Instrument 1

I love the instrument but so much more can be done with it!

The device is good and the software is ok, but it crashes my iPad every time I connect the instrument - not a good experience. As this is now a fairly “old” device I doubt this will get any attention but it’s very annoying.

The app is nice for on the go jamming, but it makes it hard when the “play in background “ button is covered and inaccessible.

I love the artiphon hardware, but the software, (this app) is absolutely terrible. you cant really do anything with it, as far as presets, you can create your own, but you cant save them to the device reliably, and try to delete one.. nope. you have to uninstall/reinstall the app to clean things up. This device had so much promise, but was completely hobbled by this crappy app. what on earth were they thinking? It would seem artiphon pretty much abandoned the device, leaving it a paperweight. I use it with other MPE software, but cant really depend on it, as the settings on the device itself really depend on this idiot app. Maybe if they let you program the app with midi cc codes, as a workaround, but ,, noooo .. they wanted it to be proprietary, and succeeded … unfortunate.

The app is confusing but functional—and they only way to manage the settings on the Instrument1, but it doesn’t display properly on the iPhone 12 mini screen. Settings are cut off and buttons and other selections unreachable. It’s extremely frustrating to buy an excellent MIDI controller and have to use bargain basement software to configure it. Still waiting months after the model was announced and released for what should be a minor issue to fix.

To fully utilize the hardware the software should match the quality. So why does this look like a child’s app? I have learned to check the app out before making a large purchase on gear I need because if the app is clunky especially this far after the instrument release, the the developers probably don’t care about the hardware as much. Otherwise, they should want the best user experience for the money. I don’t want some clunky gear I can’t update in 6 months because the software isn’t supported properly.

I have no problem changing tunings and modes and methods.

The Instrument 1 is a great device, but you would probably never guess if the only experience of software interactions you have begin and end with this app. The sounds are awfully glitchy and robotic renditions of acoustic instruments, the iBow feature is a nice step in the right direction, but can’t stop there. I, too, wish developers would completely remodel the app, audio engine, and preset mapping for Instrument 1. We see the new Orba and have a lot of excitement and faith in it, however, the Instrument 1 native apps should still be high on the priority list for Artiphon. Personally, I love the hardware device, but have to use it with 3rd party software to really get the most out of it. The MPE technology approach was ahead of the game and the device itself still holds up to the field of MPE devices over the years. Maybe it’s time for an Instrument 2 with USB-C connection for charging, updates, and hardware connection, Bluetooth MIDI for wireless connection to external software and/or hardware, Bluetooth Audio to pair with external audio output sources, improved fingerboard feel and function similar to Roli Seaboard, optional acoustic instrument style hardware body for the device to use with straps similar to violin/viola/electric or acoustic bass/electric or acoustic guitar/banjo/mandolin/ukulele to provide some normalcy to this radical design language, 24 frets with 12 being standard size and 12 being half size, and increased number of presets to at least 25. There were many things that the inventors got right with Instrument 1, but with time passing, Instrument 1 aging poorly, and the software side of things appears to be abandoned and left to collect dust, it’s possible the only way to “get it right” would be to launch a new campaign and update all components inside and out, especially the companion software and device recognition in 3rd party DAWs. I am sure there could be a great deal of support out there if feature requests from reviews are taken into consideration, Orba is a success, Instrument 1 was a success, and software options for MPE continue to grow even more with the hardware device market. Updated hardware, better feel, more intuitive software, and wireless options would knock it out of the park with the new found worldwide interest and support in MPE.

1.0 was working flawlessly even on a 10+ iOS iPhoneC! Now when you launch the app it just instantly closes! Nearly 1gb of memory and just can't seem to get the app working... Wish I could get the old version back but apple wont allow... Oh and since they took the App Store off of iTunes, good luck getting the previous versions-_- Please fix this asap guys! Or give us one that at least works! Anyone else having issues?

Please fix it It's not working