getting MIDI from ipad to windows?

wellingtonCres

is there a reliable way to get MIDI from ipad to windows?

wim

Windows 10? The MIDIberry app might work. I haven't tried it though.

I've tried RTP MIDI over WiFi and found it too unreliable. I've had luck with StudioMUX on Windows 7, but many, many others have said it's unreliable.

Some day I might try to see if RTP MIDI over Ethernet would work out, but now that I have a Mac with IDAM, it just works, so I'm not much motivated to bust out the PC, and it's Windows 7 anyway.

annahahn

I've had trouble with all the wifi/bluetooth based solutions also

It's been a couple years since I tried but if I remember correctly I think I settled on using RTP midi with the lightening cable plugged into the ios device and the USB end of the cable plugged to the PC so that the connection was hardwired

RajahP

Hopefully Midimux/Studiomux update will be out soon.. iOS 14 broke it... https://zerodebug.com/#/studiomux

Korakios

@annahahn said:
I've had trouble with all the wifi/bluetooth based solutions also

It's been a couple years since I tried but if I remember correctly I think I settled on using RTP midi with the lightening cable plugged into the ios device and the USB end of the cable plugged to the PC so that the connection was hardwired

It needs network connection

BT midi works with MidiBerry app as long as you never minimize the app (most people disable background apps on Settings so the app closes and breaks connection)

annahahn

@Korakios

oh that's right!

If my memory serves me correctly I believe I hotspotted the iphone so the phone was delivering the internet to the computer but a hardwired hotspot as if over ethernet cable but rather over usb

michael_m

I know this isn’t the short-term answer to your question, but long-term you could think of getting a Mac, where the connection is very straightforward.

However, I know that a connection to Windows is possible as I know quite a few people who have done it. Unfortunately I don’t know how they did it or what tools they used.

hes

@wellingtonCres said:
is there a reliable way to get MIDI from ipad to windows?

If you can't find a reliable way to get midi directly from iPad to Windows, you could always set up a cheap Raspberry Pi computer as a midi host. You could then, e.g., connect to the Raspberry Pi via Bluetooth from your iPad and the Pi would automatically forward midi messages to the Windows PC. Or vice versa. How to do this is the subject of Wim's "Midi Bridge Thingy" thread:
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/41641/show-n-tell-raspberry-pi-ble-midi-bridge-thingy

wim

@hes said:

@wellingtonCres said:
is there a reliable way to get MIDI from ipad to windows?

If you can't find a reliable way to get midi directly from iPad to Windows, you could always set up a cheap Raspberry Pi computer as a midi host. You could then, e.g., connect to the Raspberry Pi via Bluetooth from your iPad and the Pi would automatically forward midi messages to the Windows PC. Or vice versa. How to do this is the subject of Wim's "Midi Bridge Thingy" thread:
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/41641/show-n-tell-raspberry-pi-ble-midi-bridge-thingy

Sort of. That solution would still require Bluetooth MIDI on the Windows PC.

But ... further down I discovered a way to make a variant that does work where you can plug the device into a Windows PC and then connect to it via Bluetooth from iOS to send MIDI. Start here: https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/869181/#Comment_869181, then skip to here: https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/869747/#Comment_869747.

I didn't bring it up before because I only verified that it worked. I didn't do any reliability testing. It's beyond most people's technical comfort zone anyway.

hes

@wim said:

@hes said:

@wellingtonCres said:
is there a reliable way to get MIDI from ipad to windows?

If you can't find a reliable way to get midi directly from iPad to Windows, you could always set up a cheap Raspberry Pi computer as a midi host. You could then, e.g., connect to the Raspberry Pi via Bluetooth from your iPad and the Pi would automatically forward midi messages to the Windows PC. Or vice versa. How to do this is the subject of Wim's "Midi Bridge Thingy" thread:
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/41641/show-n-tell-raspberry-pi-ble-midi-bridge-thingy

Sort of. That solution would still require Bluetooth MIDI on the Windows PC.

Ah, I see, the problem is trying to connect two "usb midi hosts" by usb cable? I think this device is intended to make that possible:
http://compasflamenco.com/midi-c-3/midi-usbusb-p-4.html

wim

@hes said:

@wim said:

@hes said:

@wellingtonCres said:
is there a reliable way to get MIDI from ipad to windows?

If you can't find a reliable way to get midi directly from iPad to Windows, you could always set up a cheap Raspberry Pi computer as a midi host. You could then, e.g., connect to the Raspberry Pi via Bluetooth from your iPad and the Pi would automatically forward midi messages to the Windows PC. Or vice versa. How to do this is the subject of Wim's "Midi Bridge Thingy" thread:
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/41641/show-n-tell-raspberry-pi-ble-midi-bridge-thingy

Sort of. That solution would still require Bluetooth MIDI on the Windows PC.

