Music Sequencing on the Pocket PC

By Bob Katayama, Submitted Monday, February 20, 2006

Topics:

After all these years of PDA development, what has not really improved is the ability to create musical compositions on the PDA. There has been MIDI players, simple sequencers and sound editing programs in the past like Griff Pocket Music Studio. Nothing really to rival or even enhance the PC or laptop based professional music studio software though.

I would like to hear how others feel about this lack of music support on the PDA's. Is it something that musicians need or are most happy working with the laptop? Are we moving away from using computer based tools to help write, organize and compose music? What about practicing music with the aid of a PC? I would think these activities are still popular on the desktop therefore why not on a PDA?

Is the limited memory size on PDA's as standard a limiting factor?
Does having a 1 Gig SD memory card seem too small nowadays?
Is the screen size a limiting factor?
What about having a PDA while practicing?
Having the ability to play and adjust the tempo on playback of an instrument when one of the band members are not able to make a practice seems like a great tool to me.

I would think the potential for a handheld musical assistant would be a huge benefit to many musicians. Maybe it's just me and most are happy with a laptop or no computer aid at all?

All comments welcome.

Submitted by Bob Katayama on March 4, 2006 - 11:02am.

Update:

I just came across a great music program. It's called AudioBox. The company that manufactures the title is located @ www.4pockets.com

The title AudioBox is designed to emulate some classic synthesizers and allows you to create your own compositions. One major drawback is that the files created cannot be exported to a PC or converted to a MIDI file. It does import a MIDI file but is not a true MIDI synthesizer.

Submitted by Ben Stanley on May 11, 2006 - 3:25pm.

I'm not sure of what particular needs you guys have, but have you checked out MidNote?

If you haven't, you can learn about it at their website (pdamusician.com) or check out a review of it I did a while back at (http://ppcgems.blogspot.com/2005/11/midnote.html)

Submitted by Bob Katayama on May 11, 2006 - 4:00pm.

Thanks Ben:

As the date on your review indicates this is an old program and lacks the real world application of Midi via the PDA. Midi via the PDA for sequencing purposes means you can play notes on a keyboard and have your PDA record this live like how a desktop or laptop can. Then be able to reverse the process and have the PDA play the composition back on the MIDI keyboard. That would be a real sequencer. Midnote as the name suggests is just a notation program and not directly related to sequencing.

Submitted by Bob Katayama on May 16, 2006 - 9:01pm.

Exactly. I am the original creator of the MPort MIDI interface for the Pocket PC that worked on the original iPAQ's. No longer available due to various software and hardware issues but the potential is still there.

Submitted by Bob Katayama on June 20, 2006 - 6:01pm.

Hi Paul:

The major problem is inconsistancy with Windows Mobile hardware in what each make/model comes with. Some support serial and some do not. The ones that do support serial, not all support the full input and output signal lines to support a true MIDI interface.

In the end, one can be created for each make/model that supports the correct serial communications via the expansion port but the retail cost would be too high. Initial guess would be $200 USD just for the interface.

Then software is another major manufacturing expense. Could be sold for $30 - $100 depending on the level of sophistication but would take upwards of 1 - 2 years to create anything worth talking about.

There are so many great programs for the laptop already and you can use a unit like the OQO that runs Windows XP and is only slightly larger than a Handheld PC. Has a standard USB 2.0 port and you can connect a USB MIDI interface like the ones from M-Audio.

OQO
http://www.oqo.com/hardware/basics/

MIDI interface
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Uno-main.html

Submitted by Bob Katayama on October 24, 2006 - 4:50pm.

As far as pda is concerned that runs Linux. Maybe a GP2X could be used available @ www.gp2x.com

Nothing is available at this time but the potential for someone to create one is built into the GP2X hardware. Specially if the break out box is used with it.

Submitted by Bob Katayama on April 24, 2007 - 10:23pm.

Hi Dick:

The original MPort could have been connected to a Dell Axim if a special adapter cable was created. The other issue is the driver and actual MIDI software is not available for the Dell Axim. Therefore there is no solution I am aware of at this time.

Submitted by Bob Katayama on April 24, 2007 - 10:28pm.

Hi Napoleon:

I remember you from a few years back. Thanks for the kind words.

Submitted by Bob Katayama on August 30, 2007 - 12:22pm.

Hi Jeff:

MIDI over Bluetooth is possible.

2 problems though...

1: No softwsre designed to run on the Windows Mobile that provides MIDI based sequencing or file dumping capabilities.
2: Bluetooth based MIDI interfaces are very expensive.

Check this article out.
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/06/02/m-audio-goes-wireless-new-wireless-keyboards-wireless-midi-interface/

Bob