Wej Press Resources

UPDATE:

Retronyms shows off the Wej schematic, demos low-latency wireless performance

March 13, 2015 - San Francisco

Dan Walton, co-President of Retronyms posted a video on the companies Youtube channel Thursday showing the arduino-based components used in the development of Wej. Loius joins in with a impromptu keyboard solo on two USB MIDI controllers. This demonstrated the current low-latency performance seen with the Bluetooth MIDI protocol, which Dan says they are currently measuring as being "faster than a direct tap on the screen".

Find the Wej Schematic video on youtube at https://youtu.be/MtyrQvIVDS8

UPDATE:

Akai Professional and Retronyms Announce Wej Bundles

December 11, 2014 — San Francisco

Akai Professional and Retronyms — the partnership that produced iMPC Pro — have announced the "Mobile Producer Bundle". Customers can choose from three configurations of a Wej preorder and two Akai Pro USB music controllers. Existing Wej customers can participate too and upgrade their Wej preorder to a bundle.

The Mobile Producer Bundle includes MPK Mini MKII — Compact Keyboard and Pad controller and MPC Element — Music Production Controller. Wej is a rugged nonstick performance base and hackable wireless Bluetooth MIDI bridge.

“ We're proud of this bundle because it showcases Wej as a great solution to the 'camera adapter' normally used to connect USB MIDI controllers to iOS devices. It's a perfect combo because Wej can power and wirelessly connect BOTH of these controllers simultaniously to an iOS device.” — John-Paul Walton, Retronyms

More information about Mobile Producer Bundle: http://preorder.retronyms.com/akaipro/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Retronyms Announces Wej. Bluetooth music controller bridge & performance base.

October 7, 2014 — San Francisco, CA

Retronyms, developer of popular iOS music apps, including Tabletop, ReBirth, iMPC Pro, iMini and iProphet has announced that they are making their first venture into music hardware with a Bluetooth LE MIDI bridge called Wej.

Wej is a non-skid musical performance platform that lets you connect USB MIDI controllers to iOS music apps wirelessly using Apple’s new MIDI over Bluetooth protocol. Wej features 48 ultra bright RGB LEDs so that you can add ambiance to your studio or blast a portable light show. It is based on a user-hackable Arduino compatible application processor, and Retronyms will open-source their sketch when they ship the device.

Wej is designed to act as musical performance pedestal for all iOS devices, and it can connect to any iOS device with Bluetooth LE, including iPhones, iPads and iPods. Because Apple is adding MIDI over Bluetooth to OS X Yosemite, Wej can also communicate with any Mac that supports Bluetooth LE.

The body of Wej features a slightly angled surface made of soft, non-skid Silicone. It sports two USB ports that can charge an iPad or host power-hungry USB MIDI controllers. Wej is designed to connect controllers to an iOS device, and it can handle two-way MIDI to any class compliant USB MIDI controller. The lights can be triggered via MIDI or by audio from any app that supports sending to Hosts or Effects via Apple’s Inter-App Audio, including Garageband and all of Retronyms’ apps.

“We’re building Wej because we think it improves the creative music experience for iOS. Having a sturdy base that supports expressive gestures plus a better way to connect controllers makes your iPad more intentional, capable, and enjoyable.” — Zach Saul, Retronyms

Because Wej is built with an Arduino, you can hack it to reprogram the lights, remap / modulate MIDI messages or host other types of USB devices that aren’t MIDI controllers. Retronyms has a page dedicated to information about the hackability of wej at preorder.retronyms.com/hacks.html.

Retronyms is funding production of the device with a 20% off preorder campaign through Nov 7, and they have announced that they will only go forward with the project if they meet their preorder goal. Wej is $99 on preorder through Nov 7, and it will ship in the first half of 2015. Retronyms has a crowd-funding style video and more info at preorder.retronyms.com.

Tech Specs

Body
Material: Soft, 30 durometer, silicone body in Tabletop Grey.
Width: 200mm.
Depth: 134.4mm.
Height: 25mm - 35mm.

Microcontroller

Arduino-compatible Application Processor.

LEDs
48 full-color RGB LEDs, individually addressable from Arduino.
Animations triggerable from Tabletop-ready iOS app via MIDI or inter-app audio.

Communication
2 powered USB host ports — Two way MIDI.
Bluetooth LE configured with a service that provides Apple’s MIDI over Bluetooth protocol.

About Retronyms

Retronyms is a software studio focused on enabling creative expression. It strives to make fun and powerful products that allow people to create, collaborate, and engage through digital media. Retronyms is interested in how next-generation devices and technology can be used to explore these ideas.