Ah, I see, the problem is trying to connect two "usb midi hosts" by usb cable? I think this device is intended to make that possible:
http://compasflamenco.com/midi-c-3/midi-usbusb-p-4.html

That looks pretty cool.

hes

@wim said:

@hes said:

@wim said:

@hes said:

@wellingtonCres said:
is there a reliable way to get MIDI from ipad to windows?

If you can't find a reliable way to get midi directly from iPad to Windows, you could always set up a cheap Raspberry Pi computer as a midi host. You could then, e.g., connect to the Raspberry Pi via Bluetooth from your iPad and the Pi would automatically forward midi messages to the Windows PC. Or vice versa. How to do this is the subject of Wim's "Midi Bridge Thingy" thread:
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/41641/show-n-tell-raspberry-pi-ble-midi-bridge-thingy

Sort of. That solution would still require Bluetooth MIDI on the Windows PC.

Ah, I see, the problem is trying to connect two "usb midi hosts" by usb cable? I think this device is intended to make that possible:
http://compasflamenco.com/midi-c-3/midi-usbusb-p-4.html

That looks pretty cool.

If I understand correctly, this would allow connection of iPad to Windows machine by USB cable without the Pi in between. So no need for the Pi midi bridge thingy, this device itself acts as the intermediary between iOS and Windows machines.

wim

@hes said:
If I understand correctly, this would allow connection of iPad to Windows machine by USB cable without the Pi in between. So no need for the Pi midi bridge thingy, this device itself acts as the intermediary between iOS and Windows machines.

yep, looks the way to me too. Costs marginally more, but would get rid of Bluetooth latency.

I'm good with Bluetooth myself though.

hes

I think another option would be to get two usb-to-din-midi adapter devices, connect one to the Windows machine and one to the iPad, and run a DIN midi cable between them. That's even a little more expensive, I think, but potentially has advantages. E.g., I use this $28 2-in-2-out midi device with my iPad. Two of them would be $56, but they also give you a couple extra midi-ins-and-outs that you might have a use for:
https://www.amazon.com/MIDI-2x2-USB-interface/dp/B01CHRS1RC

I would think the RPi midi-bridge-thingy with bluetooth is preferable for most situations, but some people might like this option.

espiegel123

@hes said:
I think another option would be to get two usb-to-din-midi adapter devices, connect one to the Windows machine and one to the iPad, and run a DIN midi cable between them. That's even a little more expensive, I think, but potentially has advantages. E.g., I use this $28 2-in-2-out midi device with my iPad. Two of them would be $56, but they also give you a couple extra midi-ins-and-outs that you might have a use for:
https://www.amazon.com/MIDI-2x2-USB-interface/dp/B01CHRS1RC

I would think the RPi midi-bridge-thingy with bluetooth is preferable for most situations, but some people might like this option.

There is some question as to whether that MIDI interface works with sysex.

hes

@espiegel123 said:

@hes said:
I think another option would be to get two usb-to-din-midi adapter devices, connect one to the Windows machine and one to the iPad, and run a DIN midi cable between them. That's even a little more expensive, I think, but potentially has advantages. E.g., I use this $28 2-in-2-out midi device with my iPad. Two of them would be $56, but they also give you a couple extra midi-ins-and-outs that you might have a use for:
https://www.amazon.com/MIDI-2x2-USB-interface/dp/B01CHRS1RC

I would think the RPi midi-bridge-thingy with bluetooth is preferable for most situations, but some people might like this option.

There is some question as to whether that MIDI interface works with sysex.

I use it fine to drive two Volcas off a CCK on an iPad Pro 10.5".

I've never used sysex but I should figure out some way to test it for you.

I'm not sure how. Since I don't have any other midi interface seems like I might have to route sysex out the Midi Out1 on the unit and back in thru the Midi In 2, in which case it would be connected only to my iPad or to a Mac, not both.

Or is there some way I could route sysex from a Mac to Keystep via USB and out the Keystep's MIDI DIN to this interface attached to my iPad? Or some other way? I have KQ Dixie, assume I could install Dexed on computer and try to transfer sysex somehow.

cuscolima

I have recently received a windows laptop and the first thing I should have installed was supposed to be Excel but I installed Ableton...ok

Now I would like to connect my Ipad to send MIDI to Ableton. I have seen that Studiomux, MusicIO are no more an option so what is the way to go to do that using a USB cable ?

wim

@cuscolima said:
I have recently received a windows laptop and the first thing I should have installed was supposed to be Excel but I installed Ableton...ok

Now I would like to connect my Ipad to send MIDI to Ableton. I have seen that Studiomux, MusicIO are no more an option so what is the way to go to do that using a USB cable ?

Two adapters such as these connected together (in to out, out to in) might do the job. You'd also need two male to male midi DIN connectors.

You'll only need one if you have a midi capable interface for either the PC or the iPad.

wim

Way beyond most people's technical appetite but...

