Epic Tutorials IK MultimediaiRig Blueboard review, tutorial & unboxing where we put IK Multimedia’s BlueBoard through it’s paces and teach you how to use it
The iRig BlueBoard app is available as a free download from the App Store.
This review by: Eliot Fitzroy
iRig BlueBoard Review:
The iRig BlueBoard transmits MIDI messages to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac, giving you control over various app and software functions. It works with music applications that are MIDI compatible, including IK's AmpliTube, VocaLive, SampleTank, iLectric Piano, iGrand Piano and other Core-MIDI-compatible app like Apple's GarageBand. Received the iRig Blueboard earlier today and have spent about an hour with it. I am running OSX 10.9.4 on a Mac Mini (late 2012) and a MacBook Air (Mid 2012) and I finally managed to get the iRig Blueboard to connect on both. Initially I had the same issues as described here - the Blueboard software couldn't find the device.
The irig blueboard app for iphone, ipad, and ipod touch, works in tandem with iks new irig blueboard, the first wireless midi pedalboard for ios and mac, controlling the setup and configuration of. BlueBoard is a clever and affordable way to get wireless MIDI control of music apps running on your iOS device or Mac. For live performers it's a much better approach than constantly tapping at your iPad during a performance and it works from around 30ft away, though obviously nearer is better.
- Bluetooth Wireless MIDI Pedal Board
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), extremely low power consumption
- Backlit rubber pads for easy identification in the dark
- Completely wireless, battery powered (4 x AAA)
- Completely customizable setup via the iRig BlueBoard dedicated iOS and Mac apps
Let me just start this iRig BlueBoard review by focusing on the build quality of the IK Multimedia’s Blueboard. It is made from high quality plastic that feels pretty sturdy and well made and features four backlit soft-touch pads that are really nice to touch with your hands, but as there is no click like standard guitar pedals you will only know you have successfully pressed it once you take your foot off it to see it illuminated.
On the side of the Blueboard you have two quarter inch inputs to connect expression pedals and on the bottom it has a battery compartment for the four triple A batteries to power the device and an on off switch. As the Blueboard uses Bluetooth 4.0 it uses very little juice and should last you ages and you the BlueBoard app will let you know what the status of your batteries is which is a nice feature.
The design of the iRig BlueBoard is spot on and dead simple. The soft-touch pads are a good size and spaced far enough apart that you can easily stomp on them without worrying about accidentally turning the pads either side off or on. There is a small LED under the bluetooth icon in the upper front right that will flash when powered on but not connected to the app and turn solid blue once a connection has been established. Whilst the BlueBoard hardware is very nice, this doesn’t mean anything if the software used is not up to scratch.
iRig BlueBoard App Review:
In order to use the iRig BlueBoard you will have to download IK Multimedia’s free iRig BlueBoard app from the App Store and it is available for both iOS and the Mac which is great news if you work on either or both platforms. You must run this app in the background in order for the iRig BlueBoard to communicate with any Core MIDI compatible app as it acts as an intermediary translating the signal from the BlueBoard foot-switch to something your app of choice can understand.
Irig Blueboard Mac App Free
The iRig BlueBoard’s app interface is dead simple and very easy to use and has the ability to run in two different modes. The first is program change mode and this setting is used for switch amp presets in apps like Amipltube and Jamup Pro for example. You can move up and down through banks by tapping and holding either the A or B pedal for two seconds which means you don’t have to do any swiping in your app of choice, allowing to focus more and playing guitar!
The second mode is MIDI Control Change mode and this is used to send MIDI CC specific commands to compatible apps allowing you to do things like turn an effect on or off or stop and start recording. The iRig BlueBoard app allows you to create custom presets and choose not only which MIDI channel the signal is sent over (1-16 or all channels), but you can customise the individual soft-pad MIDI cc value, name it and load it whenever you want to use a specific app that uses those settings (we did this for Jamup Pro).
Don’t think this device is for guitarists only by the way. We have used it with Loopy HD (our favourite iOS loop station app) and it is a dream combination! Make sure your watch our video review and tutorial above to see this in action.
This review by: Eliot Fitzroy
To purchase, Check out iRig BlueBoard check it out on Amazon for the cheapest deal.
Promo Video – iKMulimedia – iRige Blueboard
iRig Blueboard
With this morning’s update to forScore 6.1 and the exciting addition of MIDI integration, it’s worth taking a look at IK Multimedia’s wireless MIDI controller: the iRig Blueboard. We’ve been testing one over the past few weeks and found it to be a compelling and capable controller, worth considering if you’re looking for a page turner.
The popular existing choices, the AirTurn BT-105 and PageFlip Cicada, are distinct takes on what a page turner should be and have their own advantages and disadvantages, but the iRig Blueboard is an even bigger departure: it uses Bluetooth 4.0 for incredible energy efficiency, features four soft backlit buttons instead of pedals, and communicates via MIDI instead of impersonating a standard computer keyboard (which works around iOS’ cumbersome virtual keyboard behavior).
Irig Blueboard Mac Application
The iRig Blueboard requires an intermediary app to function, so you need to install it and keep it running in the background whenever you want to use the Blueboard. This is perhaps the biggest disadvantage when compared to other page turners, although the app does give you the added ability to program the four backlit buttons to send different signals. You can use forScore to map those signals to specific functions, just like you can with the other page turner options (choose “Settings” from the tools menu, then select “Page turners & shortcuts”). All in all, it’s a great option for anyone who can benefit from MIDI compatibility in other apps, and the best deal for four controls in a power-conscious, self-contained package.