IK Multimedia iRig MIDI 2 Mobile MIDI Interface Review

15

Hey what’s good fam!

Back with another goodie from the folks at IK Multimedia.

For anyone that likes to use MIDI with their iOS device like I do, you’re probably familiar with the iRig MIDI adapter.

Well they’ve come out with a new version of the mobile MIDI interface so you know I had to check it out.

So what is iRig MIDI 2?

The basic idea behind the iRig MIDI 2 is to provide a quick and easy way for you to get MIDI into, and out of your iOS device.

Of course it also works with Mac or PC desktops and laptops so if you need a simple MIDI interface for your computer it can do that as well.

It doesn’t require any power adapter or powered USB hub for it to work properly, so it’s really a plug and play type of unit.

That’s always great when dealing with iOS connectivity, so it’s a truly mobile MIDI interface that work with any MIDI capable device since it allows you to hook up with standard MIDI cables.

That’s right, no more proprietary MIDI cables with 1/8″ connector on one end and a 5 pin MIDI connector on the other, this device has traditional 5 pin MIDI ports so you can use any of those MIDI cables you probably have laying around or in your “cable bin”.

Quick Specs

  • connectivity: 5 pin (standard) MIDI in/out/thru, lightning, USB, or 30 pin (sold separately)
  • price: $99.99
  • product page: http://bit.ly/iRigMidi2

So what’s the bottom line?

It’s a MIDI interface, this is a pretty straight forward device but one that can prove to be invaluable indeed.

I use my iPad with MIDI quite often either as a controller as a sound module and this just makes it that much easier to connect to all types of devices with standard MIDI cables.

I also like the fact that the adapter is detached, so it’s more portable in my opinion because you really don’t have to worry about bending any of the connections on it since everything is detachable.

Overall I give the iRig MIDI 2 a rating of 4.5 out of 5 subs, it’s a solid and easy to use MIDI interface that simply works straight out of the box. 

For the price I would have liked to see the inclusion of a 30-pin adapter for us iOS dinosaurs, and I miss the micro USB port from the original that could be used to charge your device while you have the iRig MIDI connected.

Those are really small things that I can easily overlook as the form factor is great and the fact that you no longer need to worry about those proprietary cables is a huge plus.

Not only because if you lost them you can’t quickly just grab a few more at the store, but they were a set length, which could leave you with not enough or too much cable in certain situations.

Now, you can use any length of MIDI cables you wish, which may seem like a small thing but trust me the more flexible you can be with your cable runs the better.

So yeah, I dig it, and if you used the original then you’ll definitely want to take a look at this one. http://ikgear.com/irigmidi2

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think

15 Comments

  1. Hi, Scuse me for being dim…but it this new rig “better” than the previous one? Is the lack of a power supply a really bad thing?
    Best app to go with this?

    Reply
    • Don’t know about “better” just depends on what you’re looking for. I like the form factor better than those tangled cables on the first one, but I do miss the way you could charge your device on the other one. You can use this with any MIDI app.

      Reply
      • I really appreciate your quick reply! I write songs and find that the writing out onto sheet music a real pain! I’d like to record direct into an app that will do this for me – but I read conflicting reviews about the iRig midi2- especially about the not being able to charge your device/battery draining aspect.
        begin newcomer to working in this way (I usually write music on the piano and jot down notes) I want to get it right!
        Many thanks 🙂

        Reply
        • Hmm, not sure about notation software, but it should definitely work. You may also want to look into an i/o dock depending on your setup.

          Reply
  2. Thank you saintjoe – I appreciate your taking the time to answer 🙂
    Its a fairly oldish keyboard so Im hoping some standard MIDI cables will do the trick.

    Reply
  3. Thanks for that. Has answered some questions – off to buy now.
    Going to be good to write so much more easily.
    And thank you for your site, and quick replies. I’ll be back!
    Cheers.

    Reply

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