# MIDI Guitar — Play any synth on your guitar > Guitar to MIDI real-time transcription app for synths and virtual instruments. (iPhone/iPad app by Jam Origin.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-guitar/id523095780 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Jam Origin](https://appshunter.io/developer/505401034) - Category: Music, Entertainment - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.30/5 from 135 App Store ratings · 159 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 16 MB - Released: 2012-07-03 - Data updated: 2026-08-09 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-guitar/id523095780/reviews.md ## What is MIDI Guitar? Play any synth or virtual instrument with your trusted guitar. ##### Lots of user videos: jamorigin.com ##### MIDI Guitar is the World’s first app to transcribe guitar playing into MIDI in real-time, with latency and accuracy comparable to expensive and inconvenient hardware MIDI guitar solutions. MIDI Guitar is over 10 years in development(!) and based upon state-of-the-art polyphonic pitch detection and –prediction technology that can accurately recognize guitar playing and -articulation with very low latency and without spurious hits. The technology has been validated by thousands of guitarists over the years. MIDI Guitar comes as AudioUnit plugin (AUv3) and as a standalone app which can host other iOS synth apps or send virtual midi to Garageband or other DAWs. You need a guitar interface for best results. We recommend a digital interface (using the lightning connector) over analog (via headphone jack), preferably with input gain control. Using an acoustic guitar with the built in microphone works for some purposes but is not optimal. The free version will interrupt every few minutes, asking you to buy an in-app purchase. If you have problems please refer to the website: www.jamorigin.com/docs or the user forum: jamosapien.com. ## Key features - Real-time guitar to MIDI transcription - Low latency and high accuracy - Control any synth or virtual instrument - AudioUnit (AUv3) plugin support - Standalone app for hosting other synths - MIDI output to DAWs like GarageBand ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | MIDI Outputs | $19.99 | one-time | | AudioUnit Hosting | $9.99 | one-time | ## What do users think of MIDI Guitar? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🎸 Exceptional polyphonic MIDI tracking accuracy - 💡 Innovative pitch-to-MIDI conversion technology - 🎵 Works with any guitar without special pickups - ⚡ Low latency performance on modern devices - 🎹 Seamless integration with synths and virtual instruments - 🔧 Highly customizable settings and controls - 💰 Affordable compared to hardware alternatives - 🎤 Works with various instruments (trumpet, violin, mandolin, etc.) - 📱 Excellent tracking on iPad Pro with modern interfaces - 🎚️ Built-in effects and sound design capabilities - 🏆 Superior to expensive hardware solutions - 👥 Responsive developer support and community **Cons** - 💸 Multiple in-app purchases required for full functionality - 🔐 Confusing IAP structure and pricing model - ⏱️ Noticeable latency on older iOS devices - 🎼 Requires adjusted playing technique and style - 🔊 Struggles with fast lead lines and complex fingerpicking - ❌ Limited chord tracking (3-4 notes maximum) - 🐛 Occasional ghost notes and false triggers - 📊 Poor UI scaling on larger screens (iPad) - 🌍 Unavailable in certain regions due to payment restrictions - 🔄 Slow update cycle for iOS beta features - ⚙️ Confusing AU3/IAA implementation and documentation - 🎯 Inconsistent tracking with bass guitars **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes on iOS updates - AU3 controls unresponsive (rotary knobs snap back to zero) - Freezing in AUM with buzzing sound - Audio cutouts despite full purchases - Microphone input cannot be disabled - AU3 not discoverable in some hosts after purchase - Latency locked at 256ms on newer iPhones - Contact form and support registration issues - Occasional dropped notes in external MIDI mode - AU3 fascia too small to read on large screens - Beta version pulled repeatedly - Compatibility issues with GarageBand on iOS **Most requested features** - Lower tuning support (below D, baritone guitars, 8-string support) - 432Hz tuning option - Audiobus and IAA compatibility improvements - Higher sample rate support (96kHz standalone) - Pitch bending and slide detection - MIDI FX slots for MIDI-only effect plugins - Improved AU3 interface scaling and controls - Cross-platform IAP compatibility (iOS to macOS) - Better bass guitar tracking - Faster iOS beta release cycle - Restore purchases functionality - Unified pricing model instead of multiple IAPs ## Recent user reviews (10 of 159) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-guitar/id523095780/reviews.md ### 4/5 — Inadmissible, inutilisable *2026-05-27* Quand cette app fonctionne elle est vraiment géniale. Le problème c’est qu’elle reconnais la table de mix une fois sur 4, il faut rebooter le programme ou la table de mix. Le midi ne fonctionne plus, les instruments midi sont