Topic: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

It seems almost possible, but there's no usb connection except for charging, as far as I tell, so there's no way to connect a midi device? (And I guess you can't print from it or load external files onto it, unless they're apps just designed for the device.)

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Ha!  I was wondering when someone would ask this question.

Personally, I don't know if Apple's new "A4" ARM processor would be robust enough to run Pianoteq without serious concessions -- excellent question, though, and until our developer team can get their hands on a model and give it a shot...

At least it has the small headphone jack.  But no USB, except for power:  ouch!

I was keeping an eye on this thing for possible use with Metasynth (oh, the possibilities!) and graphics programs like ArtRage Studio Pro or Corel Painter, but the new iPad isn't really a "workhorse" device.

Due to the lack of connections, it couldn't even really nudge the general-purpose Mac mini out of the picture.  But that's clearly _not_ the iPad's purpose.  ;^)

"Our developers, who art in Toulouse, hallowed be thy physical-models.
Thy version 4 come, thy new instruments be done, in the computer as it is in the wood!"

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Yeah, it doesn't seem to run anything except programs developed for it. If I read the specs correctly, it's just a big iPhone. You can't load a music program on it or open Word documents.

And that's sort of nice. I like what the iPhone\iTouch can do. But it means that the iPad is really limited. To do work, you have to carry a regular notebook around, too. Maybe use its word processor and e-mail yourself the documents for importing into Word and then printing.

Last edited by Jake Johnson (28-01-2010 01:51)

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Well, actually, with Pages (from iWork), you can use Word documents.

The idea of this iPad is to beat the netbooks and Kindles of the world at their own games;  its novelty lies in combining many features, not in excelling at just one or a few.  (Though it certainly appears to excel at all of those demonstrated features.) 

It's a transitory product.  The technology to fit a robust laptop or desktop into such a small form factor simply doesn't yet exist -- but, without a doubt, this is an encouraging first step.  And, to me (being a Mac fanboy), it's beautiful!

But is it for Pianoteq or similar "serious" creative work?  Uh, no.  We gotta wait a bit longer...  For now, Pianoteq laughs at it.

(Seriously, if only I could run Metasynth -- not to mention Pianoteq -- on something that small, then I'd be in seventh heaven!)

Last edited by dhalfen (28-01-2010 05:35)
"Our developers, who art in Toulouse, hallowed be thy physical-models.
Thy version 4 come, thy new instruments be done, in the computer as it is in the wood!"

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

It's a nice thought! I believe it has a 1Ghz processor so too slow for the current incarnation of PTQ but I used to run version 2 (I think) on a 1.25GHz G4, plus the iPhone/iPad OS is just a cut down version of OSX so it may be reasonably easy to port OSX apps to the iPad.

iWork has already been ported who knows in a generation or two we might see iLife ported and then a cut down version of PTQ! I suspect the current USB connector would work for midi if Apple added the required drivers to the OS.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

First, we are going to see 1024x768 ports of all the Yamaha Tenori-On clones currently available for the iPhone/iPod Touch.

Eventually, someone will come up with a music reader application, in which case I am sure Hugh Sung will blog about it five minutes later.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Although the cpu is slow compared to a Core 2 Duo or i3/i5/i7, the advantage is that the developer of a virtual instrument for this platform (provided a usable interface could be made) knows exactly what to aim for and can fit the instrument to the performance provided by the platform. Later generations might be faster, but are unlikely to be slower.

This means that the developer could provide a number of different configurations, e.g. optimized for features or polyphony and know that those would just work.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Doesn't this thing have WiFi? Perhaps there are some MIDI-to-WiFi devices available?

Also, compare the price of this thing and the Jazzmutant Lemur (which is somewhere above 2000 euros!)... we have a winner, it seems.

Hard work and guts!

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

EvilDragon wrote:

Doesn't this thing have WiFi? Perhaps there are some MIDI-to-WiFi devices available?

Good point! Not sure about the price, I haven't found a European price yet, $500 is pretty good but I'm expecting 400-500 €/£ which isn't such a bargain.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

BazC wrote:

Good point! Not sure about the price, I haven't found a European price yet, $500 is pretty good but I'm expecting 400-500 €/£ which isn't such a bargain.

Compared to 2000€ Lemur, it's a freaking steal!

Hard work and guts!

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

True!

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

It would be real nice with this multitouch in pianoteq, don't you think?

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

EvilDragon wrote:

Doesn't this thing have WiFi? Perhaps there are some MIDI-to-WiFi devices available?

Also, compare the price of this thing and the Jazzmutant Lemur (which is somewhere above 2000 euros!)... we have a winner, it seems.

Hm...There IS a wifi to midi app:

http://www.itouchmidi.com/?q=node/3

Not sure I understand, though--you connect a wireless midi transmitter-receiver to the midi controller, and that lets you play a synth loaded on the iPhone\iPad over Wifi?

Actually, that program may just be virtual keyboard that lets you play notes by pressing the screen.

Last edited by Jake Johnson (28-01-2010 20:49)

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

I'm pretty sure that app is for making iPhone the controller, and not to receive data over WiFi...

Hard work and guts!

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

EvilDragon wrote:

I'm pretty sure that app is for making iPhone the controller, and not to receive data over WiFi...

Yeah, I just edited my post after looking at the site again. But the existence of the program at least means that midi is supported on the iPad\iPhone. (Which was news to me.)

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

It looks as though a lot of people on other sites are considering using the iPad for a controller, instead of as the host for a vst-type of instrument. The iPad would sit on the keyboard, I guess. I think I'd rather use a Wacom tablet or just one of the Behringer cc controllers and a monitor--wouldn't you be looking at the slider move in the application instead of just seeing it move under your finger? And $400 seems steep for a controller...

