Can you connect MIDI to Android?
What is MIDI?
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It’s a technical standard that describes a protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and related audio devices for playing, editing and recording music.
The MIDI specification was first published in 1983 by a group of leading musical instrument manufacturers to standardize the communication between electronic music devices from different companies. This allowed MIDI-equipped devices to communicate with each other and work together to play and record music (The first MIDI spec).
Prior to MIDI, electronic musical instruments from different companies couldn’t communicate and work together. MIDI helped standardize the language and protocols for musical data to be exchanged between devices, paving the way for computer control of MIDI instruments. MIDI made it possible to connect devices from different manufacturers in a system, which was a revolutionary change at the time.
MIDI on computers
MIDI has been commonly used with desktop and laptop computers since the 1980s. The initial rise of personal computers like the Apple II, Commodore 64 and IBM PC created an opportunity for MIDI to be adopted for computer music production and composition [1]. MIDI allowed musicians to connect keyboards, drum machines and other gear to their computers to record and sequence music.
Today, MIDI is deeply integrated into major computer operating systems. Windows, Mac OS, and Linux all include native support for MIDI devices and protocols. This makes it easy to connect MIDI gear to standard ports like USB and Firewire on most modern laptops and desktops [2]. The widespread MIDI compatibility on computers has helped cement its status as an essential tool for computer music production over the past few decades.
MIDI on mobile devices
Mobile devices like smartphones have not traditionally supported MIDI. MIDI requires low-latency, real-time communication between devices which can be challenging on mobile operating systems that are not optimized for this. However, in recent years both iOS and Android have started adding native support for MIDI.
Apple first introduced MIDI support in iOS 4.2 in 2010, allowing MIDI data to be sent over USB to compatible accessories. More extensive MIDI support came later through the Core MIDI framework introduced in iOS 7 in 2013 (Roland – Zenbeats | Music Creation App). This allowed direct communication between MIDI apps and enabled more advanced features like virtual MIDI ports.
On Android, MIDI support was limited for many years due to audio latency issues in the operating system. But starting with Android 8 Oreo in 2017, the operating system included native support for MIDI over USB via the Android Open Accessory Protocol. Further improvements in Android 9 Pie reduced latency allowing much more reliable MIDI performance (mikrosonic – FAQ).
This advancement in MIDI support has opened up many new opportunities for music creation apps on both iOS and Android. Sophisticated MIDI music apps are now feasible on mobile devices, allowing musicians to create music anywhere.
Connecting MIDI gear to Android devices
To connect MIDI devices to your Android device, you will need both MIDI compatible hardware and software. On the hardware side, your Android device needs to support USB host mode or Bluetooth MIDI to connect to external gear. Many modern Android phones and tablets support this, but you’ll want to double check your device’s specs.
For wired connections, you can use a USB cable to connect MIDI keyboards, controllers, and sound modules directly to your Android device. The device will need a USB port that supports host mode – many have micro USB ports that only function in device mode for charging. USB-C ports on newer Android devices often support host mode for connecting MIDI gear.
For wireless connections, you can use a Bluetooth MIDI adapter to connect traditional MIDI devices like keyboard workstations or drum machines. The adapter acts as a bridge, receiving MIDI over a 5-pin DIN cable from your gear and then transmitting it via Bluetooth to your Android device. Popular options include the Yamaha MD-BT01, iConnectivity btfrm4, and Quicco Sound mi.1.
On the software side, you’ll need MIDI compatible music apps and DAWs on your Android device to actually make use of the MIDI data being sent from your controllers and instruments. Some popular options include Caustic 3, FL Studio Mobile, Audio Evolution Mobile Studio, and more. The app needs to support receiving and transmitting MIDI in order to fully integrate external MIDI gear.
Android MIDI Apps
There are a variety of MIDI sequencer, synth, and controller apps available for Android devices that allow you to use external MIDI gear. Some popular options include:
Caustic 3: A full-featured music creation app with synthesizers, samplers and effects. It supports MIDI in for controlling instruments with external gear.
FL Studio Mobile: The mobile version of the popular FL Studio DAW. It allows you to create multi-track projects and has MIDI support.
Nanostudio: A sequencing app focused on electronic music production. It has a built-in synth engine and allows MIDI control of both internal and external instruments.
MIDI Scope: A utility app that allows you to visualize MIDI data. Useful for debugging connections and seeing MIDI activity.
