ThumbJam version 2.0 is a major update with many new features, including full CoreMidi support, new import and export options, custom scales, mic input control, and much more.....
MIDI Support Updates
- Supports CoreMidi via wifi and wired with the iPad camera connection kit and USB midi interfaces (in/out).
- Line6 MidiMobilizer support for midi in/out
- Akai SynthStation support for in/out.
- There is midi input support for all of the above so you can play the ThumbJam instruments with external controllers.
- Virtual midi port support for communicating directly between apps running on the same device. You can use other controller apps to play TJ running in the background, or use TJ as a controller to play other synths. Full poly bends and note tie support for smooth continuous bending with compatible controller apps.
- Cool new feature for midi input, Scale Lock. When enabled all note input is mapped to the currently selected scale. For instance, if you play up the keyboard on adjacent white keys you get the next note of the selected scale for each white key pressed. It's surprisingly playable, like the ThumbJam equivalent for keyboard controllers.
- The mod wheel controls parameters selected as an x-axis control or v.tilt volume, using whatever ranges are configured in the patch.
- Recorded audio loops now save a corresponding midi file alongside for later import into sequencers, etc.
- Support for instruments based on stereo samples
- Several new synth instruments built-in
- More on the way via free in-app download
- New options for mixing down the current active audible loops to a single WAV file.
- A similar feature in the loop mixer to let you bounce the active loops down into a new loop, while muting the originals.
- Make your own custom scales in the app.
- Quick-change scale/key user preset buttons now available.
- Split screen now supports different scales on each side, as well as key.
- New set of Indian scales to more accurately represent common usage.
- Reverb now has separate sends for each loop.
- Resonant low-pass filter now available, with X-axis or tilt controls for cutoff and resonance.
- SoundCloud audio sharing support added. Easy sharing of loop mix-down, session or arbitrary audio file to SoundCloud, with integrated optional posting to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr (via soundcloud mechanism).
- The Copy/Paste (now Export/Import) page lets you choose to mixdown the current active loops and copy that to the clipboard, or do the usual browse thing.
- Added option for Paste, to immediately make a pasted loop the actively playing loop.
- ThumbJam can now import Instruments, LoopSets (in ZIP files) and audio files from Mail attachments, Safari web browsing, or other apps that handle documents.
- iTunes Document Sharing support for direct import or export from your computer.
- New visual look.
- Ability to load two instruments simultaneously for quick switching, or play using split screen.
- New additional sidebar for access to more controls quickly
- New mic input control mode, play the ThumbJam instruments by singing, humming or from playing anything that produces pitch into the mic! Very responsive pitch tracking, a really fun alternative input method. MIDI output from it is also produced, so you can use it as a realtime audio to MIDI setup.
- Bluetooth audio output now works when available.
- Improved tuner during sample recording and instrument creation.
- Sustain bar available to make it easier to sustain notes
- Pitch sidebar can more precisely set the note range on screen, not restricted to octave boundaries.

26 comments:
OMG this is insane!! I have just created an entire loop - drums, bass, guitar, strings, sax all using my voice as the controller. WOW I'm afraid this TJ update has just answered lots of people's dreams. Stunning.
Best. Update. Ever.
ThumbJam is now the alpha and the omega of iOS music apps.
It's best sample-based app in iOS
and it works fine on my ipod touch 2G
2G.. THANKS!!!
Interface is the exact same with the exception of a blue background.
TJ2 works excellent with Geo Synth!
Just connected up to my akai synth station and ipod touch 3 and it works a treat!
All previous Sunday plans have just been canceled.
That's what the real meaning of "UPDATE" is.
hmm there are some problems with loopsets made in older versions - they sound strange, even if you try to add reverb in mixer
Kinda salivating. Counting down to when I can get to a wifi connection.
An amazing update. We knew it would be, and Jesse has done a remarkable job. Voice/line-in control is just fantastic, but to then have it output as MIDI... Also really enjoying the audio input monitoring when recording.
