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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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I have a friend who lives in his van on BLM land in Arizona. He does not have a lot of extra money to spend on music equipment.

What he wants to do is play his keyboard through a tablet or possibly his Android cell phone and use as many free VSTs as he can get by with to produce B3 sounds for example.

Output to an amp or to the PA.
I know exactly how to do this with a laptop but I don't have much idea about tablets or how one could do this with a cell phone.

Obviously, a computer is a computer whether it is in a cell phone or a desktop but how to deal with the processor speed, memory, and USB in and out issues?

Does anyone know how to do this stuff?

Billy


“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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I've not done it as it became clear that the Android I was using when I looked was too old and cratchety, though I was trying also to go via BlueTooth at the time.

USB MIDI is claimed to be supported from Android 13, which is encouraging, and there appear to be some synths.
https://source.android.com/docs/core/audio/midi
https://www.androidauthority.com/best-synth-apps-android-3101133/

FluidSynth is also available.


Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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PB.

there are a ton of refurb i5 win pc's on amazon and other sites 150 buks or under.
ive done a ton of songs on such before i got my new ryzen 400 buk mini pc .
buy him it for xmas. this will have power to do many song tracks.
i prefer pc's to tablets. ipad is good but pricey.


merry xmas.

om


my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..)
https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs
(90 songs created useing bb/rb)
(lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Yes, I totally agree about the laptop. I told him I would buy him a laptop and an interface or give him one of mine.

He seems to think power is the issue but it really is not. The laptop can be run on solar. Playing time may be limited. A cheap generator solves that issue.

The real issue is he does not want to learn how to deal with a computer.

The truth is the phone/tablet will be much more of a PITB to deal with than a laptop.

Ever try to read lyrics on a damn phone at a gig?

I know many musicians display lyrics on phones, tablets and Laptops but I still prefer a three-ring binder with paper with the tempo key sig and notes.

Thanks to both of you for the input.

Billy


“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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PB.

lenovo thinkpads are good....heres a ton of em' el cheapo...

https://www.amazon.com/refurbished-lenovo-thinkpad/s?k=refurbished+lenovo+thinkpad

personally i like the exapandability of towers tho'.

look at these 'monsters'...all for the stupid low price of 400 buckies or less.
xeons etc. sooo many good deals out there...

https://ca.refurb.io/products/hp-workstation-z4g-tower-desktop-xeon-w-2123-3-6-ghz-32gb-512-m2-sata-nvidia-quadro-p400-3-mini-display-ports-windows-10-pro-refurbished

or for just over 230 buckies monster deal...with blinkin xeons nearly 4 ghz.
fab deal.

https://www.amazon.ca/HP-Z420-Workstation-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B01MD2DP7L

expandability/power coming out the ying yangs.
etc etc.

have a great xmas pb.

om

Last edited by justanoldmuso; 12/13/24 07:47 PM.

my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..)
https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs
(90 songs created useing bb/rb)
(lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Billy, I can't help immediately as I don't have an Android tablet, but I do hope that you get an answer other than recommendations to purchase a different computer. I'll dig around and see what I can find.
Trev


BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Thanks Trev
Leaving to work on the boat for two days

Billy


“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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OK, I found this YouTube video which seems to he a workable solution:

This guy uses an app named: Perfect Piano which is apparently free.

The only thing extra that was needed was a USB-C to USB-A adapter cable.

Hope this helps smile


BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Actually, I do have an android tablet and they are rather limited to what they can do compared to an iPad. Sometimes you have to do extra steps to get them to work. For example, I have a DropBox account. There is no app for that but you can accomplish the goal with a third party app and many more steps.

I use mine for reading e-books and some game playing.

The used computer will accomplish what he wants to do much easier.

...Deb

Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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"The only thing extra that was needed was a USB-C to USB-A adapter cable"
Hey! One of those came with my BiaB hard drive!
//keeping forum related smile


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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