What's New

Bug fixes and updates for newer versions of iOS.

App Description

MIDIRegs is a Uilleann bagpipes Drones/Regulators CoreMIDI-compliant MIDI control surface for the iPhone.

MIDIRegs doesn't produce any sound on its own, it is for playing hardware or software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via CoreMIDI hardware interfaces connected to the dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments such as IK Multimedia SampleTank or Sonosaurus ThumbJam running on your device.

MIDIRegs is modeled on the drones and three regulators (Tenor, Baritone, and Bass) found on a full set of Uilleann pipes.

MIDIRegs makes it possible to have drones and regulators that sound like any instrument patch available on a CoreMIDI virtual synth running on the device.

You may also use the app to play sounds on a hardware MIDI synthesizer connected via a CoreMIDI interface attached to the dock connector of your device.

Since the drones and regulators messages may be sent on two different MIDI channels, each can play a different synthesizer patch.

Touch the regulator play mode icon just below the drone switch to toggle between regulator auto-chord play and single play modes.

Touch the MIDI icon for the settings page.

Choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, MIDIRegs will show up as an input option labeled "MIDIRegs" in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MIDIBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default.

Set the overall transposition for the entire instrument using the Transpose (Semitones) slider. Any transposition from between -12 to +12 semitones can be selected. Default is zero, corresponding to a concert D set.

Set the MIDI transmit channel for the drones and regulators using the Drones Channel and Regulators Channel sliders. Any channel from 1-16 may be selected. Default is channel 1 for the drones and channel 2 for the regulators. Multiple devices can simultaneously talk to the MIDI synth, just make sure each device is on its own set of MIDI channels.

Note-on events are sent with a fixed velocity. Set the velocity using the Drones Velocity and Regulators Velocity sliders. Any value from 0-127 may be selected. Default value is 100.

If you ever have "stuck" notes, you may touch the "!" icon on the main screen to send a MIDI "All Notes Off" message and stop the sounds.

All settings are saved when exiting MIDIRegs and restored the next time it is run.

Here's the settings changes required for two popular synth apps:

IK Multimedia SampleTank:

- In Settings (touch the gear icon), enable "Background Audio"

Sonosaurus ThumbJam:

- In "Prefs", under "MIDI Control", in "MIDI General Options" enable "Use CoreMIDI" and "Active in Background"

Other CoreMIDI compatible synth apps will have similar settings.

iPhone Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

MIDIRegs - Uilleann Regulators screenshot 1 MIDIRegs - Uilleann Regulators screenshot 2 MIDIRegs - Uilleann Regulators screenshot 3

App Changes

  • June 24, 2011 New version 1.1
  • November 10, 2012 New version 2.0
  • November 10, 2012 Price decrease: $4.99 -> $2.99
  • November 19, 2012 New version 2.1
  • November 22, 2012 Price decrease: $2.99 -> $0.99
  • November 27, 2012 Price increase: $0.99 -> $2.99
  • November 30, 2012 Price decrease: $2.99 -> $0.99
  • December 05, 2012 Price increase: $0.99 -> $4.99
  • December 06, 2012 Price decrease: $4.99 -> $1.99
  • March 03, 2013 Price decrease: $1.99 -> $0.99
  • January 05, 2016 Price increase: $0.99 -> $9.99
  • February 15, 2016 Price decrease: $9.99 -> $4.99
  • February 20, 2016 New version 3.0
  • June 14, 2019 New version 3.1
  • November 15, 2023 New version 3.2