# Instrument 1 > Companion app for a musical device, offering sound palettes, custom instrument design, and playing modes. (iPhone/iPad app by Artiphon Inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instrument-1/id1029202919 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Artiphon Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1029202918) - Category: Music, Music, Entertainment - Price: Free - Rating: 2.67/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.1 · 174 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2016-06-22 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instrument-1/id1029202919/reviews.md ## What is Instrument 1? This is the iOS companion app for the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1. Connect the INSTRUMENT 1 device to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using the provided USB-to-Lightning cable, download the Artiphon app, and immediately start exploring and combining an intuitive palette of musical sounds, techniques, and features. • Use the Artiphon app to play a custom-built collection of sounds that includes: guitar, violin, piano, drums, ukulele, bass, vibes, wind, bells, organ, electric piano, square wave, sine wave, and triangle wave. • Design your own instruments by combining techniques, sounds, and tunings, and then save those custom presets to your personal library. • Use this app to choose the modes and methods for playing your INSTRUMENT 1. Modes include Fretted, Fretless, Grid, and Pad. Methods include Strum, Bow, Slide, Tap, and iBow. • Use the app to configure and store custom presets that you can then access when connecting your INSTRUMENT 1 to your favorite music software like Ableton Live, GarageBand, Logic, MainStage, Cubase, and more. • Use the Artiphon app’s built-in arpeggiator to automatically cycle through notes and chords in Fretted, Fretless, Grid, and Pad modes. • Use the app’s iBow feature to play the INSTRUMENT 1 using your iPhone or iPod as a virtual bow. • The INSTRUMENT 1 can also be played with any iOS, OS X, or PC program that accepts MIDI. Try the INSTRUMENT 1 with other iOS apps including GarageBand, Animoog, ThumbJam, and dozens more. • To customize your INSTRUMENT 1 when connecting it to a Mac or PC, download the desktop Preset Editor app from Artiphon.com. We invite you to report any issues you observe while using the app to: support@artiphon.com. Thanks! ## Key features - Extensive sound library (guitar, piano, drums, etc.) - Custom instrument design and saving - Multiple playing modes (Fretted, Grid, Pad) - Various playing techniques (Strum, Bow, Tap) - Built-in arpeggiator - iBow virtual bow feature - MIDI compatibility ## Recent user reviews (10 of 25) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instrument-1/id1029202919/reviews.md ### 4/5 — Please please please make it Aum 3! *2023-04-19* I love the instrument but so much more can be done with it! **Developer response:** Hey there, thanks for leaving a review! We're always open to feedback about our instruments. Please feel free to reach out to us at support@artiphon.com with more details about what you're looking to do with INSTRUMENT 1. ### 3/5 — Crashes the iPad every time I connect *2022-07-01* 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. **Developer response:** Hey there, I'm sorry the app is giving you issues. Please reach out to our support team at support@artiphon.com and we'll be happy to resolve them. Thanks. ### 2/5 — Fix the ui integration on the iPhone 13 *2021-10-09* The app is nice for on the go jamming, but it makes it hard when the “play in background “ button is covered and inaccessible. ### 1/5 — So disappointed *2021-09-30* 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. ### 2/5 — Waiting for an update for iPhone 12 mini *2021-02-27* 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. ### 1/5 — The Artiphone is not cheap. So why is the app so lousy *2020-08-01* 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. ### 5/5 — Does what it’s supposed to! *2020-06-29* I have no problem changing tunings and modes and methods. ### 1/5 — Echoing the sentiment of other i1 owners *2020-01-08, version 1.3.0* 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. ### 1/5 — This update broke the app! *2019-11-06* 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? ### 1/5 — App not working😖😖😖😖😖 *2019-10-31, version 1.3.0* Please fix it It's not working ## Frequently asked questions about Instrument 1 ### What does the Instrument 1 app do? The Instrument 1 app serves as the iOS companion for the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 device. It allows you to play a wide variety of pre-built musical sounds, design your own custom instruments by combining sounds, techniques, and tunings, and configure different playing modes and methods. ### What are the key features of the Instrument 1 app? Key features include a custom-built collection of sounds like guitar, piano, and drums, the ability to design and save your own instruments, multiple playing modes such as Fretted and Grid, and various playing techniques like Strum and Bow. It also includes a built-in arpeggiator and an iBow feature. ### How much does the Instrument 1 app cost? The Instrument 1 app is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned in the provided description, indicating it is a free application. ### What devices is the Instrument 1 app compatible with? The app is designed for iOS devices, specifically iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It connects to the INSTRUMENT 1 device using a USB-to-Lightning cable. The INSTRUMENT 1 itself can also be played with any iOS, OS X, or PC program that accepts MIDI. ### Can I use the Instrument 1 app with other music software? Yes, the app allows you to configure and store custom presets that can be accessed when connecting your INSTRUMENT 1 to popular music software like Ableton Live, GarageBand, Logic, and MainStage. It also works with other iOS music apps such as Animoog and ThumbJam. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.3.4 — 2022-01-19 We’ve fixed some formatting issues that caused the screen to get cut off in certain views. Now you can see what you’re doing. ### 1.3.3 — 2021-07-13 Minor bug fixes ### 1.3.2 — 2020-08-25 Minor bug fixes Dark Mode ### 1.3.1 — 2020-04-04 Bug fixes and improvements. ### 1.3.0 — 2019-10-25 Fixed screen layout issues with iOS 13 ## Apps similar to Instrument 1 | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Chordjam](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chordjam/id1525005035) | 4.3 (27) | $9.99 | Music | | [AudioKit Retro Piano](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-retro-piano/id1514017716) | 4.2 (150) | Free | Music | | [Learning Portal for Jamstik](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learning-portal-for-jamstik/id1480724757) | 2.5 (4) | Free | Music | ## More apps by Artiphon Inc. - [Orba (1) by Artiphon](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orba-1-by-artiphon/id1501846265) - [Orbacam – Musical Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbacam-musical-camera/id1506030954) - [Artiphon Connect](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artiphon-connect/id1580767032) - [Minibeats - AR Musical Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minibeats-ar-musical-camera/id6446599244) All apps by Artiphon Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/1029202918 --- *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 2026-06-10.*