Products of Interest

Yamaha Wireless Bluetooth MIDI Adapters

Yamaha has released two new Wireless MIDI adaptors that transmit MIDI data over Bluetooth Low Energy (LE). They are compatible with iOS 8 on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, and with OS X 10.10 or higher on Macintosh computers. The adaptors can send and receive MIDI over a distance of up to ten feet and they can be used with any app that supports Bluetooth MIDI. This includes a range of Yamaha apps such as Visual Performer, Sound Controller, My Music Recorder, Reface Capture, Digital Piano Controller, Faders, and Piano Diary.

The MD-BT01 (see Figure 1) is designed for use with devices and instruments that have the standard 5-pin DIN MIDI input and output ports. The MD-BT01 adapter looks like an extremely short MIDI cable and it connects to the MIDI input and output ports of the MIDI device. To connect an iOS device to the adapter, the user turns on Bluetooth on the iOS device, opens a MIDI app, and makes the wireless connection. Two LEDs on the adaptor light up when the connection is made. The MDBT01 adapter uses 26 mW of power. It measures 17 × 17 × 67 mm and weighs 23 g.

The UD-BT01 adapter can be used with MIDI devices with USB-to-Host MIDI ports rather than the traditional 5-pin DIN ports. The user plugs their USB cable into their MIDI device and then connects it to the UD-BT01 adapter. The adapter uses 170 mW of power and a USB-to-AC adapter is required for operation. It also has an LED which indicates a successful wireless connection has been made. The UD-BT01 measures 45 × 12 × 40 mm and weighs 10 g.

Both adapters are listed for US$ 79.99. Contact: Yamaha Corporation of America, 6600 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, California 90620, USA; Web usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/accessories/.

Figure 1.

The Yamaha MD-BT01 wireless MIDI adaptor.

Korg nanoKey Studio and nanoKontrol Studio MIDI Controllers

The Korg nanoKey Studio is a portable MIDI controller for use with iOS devices and Windows and Macintosh computers (see Figure 2). It features a keyboard with 25 backlit, velocity-sensitive keys, eight velocity-sensitive pads, eight knobs, and an X/Y touchpad. The controller can be connected to mobile devices and computers using USB, or it can use Bluetooth LE to wirelessly transmit MIDI data.

The keyboard has a number of performance modes, including an Easy Scale function that lights up notes within a chosen scale. The velocity-sensitive trigger pads can be used as drum input, to trigger audio clips, or to play chords using a Chord Scale function. The touchpad allows software synthesizers to be controlled with a single finger. The eight knobs are assignable and can be used to control software synthesizers, plug-in effects, or a DAW mixer. Buttons for octave up/down (−4 to +4), sustain, touch scale, pitch/mod, scene memory, shift/tap, arpeggiator, Chord Pad, Easy Scale, and Scale Guide are also provided. There are eight scene memory slots available.

The controller is powered by USB or it can be powered by two AAA batteries when used wirelessly. Alkaline batteries provide around ten hours of battery life. The controller measures 278 × 160 × 33 mm and weighs 471 g. It is shipped with a USB cable and a code for a software bundle that includes iPad and iPhone apps, the Korg Legacy Collection of sound modules, and a special edition of the Korg Gadget music production studio.

Figure 2.

Korg’s nanoKey Studio MIDI control surface.

The nanoKontrol Studio is a MIDI control surface that features eight sliders, eight knobs, a jog control, and 32 control buttons, including a dedicated transport section. Like the nanoKey Studio, it can be connected and powered by USB, or it can operate wirelessly over Bluetooth Low Energy. The Korg Kontrol Editor is provided for customizing the controller settings and parameters. A plug-in for using the nanoKontrol Studio with Apple’s Garageband and Logic Pro X is also available. It...