A few years ago I started building an app because I couldn't find one that did what I needed as an EWI player. Something that handled breath-to-CC mapping properly, had a real synthesizer on board, and didn't require a laptop and a DAW just to play something that sounded decent live. That project eventually became Hemiola, and as of today, it's ready for beta testers.
I'm not going to oversell it. It's complex, it has bugs, and there are features I haven't finished yet. What I can say is that it runs on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows; it has been tested more than I'd like to admit; and it does things I haven't found anywhere else in a single app.
What Hemiola actually is
The short version: a multi-platform music workstation built around MIDI, with native support for a handful of wind controllers and a cloud layer for sync and community preset sharing.
The longer version — what's inside:
- Analog Synthesizer — Minimoog-inspired, with three oscillators, a low-pass filter, ADSR envelope, LFO, and built-in effects (reverb, chorus, delay, limiter). It's not a toy synth.
- SoundFont engine — load any SF2 bank for acoustic pianos, strings, brass, orchestral patches, whatever you need. GM kit support included.
- Step Sequencer — drums, bass, and melody tracks that you can run alongside your live playing. Program a pattern, loop it, play your wind controller over the top. No DAW, no laptop, no click track.
- GM Drum Pads — a 4×4 velocity-sensitive grid with haptic feedback for when you just need to tap something.
- MIDI Mapper/Router — programmable CC/note/PC translation, channel remapping, and UI parameter automation via MIDI. If your controller sends something you need to reshape before it reaches the synth, this handles it.
- Device Plugins — custom layouts, factory presets, and editor patches for specific controllers. Currently built-in: Akai EWI USB,, Roland Aerophone AE-01, Moog Theremini, Robkoo Clarii Mini, Tahorng Windkey, Akai LPD8. The plugin format is open — community plugins are supported.
- Community Library — hundreds of sound presets and device presets shared by other users and generated by our AI preset pipeline. Browsable and downloadable for free.
- Cloud Pro Sync — cross-device backup and sync for presets, bookmarks, and MIDI mappings.
- Ah,yes! An onboard keyboard, because sometimes you just want to poke at a synth without firing up a whole other app. It's not the main event, but it's there when you need it.
The step sequencer is the newest major feature and probably the one I'm most curious to see stress-tested. The ability to have a full drum+bass pattern running on the device while you play a wind controller line on top changes the live setup considerably — no click track, no backing track file, no dependency on a second device. I'll write a dedicated post on how it works once the beta starts.
The beta program
I'm targeting 50–80 testers total. This is a closed beta for the first phase — which means I'll be adding accounts manually to TestFlight (iOS) and Google Play Internal Testing (Android). Desktop builds for macOS and Windows will be available immediately via direct download link.
What you get as a beta tester
Full access to every feature for the entire beta period — including Cloud Pro (sync, community library, multi-device support). No payment, no credit card, no trial clock.
If you actively contribute — file bug reports, send real feedback, push things in unexpected directions — you'll receive permanent Pro App access and an extended Cloud Pro subscription at the public launch. I'll be specific about the terms when the beta closes. If you install and go quiet, the access expires when the beta does. No hard feelings.
Who I'm looking for
Primarily: wind controller players. EWI, Aerophone, Warbl, Sylphyo, NuEVI, anything with a breath sensor. You're the users most likely to test the things I've spent the most time on, and your feedback is the feedback that shapes how 1.0 ships.
Also useful: keyboard players who want to evaluate the synthesizer seriously, anyone with an Akai LPD8 or a generic MIDI controller, and people who just want to poke at a complex music app and see what breaks. All are welcome.
I don't need professional musicians specifically. I need people who will actually use the app and tell me what's wrong.
How to sign up
Fill out the form at hemiola.app/site/beta.html. It's short — a few questions about what you play and what platforms you use. I'll review applications and send invites asap.
If you have questions before signing up, feel free to ask in the comments below or reach out directly. I'm not hard to find.