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Jake Johnson wrote:

It looks as though a lot of people on other sites are considering using the iPad for a controller, instead of as the host for a vst-type of instrument.

No, I'm envisioning using the iPad as a host instead of hauling my MacBook Pro around. I am always concerned of it (MBP) falling down, getting damaged, all kinds of bad things. Other than that, a full-blown computer like a MBP is overkill of sorts if you just want to play piano.

It would be too cool to use an iPad for PTQ and besides that for sheet music. With that possible, I would not hesitate much.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Korg have produced a synth app for the iPad that can be controlled from a midi keyboard via the Camera connection kit.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/korg-ims...2966?mt=8#

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Well, take a look at this:

http://www.aufkurs88.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/studiodock_angle_nu_media_lrg-620x387.jpg
https://www.alesis.com/iodock

A full-featured I/O dock. They just introduced it at NAMM 2011.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Wow that's brilliant!

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

I bet that if this idea get realise, you will find a japanese in the largest piano store of Japan, playing in this iPod.

Last edited by Beto-Music (06-02-2011 02:50)

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Well the iPad 2 has been anounced, dual core 1GHz processor so I would think it's fast enough to run Pianoteq, plus Garageband has been announced for iPad too.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Jake Johnson wrote:

It seems almost possible, but there's no usb connection except for charging, as far as I tell, so there's no way to connect a midi device? (And I guess you can't print from it or load external files onto it, unless they're apps just designed for the device.)

You can connect any iPad or iPhone to any MIDI device by using the MIDI Mobilizer

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Nice to see Apple giving business opportunities to small firms to make adapters for their closed tech. //sarcasm


It would be good to display sheet music and control pianoteq via the ipad, but I can't see the point with using the touch screen for actually playing pianoteq directly. If I wanted to play midi piano without velocity sensitivity I'd be content with any number of better-sounding patch-based synthesis. Velocity sensitivity is where pianoteq shines, so using the ipad's touch screen to hit notes seems ...frankly, idiotic to me. Definitely a step back into the stone age, controller-wise. Personally I use an old LCD monitor and a 5 dollar VGA cable extender under my carpet and I can just use my legs to walk over to my piano, rather than plugging a wire into a portable device. Not including a USB port is just so idiotic.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Wireless midi for iPad/iPhone/iPod

http://www.iconnectmidi.com/

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

jensgk wrote:

You can connect any iPad or iPhone to any MIDI device by using the MIDI Mobilizer

Unfortunately I have now learned, that it is not compatible with Apple's own MIDI interface standard coreMIDI, so Garageband will probably not work with the MIDI Mobilizer. Some of the other offerings looks more promising.

rlburnside wrote:

Nice to see Apple giving business opportunities to small firms to make adapters for their closed tech. //sarcasm

There does not seem to be many MIDI interfaces for the Android phones, maybe it is because the Android phones have such a diverse set of hardware and software specs ?

Also, I would not use an iPad/iPhone as a Midi controller for another musical instrument. What I want is to use the iPad as the musical instrument, and control that from a simple Midi controller keyboard. This is what I use the Midi Mobilizer for, at the moment, with my iPhone.

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

I have been using the Dell Duo dual core netbook/tablet hybrid for Pianoteq with Windows 7 (big improvement on Vista from an OSX-user point of view) in lieu of my Macbook to try it. Maybe I am losing it but it sounds pretty good to me. The Dell Duo has no trouble with the internal bandwidth at 29,400 out at 41,100 including extremely fast double hand chord rundowns it does not choke. Poly, I set at 64 with 96 (smallest) buffer. Have not tried more poly with this where I might get a little more but I do not think much more if possible.  I am actually running it using ASIO4All and closing the lid after flipping the LCD to go to a tablet mode. Worked instantly and has no issues. I am using a weighted, 88 USB midi controller. I can read music/glances/cues in low profile if I want on the tablet that is nice and flat on top of the instrument. The screen flipped over in the tablet mode is capacitive so you can just use your finger.

Actually using the on-board sound. Later I will try a USB sound card.

(this shows 1 post though I posted before a while back but forgot my log in)

Last edited by Hammerhead (15-03-2011 06:12)

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

Oh... my... God!!! I would buy an iPad 2 just to use Pianoteq! I would actually prefer an iPad app vs the desktop app I'm using. I currently have a few feet of midi cable running between my Yamaha P 85 and iMac, so changing settings while I'm playing can be a bit of a pain... and a notebook wouldn't sit nicely on top of my piano, while an iPad would sit perfectly on the music rest (not to mention, it would look mighty cool). I could even buy one of those snazzy iPad mounts so it could float off to the side.

I hope to God that Pianoteq is working on this right now. PLEASE!

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

mistertomlinson wrote:

Oh... my... God!!! I would buy an iPad 2 just to use Pianoteq!

If Pianoteq was on the iPad there is also a program for the iPhone to act as a page turner just by shaking it like on your knee/other. Changes pages in the iPad by other means graphical also.

In other words, you can use the iPhone to turn pages like music on the iPad.

Having said the above, there is rumor that Apple is releasing early the iPad 3 version in September that will probably have the horsepower to run Pianoteq. Probably not until then will there be any consideration as my dual core 1.5 just about runs it satisfactorily.

Hammerhead

Last edited by Hammerhead (27-03-2011 21:34)

Re: PianoTeq for iPad? No USB port for a midi connection?

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/...n=shorturl

This looks fun