Android MIDI input from Atari

[catmando]

Plugged my new phone into my laptop this evening to transfer some files and discovered in its USB mode options there is a MIDI input option, so onto YouTube and I see it is indeed possible to plug a keyboard into an Android phone as shown below

So in theory I should be able to plug my ST into the Android phone and benefit from its library of sounds?

Has anyone tried or know about this?

Obviously some form of MIDI din to micro-USB adaptor would be required I guess? like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2m-USB-to-MI ... SwDmBY5hrt

[Atari74user]

Hi, never tried with android, but yes it is possible to attach any MIDI product to your Atari. So it is possible to convert MIDI over USB to MIDI DIN for connection with an Atari ST etc... You can buy USB to MIDI adapters, there are a lot of cheaper options which may work depending. I do this for a MIDI over USB device and connect to my Atari.

[charles]

I don't see the benefits other than portability from this ,,,
a supierior music making midi computer (Atari)
and then down size to a small android device....

what can android do Atari doesn't offer in the line of midi ?

[Atari74user]

The point would simply be an extra sound source, like anything that uses MIDI over USB, or to at least to be able to connect some devices that simply don't have MIDI DIN.

[catmando]

The point would simply be an extra sound source, like anything that uses MIDI over USB.

That's what I was thinking, I've never been any good at composing music but I did plug a keyboard into my ST back in the day to benefit from its bank of sounds when playing MIDI files (or games with MIDI music) as it sounds substantially better. Was hoping this might provide the same capability without the bulk of a keyboard hanging around.

[charles]

sorry I have a higher degree for midi applications
developer issue... its only fun till you get serious with it.

[Atari74user]

Hahah, yeah appreciated Charles!

Certainly should be possible, so long as the connection can be made which it can. I imagine games that utilise MIDI used the MT-32 from Roland for their sounds, or maybe standard General MIDI (GM), GS or XG sounds, which were just a standard set of sounds found within instruments. GS was Roland's extension to the standard GM set of sounds, and XG was Yamaha's extension, but all you would need to do is choose a sound that sounds OK for the game's music, so none of these would perhaps be necessary, but easier as games would have used a standard set of sounds, and saves searching for sounds that errr sound good for the MIDI song in question. I just googled for android GM sounds and their is at least an app as an example: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... midi&hl=en

[charles]

oh yeah theres tons of programs for system exclusive dumps using your phone and I think a slew of music production apps.. just have to decipher the specs and read if they are midi or not

[Miguel]

Charles is quite right about the portability aspect....I used to compose on a portable Yamaha QY-20 and then import the sequences into the computer, unfortunately the SQYRREL II software for the Atari is missing in action.