Discuss Akai's iOS apps iMPC & iMPC Pro
By rokendearp Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:01 pm
Just a little update on some of the things I have discovered whilst fiddling with the App.

MIDI does work, both ways and this gives some quite interesting possibilities that I have tested and do work that kind of emulate some of the functions I love on the 2000XL. (its a BIG kind of, so no high expectations)

Synth Chromatic scale (sort of) - SYNTH - IMPC (SYNTH CH10 MIDI in) - PAD 4 is 4 octaves above the rest, other wise, there should be enough to knock up a quick riff or bassline, and synths with note shifting and octave change can help.

Any Synth that can be accepted by IMPC that can use MIDI can also use the IMPC app as a step sequencer and it will map it to an empty drum track.

This means, you can (in a limited fashion) play the synth on the 16 pads. (Synth needs to be setup to accept MIDI in on Channel 10) (*You do need to fill the pads with empty samples to actually record a pattern)

Once you have tapped out a bassline lead or whatever, you can then sample that loop via the new sound option and the IMPC stepped sequence will now be recorded into the 9second sampler when you hit play on the IMPC app, once the synth is open you only need it for patch changing and sound tweaking)

DON'T FORGET TO TURN OFF MIDI ON THE SYNTH WHEN DONE OR YOU CAN FREAK OUT WHEN YOU GET ODD SHIT HAPPENING WHILST HAMMERING OUT A BEAT! (or I smoke too much)

Synths that I know work so far are:

    Magellan - When connected it even displays the IMPC logo with transport congtrols but they are useless probably due to the fact that MIDI is so purposefully hindered on the app.
    Alchemy
    NLOG pro

Synths that almost work

    Thor - Can be played from pads, but not recorded into the audio input in sampler (hopefully fixed with an update)

Synths that Don't work so far

    IMS20
    POLYSIX
    Voicesynth (Which is odd as it has a lot of MIDI options)

Step sequencers: STEP = MIDI CHANNEL 12 out.

Little MIDI machine - this looks a bit daunting when you see it, but take some time to explore it it offers the full range of notes so all pads but will take some exploring to get the most out of it. Again transport controls are a pain, but I solved this by triggering the step from my iphone after countin on the app, (SYNC START PLEASE RETRONYMS)

NORD beat 2 - kind of works, but despite looking prettier and having a much nicer app store icon, it is much more limited and has only 6 notes which are fully configurable though!!
By hansjbs Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:35 am
Great stuff, your work help me a lot. By feeding off your energy and trying to mess with the mpd, I just found out that preset 2 on the mpd18 (GM/MPC) is mapped exactly with no extra work for the iMPC app, all you have to do is you set it midi ch to 12 and selecting preset 2.
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By distortedtekno Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:17 am
Good info! Thanks for sharing.
I'm starting to get into the iMPC for iPhone a little bit more each day, and I noticed the pads triggered some sounds on the Korg Volca Beats. I'd love to have MIDI clock in the iMPC in a future update. I'm also hoping to control the iMPC with my Korg PadKontrol if it's possible.
For a $3 app, it's been enjoyable and it has a good pad response on the iPhone... definitely better than the TRG in NanoStudio.
By rokendearp Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:10 am
distortedtekno wrote:Good info! Thanks for sharing.
I'm starting to get into the iMPC for iPhone a little bit more each day, and I noticed the pads triggered some sounds on the Korg Volca Beats. I'd love to have MIDI clock in the iMPC in a future update. I'm also hoping to control the iMPC with my Korg PadKontrol if it's possible.
For a $3 app, it's been enjoyable and it has a good pad response on the iPhone... definitely better than the TRG in NanoStudio.


Yeh, I have noticed some small differences in the IPad and iphone app in the MIDI, and ill be honest not tested it much on the phone, I have used it quite a bit in the train etc..

If you have a MAC, it is definitely possible to control both iphone and Ipad over virtual MIDI (WIFI) you can also do this with a 3rd party piece of software on a PC.

I have tested it in ableton and you can record MIDI both ways, so you can use pianor roll to seuqnce something on IMPC, or you can record your midi back into ableton with or without audio.
By rokendearp Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:14 am
hansjbs wrote:Great stuff, your work help me a lot. By feeding off your energy and trying to mess with the mpd, I just found out that preset 2 on the mpd18 (GM/MPC) is mapped exactly with no extra work for the iMPC app, all you have to do is you set it midi ch to 12 and selecting preset 2.


Nice work!

* I couldn't help thinking after reading your post, maybe the LPD8 had a standard setting for this, like the MPD before I had mashed it up for all other uses?

Be interesting to how many AKAI controllers come with the "special" (as in only his mum thinks he special kind of special) midi setup already installed.
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By distortedtekno Mon Oct 14, 2013 8:27 pm
Thanks again for the info. I have a Mac Mini and Reason 7. So I'll give it a try. I've used the wifi MIDI with other apps on the iPhone. Unfortunately there's a bit of latency. But I also have an iRig MIDI that I'll be working with.

rokendearp wrote:
distortedtekno wrote:Good info! Thanks for sharing.
I'm starting to get into the iMPC for iPhone a little bit more each day, and I noticed the pads triggered some sounds on the Korg Volca Beats. I'd love to have MIDI clock in the iMPC in a future update. I'm also hoping to control the iMPC with my Korg PadKontrol if it's possible.
For a $3 app, it's been enjoyable and it has a good pad response on the iPhone... definitely better than the TRG in NanoStudio.


Yeh, I have noticed some small differences in the IPad and iphone app in the MIDI, and ill be honest not tested it much on the phone, I have used it quite a bit in the train etc..

