Android audio apps
- KVRian
- 1498 posts since 21 Nov, 2005 from The Netherlands
My Samsung galaxy S will recieve android 2.3 this month, can't wait 
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- KVRist
- 438 posts since 21 Feb, 2006
Well its clear that there are no good applications for android phones. They are fast enough and large enough but the software developers are burnt out literally because of all the weed they are now smoking because of all the software everyone is steeling. Technology is there but the builders are not. Period.
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- KVRian
- 538 posts since 23 Jan, 2008 from Hamburg, Germany
Maybe Android developers just have a live besides acting being cool?
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- KVRist
- 177 posts since 5 Sep, 2008
Just got a droid 3 and I'm looking for any recommendations for music apps. Not really looking for a standard 303, 808 or mpc type apps...more in the market for any wierd sound generators , synths, utilites etc.
Just got touchosc for android and that seems really cool and useful.
Just got touchosc for android and that seems really cool and useful.
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- KVRer
- 18 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from USA
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- KVRAF
- 4420 posts since 7 Nov, 2005 from Florida
Actually, the biggest problem with Android is latency. I am an Android user (HTC Evo and a Android Tablet) and a developer. I also am developing for IOS (Iphone and Ipad) and IOS is way more robust than Android when it comes to latency.
There are a few good apps on the Android market, but most have to figure out interesting solutions to getting around latency. None of the synths are less than 50ms and most are almost double that. On IOS, you can achieve below 2ms!!
Why are android devices so much slower? Google has not taken Android seriously as a music-creation platform. Apple just used the same core audio/midi (that has been refined and re-refined over the years) as the mac, so there was no real conversion going on - hence why IOS is so much better than Android at audio and midi.
When Google fixes the latency issue, you will see more quality audio apps for Android.
Mike
There are a few good apps on the Android market, but most have to figure out interesting solutions to getting around latency. None of the synths are less than 50ms and most are almost double that. On IOS, you can achieve below 2ms!!
Why are android devices so much slower? Google has not taken Android seriously as a music-creation platform. Apple just used the same core audio/midi (that has been refined and re-refined over the years) as the mac, so there was no real conversion going on - hence why IOS is so much better than Android at audio and midi.
When Google fixes the latency issue, you will see more quality audio apps for Android.
Mike
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- KVRAF
- 6323 posts since 30 Dec, 2004 from London uk
I have the low spec LG GT540, it comes with Android 1.6/2.1/2.2 They had latency, I use Cyanogen (mod 7) 2.3.5 (Ported to GT540 by Mur4ik) and it has very little latency.
http://www.cyanogenmod.com/
Port for GT540 :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=927379
http://www.cyanogenmod.com/
Port for GT540 :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=927379
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- Banned
- 3946 posts since 25 Jan, 2009
As far as I can see, Music Apps are coming to Android but a a very slow rate, so one shouldn't fall for any arguments saying the Android sucks for music definitely, nor shouldn't one expect Android music apps to exceed that of iOS apps within a near future...if ever!
Cheers
Cheers
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- KVRAF
- 4420 posts since 7 Nov, 2005 from Florida
The best current synth/daw for Android is Caustic. Try pressing a on screen piano key - it takes a second or two before the sound sounds. Great for demoing, not great for actually creating sounds.
This is true for all synths and music-making programs on Android. On Ipad2, you press a key and you instantly hear the sound.
The other big problem with Android is not the OS itself, but all the different manufacturers. I hate that Apple controls everything about Ipads and Iphones, but the one thing they did absolutely right is make a universal dock and data port. 3rd party companies can go crazy creating all kinds of peripherals for it - like IK Mulitmedia and others. On Android devices, some have ports, some don't. The ones that do, none are exactly the same. There is no specification, no set of rules to follow, so no 3rd party company is ever going to create something for these pads. It all has to be done via wireless to work (as in wireless midi). These two problems, latency and no true data port specification, will kill any possibility of making music on an Android tablet or phone.
Mike
This is true for all synths and music-making programs on Android. On Ipad2, you press a key and you instantly hear the sound.
