I looked at the Android tablets,  but reports are that Android has pretty abysmal native MIDI performance (bad jitter and latency).  iPads (and even my iPod Touch) have 1 millisecond MIDI timing accuracy since a recent iOS update, which is better than many Windows PCs, once you add up all the jitter sources.

Based on that alone, and given my personal needs, I'd probably go for an iPad over an Android.  Plus, iPads were all over the winter NAMM show ... Android, not so much.  Prospects for improvements to native Android MIDI support don't seem very good at present (based on some Google searching; I'd love to be wrong about that).  I have a friend at Google; maybe he can shed some light on this.

The Alesis Studio Dock ($199) seems like a pretty cool add-on too :)

I don't see iPads or Androids replacing a DAW for most needs, but I think there's huge potential for specialized control surfaces, live performance, and such.

While an IPad control for Sonar would be cool, I agree that its worth waiting for more powerful technology.

In a recent article (I think it was on CDM), they had one of the new tablets coming out run Pro Tools (streaming 9 tracks iirc). No DAW comparisons necessary, but to be able to run PT9 nativly off it shows alot of computing power, defiantly more than an IPad.

Like I said, MAC needs to go away-
My HTC goole phone (G2)/predecessor of the first ever Android phone, the G1(my last phone) makes iphone look like a toy. Dropped calls? What is that? Qwerty keyboard? DUH...

And it is sexier than an iphone if ya ask me-

My PC does the same to a MAC-

F**K a MAC - 

10Ten


And i own several Android devices but refuse to ever buy an Apple device again. I have a cheap Android pad that I use VNC to control Sonar with and there will be controller software soon.

Can you give some links and Photos?
I was intereste in "normal" touchscreen and second graphic card, but it's tooo expensive in comparison to what you can do with it.
iPad just for using as a "virtual control suface" - is not an option too. Even with Alesis dock and using it with some softsynths - it doesn't seem to be "best choice"....
 
So - what Android tablet, what exactly software and - can you give photos/links?

Freddie H


As long Apple continue with all its restriction and politics and doesn't add a simple FLASH PLAYER that they can get 100% free from Adobe, NO NEVER!!!

Yes you need to jailbreak the Iphone or Ipad just to get simple functionality? How ****ed isn't that?
I have Iphone now but this year I will ditch it and get an HTC phone instead.

Apple - Products made for people that has very low tech knowledge and understanding how to build, operate computers and systems, technology gadgets and so on.


LOOK----> http://www.htc.com/europe/product/flyer/overview.html

A Ipad with customization better SCREEN, better Graphic and with FLASH PLAYER that work!!!

Regards
Freddie

Freddie, I just got the top of the line HTC phone....it's absolutely amazing man. Don't procrastinate for a second and don't read the reviews that bash it. Whoever those people are, they shouldn't be allowed to own a phone let alone talk on one. All the things they mention that don't work on it, DO work....especially blue tooth. They just don't know how to initiate their device to have the phone recognize it...so right away they bash it publicly.
 
The only issue with the phone at this time is you cannot use your own ring tones. Though this is important to me as I like to use either parts of my songs or other funny ring tones, it's not a show stopper really. I've heard that they will implement this feature eventually, so not all hope is lost. Also, the surround sound speakers are really cool and provide much better sound than I thought they would. It's actually quite impressive. As soon as you can make the purchase, grab it. It's the best phone I've ever owned. WiFi works awesome and the freakin' phone downloads things nearly as fast as my laptop/pc's. Ton's of apps and games for it, but not as much as the "eye-phone". LOL! That's what we call it here....one of my clients spelled it like that in an email and it's been a running joke for some time now. ;) Anyway...you'll dig this phone if you get one. It's still pretty new so there is quite a bit they need to roll out with it.

Hi All,
 
From my point of view the  usefulness of a tablet is in its portability.
 
At the moment I am not interested much in a tablet as a control surface.
 
I am very much interested in a tablet as a tool for sketching musical ideas and providing musical resources wherever I may be.
 
Currently it is the ipad that delivers the largest choice of music "apps". Many of them very worthwhile. So although I have always been a PC user my choice will be the ipad.
 
regards John
 
 
 

A1MixMan

I'm staying away from tablets and their apps for music production. I'm just not a fan of them at this time. Nothing really wow's me and it's all a bit redundant.

DJSur


I'm staying away from tablets and their apps for music production.  
it's all a bit redundant. 

Thanks,

-D

In some respects it needs to be redundant, like when your standing across the room and just want the transport bar. Or even the "big time" display. or anything really.

The need for redundancies is redundant, hehe. I hear what you're saying, just not useful to me. I may as well remote into a machine that is across the room with an actual laptop. 

Thanks,
-D

I have an ipad and I would get it in a heartbeat.. I just checked a few other companies examples and Brandon, its a no brainer for me...  I beleive that the tactile response time is quick and wouldn't affect the simple type of mixing I do..
 