faux, un demi ton d’écart. J’ai dû réinstaller l’app pour stabiliser le midi, j’ai perdu 2 jours et tous les sons que j’avais créé. Je suis parvenu à stabiliser le midi mais au bout de la 3ême connexion le problème de justesse est revenu. La partie guitare fonctionne (pour THU, AmpliTube etc) mais le midi non (vous auriez dû l’appeler Guitar cette app et non Midi Guitar… fff Le midi est faux, c’est inutilisable. Ce serait bien de corriger ces bugs. Ce n’est pas professionnel une app qui te lâche 10 mn avant un concert. En plus j’ai payé et j’ai vraiment l’impression de m’être fait arnaquer. Il est également impossible de contacter le support. Je suis très en colère. Vraiment. ### 1/5 — Seriously? FIVE YEARS?! *2026-05-10, version 2.7.7* ZERO updates in FIVE years, the most basic function (it’s in the name: MIDI !) is a non-cheap add-on. Only deserves a star for connecting your guitar like a number of other apps out there. ### 5/5 — Request for assistance. *2026-04-06, version 2.7.7* I’m writing to you from Russia, where I am currently stuck with my family due to ongoing geopolitical circumstances. I am an American musician and longtime fan of your work. As you may know payment options were blocked in the Russian AppStore and payments from Russian banks are not accepted anymore. I have been playing guitar for over 30 years. My journey with synth gear began in 1995 with Roland GR-1, GR-9, and VG-99. I’ve been using Ableton Live with MIDI capabilities of VG-99 with VST instruments and synths for a number of years now. Since then, I’ve performed and recorded using Boss RC-300, Digitech JamMan loopers, Ableton Live (controlled via Touch OSC), Roland FC-300, Numark Orbit, Korg and M-Vave controllers, all running through a MOTU audio interface. I say this not to boast, but to emphasize that I know the MIDI capabilities intimately—and MIDI Guitar 2 for IOS, Windows and MAC OS and MIDI Guitar 3 for Windows and MAC OS are, without exaggeration, the most brilliant and forward-thinking tools I have ever encountered. I tried them in both IOS, Windows and MAC OS environments. This is the solution many of us have been waiting for. I desperately want to use MIDI Guitar 2 and 3 in my concerts. However, due to international sanctions on Russia, payments through the AppStore are impossible. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal and other payment services are no longer available in Russia. I simply cannot purchase your product, no matter how much I wish to. I understand the immense effort, skill, and love that went into creating MIDI GUITAR 2 and 3. I know what it takes to build sophisticated systems. I recognize that your team deserves to be paid for your work, and it pains me to ask for an exception. If you would be kind enough to allow me to use MIDI Guitar 2 for IOS and MIDI Guitar 3 for Windows without payment under these extraordinary circumstances, I would like to give back in the only way I can: by creating high-quality video content that is currently not available online. I will produce detailed performance videos and tutorials showing exactly how to integrate MIDI GUITAR 2 and MIDI GUITAR 3 with the hardware ecosystem I mentioned above with Goudin, Jackson, Ibanez and Roland guitars. I will make these publicly available, crediting your team and helping other musicians unlock the full potential of your software. I am not asking for a free ride. I am asking for a temporary bridge so I can continue making music on stage until I can legally and practically pay you from outside Russia. Thank you for reading this long letter, and thank you for creating something that has genuinely inspired me. ### 5/5 — Just added external midi out!! *2026-02-12, version 2.7.7* I love midiguitar … tracking will blow you away … now ive added external midi controller have an iRig plugged in and gone to the next level gulls and bouys ! ### 4/5 — Damn!!! *2026-02-12, version 2.7.7* Only played for an hour but I’m very impressed! This far exceeds what I thought would be possible with a hardware MIDI pickup, I’ve never used one but been eyeing up for a while. I disabled all of the audio functions and just fed MIDI straight into AUM (good move not disabling that completely in the demo!) Obviously there’s a learning curve to adjust your playing style and find synths that work well with this kind of MIDI, but I can see a lot of potential. I’m a software dev and understand high-level what’s going on under the hood, so not the kind of user who’s gonna expect to plug in and achieve 0ms latency and every note translated perfectly into my favourite iOS synth. *** Note - 1 star added to offset any reviewers who might’ve thought that *** :) Looking forward to v3, would love to get on the beta :) ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-01-27* Very cool and fun. Combined with a nice pad like Pure Strings, it sounds amazing. Would be great if it were possible to reduce the latency. Because of the delay, you can only really use gentle attack sounds (pad etc) for live playing. People whinging about the price have no idea how small the market is and how much