# Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox — Accordion MIDI Control Surface > iPad-based 31-button diatonic button accordion MIDI control surface. (iPhone/iPad app by Michael Eskin.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hohner-midi-squeezebox/id447940617 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Michael Eskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/342739369) - Category: Music, Education - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 1.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.6 · 29 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2011-07-11 - Data updated: 2026-06-05 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hohner-midi-squeezebox/id447940617/reviews.md ## What is Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox? The Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox is a 31-button three-row diatonic Button Accordion CoreMIDI control surface for the iPad. The app doesn't produce any sound on it own, it is designed for playing hardware and software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via a CoreMIDI compatible interface connected to the dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments like Roland Sound Canvas for iOS, IK Multimedia SampleTank®, or Sonosaurus ThumbJam running on your iPad. Inspired by the iconic Hohner Corona II, the app uses the standard GCF (Sol) button layout popular for Tex-Mex, Norteño, Tejano, Conjunto, Vallenato, and similar styles of button accordion. Please visit the app website to see a demo video of playing SampleTank with the Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox. Touch the buttons with the fingers on your right hand to play. Buttons highlight when playing. Multiple buttons may be pressed at the same time to make chords. This style of accordion plays different notes depending on whether you are pushing or pulling on the bellows. Touch the anywhere in the bellows image at the top of the screen for PUSH notes, lift your finger for PULL notes. The PUSH/PULL indicator shows the current bellows direction. Also, the sides of the bellows light up tracking the bellows motion You may slide your fingers between the buttons. Touch the MIDI connector icon at the upper left corner to show the MIDI controls. Using the controls, you may set the overall instrument MIDI volume, MIDI modulation, MIDI channel (1-8), key attack velocity playing style (fixed or variable), velocity min/max, and transposition (+/- 12 semitones). Both fixed and variable velocity modes are provided to allow for expressive playback. In the variable velocity modes, the X or Y touch position within the bellows sets the velocity for the notes being played. The range for the velocity is set using the Min and Max Velocity sliders. For fixed velocity, the Max Velocity slider value is used. You may also set the Max Velocity to less than the Min Velocity to reverse the direction for velocity mapping in the bellows touch areas. The app is based on the standard GCF tuning. Other common tunings can be achieved by setting the transposition control. For example, for FBbEb (Fa) tuning, set a -2 semitone transposition. For EAD (Mi) tuning, set a -3 semitone transposition. Touch the '?' icon to show the base layout note names for each button (without transposition). Use the "Transmit MIDI Port" switch to choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps (matches previous versions of the app) or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, the app will show up as an input option in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MidiBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default. All MIDI settings are saved when the app quits and restored the next time it is run. Touch the 'i' button at the middle top to send a MIDI "All Notes Off" message quiet any "stuck" notes if they occur. Settings for use with other MIDI synthesizer apps: Sonosaurus ThumbJam: - In "Preferences", under "Options", enabled "Background Audio". If using the "Virtual Port" transmit port option, enable the input port under Preferences / MIDI Control / MIDI Input Connections. IK Multimedia SampleTank: - In Settings (touch the gear icon), enable "Background Audio". IK Multimedia iRig MIDI Hardware MIDI Interface: - For simple direct connection, in MIDI SqueezeBox, set the "Transmit MIDI Port" option to "Omni" . - If using a MIDI filtering app like MidiBridge to modify the data stream, in MIDI SqueezeBox, set the "Transmit MIDI Port" option to "Virtual Port". Other CoreMIDI compatible synth apps will have similar settings. Touch the 'i' icon to show the instructions page. Be sure to visit the AppCordions.com website for MIDI setup and demo videos! ## Key features - 31-button three-row diatonic button accordion layout - CoreMIDI control surface for iPad - Simulates push/pull bellows action - Customizable MIDI volume, channel, and velocity - Supports transposition for different tunings - Virtual MIDI port output option ## Recent user reviews (10 of 10) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hohner-midi-squeezebox/id447940617/reviews.md ### 1/5 — No sound! *2014-06-20* After reading the reviews, I was well let's give it a try. NO SOUUNNNDDDDDDDD 😫😫😫😫😫😫😤😤😤 **Developer response:** This app is a MIDI controller for playing other synthesizer apps. It doesn't make any sound, says so right in the description on the app store. ### 1/5 — No ase ningún sonido no sirve *2014-01-05* 55 ### 4/5 — Mejoras *2013-06-24* una oposición que al agitar el iPad. el sonido vibre; como en un acordeón colombiano ### 2/5 — Midi? *2013-06-18* Where can i Get this midi thing so i can hear this accordion? ### 1/5 — Why isn't it working *2013-05-17* It is not working fix this please cause if not i wasted 3 dollars on this for nothing i need my money back **Developer response:** This app is a MIDI controller for playing other synthesizer apps. It doesn't make any sound, says so right in the description on the app store. ### 5/5 — Please read the description before buying - it's a MIDI controller for other synth apps *2013-02-25* I keep seeing negative reviews that say "The app makes no sound" or "No hace ningun sonida". That's absolute right. This version of the SqueezeBox app family is a MIDI controller. It doesn't make any sound on its own. It says so right in the