BluPad: Bluetooth MIDI Controller for Android

I made this controller as part of an MSc in Computing and am posting here to let you know it is available and, if you feel like trying it out, ask for your feedback (this would really help with my project write up!)

The app itself is available here.

BluPad requires a server which can be downloaded here.

To control Ableton, Reason etc you will need a MIDI loopback driver such as LoopBe1 (Windows). The system is designed for 32/64 bit Windows, although the server itself will run on a Mac (I haven't looked into loopback drivers for Mac yet!). If you want to control an MPC (or other MIDI device) attached to the MIDI OUT of your audio interface, you should be able to do that on both Mac and Windows, just selected the soundcard OUT from the list generated by the server.

Detailed instructions are available here.
All these links are in the one place: http://blupad.blogspot.com/

I've done some crude latency tests and (depending on your android device/computer/audio setup) you should find the latency comparable with other controllers that communicate MIDI over Wi-Fi (FingerPlay/TouchDAW). It's no work of art, but you should find the connection very reliable (no stuck notes, or dropped notes) and the set-up very easy.

Thanks for reading, if you can leave feedback (either here or at polldaddy), I would be very grateful.

16 Pad Controllers
9 Octave Range
10 Assignable MIDI Faders
8 Assignable MIDI Switches
8 Assignable MIDI Triggers
3 Assignable Transport Buttons
Adjustable Note Velocity

cool

cyrus wrote:cool

Thanks.

I should add, if you are using a Mac, to run the server, (for the moment) you need to use the command line (terminal):
(Once you are in the folder containing the server .jar enter)
java -jar filename.jar

It's a pain in the ass but, if you try to double-click the .jar file, you will just get errors.

Also, to use the app on a Mac, you need to enable the IAC Driver. This can be done from:
Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup and make sure the device is online

From there, it should show up in the list of compatible devices generated by the server. IAC routes the MIDI from the server to your apps, so make sure IAC is selected as your DAW's MIDI IN port.

coo stuff...

BluPad X MPC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvUBkXlV-YY
Keeping it MPC related
Even if you have MIDI devices attached by USB, you should be able to send MIDI to them using the server/blupad.

Cool man. I got a question for you. Do you find that there is a latency issue within Android OS that cannot be compensated? The reason I ask is because every music app I come across seems to have a latency issue.

Upright wrote:Cool man. I got a question for you. Do you find that there is a latency issue within Android OS that cannot be compensated? The reason I ask is because every music app I come across seems to have a latency issue.

Basically, yes. Android doesn't support adhoc networking
http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wire ... reless.htm
Some new phones, like Samsung Galaxy SII support Wi-Fi direct
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Direct
So, things should eventually get better, one way or the other. But for the moment, I think it's wifi via your router (which makes no sense for live use, imo) or bluetooth.
There are also apps (TouchDAW) that do USB connection via tethering, although that needs Android 2.2 and I have 2.1, so I haven't tried it. In theory this should be faster as you are cutting out the round-trip via the router.