music software costs on Mac/Windows! ### 1/5 — Disappointed *2025-09-22, version 2.7.7* Well… After waiting a very long time for the new beta version to be released, it was pulled (again). So I reverted back to MG 2. The one function I truly need, "hold synth, switch to guitar" doesn't seem to work with the iPad/GarageBand. I had to pay $30 to find this out. ### 1/5 — Features are locked behind mandatory purchases *2025-06-06* I downloaded this app wanting to use this with Logic Pro because it was advertised that this app had AUv3 support, only to find out that the feature was locked behind not only one in-app purchase, but in order to purchase that upgrade, you needed to purchase another upgrade that’s more expensive. I don’t mind having some extra features that are unlocked with an in-app purchase for a free app to support developers, but not when they require a purchase in order to make another one ### 5/5 — pretty amazing *2025-04-06, version 2.7.7* seems as good as the $1k+ Boss guitar synth. it’s all about the latency of your interface… with an m4 iPad and modern interface the performance is amazing. Only wish it would do 96khz in stand alone app ### 5/5 — Love it *2025-03-29, version 2.7.7* This app is a central part of my midi guitar rig. I love it. Highly recommend it. ## Frequently asked questions about MIDI Guitar ### What does MIDI Guitar do? MIDI Guitar is an application that converts your guitar playing into MIDI data in real-time. This allows you to use your guitar to control any synthesizer or virtual instrument, effectively turning your guitar into a versatile MIDI controller. ### How accurate is the MIDI transcription? The app utilizes state-of-the-art polyphonic pitch detection and prediction technology, developed over 10 years. It is designed to accurately recognize guitar playing and articulation with very low latency and without spurious hits, validated by thousands of guitarists. ### Is this app free to use? A free version of the app is available, but it will interrupt periodically and prompt you to make an in-app purchase. This suggests that full, uninterrupted functionality requires a purchase. ### What kind of guitar interface do I need? For the best results, a digital guitar interface using the lightning connector is recommended over an analog interface via the headphone jack. An interface with input gain control is also preferable. While an acoustic guitar with the built-in microphone can work for some purposes, it is not optimal. ### Can I use this with other music apps? Yes, MIDI Guitar can be used as an AudioUnit plugin (AUv3) and as a standalone app. The standalone version can host other iOS synth apps or send virtual MIDI data to Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) like GarageBand. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.7.7 — 2020-11-17 New AudioUnit (AUv3) plugin version! Fixed crash when sending MIDI out in iOS 14.2 Fixed save/load state when used as AudioUnit inside a host. Fixed issue with pitch bend and aftertouch introduced in last update ### 2.7.6 — 2020-11-09 New AudioUnit (AUv3) plugin version! Fixed crash when sending MIDI out in iOS 14.2 Fixed save/load state when used as AudioUnit inside a host. Fixed issue with pitch bend introduced in last update ### 2.7.5 — 2020-11-08 New AudioUnit (AUv3) plugin version! Fixed crash when sending MIDI out in iOS 14.2 Fixed save/load state when used as AudioUnit inside a host. ### 2.7.4 — 2020-11-08 New AudioUnit (AUv3) plugin version! Fixed crash when sending MIDI out in iOS 14.2 ### 2.6.25 — 2020-11-07 New: AudioUnit plugin version (AUv3) Fixed: crash when sending out MIDI that occurs on iOS 14.2 ## Apps similar to MIDI Guitar | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [The Guitar with Songs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-guitar-with-songs/id409716516) | 3.8 (617) | Free | Music | | [Guitar Lessons - Guitar Tricks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guitar-lessons-guitar-tricks/id931639254) | 4.5 (4,450) | Free | Music | | [Chordify: Songs, Chords, Tuner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chordify-songs-chords-tuner/id1073624757) | 4.7 (33,248) | Free | Music | | [Ultimate Guitar: Chords & Tabs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ultimate-guitar-chords-and-tabs/id357828853) | 4.7 (469,246) | Free | Music | | [ChordBank: Learn Guitar Chords](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chordbank-learn-guitar-chords/id397602509) | 4.7 (6,278) | Free | Music | | [Jam Maestro: create guitar tab](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jam-maestro-create-guitar-tab/id596628003) | 4.7 (369) | $8.99 | Music | ## Related topics [midi strummer auv3 plugin](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/midi-strummer-auv3-plugin) · [jam guitar](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/jam-guitar) · [cubasis](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/cubasis) · [main stage](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/main-stage) --- *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 2026-08-09.*