If you have a MAC, it is definitely possible to control both iphone and Ipad over virtual MIDI (WIFI) you can also do this with a 3rd party piece of software on a PC.

I have tested it in ableton and you can record MIDI both ways, so you can use pianor roll to seuqnce something on IMPC, or you can record your midi back into ableton with or without audio.
By coolderb Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:12 pm
distortedtekno wrote:Good info! Thanks for sharing.
I'm starting to get into the iMPC for iPhone a little bit more each day, and I noticed the pads triggered some sounds on the Korg Volca Beats. I'd love to have MIDI clock in the iMPC in a future update. I'm also hoping to control the iMPC with my Korg PadKontrol if it's possible.
For a $3 app, it's been enjoyable and it has a good pad response on the iPhone... definitely better than the TRG in NanoStudio.


Yeah, the IPhone version is pretty cool. The one feature I really like is the export to MPC desktop. I can create kits and patterns, etc. while riding the train and then use iFile to copy them into my Dropbox folder. From there I can load the whole project into the a MPC Studio.
By coolderb Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:15 pm
rokendearp wrote:Just a little update on some of the things I have discovered whilst fiddling with the App.

MIDI does work, both ways and this gives some quite interesting possibilities that I have tested and do work that kind of emulate some of the functions I love on the 2000XL. (its a BIG kind of, so no high expectations)

Synth Chromatic scale (sort of) - SYNTH - IMPC (SYNTH CH10 MIDI in) - PAD 4 is 4 octaves above the rest, other wise, there should be enough to knock up a quick riff or bassline, and synths with note shifting and octave change can help.

Any Synth that can be accepted by IMPC that can use MIDI can also use the IMPC app as a step sequencer and it will map it to an empty drum track.

This means, you can (in a limited fashion) play the synth on the 16 pads. (Synth needs to be setup to accept MIDI in on Channel 10) (*You do need to fill the pads with empty samples to actually record a pattern)

Once you have tapped out a bassline lead or whatever, you can then sample that loop via the new sound option and the IMPC stepped sequence will now be recorded into the 9second sampler when you hit play on the IMPC app, once the synth is open you only need it for patch changing and sound tweaking)

DON'T FORGET TO TURN OFF MIDI ON THE SYNTH WHEN DONE OR YOU CAN FREAK OUT WHEN YOU GET ODD **** HAPPENING WHILST HAMMERING OUT A BEAT! (or I smoke too much)

Synths that I know work so far are:

    Magellan - When connected it even displays the IMPC logo with transport congtrols but they are useless probably due to the fact that MIDI is so purposefully hindered on the app.
    Alchemy
    NLOG pro

Synths that almost work

    Thor - Can be played from pads, but not recorded into the audio input in sampler (hopefully fixed with an update)

Synths that Don't work so far

    IMS20
    POLYSIX
    Voicesynth (Which is odd as it has a lot of MIDI options)

Step sequencers: STEP = MIDI CHANNEL 12 out.

Little MIDI machine - this looks a bit daunting when you see it, but take some time to explore it it offers the full range of notes so all pads but will take some exploring to get the most out of it. Again transport controls are a pain, but I solved this by triggering the step from my iphone after countin on the app, (SYNC START PLEASE RETRONYMS)

NORD beat 2 - kind of works, but despite looking prettier and having a much nicer app store icon, it is much more limited and has only 6 notes which are fully configurable though!!


Great info!

BTW, are you saying that Thor has been updated with InterAppAudio?
By hansjbs Mon Oct 14, 2013 10:05 pm
rokendearp wrote:
hansjbs wrote:Great stuff, your work help me a lot. By feeding off your energy and trying to mess with the mpd, I just found out that preset 2 on the mpd18 (GM/MPC) is mapped exactly with no extra work for the iMPC app, all you have to do is you set it midi ch to 12 and selecting preset 2.


Nice work!

* I couldn't help thinking after reading your post, maybe the LPD8 had a standard setting for this, like the MPD before I had mashed it up for all other uses?

Be interesting to how many AKAI controllers come with the "special" (as in only his mum thinks he special kind of special) midi setup already installed.


It's true, the new mpc element controller works with iMPC too. It says so in the package. I'm guessing all their mpd will work with the app if you can find the mpc/GM preset and set it to midi ch 12.
By rokendearp Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:51 am
coolderb wrote:
BTW, are you saying that Thor has been updated with InterAppAudio?


Nope sorry, its hoping they will add it soon as then it will work and it would be a nice addition.
By rokendearp Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:43 am
distortedtekno wrote:Thanks again for the info. I have a Mac Mini and Reason 7. So I'll give it a try. I've used the wifi MIDI with other apps on the iPhone. Unfortunately there's a bit of latency. But I also have an iRig MIDI that I'll be working with.


*What I forgot to mention is that this also works over the same WIFI connection in that I can control Ableton's instruments with the App then record into Ableton and not IMPC, lets you use the sequencer and quantization elements at least, just like I do with the hardware. With much less success and ease ;P (It's sad because my hardware is rigged up to do all this, but I can't let it lie when something (IMPC) doesn't work how I want!)

If you have the MAC mini, then setup an adhoc connection when you want to use the WIFI midi. It will suprise you how fast it can be.

I use it over the router with almost no LAG and of course make sure you use something REALLY low in Ableton sample number settings during recording like 96 samples or 128 max. (I tend to use 96 or 128 during recording and playing anyway, then bump to 1024 for arranging etc...)

I tend to do this when I am running any Ipad APPs that require a MIDI controller as I don't want to use the camera connection kit when I can run it all through Ableton.

(just so you know, im not assuming you don't know but anyone else reading this might find the info useful, 1st section is creating the adhoc connection)

http://beatsurfing.net/connect-mac-wifi/