Developer, Matthias Demoucron tells us that FingerFiddle is the first musical app that lets you play music with the same level of control and expressivity as with a violin. He describes it as a new high-quality musical instrument for music production, but also an educational tool or an affordable way to discover and experience fiddle playing on mobile devices. It was first released on 1 March 2016 as an iPad-only version but is now compatible with all IOS devices. Here's the press release that we have received...

"The creation of FingerFiddle started out of a musical desire," says the developer, Matthias Demoucron. "Being an experienced violinist, I wanted to play with a virtual instrument that I could use anywhere, and with which I could express myself like on a violin. There was no such thing on the market, so I had to create it."

The result introduces a new and highly sensitive musical experience with mobile devices. The movement of the finger on the screen is used to virtually rub the strings and shape the sound continuously, just like with a real instrument. Each action on the screen is turned naturally into a realistic and responsive violin sound.

FingerFiddle uses an innovative physical model to achieve this remarkable sound quality and reactivity. There is no pre-recorded sounds or samples: the sound is calculated in real-time by simulating the mechanical reaction of the strings to the movement of the user's finger on the screen. In this respect the development of FingerFiddle was also motivated by the desire to demonstrate the musical potential of this technology, and to make it available to a wider audience.

"Violin is quite a fascinating instrument for most of us," says Matthias Demoucron, "and many people would have loved to play violin or cello. This app let us experience the beautifulness of playing violin, but also its complexity." The developer believes that FingerFiddle can be valuable to anyone interested in music playing, from beginners to advanced players, IOS musicians and professionals involved in music production.

FingerFiddle includes a full collection of fine-tuned instruments from the violin family (violin, viola, cello and double bass), support for Inter-App Audio and a wide range of possible customizations. On iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, the app supports 3D Touch for a refined control of the sound and vibrato.

About the Developer
Matthias Demoucron has worked for about 10 years as a researcher in the field of sound and music computing, with a specialization in musical acoustics. He now develops applications and technological tools dedicated mostly to music pedagogy and education in relation with cultural institutions.

Pricing and Availability:
FingerFiddle is available for $2.99 on the App Store and comes with a cello. Other instruments are available to try and purchase ($4.99 each or $11.99 for a collection of four instruments).

It is compatible with iPhone 4s and later, and iPad 2 and later.

More information:

• FingerFiddle