How do I use my phone as a MIDI device in FL Studio?

What is MIDI?

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midi). It is a technical standard protocol that allows digital musical instruments, controllers, computers, phones, and other electronic devices to connect and communicate with each other.

The MIDI protocol transmits musical and timecode data between devices. This allows MIDI devices to control one another, such as using a MIDI keyboard to play a software synthesizer or sequencer on a computer.

The MIDI protocol was standardized in 1983 and remains an essential tool for music production and performance today. It allows instruments from different manufacturers to connect using standard MIDI cables, providing a universal language for electronic music devices to interact.

Why use your phone as a MIDI controller?

Phones are ubiquitous devices that most people already own and carry with them daily. This makes a phone a convenient and portable option to use as a MIDI controller, without requiring any additional hardware purchases (Source).

The touchscreen interface on phones allows for intuitive and expressive manipulation of sounds and notes. Tapping, sliding, and swiping on the screen can translate to MIDI note on/off messages and controller data (Source). This takes advantage of the gestures people are already familiar with from normal phone use.

Dedicated MIDI controller apps turn the phone into a customizable MIDI controller, allowing you to design the interface layout and functions. This level of customization surpasses what is typically available on hardware MIDI keyboards and controllers (Source).

Setting up the connection

Setting up your phone as a MIDI controller requires establishing a connection between your phone and your computer DAW. There are a few steps involved:

First, you’ll need to download MIDI bridging software on your computer, like LoopBe30 or LoopMIDI. This software creates virtual MIDI ports on your computer that can communicate with MIDI apps.

Next, install a MIDI app on your phone that can send MIDI data over WiFi, like touchDAW or MIDI Studio. These apps will allow you to use your phone’s touchscreen like a MIDI controller.

Finally, connect your phone and computer to the same WiFi network. The MIDI app on your phone will be able to send MIDI data wirelessly to the virtual MIDI port on your computer created by the bridging software.

With this wireless MIDI connection setup, you can now use your phone to control instruments and parameters in FL Studio!

Configuring FL Studio

Once you have the MIDI connection set up between your phone and computer, the next step is to configure FL Studio to receive the MIDI data from your phone. Here are the key steps:

Open the MIDI settings in FL Studio by going to Options > MIDI settings. Make sure the “Enable MIDI remote control” box is checked. This allows FL Studio to receive MIDI data from external devices.

Under MIDI inputs, enable the port that corresponds to your phone MIDI app. For example, if you are using MIDI BLE Connect on your phone, you would enable the “MIDI BLE Connect” port as an input in FL Studio.

Next, you need to route the MIDI data from your phone to the desired tracks and instruments in FL Studio. You can do this by right-clicking on a track > Link to controller and selecting your phone MIDI input port.

Now when you play notes or manipulate controls on your phone MIDI app, it will be routed to that track in FL Studio. Repeat this routing process for any tracks you want to control with your phone.

That covers the basic configuration in FL Studio. Refer to Image-Line’s MIDI setup guide for more detailed information.

Creating tracks with your phone

One of the biggest advantages of using your phone as a MIDI controller is the ability to tap in melodies, basslines, and chords directly on the touchscreen. The intuitive layout of most MIDI apps allows you to easily input notes in real-time by tapping on a virtual keyboard or drum pads. This makes writing melodies incredibly quick and efficient compared to using a traditional MIDI keyboard or mouse.

Most MIDI apps also let you assign virtual knobs, faders, and buttons to different parameters in your DAW for automation. For example, you can control filter cutoffs, volume levels, panning, and more in real-time as your track plays back. The tactile control of touching and sliding your finger across the screen gives you very precise manipulation over these parameters.

Your phone can also act as a handy drum pad controller for finger drumming and beat making. The sensitive touchscreen allows velocity-sensitive drum hits, so you can create dynamic, expressive drum patterns. You can even split your phone’s display into several drum pad sections for an expanded layout.

