Geert Bevin of Uwyn has updated its “precise” MIDI tape recorder app to version 2.0 with a new standalone version, a new continuous loop record option, and more.
For Christmas 2021, Geert Bevin (Moog) released the fascinating MPE MIDI tape recorder app for iOS and macOS. Its unique feature is how it records MIDI/MPE signals.
It doesn’t record the data like a robot in a loop; instead, it captures precisely how you play the keyboard on a tape. Version 2.0 is now available as a free update for existing users and includes some welcome new additions.
Uwyn MIDI Tape Recorder 2.0
As a reminder: Uwyn MIDI Tape Recorder 2.0 is an iOS and macOS app that works like an audio recorder but with MIDI. It captures every nuance of your performance without the timing issues common in DAWs.
MIDI Tape Recorder 2.0 is a free update for existing users. A highlight of version 2.0 is the standalone version.
It doesn’t require a host application and includes all the features of the AUv3 version: record, overdub, and play back MIDI right on your iOS and macOS device.
It supports CoreMIDI input and output routing to other apps and hardware. You can even use it with the locked screen, as recording keeps running in the background.
Another highlight is the new continuous loop record function. This new opt-in option keeps the loop rolling and re-records over your take on each pass instead of stopping at the end. This brings the tape workflow even more to the fore.
Other additions include:
- Sessions and documents. Your work is autosaved, and you can save, open, and share .mtrec session files.
- Hardened MIDI file import: malformed .mic files can no longer cause out-of-bounds reads or event desync
- Importing an empty (note-less) track now correctly clears the destination track.
Further, version 2.0 also includes several fixes.
A great update for an innovative MIDI/MPE recorder app.
The new Uwyn MIDI Tape Recorder 2.0 is available now as a free update for existing users. The fully built app is out now for $9,99 and runs as a standalone and AUv3 plugin on iOS and macOS. The code is open-source.
More information here: Uwyn / App Store
Article from December 26, 2021
Merry Christmas, everyone. Hope you had wonderful, cozy holidays so far. I didn’t want to publish an article today, but I have to share this news with you.
Geert Bevin, the developer of the fabulous Moog apps (Model D, Model 15, Animoog Z…), published his own app over Christmas weekend.
Uwyn MIDI Tape Recorder
MIDI Tape Recorder is a free AUv3 plugin app (iOS/macOS) that brings the simple, intuitive audio tape recorder concept to the MIDI world. The major difference from a classic DAW is the recording accuracy.
It records your performance exactly as you play it. Just like an audio recorder, it accurately reproduces every nuance of your performance. Without timing issues known from modern DAWs. Geert says:
Most modern DAWs, even at their highest resolution, still change the timing of MIDI messages to accommodate for their editing features. These changes impact the playback of your performance as MIDI messages get reordered and delayed, causing changes in how they influence sound, sometimes in very significant ways.
MTR features four independent tracks for recording MIDI channel voice messages with optional per-track record enable, input monitoring, and mute.
No MIDI note editing, no quantization, no individual CC tweaking… It’s a pure, precise MIDI recorder with MPE support. The display gives you an overview of all MIDI data (active recorded notes…) in real time.
Even though it is a pure MIDI recorder without MIDI CC, the feature set is huge. These mainly focus on performances:
- multi-level undo and redo
- overdub recording
- punch in and punch out recording for automated regional overdubbing
- MIDI file import and export for the project or each individual track
- repeated playback with start and stop locators
- AUv3 parameters for all controls
- snap to beat option for positioning playhead and start/stop locators
- detection of MPE configuration message (MCM) reception for each track
- crop session to new duration
- …
Further, you get automated storage and recall of all recordings inside the AUv3 host project. A very handy functionality if you work a lot with AUv3 plugins.
Functions like host transport, host tempo sync, and the clear function (all or single track) are also included. It also includes four virtual MIDI cables if your AUv3 host supports them, plus an option to route the first cable to all tracks.
Open-Source
Offering the app for free is a great gesture by Geert Bevin. It’s a late Christmas gift from 2021. But he’s also offering the app as open source to the community. It’s fully open source under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, an improved free culture license.
It’s a fantastic app you won’t want to miss. It strips everything down to the essentials of MIDI recording and ignores the little extras that can cause problems.
Uwyn MIDI Tape Recorder is available now as a free download from the Apple App Store and runs on iPhone, iPad and macOS.
More information here: Uwyn
While I am thankful for this very interesting open source project, I would like to ask about the very important piece of information that is spread here in this publication: DAWs generally do have timing problems with MIDI? All DAWs? Thousands of users do not know about this very interesting finding and it would be very helpful to read more about this, especially how you came to this conclusion. As we read that DAWs in general seem to have this problem it must have been a really big research project doing some kind of testing and measuring with all the DAWs out there.
It is also quite impressive that since about 30+ years nobody has solved this problem, but this open source project is the first and only piece of software that has no MIDI timing problems?
As this is a fact based journalism project I guess there will be some larger publications in the near future about the methods used and the results? Such an industry shaking research project of course deserves more attention and I guess will be presented within the appropriate context, maybe at a audio conference?
Sometimes, I would really welcome when readers go beyond and read also further in a topic instead expecting everything to be served to them on a silver platter. Of course for free.
Oh and of course the typical criticising journalism. It’s your personal love topic otherwise you don’t sleep well 😉 It’s a good thing Geert Bevin doesn’t hide its personality behind 1000 different usernames 😉 He clearly communicates:
“Most modern DAWs, even at their highest resolution, still change the timing of MIDI messages to accommodate for their editing features. These changes impact the playback of your performance as MIDI messages get reordered and delayed, causing changes in how they influence sound, sometimes in very significant ways.”
“Such an industry shaking research project of course deserves more attention and I guess will be presented within the appropriate context, maybe at a audio conference?”
Well, if you would go further in your research beyond this article, you would know that Geert Bevin actively participates in audio conferences like here in 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq7zUKEcyzI
If you had any experience with using an mpe designed synth (anything with the Haken engine for example) you would have understood how much data you loose when recording through a DAW (some are better than other). This midi tape recorder is essential to record all the nuances of a performance with said mpe dedicated hardware. Your the irony is quite misplaced here I’m afraid.