There are many other options available as well catering to different music production workflows. The Android MIDI environment continues to expand and improve over time.
Using MIDI with Android music apps
One of the biggest benefits of connecting MIDI to Android devices is being able to use a MIDI keyboard or controller to play instruments and sounds in Android music apps. Many popular Android music production apps support MIDI input, allowing you to trigger and play software instruments using an external MIDI controller.
For example, apps like GarageBand, BandLab, Caustic 3, Soundcamp, FL Studio, and others all support connecting a MIDI keyboard over USB or wirelessly to play sounds and record MIDI tracks. This allows you to play full piano keyboards, drum pads, synth controllers and more to create music using the sounds and instruments in the apps.
Having MIDI input support vastly expands the music-making potential of these Android apps. You can play much more expressively using a real piano keyboard or drum pads rather than just tapping on the screen. MIDI support unlocks the ability to perform and record music in new ways with Android devices.
Latency challenges with Android MIDI
One of the main issues with using MIDI on Android devices is latency. Latency refers to the time it takes for a signal to go from the input source to the output. In the case of MIDI, this is the lag between pressing a MIDI note and hearing the sound come out of your Android device’s speakers or headphone jack. Lag and delay are frustrating for musicians trying to play parts accurately to a beat or in rhythm with a backing track. This latency can make playing live with MIDI on Android devices incredibly difficult.
A major root cause of high latency with MIDI on Android is using wireless inputs. Bluetooth MIDI connections introduce a significant amount of lag compared to wired connections. For the least latency, USB or the direct 5-pin DIN is recommended over wireless options like Bluetooth or MIDI over WiFi.
Even with wired connections though, many Android devices and MIDI interfaces still struggle with high latency compared to professional equipment like laptops or MIDI controllers marketed for low latency. Android as an operating system is still working on improving its real-time audio performance to be on par with macOS and Windows for professional music production [1].
Tips for reducing latency
Reducing latency when using MIDI with Android devices is important for getting responsive, real-time performance. According to
Use a wired MIDI connection instead of wireless: Wireless connections like Bluetooth introduce additional latency compared to a direct wired USB connection. For the lowest possible latency, use a USB cable or adapter.
Use optimized drivers and audio engines: Specialized audio drivers like ASIO on Windows or the OpenSL ES API on Android can reduce latency compared to standard audio drivers. Some music apps also optimize their audio engines for lower latency.
Adjust audio buffer settings in apps: Shorter audio buffer sizes lower latency but increase processing demands. Experiment with buffer size settings in your MIDI and audio apps to find the best balance between latency and performance. Some apps have a “low latency” mode to make this easier.
Benefits of MIDI on Android
Connecting MIDI devices and software to Android opens up extensive possibilities for mobile music making. As Android’s documentation notes, the MIDI standard allows communication between computers, musical instruments, and more. By supporting MIDI, Android allows users to leverage this ecosystem.
Specifically, Android’s MIDI capabilities empower using Android phones and tablets for music production, performance, and other creative uses. Musicians can connect MIDI keyboards, drum pads, synthesizers, and other gear to their mobile device via USB or Bluetooth. This allows controlling instruments and music software with external gear, greatly expanding the creative potential.
Additionally, Android’s MIDI support enables inter-app communication between different music programs. For example, a MIDI keyboard app could connect to a synth or DAW app, allowing playing soft synths and recording MIDI tracks. This modular workflow mirrors desktop music production setups using MIDI routing. Overall, MIDI on Android opens up professional-grade music making possibilities on mobile.
The future of MIDI on mobile
As mobile technology continues advancing rapidly, we can expect expanded MIDI support on Android devices going forward. Latency and wireless connectivity issues will likely improve as Android’s audio pipeline and Bluetooth protocols evolve.1 This will enable tighter integration and synchronization between external MIDI gear and Android apps.
Developers are already working to reduce latency through techniques like audio buffer optimization. And while Bluetooth MIDI currently experiences higher latency compared to wired connections, new versions of Bluetooth aim to bring latency down significantly in both audio and MIDI applications.2
As Android’s MIDI capabilities expand, we can expect more music making and learning apps to add MIDI input support. This will provide users with more creative options for producing music, controlling synth parameters, and interacting with music theory apps via MIDI controllers and keyboards.
Overall, the future looks promising for MIDI on Android. While the technology is still evolving, Android has laid the groundwork for robust MIDI integration on mobile, which should only continue improving over time.