# MIDIWriter — Turn Text into MIDI/Sound Tool

> Text-to-MIDI converter with built-in sound engine and phrase playback. (iPhone/iPad app by Masayuki Akamatsu.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiwriter/id520751563 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Masayuki Akamatsu](https://appshunter.io/developer/284722836)
- Category: Music, Entertainment
- Price: $0.99
- Rating: 1.50/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 31 MB
- Languages: American English, Japanese
- Released: 2012-04-25
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiwriter/id520751563/reviews.md

## What is MIDIWriter?

[[ A STRANGE MUSIC TOOL FOR MANIAC MUSIC LOVERS! ]]

MIDIWriter is a unique app that converts keyboard input into MIDI note messages. Each character you type instantly produces sound. You can also enter a phrase and play it back as a sequence with adjustable tempo and loop options.

KEY FEATURES:

Built-in Sound Engine:
No external app required! MIDIWriter includes a built-in General MIDI sound engine with 128 instruments and 9 drum kits. Just type and hear the sound immediately.

Phrase Playback:
Enter any text and play it as a musical sequence. Adjust the tempo (1-480 BPM), enable loop mode, and let your words become music. Space characters can be used as rests.

Drum Mode:
Switch to drum mode to play percussion sounds. Choose from 9 GM drum kits including Standard, Room, Power, Electronic, 808/909, Jazz, Brush, and Orchestral.

MIDI Output:
Send MIDI to other apps or external devices. Configure MIDI channel (1-16), program change (0-127), and destination. Works with Virtual MIDI and MIDI Network Session. Can be used simultaneously with the built-in sound engine.

Keyboard Support:
Use the on-screen software keyboard, or connect a Bluetooth/USB hardware keyboard for a real typing experience. Supports Japanese input with proper IME handling.

MIDI Network Session:
Connect to Mac or other iOS devices over Wi-Fi to control CoreMIDI-compatible sound generators remotely.

Dark Mode & Rotation:
Full support for light and dark modes. Works in portrait and landscape orientations on both iPhone and iPad.

Note: Playback stops when the app goes to background.


Using the Built-in Sound:

Simply launch MIDIWriter and start typing. Each key produces a unique sound based on its character code. Enable drum mode in Settings for percussion sounds.


Using with External MIDI Apps (Virtual MIDI):

1. Open a CoreMIDI sound generator app.
2. In MIDIWriter Settings, turn on "MIDI Output" and select the destination.
3. Type any key to hear sound from the external app.


Using with Mac (MIDI Network Session):

1. Connect iPhone and Mac to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Open MIDIWriter on iPhone.
3. On Mac, open "Audio MIDI Setup" and configure Network MIDI.
4. Connect your iPhone to the session.
5. Open a CoreMIDI app on Mac and select the network session as MIDI input.
6. Type on MIDIWriter to play sounds on Mac.

Credits:
Built-in sound engine uses "GeneralUser GS" SoundFont by S. Christian Collins.
https://schristiancollins.com/generaluser.php

## Key features

- Text to MIDI conversion
- Built-in General MIDI sound engine
- Phrase playback with tempo control
- Drum mode with multiple kits
- External MIDI output
- Hardware keyboard support
- Wi-Fi MIDI networking

## Recent user reviews (4 of 4)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiwriter/id520751563/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Glad it’s Only 99 cents

*2019-07-02*

This is a great idea, and it could be very useful if it worked better and was recognized by more music apps, like AUM. My MIDI keyboard has a limited number of buttons and other controls on it, so this would be useful for sending program change and other MIDI messages.

The description says the last support for this thing was 4 years ago. Another reviewer said it looks like it was put up here and then forgotten; I agree. It’s too bad; this app is a good idea that didn’t pan out...

### 2/5 — Not quite fun enough to be a toy

*2013-03-14*

A buck isn't much money, but I don't think I got a dollar's worth of pleasure out of this. There's no way of knowing what note will get played when a key is depressed, and no way to specify or control that. Also, the app starts in a mode in which each key typed produces a note (again, you get no control of the note's duration), but if keyboard focus is ever once given to the text field, you're stuck in a "batch" mode from then on, and can't get back to the key-by-key mode.

It's sort of a pity, because — viewed as a proof of concept exercise — it's actually a potentially interesting idea, and might allow the use of an external bluetooth keyboard (for instance) to quickly audition the sounds of a MIDI synthesizer, without either setting up any external MIDI hardware, nor using the on-screen keyboard within the synthesizer app. As it is, it seems that the developer just got something more-or-less working, and then "threw it out there" to see if anybody would pay for it.  Well, I did pay for it, but would encourage you not to.

To summarize, it's not all that much fun to play with after the first 20 seconds or so, when it's been established that typing a key can, in fact, cause a sound to be played. And although the fun value is limited, the app's use for more than that is non-existant.

### 1/5 — POINTLESS...

*2013-02-02*

You have to be actually in the program to use it, pointless.. if this ran in the background it would be 5 stars...

### 2/5 — Umm...

*2012-04-26*

Very little documentation, no way to adjust settings, holding a key sends a rapid signal instead of a sustain. I tried this with animoog, and the number keys gave me middle notes while EVERY OTHER KEY was at the high end of the scale — so there really isn't much range for this. 

Fancy idea, but not really executed well. Hope they develop it more.

## Frequently asked questions about MIDIWriter

### How does MIDIWriter turn text into music?

MIDIWriter converts each character you type into MIDI note messages. These messages are then interpreted by its built-in sound engine or can be sent to external MIDI-compatible apps or devices, producing sound based on the character's code.

### What instruments are available in MIDIWriter?

MIDIWriter features a built-in General MIDI sound engine with 128 instruments and 9 drum kits. This allows for a wide variety of sounds directly within the app without needing external sound modules.

### Can I play MIDIWriter on my Mac?

Yes, MIDIWriter supports MIDI Network Session over Wi-Fi. You can connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac and use MIDIWriter to control CoreMIDI-compatible sound generators remotely on your Mac.

### Does MIDIWriter have ads?

No, MIDIWriter does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application that offers an ad-free experience for its users.

### What is the price of MIDIWriter?

MIDIWriter is available for a one-time purchase of $0.99. This grants you full access to all its features without any additional in-app purchases or subscriptions.

### What devices does MIDIWriter support?

MIDIWriter is designed for both iPhone and iPad, supporting both portrait and landscape orientations. It also offers full support for light and dark modes.

### How often is MIDIWriter updated?

The latest version of MIDIWriter is 2.0, released on February 3, 2026. While the release date is in the future, indicating potential for updates, historical update frequency is not detailed.

### What is the age rating for MIDIWriter?

MIDIWriter has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for children and adults, with no mature content present in the application.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.1 — 2026-07-04

Minor bugs have been fixed.

### 2.0 — 2026-02-03

Complete rewrite with powerful new features!

- Built-in GM sound engine: 128 instruments + 9 drum kits. No external app needed!
- Simultaneous built-in sound and MIDI output
- Improved MIDI handling (Program Change, etc)
- Multi-language input support
- Dark mode support
- iPad optimization
- Landscape orientation support

### 1.2.0 — 2017-10-20

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

64bit compatible

### 1.1.0 — 2012-05-21

- Adds a phrase play.

### 1.0.0 — 2012-04-25

No release notes.

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## More apps by Masayuki Akamatsu

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- [T4Two](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/t4two/id284910005)

All apps by Masayuki Akamatsu: https://appshunter.io/developer/284722836

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*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 2026-08-26.*