Please Cakewalk, it would be a nice birthday present (Christmas is already reserved for Producer at my house)..... 
 
 
Thank you A1 MixMan for bringing this up.....
 
L

Maybe I am missing just what it is you all are trying to do...  I remotely control SONAR with a cheapo Dell Netbook by setting up a wireless network in my studio (all the netbooks have built in wireless), connecting to my DAW via Remote Desktop (RDP) and remotely controlling the desktop of my DAW.  It's almost as good as being there, and highly reliable.  It's the way I keep my mics away from the noisy equipment when recording by myself.  The Netbook has an SSD so it makes no sound whatsoever, and costs less than $300.00 (actually it came free with my wife's Dell laptop).

What am I missing here?

Poco

Would love to make my Evo act as a USB DAW Controller !

Even if it was just a play and record function !

It's in the works but it will be Android, not iPad. The current specification is that the surface will communicate directly with Sonar and no MIDI bridge will be required. Track metering will be included, something that AFAIK is not available with alternative solutions at present. Along with transport control, channel gain,record arm, pan, mute, solo and programmable FX insert control will all be available, with the ability to filter and reorder the specific FX or EQ parameters you wish to control.  Initial preferred device will be the Archos 101 tablet, but the design will support other tablets and phones. High speed and very low jitter are part of the design, with the intention that real-time punch in and out will work just fine from the tablet. A desired goal is also to allow audio to be streamed back to the tablet, so that you could, for example, put your headphones on, walk round the studio with the tablet and then monitor any track or the main mix independently from the tablet without interfering with the main DAW (by setting up additional busses which can be routed back to the tablet) .

I do not have a precise availability date at this stage.  Unlike the BCR2000 surface project, this is probably not going to be free, but the cost is intended to be modest. I would hope to be looking at a mid-year timeframe.With the Archos 10 inch screen, somewhere around 16 tracks would be controllable at any time. The device supports two simultaneous touch points so it will be possible to drag two faders simultaneously. Other devices may support additional touch points, of course.

aj


It's in the works but it will be Android, not iPad.

Hi AJ, interesting stuff!
I'm the developer of the AC-7 Core for iPad, so I'd definitely be interested in some kind of "parallel" development of a Sonar specific protocol.


Right now, the AC-7 Core's Sonar Mode works as a "Mackie Control" emulation... so track level meters work, track names work, timecode works, eq/plugin control and pretty much everything you can do with a hardware MCU is possible with the AC-7 Core.


That does limit it to controlling 8 channels at a time though (plus the master fader of course), so lots of banking left/right is required for large projects.
16 channels on a 10 inch screen might be a bit tight, but it would be great to try out. 
(of course you can already use multiple iPads running the app to create 16, 24, 32 channel versions)


Are you thinking about creating a brand new controller protocol, or tweaking an existing one?
Cheers,
Colin
Saitara Software

You don't have to use it wireless if you're worried about glitches... (any reasonably modern computer shouldn't have problems though)
  If you connect the iPad Camera Connection Kit to a USB to MIDI cable, you can plug it in to any available MIDI IN and OUT on your system.
It then functions the same as a hardware unit without any wifi required.

A one-cable solution would be better though. It shouldn't be too difficult to design... It'd just have to appear as a standard MIDI interface to each side.

I'm not sure if Android supports this kind of simple USB MIDI connection either... but I'm sure AJ knows more about it than me.

Colin, John,

yes, that is true about wireless. I'm sure there are all sorts of ways to get a good connection.  However, a router involves more expense.  I already splurged on a tablet.  And I need a case, hopefully one with a built in keyboard since I find I have to peck the virtual keys.  And unlike an unfamiliar router, etc. I have lots of USB cables floating around and know exactly how to plug them in.

Other than expenses, it is learning and setting up all this extraneous technology.  I've got a limited amount of time to devote to music, much less doing my own tech support.  I'm sure it is not that difficult, I'm sure, but there is the worry that it won't just be plug and play.  Been there, done that and burned a lot of time while I got stuff to work.  That fear, as Hamlet said, "makes cowards of us all."   For me, it doesn't matter whether it is the technology or the end user, it is all just wasted time.  I think I speak for a lot of users and musicians.  We want stuff that just works without having to break a mental sweat.

Too much to ask?  Maybe.  I don't expect a perfect world.  Or perfect controller, but I can ask, can't I?

@

@

DJSur

My concern is that Cakewalk's processes don't even come close to the quality requirements Apple places on its products. 
I feel that's the main reason Sonar is not available on MAC. 

Thanks,
-D

You can't be serious.  To my knowledge, Apple doesn't have any requirements for or input into applications other than its own branded applications (except on iPhone). I can't imagine that they are testing and/or approving Cubase or Live or Pro Tools, etc. Apple is not a QA center for other company's programs and the quality or lack thereof has no bearing on SONAR not being available on the Mac.