Pen2Bow

Pen2Bow is a violin bow MIDI controller using the Apple Pencil on the iPad. It recognizes linear as well as circular pencil motion and generates bow movement from the user input. Circular motion enables the infinite extension of the bow that otherwise would be limited in length. This frees the user from constantly thinking about performing bow changes in order to prevent the bow from running out. Intended bow changes are accurately recognized and included in the midi output. We are calling this type of device an infinity bow controller and believe it is one of the very few, if not the only practical MIDI input device for bowed instruments. For more information please watch the videos on the App Support website.

Pen2Bow takes full advantage of the sensors in the Apple Pencil and generates 4 continuous MIDI controllers: Velocity, Force, Tilt and Orientation. These can be used to drive virtual instruments such as violins or synthesizers.

Pen2Bow is CoreMIDI compliant. It can control virtual instruments that run on the same iPad as well as virtual instruments that run on a separate computer. There are various ways to connect the iPad to a computer. This can be done either with an external MIDI interface, wirelessly over WiFi, or directly over USB. Please consult the App Support website on how to establish a MIDI connection between an iPad and a computer.

The software is optimized for minimal latency which amounts to about 10ms on the iPad Pro 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch(2.gen) and 20ms on the iPad (6.gen), iPad Pro 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch(1.gen). Pen2Bow fully utilizes the high resolution positional information at 240Hz provided by the Apple Pencil to estimate robust bow velocities.