Echoing the sentiment of other i1 owners – Instrument 1 Review

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.
Review by ⭐️? on Instrument 1.