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Finale Blog: Using your iPad as a MIDI Controller

by Justin Phillips 3. March 2011 08:32

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With the announcement of the iPad 2 yesterday, I thought I would highlight a great iPad app that I have been using in conjunction with Finale.

MooCowMusic’s Pianist Pro is a feature-rich piano and keyboard app for iOS. One of the best features of the device is the ability to send a MIDI signal over your network connection (Wi-Fi) to your computer, where MIDI applications (including Finale) can receive it.

Setup is a breeze, and the full instructions for configuring Pianist Pro with your computer are available here. Once configured with your computer, launch Finale then navigate to MIDI/Audio Menu > Device Setup > MIDI/Internal Speaker Setup. Under MIDI In for Channels 1-16, select the Network option listed. Press OK, and you’re ready to start entering notes.

I have been using this as a keyboard controller with Finale for a few weeks now, and it works pretty well, even with HyperScribe. I have encountered some latency issues depending on my Internet connection; however I have been able to resolve them using the latency settings in Audio MIDI Setup (OS X Utility).

At this time, this functionality is limited to Mac OS X, however you can certainly try one of the other connection methods which are detailed in depth in Pianist Pro’s manual here if you are using a PC.

Are you using cool iPad, iPhone, iPod apps that other Finale users may enjoy? Please share them with us by clicking on “Comments” below.

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Tags: ipad, piantist pro, app finale, midi, controller, ios

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Comments

2/28/2011 3:47:49 AM #

One app that I use frequently with Finale is NumPad. I use it primarily with iPhone, but it can work on the iPad, too. If you have the Mac bluetooth keyboard, you know that, while very pretty, it lacks a numeric keypad. Since I use Simple Entry a lot, I need to have that. NumPad connects to your iDevice over your wireless network and works like a charm. You can configure how the app looks, and -- this is the best part -- they even have a Finale skin where, instead of displaying the numbers it diplays the note values in Simple Entry. It's a very useful app.

Chad Friesleben

3/4/2011 3:37:23 AM #

Thanks for the comment, Chad! We like numpad too, and blogged about it here: www.finalemusic.com/.../...r-iPhoneiPod-Touch.aspx

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

3/9/2011 4:53:48 PM #

So far for me, the app works great with Logic and Reason (no latency, no dropped notes, and great polyphony.) However, when I use it with Finale 2011, I’m having problems with polyphony. When I play single note lines, all notes play fine. When I play 2 notes together, they will only play simultaneously sometimes. And it never plays 3 or more notes together simultaneously.

Do you know of a way to fix this? I’m very excited to use this app with Finale.

Dan

3/11/2011 7:33:56 PM #