Pro Audio software for Android

[elgo]

NB: I just posted this on XDA, so if you read it there, no need to read it here as well.

Hello,

With handsets like the Galaxy S series (i9000, Captivate, Vibrant, etc.) and others, it looks like we're at the point where we have the horsepower - processor, RAM, and graphics cards - needed for pro audio software to come out for Android. As it stands though, there is nothing that can match up to multitrack for iOS (a 16-track 44.1/16bit recorder) let alone fourtrack, which is only a four track audio sequencer and which I run on my iPhone 2G.

The market is there, and now the high-powered hardware is there, but the selection of audio apps is meagre at best. Does anyone know of any plans for pro audio software for Android? For that matter, video editing software like iOS 4's iMovie would be great, but we're not seeing that either.

I'm aware that there are programs that have packages of preset loops, as well as an audio multitrack and a video editor that rely on server-side rendering. I'm talking about a native solution for audio editing, sequencing, and/or tracking. I am not a programmer, and I know there are differences between X11 and Android's setup, but with programs like Ardour and Rosegarden for Linux, why can't someone adapt the relevant parts to Android? Even Audacity...

 

[braj]

I agree. Stuff likes this makes me sort of wish I had an iPhone, maybe I'll get an iPad if Android doesn't improve in this regard. For what is supposed to be a more open poweruser experience the software selection is very meager.

 

[personaleu]

Still waiting for a video editor for my HTC Desire! When do I get it? Or can I make easily the YouTube editor work from Desire?

 

[baillou2]

Before that even, there should be a decent basic mp3 player. Player pro is quite good, but you have to pay for it (It should be bundled with the phone), and it doesn't do gapless playback. The iphone interface is still the best out there. It pains me to say such a thing.

In a nutshell one can say that Android is a VERY powerful OS with underwhelming, often badly managed apps.

 

[Steve W]

No more posts on this since september? Blimey I know I couldnt do much with my htc hero, but ive got the galaxy s2 now and really looking for some pro apps... I use logic 9 pro on a mac and traktor so I know about touchosc but really looking for a daw on android now.

 

[alostpacket]

There is an app called TouchDAW out there but I don't know how good it is.

Many of the audio controls didn't come to the API until Gingerbread. However there are some interesting projects in the works.

You can learn more here:
http://androidforums.com/android-ap...ng-external-midi-instruments.html#post2604877

Here's one page I found where a guy hacked something together:
MIDI over Bluetooth, Part I: Hardware

Actually looks like the guy has a whole series on it: MIDI over Bluetooth, Part VI: Reducing Cost

Looks like a fun project to be honest, and maybe it's worth emailing him to get him to sell the things

Doesn't look like it's something a simple app can handle yet though.

This is one area that Apple has been kicking Android's @$$ over the years:

MIDIPad Turns Your iPad Into A Multi-Touch MIDI Controller Synthtopia

Here's another very informative article on what's out there and what's possible.

It seems there's a WiFi device that works pretty well that just came out relatively recently.


Golden Age of Wireless: Korg iOS Sync, Android + MIDI Hardware, Enter Bluetooth MIDI?

The Missing Link : Jabrudian Industries LLC

Also, with Google's recent announcement of the ADK/Arduino control/usb host features at Google IO, I suspect this is an area that will start to see a TON of activity.


hth.

 

[radsboy]

Any updates in this area since that last post? I am a new user but would be very pleased to be able to do basic audio editing on the go -

 

[UssjTrunks]

I don't think you can call any audio software on a phone ''professional''. There are some simple DAWs available for iOS but I just don't see the appeal in them.

 

[Android Wax]

UssjTrunks is right. The market just isn't there. Just the thought of professionally editing audio tracks on a tiny screen seems daunting. Plus the interface would be difficult to play with using fingers. Much easier with a descent size screen, mouse and keyboard. Tablets would be ok, but the sales of tablets just isn't there yet.