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I would like to make an app on android which sends MIDI messages over USB to a computer to be able to control music softwares such as Cubase, FL, Reason, ect...

Hardware MIDI controllers (e.g Keyboards) are automatically recognized in music software on Windows. I guess it's because they use the universal MIDI protocol which is directly recognized by the music software. They don't need their own driver.

I'd like to be able to use my phone/tablet as a midi controller without having to install staff on the computer (like with hardware controllers).

There's a Demo Code on Android Developers to control a Missile Launcher toy through USB. If I send, using the same technique, messages that follow the MIDI protocol will it work just like that ?

Thank you in advance for your help

Jecimi
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3 Answers3

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With Android 6.0 (API 23) this is now possible - Android devices can act as class compliant (no drivers required) MIDI devices.

To switch into USB-MIDI mode users can swipe down from the top of the screen to access the USB mode selection screen (below).

Screenshot showing USB selection menu

An app can send MIDI messages using the new MIDI API. Here's some code to send a MIDI NoteOn message: 

byte[] buffer = new buffer[3];
buffer[0] = (byte)0x90 + (byte)0x01; // Note On - Channel 1
buffer[1] = (byte)0x3C; // pitch (Note C3)
buffer[2] = (byte)127; // velocity
int offset = 0;
inputPort.send(buffer, offset, numBytes);

To send other message types consult the MIDI message specification. Note that bytes are signed in Java so this post might be helpful.

Community
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donturner
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I wrote the USB MIDI Driver for Android.
Useful to build your own MIDI controller / receiver.

https://github.com/kshoji/USB-MIDI-Driver

The another midi driver is 'nmj' library.
This library also supports USB MIDI. Moreover, it supports some network-MIDI protocols, MIDI over bluetooth and MIDI over ADB(debug connection).

http://www.humatic.de/htools/nmj/

kshoji
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    could you extend your answer and write a sample code to send a MIDI message using your lib? It seems you recently removed your javax.sound implementation documentation. Is there any problem with this lib or is it still functional? – gaborous Oct 18 '13 at 00:17
  • @kshoji you know if this feature will be included in the android support library (for retrocompability with earlier devices) ??? – Billyjoker Sep 21 '15 at 14:49
  • Does something like this exists for using an Android device as a video source via USB? – unfa Feb 13 '18 at 13:00
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No, it doesn't work remotely like that.

USB MIDI devices do use a driver... it's just that they are generally "class compliant", and can all use the same stock driver that comes with the OS.

To do what you are proposing, you will need to emulate a device over USB... complete with the appropriate PnP IDs and what not. This is next to impossible. The code you found was for using USB in host mode, not the other way around.

You will find that it is far easier to send MIDI via network, and use one of the many network MIDI drivers available.

Brad
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  • Thanks for your answer, so the only solution is to send messages through Wifi or Bluetooth and have a software on the computer side which translate them and send them to the music software ? However do you have any idea how TouchDaw can work directly with native midi drivers and is able to send message through usb ? Thanks – Jecimi Feb 01 '12 at 20:50
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    Sorry, TouchDAW do use drivers. Well if it's really not possible to act like a device over USB, I'll go that way then. Thanks ! – Jecimi Feb 01 '12 at 21:03