Overall, the touchscreen and customizability of your phone as a MIDI controller opens up exciting creative possibilities for music production that go way beyond what a standard MIDI keyboard can offer. The hands-on immediacy allows you to easily try out ideas and get the sound you want through intuitive control.[1]

[1] https://diyelectromusic.wordpress.com/2021/04/02/vintage-phone-midi-controller/

Considerations and limitations

While using your phone as a MIDI controller offers flexibility and portability, there are some downsides to consider:

Latency can be an issue with wireless MIDI connections like Bluetooth or WiFi. The conversion of the MIDI signal to audio takes a small amount of time, which can result in a slight delay between pressing a note on your phone and hearing it from your speakers or headphones. This is especially problematic for instruments like piano or drums where timing is critical. Using a wired connection can help minimize latency.

The small touchscreen on a phone is not ideal for playing complex productions with lots of tracks and effects. An external MIDI keyboard with more keys and knobs gives you more physical controls at your fingertips compared to a phone screen.

Phones have limited processing power compared to full-sized MIDI keyboards and controllers. Highly complex projects with tons of virtual instruments may overwhelm a phone’s CPU and cause performance issues.

According to https://www.cme-pro.com/the-truth-about-bluetooth-midi/, Bluetooth MIDI’s conversion time is negligible compared to Bluetooth Audio. But some latency should still be expected and planned for when using wireless MIDI solutions.

Recommended MIDI apps

There are several excellent MIDI apps available for Android and iOS that work well for controlling FL Studio remotely. Some top recommendations include:

TouchDAW – This full-featured MIDI controller app works with Android and iOS and provides mixer-style faders, knobs, buttons, and pads. It connects wirelessly via WiFi and integrates seamlessly with FL Studio.

MIDI Studio – For iOS users, MIDI Studio offers an intuitive interface and studio-grade controller options like piano keyboards, drum pads, and mixer consoles. It’s highly responsive and customizable.

pD controller – This Android app provides X/Y pads, faders, and effects controls that can be easily mapped in FL Studio. It’s designed for expressive musical performances.

Lemur – Lemur allows designing customized interfaces with faders, knobs, buttons, and more. It connects via WiFi and works on both mobile platforms.

All of these apps offer robust MIDI functionality in an optimized interface for mobile devices. When paired with FL Studio, they become powerful remote controllers for music production on the go.

Tips for better performance

Using a wired connection between your phone and MIDI device can help reduce latency issues that are common with wireless Bluetooth connections. The wired connection provides lower latency, which is important for real-time performance (source).

Take advantage of your phone’s built-in sensors like the accelerometer to control parameters in real time. For example, tilting and moving the phone can modulate effects or control synth parameters.

Spend time learning the gestures and shortcuts for your MIDI app. Having quick access to app features will allow for a smoother workflow during performance or recording (source).

Additional accessories

While wireless MIDI is convenient, a wired connection can provide lower latency and more reliable timing. MIDI interface accessories allow you to connect your phone to your audio interface or MIDI gear via a cable.

Look for MIDI interfaces that connect via the charging port or Lightning port on your iOS device or micro USB/USB-C on Android. Popular options include the iRig MIDI 2, Yamaha MD-BT01, and Miditech Midimate.

For hands-free use, mount your phone to a mic stand or desktop holder. This allows you to control your virtual instruments and FX without needing to hold your phone. Adjustable phone mounts provide optimal positioning and viewing angles.

Adding a MIDI expression pedal is great for modulation effects, swells, wah effects, and more expressive performances. Look for pedals with continuous/variable control rather than just on/off switching for the most flexibility.

With the right accessories, you can turn your smartphone into a portable MIDI studio and unlock new creative possibilities for music production and live performance.

Summary

Phones can be powerful, customizable MIDI controllers that provide musicians and producers with a convenient way to access MIDI controller features directly on their mobile device. By using MIDI-enabled apps and configuring MIDI routing in your DAW like FL Studio, phones can connect wirelessly via WiFi and be used to trigger and manipulate software instruments, samples, and effects.

The touchscreen interface and built-in sensors in phones allow for innovative control methods based on touch, motion, and gestures. With the right apps, phones can detect presses, swipes, taps, and other input to modulate sound in real-time. This allows you to craft expressive performances and easily shape your sound.

While phones have limitations in terms of processing power and latency compared to dedicated MIDI controllers, they provide a versatile, customizable option for basic MIDI control that fits right in your pocket. If producing music on-the-go is your goal, then connecting your phone as a MIDI device in your DAW can be an excellent mobile production solution.