app description. This app is used for controlling other CoreMIDI-compliant MIDI synthesizer apps like ThumbJam and Sample Tank, those apps make the sound, this app is for playing them. It's exactly like using an external MIDI keyboard controller to play a synth program running on the iPad, except in this case, the controller is virtual, running on the iPad itself. The app just sends control signals to whatever synth app you run on the iPad along with this app. If you want an app that makes accordion sounds on its own, you should be buying one of the other Hohner SqueezeBox apps, not this one. Please take the time to read the description before buying. ### 1/5 — Esto no funciona... *2013-02-15* Como ago para tocar algo, le aplasto a las teclas y no ase ningun sonido??.?. ### 1/5 — NO FUNCIONA! *2012-12-30* trato de usar esta aplicacion y no funcna, no hace ningun sonido ### 1/5 — Fun app! *2012-12-03* Another great app to use when you don't want to practice and don't have your accordion. Really cool being able to play different sounds. These Hohner apps are the only reason I bought an Ipad. ### 5/5 — Highly recommended *2012-11-30* This is the first MIDI app I have purchased from Michael Eskin, though not the first app! I have always been impressed with previous purchases, so didn’t hesitate when I saw this app, was I disappointed? – short answer No, although the first time with MIDI and iPad, I found it easy to interface with Thumbjam, and then the fun started, playing melodeon and hearing trombones, pianos strings etc.. etc.. etc.. I will be adding more of Michael’s apps as they appear, and they will ! and can highly recommend them, for not only the quality of the apps (at a very reasonable price), but their innovation and the enthusiasm and support from their writer Michael Eskin. Check them out and let the fun begin. ## Frequently asked questions about Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox ### What is the Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox? The Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox is a 31-button, three-row diatonic button accordion CoreMIDI control surface for the iPad. It does not produce sound on its own but is used to control external MIDI synthesizers or virtual instruments. ### Does the Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox produce sound? No, the Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox does not produce any sound by itself. It functions solely as a MIDI control surface to trigger sounds from other hardware or software instruments. ### What musical styles is the Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox inspired by? The app is inspired by the Hohner Corona II and uses the GCF (Sol) button layout, which is popular for Tex-Mex, Norteño, Tejano, Conjunto, and Vallenato music styles. ### How does the push/pull bellows simulation work on Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox? You touch anywhere in the bellows image at the top of the screen for PUSH notes and lift your finger for PULL notes. A PUSH/PULL indicator and side lighting track the bellows direction and motion. ### Can I change the tuning on the Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox? Yes, the app is based on the standard GCF tuning but allows for other tunings by using the transposition control. For example, setting a -2 semitone transposition achieves FBbEb (Fa) tuning. ### What are the MIDI control options in Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox? You can set the instrument's MIDI volume, modulation, channel (1-8), key attack velocity (fixed or variable), velocity min/max, and transposition (+/- 12 semitones). ### How often is Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox updated? The latest version, 3.4, was released on July 4, 2025, indicating recent development activity. The app was originally released on July 11, 2011. ### What devices support Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox? Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox is currently supported on iPads. It is rated for ages 4 and up. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.4 — 2025-07-04 Bug fixex ### 3.3 — 2022-03-29 Bug fixes. ### 3.2 — 2019-02-08 Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 3.1.1 — 2016-01-07 Added option to choose between transmitting MIDI data to all receivers or to create a CoreMIDI virtual output port for use in other apps that supported named connections. ### 3.0 — 2015-07-08 Bug fixes for iOS 8.3 and beyond ## Apps similar to Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [WiDI - MIDI Studio](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widi-midi-studio/id1420223879) | 4.4 (8) | $1.99 | Music | | [mTonal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtonal/id1433790768) | — | $4.99 | Music | | [Lowfi Dojo Automaton AUv3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lowfi-dojo-automaton-auv3/id6741509788) | 5.0 (2) | $5.99 | Music | | [MKSensation Xtreme](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mksensation-xtreme/id1544475311) | 4.4 (35) | $24.99 | Music | | [ChordPolyPad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chordpolypad/id694599930) | 4.6 (50) | $17.99 | Music | | [Model 15 Modular Synthesizer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/model-15-modular-synthesizer/id1041465860) | 4.9 (892) | $14.99 | Music | ## More apps by Michael Eskin - [Concertina - Anglo Concertina](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/concertina-anglo-concertina/id343270484) - [Regulators for Uilleann Pipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/regulators-for-uilleann-pipes/id348529289) - [JustDrones - Tunable Just Intonation Drones](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/justdrones-tunable-just-intonation-drones/id348861427) - [Englitina - English Concertina](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/englitina-english-concertina/id349451473) - [Uilleann - Pocket Irish Pipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uilleann-pocket-irish-pipes/id353684178) - [Canntina - MacCann Concertina](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canntina-maccann-concertina/id360579654) All apps by Michael Eskin: https://appshunter.io/developer/342739369 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-05.*