Line 6 peripheral brings MIDI and iPhone closer than you ever expected
By Ross Miller 
posted March 21st 2010 8:56AM
posted March 21st 2010 8:56AM
It's no amplifier substitute, but Line 6 has come up with something potentially even better for the budding songwriter buried deep within your rhythmic veins. The MIDI Mobilizer for iPhone and iPod touch is an app-based peripheral that lets you record, playback, store, and transfer MIDI sequences and parameters using the MIDI Memo Recorder software. While it does sound convenient in theory, we'll have to wait until we can try the dongle out for ourselves. At this point in time, price of the Mobilizer is TBD and the release date is the ever-vague Spring 2010. As for the recorder app, it's currently available on iTunes free of charge, although it's more or less useless without the complementary hardware. For now, you'll just have to settle with living vicariously through the promo video, after the break.[Thanks, Fred]
Perhaps I misunderstand the use of this, but if you're really going to lug around a midi instrument with you already, why not just use your laptop.
@FallenArms3 so u dont have to lug around ur laptop, because u always have ur iphone w/ u
@FallenArms3
couldn't agree more
@FallenArms3 you may not be lugging around a midi instrument. It's a good back up of midi settings and ideas. Because they're backed up you can move from one instrument to te next without lugging around an instrument.
I personally love this idea.
@FallenArms3
Maybe some people keep their MIDI instruments somewhere they don't keep their laptops? Like, in a studio or rehearse room. Or in their basement? Some people move to their instruments to play them, instead of moving the instruments themselves. And having everything on your phone also allows you to show people your work on these occasions where you didn't think of taking your laptop beforehand.
Also, moving around a MIDI keyboard + a laptop is still less convenient than moving around a MIDI keyboard + an iPhone.
I can't stand midi anymore. I really wanted that guitar amp. Would of been badass no matter how expensive it was going to be
"so u dont have to lug around ur laptop, because u always have ur iphone w/ u"
Wow, using "u" instead of "you" is sooo cool.
"Would of been badass no matter how expensive it was going to be"
"Would of"? WTF is that supposed to mean?
Finally, someone did it. As a musician, this is an open avenue for creation with or without travelling. Love it.
I cant' see the point of this. It's still unlikely that you're having this dongle with you where ever you go, all the time.
DUHH!!! This has been available for the ORIGINAL PALM PILOT for at least SIX YEARS!!! I used one five years ago to playback MIDI Bach files on the church organ every Sunday. The organ played toccatas for the postlude while I stood aside and smiled. The organ and I also played duets with me on the piano.
Everybody thinks the iPod's s**t doesn't stink because it can finally do things that other devices have done for years!!! This is old news for Palm Pilot owners!
@CallDon
Hey, when it happens for an Apple product, it always happens for the first time. All the other guys stole it...using time machines...made by Apple of course.
@Sogeking
I don't see anything here saying this is the first time a product like this has been released.
Get another hobby or something
@Sogeking
LOL!!! You are correct, sir. I have had copy/paste on my touchscreen Palm 700p that I bought over four years ago. But copy/paste was invented just recently (right) and the iPhone finally has it, along with video (also on my 700p for four years.)
LOL!
@CallDon Hate much??? Don't think anyone ever said Apple didn't do any of that... What people say is that Apple put it all in one device that is actually user friendly...
User-friendly, although it doesn't perform important phone functions that were expected of phones over a decade ago.
Repeating notifications of missed calls, anyone?
Let me add that I had the piano playing at Nordstrom via the Palm Pilot playing MY midi piano files. When I took a break, I continued playing piano via the Palm Pilot so my music never stopped. Like I said, it is good the iPhone is finally catching up to what the original Palm Pilot did five years ago.
It would be cool if apple made main stage for iPad and used this to connect to a midi controller
@piere
A sequencer program for any tablet with a usb port could do this same thing. USB2midi cables are available anywhere. Using the PalmPilot was far more convenient than a laptop for playback. But I lost my PalmPilot in a recent move.
Who needs a MIDI interface at all? Here's my WiFi MIDI concertina-style controller app for the iPhone/iPod Touch:
http://www.tradlessons.com/Miditina.html
Dang, this thing sells for seventy bucks at Guitar Center. The interface for my Palm Pilot was thirty and did the same thing.
@CallDon Stuff was cheaper 8 years ago. Whoda thunk it?
This would go great with an iPad and a touchscreen version of Ableton Live.
This is a pretty cool idea, but for recording music ideas on the go, the voice recording app is pretty convenient.
with innovations such as these I have a feeling the iPad will find it's way into musicians studio's.. I remember the Propellerhead Software's 303 emulator package entitled ReBirth.. now that on a tablet with multitouch will be very interesting indeed.
Hey Guys, I really think CallDon wants us all to know that his totally awesome palm pilot, that he lost in a move, did this at least 5 years ago and for a cheaper price. Too bad no one with any self-respect would be caught dead with a palm pilot. I refuse to even capitalize the name.
@Rob Conway
"any self respect??"
In other words, if it ain't the latest and greatest fad, you don't own it or use it. That's too bad. I hope you enjoy spending good cash on your latest and greatest car. I own and drive two Lincoln Town Cars, a '90 with 50k miles and a '94. Vintage, the best leather seats, great ride and zero car payment. BTW, I found the Palm Pilot and will be using it again. Works great. Why not use it? Oh yeah...it's not the latest fad like you require. Sorry for being practical.
This looks use...ful. Check out my guide on non-useless iPhone apps: http://bit.ly/9FYUQn