Android Ableton Link not working any apps, u confirm?

[Schmidi]

Hello, I've been trying unsuccessfully to get ANY Android app to sync with Ableton Link. I wondered if anyone can actually get it working.

I've tried G-Stomper Studio and RemixLive on both Android 7.1.1 and 6.0.1 (nextbit Robin and Nexus 7 respectfully)

When Link is engaged, both apps show a message saying a link has been established. Then, they freeze/glitch out or crash instantly.

Can anyone confirm they can or can't get Link to work on Android?

[planeth]

Hi Schmidi
I'm the developer of G-Stomper Studio.
I cannot speak for the nextbit Robin, but I can guarantee that G-Stomper Studio / Ableton Link works perfectly on the Nexus 7 (2013) using Android 6.01. The same applies to G-Stomper Rhythm, Link to MIDI Bridge and all other apps by planet-h.com. Also successfully tested are the Nexus 6 (Android 7.1.1), Nexus 9 (Android 7.1.1), Pixel C (Android 8.1), Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 (Android 5.1.1), Samsung Galaxy S5 (Android 6.0.1), Nexus 5x (Android 8.0 and 8.1). The following 3 clips demonstrate our apps with Ableton Link.







So either the problem might be based on your WiFi network, or it might be a problem of the nextbit Robin.
Do you have any chance to test any other devices (non-Android, or other than the nextbit Robin) in your WLAN (e.g. a PC with Ableton, iOS devices, any other Android devices)?

Also intersting would be to know, what exactly freezes/crashes.
Both devices at once?
Remixlive? G-Stomper Studio? Or both at once?
What G-Stomper Studio version do you use (just press main menu / help / about G-Stomper Studio)?
Do you use Ableton Live in your setup during your tests? If yes, what version? And in that case, can you try without Live?

Can you test G-Stomper Studio on both devices and just sync those together without involving any other app? As I can only speak for our own apps, it would be helpful to know, if G-Stomper Studio crashes if it's used on both devices. And if so, on which device is the crash?

If it still crashes, try to connect only the two Link devices to the WLAN, nothing else, just to be sure that no other device interferes.

[Schmidi]

Wow, thank you for the reply and great app!

My setup was MPC Touch/software 2.0.8 (newest release client w/ Ab. Link) <-> either G Stomper or RemixLive.

Also intersting would be to know, what exactly freezes/crashes.
It's always the app, though the tempo gets matched between the MPC/Ableton and the app just before the crash.
Both devices at once?
I never though of testing the two Android devices linking together.
Remixlive? G-Stomper Studio? Or both at once?
I'll test and report back tonight.
What G-Stomper Studio version do you use (just press main menu / help / about G-Stomper Studio)?
Not in front of me, but it's up to date per the Google store.
Do you use Ableton Live in your setup during your tests? If yes, what version? And in that case, can you try without Live?
Mostly MPC, but I've tested with AB. I believe 9.7.1

I'll report back on this later. Thanks for your assistance!

[Schmidi]

Early results (on the bus into work):

Using Nextbit Robin as WiFi hotspot to Nexus 7:
G Stomper to G Stomper WORKS!

Robin to laptop with same hotspot
Via G Stomper failed at first, until I switched the hotspot network properties from public to private (on the Windows PC).

That fixed it!

I think Remixlive is truly bugged however and I've notified the devs.

That means G Stomper is my wingman at my upcoming show! Thank you for a great app and your assistance!

[planeth]

Thanks a lot for the kind words, Schmidi:)
I'm glad to hear that you got it to work, at least with G-Stomper.

If you don't mind... it would be nice if you could write a short follow up to the devs of Remixlive and let them know that they can contact me for this issue. I'm in contact with them from time to time anyway, and I'm pretty sure that I know what the problem is, if Remixlive freezes when changing the tempo.

Robin to laptop with same hotspot
Via G Stomper failed at first, until I switched the hotspot network properties from public to private.

That fixed it!

Good to know. I didn't know that this makes any difference.

That means G Stomper is my wingman at my upcoming show! Thank you for a great app and your assistance!

Great to hear that:). If you ever record a video clip of your show, I'd love to watch it.

Have a good weekend

[Schmidi]

I'm planning on taking some video soon and I'll send you some links!

One snag here:

Ideally I'd like the setup to be Nexus 7 running G Stomper <-> laptop/MPC Touch at my show.

Given that the Nexus can't be a WiFi hotspot like the phone, how should I connect these two?

Any way to do this via USB? Otherwise I'd probably go Ad Hoc, I'd think.

[planeth]

I'm planning on taking some video soon and I'll send you some links!

One snag here:

Ideally I'd like the setup to be Nexus 7 running G Stomper <-> laptop/MPC Touch at my show.

Given that the Nexus can't be a WiFi hotspot like the phone, how should I connect these two?

Any way to do this via USB? Otherwise I'd probably go Ad Hoc, I'd think.

USB is not possible, as Ableton Link works exclusively over WiFi.

If you don't need the phone for G-Stomper, then I'd just use the phone as WiFi hotspot, and then connect all other involved devices to that hotspot (generally it's not recommended to use a device as a member of a Link session and make the same device to act as hotspot at the same time).

I did some sessions with a phone as hotspot, and it works well. But I'd recommend to use some portable WiFi router with a password secured WiFi running, some independent device that does nothing else than being the WiFi access point. Password secured, because you probably don't want to allow that anyone else joins your WiFi;).

All members of your Link sessions (laptop, MPC, Android device(s) with G-Stomper) can just connect to that WiFi and all will work well. Phone as hotspot works, but a dedicated WiFi Access Point device is more stable, which might be essential in a live session.

Hope that's helpful