The other big problem with Android is not the OS itself, but all the different manufacturers. I hate that Apple controls everything about Ipads and Iphones, but the one thing they did absolutely right is make a universal dock and data port. 3rd party companies can go crazy creating all kinds of peripherals for it - like IK Mulitmedia and others. On Android devices, some have ports, some don't. The ones that do, none are exactly the same. There is no specification, no set of rules to follow, so no 3rd party company is ever going to create something for these pads. It all has to be done via wireless to work (as in wireless midi). These two problems, latency and no true data port specification, will kill any possibility of making music on an Android tablet or phone.
Mike
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- KVRAF
- 6323 posts since 30 Dec, 2004 from London uk
You could say the same of PCs but people still manage to work round itKarmacomposer wrote:The best current synth/daw for Android is Caustic. Try pressing a on screen piano key - it takes a second or two before the sound sounds. Great for demoing, not great for actually creating sounds.
This is true for all synths and music-making programs on Android. On Ipad2, you press a key and you instantly hear the sound.
The other big problem with Android is not the OS itself, but all the different manufacturers. I hate that Apple controls everything about Ipads and Iphones, but the one thing they did absolutely right is make a universal dock and data port. 3rd party companies can go crazy creating all kinds of peripherals for it - like IK Mulitmedia and others. On Android devices, some have ports, some don't. The ones that do, none are exactly the same. There is no specification, no set of rules to follow, so no 3rd party company is ever going to create something for these pads. It all has to be done via wireless to work (as in wireless midi). These two problems, latency and no true data port specification, will kill any possibility of making music on an Android tablet or phone.
Mike
As has already been said, despite the naysayers, Android is gaining and will continue to do so because of its widespread manufacturer base like the PC. Im quite happy with the audio apps available and latency isnt an issue if you use Cyanogen mod. As for data ports, all Android devices have audio in/out, thats the min requirement to connect up. Once you hit a certain price point, you may as well have a laptop. Of course, that still wont stop companies appealing to those who feel they have to have the latest audio apps on thier phones/tablets, its not very practical but great fun. There we have it - fun, I can have fun on my Android phone, I use my PC DAW for serious stuff.
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- KVRist
- 127 posts since 26 Apr, 2002 from Germany
I guess your are talking about Windows prior to Win98? Since then,UltraJv wrote: You could say the same of PCs but people still manage to work round it![]()
even when using the standard-multimedia-APIs you get latency of less
then 60 msecs (due to the kernel-mixer) or you can use WDM-kernel-streaming
which circumvents the kernel-mixer an achieves between 5-10 msecs...
Or you could use something like ASIO and have latencies which are so
low that sound will travel a max distance of 2 meters in the timeframe...
Which normal user wants to use special operating-system mods to use their smartphone/tablet to have bearable latency? Unless Google gets its act together and makes low-level operation (lets say less than 20msecs) of audio mandatory for all devices, no noteworthy amount of manufacturers of audio-applications will see Android as a viable platform.As has already been said, despite the naysayers, Android is gaining and will continue to do so because of its widespread manufacturer base like the PC. Im quite happy with the audio apps available and latency isnt an issue if you use Cyanogen mod. As for data ports, all Android devices have audio in/out, thats the min requirement to connect up. Once you hit a certain price point, you may as well have a laptop. Of course, that still wont stop companies appealing to those who feel they have to have the latest audio apps on thier phones/tablets, its not very practical but great fun. There we have it - fun, I can have fun on my Android phone, I use my PC DAW for serious stuff.
Tobias
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- KVRAF
- 6323 posts since 30 Dec, 2004 from London uk
I think youre missing the point. The devices are underpowered for serious audio even ipad2/iphone. They are just fun. Theres no need for Google to change anything as it seems pointless to do this. They are making plenty of $ and dont need you to tell them how to run a business. Apple users will try to make anything work on istuff spending $100s in the process. I have a netbook, it can run audio apps but I dont use it seriously, I would never buy an interface for it as its just funto-pse wrote:I guess your are talking about Windows prior to Win98? Since then,UltraJv wrote: You could say the same of PCs but people still manage to work round it![]()
even when using the standard-multimedia-APIs you get latency of less
then 60 msecs (due to the kernel-mixer) or you can use WDM-kernel-streaming
which circumvents the kernel-mixer an achieves between 5-10 msecs...
Or you could use something like ASIO and have latencies which are so
low that sound will travel a max distance of 2 meters in the timeframe...
