Amy Nicola McBride has released Fishtail, a generative MIDI instrument and composition system for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It uses algorithmic rules grounded in music theory rather than generative AI to create complete, repeatable multi-section pieces. Fishtail generates MIDI and requires a receiving synthesizer, sampler or software instrument for sound.
On iPhone and iPad, Fishtail runs standalone or as an AUv3 MIDI plug-in and has been tested in AUM. On Mac, it runs as a Universal standalone app or an AUv3 MIDI instrument in Logic Pro and compatible hosts. The standalone Mac app publishes one combined and seven separate CoreMIDI sources.
Features include:
- Multi-section forms with independent key, mode, meter, cadence, musical role, treatment, expression and Bloom controls.
- Retained Takes that can be compared, reordered and handed over at whole-piece boundaries.
- Seven musical voices with combined or separate MIDI routing.
- Seven intonation systems with normal MIDI, pitch-bend and MPE output.
- Ableton Link tempo, beat, phase and optional transport synchronisation.
- .fishtail project save and recall, Standard MIDI export and experimental analogue-CV file packages.
- Artwork and visual identity by OcularDebris.
Pricing and Availability
Current versions are 1.0.2 for iPhone and iPad and 1.0.1 for Mac. They require iOS or iPadOS 17 or later, or macOS 14 or later. The Mac app is Universal for Apple silicon and Intel.
Introductory App Store pricing until 9 September 2026 is US$4.99 for iPhone/iPad and US$14.99 for Mac. Scheduled regular prices are US$14.99 and US$29.99 respectively. Localised prices vary.
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