Can I use iPhone MIDI Designer to control iPad?

Question

Hello...

Tired of messing around with hardware midi controllers for many reasons to control AUM and synths in my iPad. I’m looking into this app and Lemur. Can I use midi designer on my iPhone to control parameters in an AUM session. Synths within AUM - troublemaker, zeeon, iSem, etc. Also controls in AUM like volumes, transport, and mutes. Again I’d like to build a template on my iPhone to control my iPad with a setup like mentioned above. I do have a lightning to USB adapter. Finally, any insight on what midi designer offers over lemur?

Thanks All!

Comments

At some point we were very interested in Lemur. We’ve talked to a lot of experts — see the interview I did here (https://mididesigner.com/theodor-galanis-live-rig-interview) — and one thing that people fail to mention is that Lemur requires a computer and that the iPad editor can’t be used for everything. This seems fine in theory, but when you’re adjusting your MIDI Designer layout in an uber, on a bus or on a plane, you’ll realize that having everything contained in one app is pretty critical.

If you do decide to pursue the Lemur route, even if you love it, please do come back here and update this question with your own insights! More clarity and information helps everybody.

Good luck with whatever you choose and keep us posted, please!
Dan

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Oh yeah, regarding your actual question — can you control iPad with iPhone — the answer is definitely YES. It’s in fact how we test most things these days regarding “external hardware.” MIDI Designer is one of the few bidirectional MIDI controllers out there.

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You can control AUM parameters with MIDI Designer as well as parameters of synths within AUM that accept external MIDI. - Mitch

Answer 1

Re: MDP2 vs Lemur

I will provide one metric:  in last six months, the Lemur community shows 7 uploaded layouts.  On MDP2, there are about 38.  Quantity is not quality, but this shows more active users sharing MDP2 output.

MDP2 is an immediate, graphic environment.  In Lemur, you will be reading manuals to learn things like Example: setexpression(Fader,'foo',3.14)

This might imply Lemur is more capable, but what it really means is a much greater learning curve to get something working.  And on the Lemur wiki, details of many functions just show: "upcoming"

With MDP2, you also get an active community and developer, standing by to help with questions.

Comments

Thanks for the info. Clearly the community is active here as evidenced by the responses I received. Cool to see. Lemur claims that their iPad editor is user friendly but a few things I’ve seen suggest maybe it’s not. Thanks again for the info!

Answer 2

Re: MDP2 vs Lemur

I will provide one metric:  in last six months, the Lemur community shows 7 uploaded layouts.  On MDP2, there are about 38.  Quantity is not quality, but this shows more active users sharing MDP2 output.

MDP2 is an immediate, graphic environment.  In Lemur, you will be reading manuals to learn things like Example: setexpression(Fader,'foo',3.14)

This might imply Lemur is more capable, but what it really means is a much greater learning curve to get something working.  And on the Lemur wiki, details of many functions just show: "upcoming"

With MDP2, you also get an active community and developer, standing by to help with questions.

Answer 3

Re: controlling iPad from iPhone

By "control" you mean sending midi from MDP2 to iPad apps running midi -- answer is yes.  If iPad is already connected to your midi network, can be as simple as using bluetooth LE or Wifi midi from the iPhone to iPad

Comments

Thanks for the reply. Yes by control I mean sending midi from MOD2 on my iPhone to apps on my iPad. Seems like it’s be something one could do but most of the info I’ve seen on line talks about iPad to computer. You mention a WiFi connection. Do you know if I could wire the connection using a lightning to USB adapter kit? Interestingly enough I haven’t been able to find any videos demonstrating what I’m trying to do which surprises me. Thanks again for the answer!

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I'm not clear on the USB connection here.  Is this what you are trying to do?-  https://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/10/17/lightning-to-lightning-cable-ipad-to-iphone-direct/

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Such a great amount of response and help from this community, it’s pretty incredible. Yes! That’s exactly what I’m wondering if I can do. I use the same cable connections to connect a beatstep to my iPad. AUM, my AU application host / audio mixer, recognizes the external midi device plug and play. I’m wondering if I replace the beatstep with an iPhone, design a template, if my iPad would recognize it in the same way once my iPhone is plugged in like the picture in your link there? No muss, no fuss is what I’m after :)

Answer 4

Re: controlling iPad from iPhone

By "control" you mean sending midi from MDP2 to iPad apps running midi -- answer is yes.  If iPad is already connected to your midi network, can be as simple as using bluetooth LE or Wifi midi from the iPhone to iPad

Answer 5

Here is the setup I just tested.  Everyone setup is different, and you may have to play around with the midi connection settings on the specific apps you have.  I opened MDP2 on both devices, connected both with bluetooth le and wifi, and log on one MDP2 showed the actions from the other device.  The key actions on the wireless connected MDP2 were not forwarded on to the RD2000.  

p.s., I suspect you will end up with a second iPad if you do this, the additional real estate is great, and used iPads are good for this app.

p.s.s., I have been trying to get a second iPad connected to my network to have two MDP2 layouts up at once.  Had not realized how easy the wireless connection is.  Have to wait until wife returns with her iPad to test it further.

Images

Tested connectivity.

Comments

Thanks for the test and posting that image. I was able to test Bluetooth midi last night by sending a StepPolyArp sequence running on my iPhone to my iPad. I don’t know why the whole wireless midi thing scared me so much. Having never dealt with wireless midi before I just assumed I would have a tough time getting it to work. Definitely not the case.

So yeah, I think I’ll pull the trigger on MDP2. I also see another iPad in my future as well, lol. The real estate on the iPhone certainly is in short supply.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Answer 6

Here is the setup I just tested.  Everyone setup is different, and you may have to play around with the midi connection settings on the specific apps you have.  I opened MDP2 on both devices, connected both with bluetooth le and wifi, and log on one MDP2 showed the actions from the other device.  The key actions on the wireless connected MDP2 were not forwarded on to the RD2000.  

p.s., I suspect you will end up with a second iPad if you do this, the additional real estate is great, and used iPads are good for this app.

p.s.s., I have been trying to get a second iPad connected to my network to have two MDP2 layouts up at once.  Had not realized how easy the wireless connection is.  Have to wait until wife returns with her iPad to test it further.

Images

Tested connectivity.