iPhone. I only have a midi out so I cut off the midi in portion and it still works for midi out.