Sidecar makes all of your iOS music applications better. Here are the
key features of the app.
There are ten pages of MIDI control pads. Each page can send MIDI
events to multiple destinations, and you can configure single notes,
chords, or MIDI CC and PC messages.
New in version 1.7 is AUv3 support -- use Sidecar to control synthesizers from within an AUv3 audio host!
Note and chord pads can toggle, or are only on while you touch. You
control note velocity with the horizontal touch position (left is
softer, right is harder). Each
pad can be configured individually.
With MIDI CC messages, you can toggle on touch-value, and use the
pad as a horizontal slider. Map the CC values to a synthesizer that
supports MIDI learn, and you can easily control a variety of parameters
to shape the sound you hear. The pad will display the
last CC value sent (so you can adjust as needed).
Use an ordinary Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard to add a wireless MIDI controller.
Sidecar will take your keystrokes, and can toggle on or off the MIDI pads. The
number keys are mapped to the pads, while the upper QWERTY row selects any
of the ten different groups of pads.
The lower two rows of a QWERTY keyboard are mapped to a piano-style layout,
so that you can play MIDI notes. The lower case Z is mapped to the note C,
the X is mapped to D, and so on. The row "ASDF" is the sharp keys. Sidecar
lets you use an ordinary Bluetooth keyboard as a sophisticated MIDI controller!
More? Of course there's more! If you have an iON iCade (or similar Bluetooth
game controller), you can use this to toggle on and off pads, or select different
sets of pads. The iCade is inexpensive and easy to hack; with some basic
hardware skills, you can make easily make a MIDI foot controller, and use
it with guitar amp simulators!
With
split-screen support on newer iPads, or with a compatible AUv3 host, you can use the MIDI controls
of Sidecar simultaneously with working with other split-screen
compatible apps.