Which normal user wants to use special operating-system mods to use their smartphone/tablet to have bearable latency? Unless Google gets its act together and makes low-level operation (lets say less than 20msecs) of audio mandatory for all devices, no noteworthy amount of manufacturers of audio-applications will see Android as a viable platform.As has already been said, despite the naysayers, Android is gaining and will continue to do so because of its widespread manufacturer base like the PC. Im quite happy with the audio apps available and latency isnt an issue if you use Cyanogen mod. As for data ports, all Android devices have audio in/out, thats the min requirement to connect up. Once you hit a certain price point, you may as well have a laptop. Of course, that still wont stop companies appealing to those who feel they have to have the latest audio apps on thier phones/tablets, its not very practical but great fun. There we have it - fun, I can have fun on my Android phone, I use my PC DAW for serious stuff.
Tobias
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- KVRAF
- 6323 posts since 30 Dec, 2004 from London uk
Further to any more naysaying, IK are working on developing for Android :
by brianbane » Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:11 am
"We've actually begun an initial foray into Android development recently, completing some successful tests of low-latency audio. It will still be several months away, but we should present some Android offerings in the future"
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/forum/viewt ... f=10&t=553
by brianbane » Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:11 am
"We've actually begun an initial foray into Android development recently, completing some successful tests of low-latency audio. It will still be several months away, but we should present some Android offerings in the future"
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/forum/viewt ... f=10&t=553
Last edited by UltraJv on Tue Sep 20, 2011 4:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- KVRAF
- 4420 posts since 7 Nov, 2005 from Florida
No, YOU are missing the point.UltraJv wrote:I think youre missing the point. The devices are underpowered for serious audio even ipad2/iphone. They are just fun. Theres no need for Google to change anything as it seems pointless to do this. They are making plenty of $ and dont need you to tell them how to run a business. Apple users will try to make anything work on istuff spending $100s in the process. I have a netbook, it can run audio apps but I dont use it seriously, I would never buy an interface for it as its just funto-pse wrote:I guess your are talking about Windows prior to Win98? Since then,UltraJv wrote: You could say the same of PCs but people still manage to work round it![]()
even when using the standard-multimedia-APIs you get latency of less
then 60 msecs (due to the kernel-mixer) or you can use WDM-kernel-streaming
which circumvents the kernel-mixer an achieves between 5-10 msecs...
Or you could use something like ASIO and have latencies which are so
low that sound will travel a max distance of 2 meters in the timeframe...
Which normal user wants to use special operating-system mods to use their smartphone/tablet to have bearable latency? Unless Google gets its act together and makes low-level operation (lets say less than 20msecs) of audio mandatory for all devices, no noteworthy amount of manufacturers of audio-applications will see Android as a viable platform.As has already been said, despite the naysayers, Android is gaining and will continue to do so because of its widespread manufacturer base like the PC. Im quite happy with the audio apps available and latency isnt an issue if you use Cyanogen mod. As for data ports, all Android devices have audio in/out, thats the min requirement to connect up. Once you hit a certain price point, you may as well have a laptop. Of course, that still wont stop companies appealing to those who feel they have to have the latest audio apps on thier phones/tablets, its not very practical but great fun. There we have it - fun, I can have fun on my Android phone, I use my PC DAW for serious stuff.
Tobias
I bought a kick ass Android tablet (Acer Iconia A500 - Nvidia Tegra dual core processor - 32GB ram). I also bought a stock iPad2 (dual core A5 - 32gb ram).
I WILL NOT root my device and void the warranty, guarantee no more updates, etc. I have rooted my Gtablet and TBH, there is NO DIFFERENCE in latency. Not one single solitary ounce of difference.
I AM creating REAL music on my iPad2 - in fact, with the new Multi-track recorder I bought, several great synths and a ton of other amazing music software of the highest quality, I can truly create on the go or in my studio - makes no difference. I am using a Presonus Audiobox, Akai keyboard (for on the go) and M-Audio 61 key midi-master keyboard (for in the studio) and some decent speakers and/or headphones. Armed with these three items, I can record very high quality sound (1/4 inch or XLR balanced) through the Presonus.
This is all very reminiscint of my studio - but ultra portable. The Android CANNOT do any of this.
THAT'S the point.
Mike