Simple embeddable MidiSynth for iOS?

Question

I have a guitar diagram app for Android that I am porting to iOS. Android has a embedded midi synthesizer (sonivox), so I can generate midi files and let Android handle the playback.

Is there a way to do this on iOS? Or are there very lightweight embeddable synths for iOS?

Answer 1

Since iOS 5 there's now the AUSampler audio unit for which you can load a sound bank (apple preset and soundfonts) and then control the sampler/synth via MIDI messages.

Seee this example app: https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#samplecode/LoadPresetDemo/Listings/ReadMe_txt.html

It works great!

Answer 2

Update: My answer is out-of-dated. @lukebuehler's answer is much appropriate.

If you don't mind non-opensource solution, try FMOD. Being a commercial audio engine for games, fmod equips a simple MIDI synth. I've tried the free evaluation version. It plays GM MIDI files correctly on my iPhone 3G.

If what you want is not just a SMF file player, you want a full function GS/GM softsynth, which can response individual midi events in realtime. You can try the midisynth from CrimsonTech. Its license fee is fair. Crimsontech provides several demo apps in the appstore. Besides, it also provides an evaluation SDK for free. You don't need to pay a penny for the license until you're really going to publish your app.

Answer 3

I don't think MIDI support in iOS 4.2 allows playback of MIDI data from the phone itself. It is merely for sending and receiving MIDI commands to other MIDI devices.

From the recent iOS 4.2 docs, it seems that you can use the MIDI support to send MIDI commands to other devices for playback. You can also receive commands from other devices and make changes to these commands, or to save it in a file. However I can't find any support to actually play MIDI file from the phone directly. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong (I wish I'm wrong!!).