As an aside, I just saw a squirrel drop 10 feet from a tree in my garden to bury his nuts. I think any higher and he wouldn't have had to dig to bury them!
Got this last night, and have been amazed. I don't know which new feature is the best; there are so many!
Really like the new look also, and the fact you can you can revert to the old one.
The most amazing thing I think, is the way that there about a hundred new features, but the interface is still unclutered and clean. I don't know how he's done it!
Awesome update.
im having an issue using it as a midi out controller with both wired core midi and network.
when playing a run the next played note is cut off.
there is one mode that works but that slows down the tracking.
not sure what is happening but the midi out latency seems lagged.
Matt, have you reported that to Jesse?
Update of the year!
Hi antsharp yes just posted in the forum
Cheers
The line in works fairly well. I have tried only with an irig. The bad thing about the irig is that the cross talk will cause new notes to trigger since the thumbjam input gain is so hot. Maybe if the ampkit link is used it would work better.
To use the irig I had to turn my iPad volume down to about three notches and hook my headphone out into a big stereo system and crank it up. Basically doing what the ampkit link does natively through headphones.
I also find that a lot of the midi/virtual midi and voice/line tracking are way bad (to the point of unusable on an iPad 1,some apps work virtually but still break down if you play fast in high register notes).
Guess what I'm saying is the new features are probably most suited for the newer devices but the new "3d" buttons and staggered key rows,with the improved "hemi-selection" options(on side plays different then the other)along with "loaded" instrument switch,makes this app feel new and fresh again. I never stopped loving it and it still feels like the same old thumbjam app I've grown to love. The new users and owners of newer devices are the ones in for a treat discovering what the app can do for them.
I really hope Jesse will expand on the voice/line in technology and refine that aspect as it really offers the newest and most unique feature of this tried and true app. If that effect can be sussed out then I can see a new wave of "guitar synth" control options that would make this a tool not only for keyboardist but will allow us guitar players to do with midi that only those keyboardist have been able to do so far. I was hoping to one day pick up a sonuus i2m guitar midi connect but with thumbjam and the iPad that might not be needed. If the line in would cater to guitarists by utilizing the dock for sound input then I feel that many of the irig woes I face now might be subverted.
Long post,I know. I will copy and past and send over to Jesse at the forum,but I case he wants to read it here first,here ya go.....
I am a big iOS music app fan/user so sometimes my passion takes over and I can't stop. Check out my latest tracks made with mostly iPad apps at soundcloud.com/freesoulsound
It's been a while since I've robbed space on palmsounds so hope you guys bare with it. ;). Much love to all that work hard.
@freesoulvw
Jesse's normally very responsive although I can see can him being swamped with other reports and/or thank yous after an update like this. I'm about to download it myself :cheers:
I jumped straight into the virtual midi portion, testing with sunrizer, and at first, it worked great, but from then on, I've had some strange message in thumbjam telling me that something is 'off', but I can't for the life of me work out what's wrong.
I asked about Sunrizer on the forum. Jesse answered with a workaround shortly after: http://thumbjam.com/node/604. The first method (start Sunrizer first) didn't work for me, but changing the buffer size did.
The TJ forum seems to be down for some maintenance at the moment, so here's the fix for Sunrizer: "Sunrizer appears to require a minimum buffersize of 512 to work right. So you can either start sunrizer first (while TJ was already killed), then start TJ, or you can go to the Prefs->Options in TJ and manually set the buffersize to 512. Then ensure that you turned on the Sunrizer output connection in Prefs->MIDI Control, and in Sunrizer, enabled background audio."
Okay, TJ + Soundprism = Holy sh*t, I can't believe this thing makes phone calls too...
I haven't had any issues with the MIDI (on a 4S), I tried the line in input with my Ampkit Link and a guitar and it's okay. It doesn't accept chords and you get some latency and random notes. I could see using that often once it improves. Amazing update though.
Does anybody know if it works with the io dock - input wise?
Does anything...?
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