I have to say that there haven’t been many music apps that have made use of the possibilities that 3D touch provides. In fact I can think of only a handful aside from Aftertouch • 3D MIDI Controller. The most obvious that comes to mind is Roli’s Seaboard 5D app, but also Ferrite Recording Studio.
I have to admit that I thought that 3D touch would be much bigger for music apps and I’m still slightly confused as to why it hasn’t been embraced in quite the way I’d envisaged. Anyway, enough of that for now, perhaps Aftertouch will change the way that not only users, but also other developers see 3D touch.
Here’s what to expect from the app:
Aftertouch unlocks the musical potential of 3D Touch, turning your iPhone into a velocity and pressure sensitive MIDI controller.
Aftertouch sends MIDI note and control data to other apps, or to external hardware via the Camera Connection Kit or via Bluetooth MIDI. It also includes a built-in synthesizer so you can start making music immediately.
GRID FEATURES
Configurable grid dimensions and musical intervals between rows and columns
Configurable note display format (MIDI note number, musical pitch, or a combination of both)
Easy-access transposition buttons to move the grid by a semitone or an octave
MIDI FEATURES
Selectable MIDI output: choose between virtual MIDI destinations (other apps), hardware USB MIDI connections (via the Camera Connection Kit), or Bluetooth MIDI devices
Selectable MIDI Channel, or MPE (Multi-dimensional Polyphonic Expression)
Configurable CC outputs for X, Y, and Z axis finger movement (with support for Pitch Bend in the X axis, and Channel or Polyphonic pressure in the Z axis)
OTHER FEATURES
Built-in phase modulation synthesizer exhibits the default expression settings
Velocity curve editor for fine-tuning the velocity- and pressure-sensitivity to your musical style
Use the full screen to set the range of control parameters, or constrain them to only respond to movement within a single pad.
NOTE: Z-axis support is only available on devices with 3D Touch. Other devices still send X and Y axis data, and send a fixed note-on velocity value.
Filed under: 3D Touch, New App Tagged: Aftertouch • 3D MIDI Controller