The touchscreen on any iOS mobile device opens up a world of possibilities for controlling synths or other music apps. We previously covered Aftertouch, an app that takes advantage of 3D Touch on newer iPhones for additional control options. This time out, we train our eye on GridInstrument, which eschews the traditional piano-style keyboard in favor of a grid layout for playing a synth app.
GridInstrument in action. Screenshot by author.
A host of options exist letting you select the key, scale, and grid layout. GridInstrument also supports the iOS Core MIDI and Audiobus 3 MIDI standards – an essential feature for any controller app. I had it playing some freaky sounding Zeeon patches to great effect. For me, these different controller “metaphors” make more sense with non-traditional sound sources. A basic internal synth helps for testing out your grid setup.
The app also integrates nicely with Novation’s Launchpad grid controller, suitable for those who use Ableton Live as a DAW. If you are interested in checking out GridInstrument, simply head over to the iTunes App Store and pay your $2.99. It’s definitely worthy of exploration for those who don’t like traditional piano keyboard control.
Eventide shines at AES New York 2017 Show
Legendary effects maker, Eventide garnered a significant amount of buzz at this year’s AES show in New York City. Two new products especially drew our attention. The flagship H9000 rackmount processor ups the ante with four separate quad core processors supporting eight channels of audio I/O.
It comes with a remote control application, called emote, which works as a standalone app for the PC or Mac, as well as supporting most popular plugin formats. The unit is slated to hit the market next March, with two models priced at $4,999 and $6,999 respectively. If interested, check out this blog from Jack Impink who’s currently beta-testing the unit.
The other interesting AES reveal from Eventide involves their first foray into the Eurorack world. The EuroDDL fits Eventide’s classic digital delay – cue Jon Anderson – into a reasonable horizontal pitch space. It offers 10 seconds of delay at a 192 kHz sample rate and 160 seconds at 16 kHz.
Available in January, the EuroDDL runs $399. The unit found inspiration in Eventide’s DDL-500, their classic Series 500 delay unit. For more information simply click on this link.
Expert Sleepers introduces a General MIDI Eurorack Module
General MIDI remains an interesting offshoot of everyone’s favorite musical instrument digital interface. I was burned by a General MIDI module in the mid 90s not sounding anywhere as good as my Yamaha QY-20. Unfortunately, Expert Sleepers doesn’t care about my frightening stories of sonic yore, as the company recently introduced a GM module in the Eurorack format.
General CV combines a General MIDI synth with a host of MIDI to CV conversion functionality. Tongue firmly in cheek, Expert Sleepers’ director Andrew Ostler commented: “For too long, Eurorack users have been denied important sounds, such as ‘Voice Oohs’, ‘Orchestra Hit’ and ‘Shakuhachi.’ We’re delighted to finally bring these classic tones under CV control where they belong.” Indeed.
Those halcyon days of the 90s are back in a rack, all at the convenient price of $349! Check out the Expert Sleepers General CV page for more information.