• https://wiki.audiob.us/doku.php?id=diy_bluetooth_midi_bridge

plus

• https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/869747/#Comment_869747

Can result in a Bluetooth MIDI bridge that can be plugged into a windows PC so that you can connect to it via Bluetooth from iOS.

uncledave

@wim, since this is an old thread, could you be specific about the adapters you mention?

wim

Whoops. I had put them in there but somehow bunged up the links. Will fix.

tyslothrop1

I haven't tried it yet, but if you have a midi able android device, and if I understand correctly you can use an app by a dev called Abraham Wisman called Midi connector, which even had a free version or Midihub by the same dev. I'm gonna try it at some point. My plan is to connect the iPad to the Android device via Bluetooth and the Android via usb to the PC.

cuscolima

@wim said:

@cuscolima said:
I have recently received a windows laptop and the first thing I should have installed was supposed to be Excel but I installed Ableton...ok

Now I would like to connect my Ipad to send MIDI to Ableton. I have seen that Studiomux, MusicIO are no more an option so what is the way to go to do that using a USB cable ?

Two adapters such as these connected together (in to out, out to in) might do the job. You'd also need two male to male midi DIN connectors.

You'll only need one if you have a midi capable interface for either the PC or the iPad.

Thanks, I will try the double-Y cable trick. Unbelievable that it is so tricky to do something like this ;0)

uncledave

@cuscolima said:

@wim said:

@cuscolima said:
I have recently received a windows laptop and the first thing I should have installed was supposed to be Excel but I installed Ableton...ok

Now I would like to connect my Ipad to send MIDI to Ableton. I have seen that Studiomux, MusicIO are no more an option so what is the way to go to do that using a USB cable ?

Two adapters such as these connected together (in to out, out to in) might do the job. You'd also need two male to male midi DIN connectors.

You'll only need one if you have a midi capable interface for either the PC or the iPad.

Thanks, I will try the double-Y cable trick. Unbelievable that it is so tricky to do something like this ;0)

It's not really so unbelievable. USB is a host (computer) to slave protocol, so cannot connect two hosts. Apple's IDAM fudges this to connect an iPad to a Mac, but only via direct connection (no hub, etc.). There is the smart coupler described in this post.
Original serial MIDI is a device-to-device protocol, so interconnecting serial MIDI works.

wim

Well, I do find it unbelievable that there's no native BLE Midi capability in Windows after all these years. I thought so with Windows 7 and still do today. There was some goofy way to try, using Midiberry or something, but I never could get it working.

wim

@cuscolima - Network Session over Ethernet might work. I wouldn't even bother trying it over WiFi though - too much latency and missed midi messages.

rs2000

@wim said:
Well, I do find it unbelievable that there's no native BLE Midi capability in Windows after all these years. I thought so with Windows 7 and still do today. There was some goofy way to try, using Midiberry or something, but I never could get it working.

True.
What works well on my Windows tablet though is the CME WidiBud, used with Yamaha MD-BT01 MIDI dongles in case you have 5pin MIDI ports available.

It's perfect because it's the only BT USB MIDI dongle that's small enough to be acceptable on a tablet.

There's a problem though using it directly with an iDevice acting as a BT MIDI device.
CME offers Windows software to pair with any BT MIDI device and remember the pairing but while that works great with the BT01 dongles, I had no success in pairing it with my iPad acting as a BT MIDI client.
I wish CME would fix the firmware and maybe the Windows software to make that work.

wim

@cuscolima said:

@wim said:

@cuscolima said:
I have recently received a windows laptop and the first thing I should have installed was supposed to be Excel but I installed Ableton...ok

Now I would like to connect my Ipad to send MIDI to Ableton. I have seen that Studiomux, MusicIO are no more an option so what is the way to go to do that using a USB cable ?

Two adapters such as these connected together (in to out, out to in) might do the job. You'd also need two male to male midi DIN connectors.

You'll only need one if you have a midi capable interface for either the PC or the iPad.

Thanks, I will try the double-Y cable trick. Unbelievable that it is so tricky to do something like this ;0)

Make sure they're returnable or you have another use for them in case it doesn't work. I haven't actually tested this.

cuscolima

@wim said:

@cuscolima said:

@wim said:

@cuscolima said:
I have recently received a windows laptop and the first thing I should have installed was supposed to be Excel but I installed Ableton...ok

Now I would like to connect my Ipad to send MIDI to Ableton. I have seen that Studiomux, MusicIO are no more an option so what is the way to go to do that using a USB cable ?

Two adapters such as these connected together (in to out, out to in) might do the job. You'd also need two male to male midi DIN connectors.

You'll only need one if you have a midi capable interface for either the PC or the iPad.

Thanks, I will try the double-Y cable trick. Unbelievable that it is so tricky to do something like this ;0)

Make sure they're returnable or you have another use for them in case it doesn't work. I haven't actually tested this.

No need to return them, your solution works very well, thanks a lot for this !

wim

Sweet! Should be two-way capable too I think.

cuscolima

@wim said:
Sweet! Should be two-way capable too I think.

Yes, two ways. I can send midi from my ipad to my laptop and from my laptop to my ipad. Low latence and very stable signal.