GR-55 USB-to-MIDI on Android

Started by sine_3000, April 09, 2015, 08:54:17 PM

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sine_3000

Considering this topic, which discusses the GP-10 being used to drive soft synths on Android
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=11854.0

I decided to give it a whirl connecting USB-to-MIDI with the GR-55 into Android, and sure enough, it works!

You'll need a USB OTG (On the Go) cable, to plug the GR-55 right into an Android phone (I use a Nexus 5, which is as good and pure a version of Android OS as you're going to get - also I'm still on Kit Kat 4.4.4.  I can't vouch for other Android platforms.)

The King of the Roost in Android VST/sequencers is Caustic.  Plug in the cable, and it immediately asks for permission to use the MIDI input, it's great.  But, it is the laggiest of all!  I tested Caustic for PC, available for free on their website, BTW, on an i7 PC with 16GB ram, and the lag was identical to the Android version.  So it's the app, not the GR-55.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.singlecellsoftware.caustic&hl=en

(BTW, if you don't know Caustic, you are missing out on easily the best VST/sequencer on Android, an amazing piece of software that holds its own against high end PC and Mac VSTs/sequencers as well.  You could compare it to an early version of Reason - huge, deep, and very satisfying piece of kit.  All for $10.)


Another Playstore synth I tried that worked was EasySynth - it also asks to connect to the cable as soon as it's plugged in.  Sweetly crude but still playable!  Tiny bit of lag.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gallantrealm.easysynth&hl=en


I also tried Common Analogue Synthesizer (yes that's its name).  Go into options (the three dots in the lower right corner) and press "select MIDI device".  Works like a charm, some very buttery sounds, too.  Professionally and simply done. 

Unfortunately, the company that makes it, Oxxxide, makes another freeware FM synth, and a payware version of the Analogue synth that has a (very) simple sequencer, but neither of these will connect to MIDI.  The FM doesn't even have an option to connect (did they forget?) and the pay app fails to find the MIDI that the free version finds.  Probably it'll get fixed.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.oxxxide.vasynth&hl=en


So there it is.  I'm sure there are others I missed.  Have fun!

Elantric


sine_3000

Oh I didn't even see that whole sub-forum on Android.  So many sub-forums around here!