- TRS and TRRS connections<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Power distribution<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Adapters and compatibility<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Bluetooth connections explained<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Android hardware setup<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- iPhone and iPad hardware setup<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Audio and MIDI connections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mobile devices such as\nAndroid tablets, iPads, and iPhones are handy for recording audio or MIDI.\nSince you can carry them with you, connecting a mic or MIDI controller is very\nconvenient for music making. These mobile devices don\u2019t require the use of\nspecific driver software, so they\u2019re much simpler to set up and configure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Typically, only one audio\nor MIDI device can be connected at a time. All that is needed is an app\ncompatible with your device; then, you\u2019ll connect your hardware. We\u2019ll cover\nAndroid, iPad, and iPhone setup, as well as Bluetooth and adapter connectivity\nbelow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TRS and TRRS connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some devices connect to\nmobile devices with either a TRS or a TRRS cable type. For a standard headphone\nconnection, there are three connections \u2014 tip, ring, sleeve (TRS) \u2014 that allow\nsignals for left, right, and ground. In order to hear stereo and<\/em> have an\ninput channel, we need a fourth connection, hence TRRS (tip, ring, ring, sleeve).\nThat additional connection allows the option of adding a mono input signal \u2014\nsomething like a mic or guitar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- TRS:<\/strong> Stereo Audio (headphones) + Ground<\/li>
- TRRS:<\/strong> Stereo Audio (headphones) + Mono Audio (mic\/guitar)\n+ Ground<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Power distribution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile devices often share\ntheir power with the connected audio\/MIDI device. That means the two devices\nare now sharing one battery. Since one battery may not have enough power for more\nthan one device, audio\/MIDI hardware often requires connecting to a charger or\nUSB power supply. In that case, make sure to use a compatible adapter with\nenough voltage supplied at the USB port for your external device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nAbout Apple USB power adapters<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nCharge and connect with the USB-C port on iPad<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAdapters and compatibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Every audio and MIDI interface\ndesigned to be used with mobile devices has compatibility requirements. That\nmeans the hardware has only been tested and confirmed to work on those\nspecified versions. For Android devices, that means the hardware model and\nAndroid version. For iPhones and iPads, that means the model\u2019s generation and\ncurrent iOS\/iPadOS version number. Just because a label says \u201ciOS\u201d doesn\u2019t make\nit automatically compatible, so double-check the version details to make sure\nyour mobile device is supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nData cables<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
USB-A > USB-C<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting the USB-A port of an audio interface to the USB-C\/Thunderbolt 3 port of an iPhone or iPad. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
USB-A > USB-B<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting the USB-A port of a power supply to the USB-B port of your audio\/MIDI device. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
USB-C > USB-C<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting the USB-C port of a power supply to the USB-C port of your audio\/MIDI device. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nManufacturer cables<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Apple adapters<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting an Apple device to the port of your iPhone or iPad.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
IK Multimedia adapters<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting IK Multimedia hardware to your mobile device.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Apogee Lightning adapter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting Apogee hardware to your Lightning iPhone or iPad.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bluetooth connections explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bluetooth can be used on\nmobile devices to send and receive audio and MIDI to and from other devices.\nWhile both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi use the same frequency (2.4GHz), you cannot\ninterchange one for the other. This means that you can\u2019t connect a Wi-Fi-only\ndevice to a Bluetooth device. One thing to know is that Wi-Fi is used to pair\ndevices and connect to the internet, whereas Bluetooth is only for pairing and\nstreaming between devices within a short range of each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One apparent yet important reason\nfor this is portability. Wi-Fi devices rely on one central \u201chub\u201d (router) to\nconnect. If that hub isn\u2019t there, the Wi-Fi device won\u2019t work. Bluetooth, on\nthe other hand, does not require a hub. Bluetooth-enabled devices can even be\npaired to up to seven separate devices at once! This is particularly handy for\nkaraoke events or parties whose venue may not have Wi-Fi or has weak Wi-Fi\nstrength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another reason for\nBluetooth\u2019s short-range connectivity is energy. While there are a few\npower-efficient Wi-Fi modules, it\u2019s tailored for transferring large amounts of\ndata, which means it requires more energy. This also allows for greater\nconnectivity range. Bluetooth, on the other hand, requires much less energy; the\ndownside is that the range is limited to approximately 30 feet, depending on\nthe device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth audio – which should I use?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve covered some of the reasons why\nusing Bluetooth is more convenient, but this next topic can get confusing for\nsome. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will allow you to stream audio wirelessly, so\nwhat\u2019s the difference between streaming audio via Wi-Fi and streaming via\nBluetooth? In short, it comes down to the bandwidth and codec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your Bluetooth setup requires all\nparts of your setup to be compatible to stream high-quality audio. The audio\nfile must be compressed in a codec that both your transmitting and receiving\ndevices can support; otherwise, it would have to go through additional\ncompression, which compromises the audio quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s assume the audio file in both\nyour transmitting device (e.g., a\nmobile device)<\/em>and your receiver (e.g., Bluetooth headphones) <\/em>use\nthe AAC codec (which is commonly used with Apple products).\n<\/em>In that case, the file doesn\u2019t need to go through any additional data compression,\nso the audio quality isn\u2019t compromised. But if either of those devices in the\nchain doesn\u2019t use the AAC codec, it\nmust go through additional compression, which will result in a slight loss of\naudio quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2021\/05\/Android-Bluetooth-settings.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2021\/05\/iOS-Bluetooth-settings.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nBluetooth pairing options on Android and iPadOS<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Android hardware setup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Unless your audio hardware\nconnects via a TRRS 1\/8″ (3.5mm) adapter (such as those used in headphones),\naudio and MIDI hardware almost always require the use of an OTG (on-the-go)\nadapter on Android devices. This allows you to connect a USB-A device directly\nto your Android. For example, if you have an Android device that uses a micro-USB\nconnection, you would connect the USB cable from the audio hardware to an OTG\nadapter, then the micro-USB end of the adapter to your Android.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to enable MIDI in Developer mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Most Android devices will\ngo through system updates automatically, and almost all hardware is plug-and-play.\nIf automatic updates have been turned off for some reason or you have an older\nAndroid device that isn\u2019t compatible with a new OS, you may have to go through\na few additional steps to get your MIDI controller working. To enable MIDI\ntransfer, you\u2019ll need to go into Developer mode. Don\u2019t worry; it\u2019s not as scary\nas it sounds. Follow these steps and you\u2019ll be working with MIDI in no\ntime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Launch Settings<\/strong> (cog icon), scroll to System<\/strong>, then press \u201cAbout phone<\/strong>.\u201d<\/li>
- Scroll down to find \u201cBuild number<\/strong>.\u201d<\/li>
- Continuously press \u201cBuild number<\/strong>\u201d (five times) until you receive a message stating you\u2019re now a developer.<\/li>
- Back out to System<\/strong>, press Advanced<\/strong>, then scroll down and press \u201cDefault USB configuration<\/strong>.\u201d<\/li>
- In the window that appears, press MIDI<\/strong>. <\/li>
- Back out to your home screen. Your Android device will now be ready to connect via MIDI.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2021\/05\/Android-recording-setup-guide-featured-image-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAndroid Recording Setup Guide<\/a>\n\n\n\nLearn more about how to get up and running with audio recording on Android devices!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn More \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
iPhone and iPad hardware setup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
iPhones and iPads are easy\nto set up for audio and MIDI recording purposes. Your recording device just needs\nto be compatible with your iPad\u2019s model and software version. If it\u2019s not\ncompatible, it may not work correctly or at all.
\n
\nThe most common setup concerns are in regard to adapter compatibility and\nadditional power. While some adapters may have similar connections (e.g., USB-A\nports), that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they\u2019ll work correctly. If you\u2019re\nexperiencing connectivity issues, check out these guides from Apple to learn\nmore about different adapters and cables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nUse Apple USB-A camera adapters with USB-A devices<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nLightning\/USB cables and adapters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some device and iPad\nconfigurations require specific cables or adapters to work correctly. Below are\ncommon lightning and USB-C connectors for iPhone and iPad recording setups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
iOS resources from the iPhone User Guide<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\nSet up and listen to Bluetooth devices<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nAdjust audio settings on iPhone<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\niPadOS resources from the iPad User Guide<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\nAdjust audio settings on iPad<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nConnect iPad to Bluetooth Accessories<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nRelated content<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLearn more about how to get up and running with audio recording on Android devices! <\/p>\n\n\n\nLearn More<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2021\/02\/iPad-recording-setup-guide-featured-image-1-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLearn more about how to get up and running with audio recording on iPads! <\/p>\n\n\n\nLearn More<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Additional resources<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\nAndroid Bluetooth Services<\/a>\n\n\n\nAndroid Audio Overview<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1769198,"template":"","categories":[142726],"tags":[57434,58299,64529,53790,53957,265102,54730,306159],"storecat":[143168,143173,143172,143171,143170,143169,143167,143151,143194],"itemids":[],"manufacturers":[202712],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n - Scroll down to find \u201cBuild number<\/strong>.\u201d<\/li>
- Launch Settings<\/strong> (cog icon), scroll to System<\/strong>, then press \u201cAbout phone<\/strong>.\u201d<\/li>
- For connecting Apogee hardware to your Lightning iPhone or iPad.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting IK Multimedia hardware to your mobile device.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting an Apple device to the port of your iPhone or iPad.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting the USB-C port of a power supply to the USB-C port of your audio\/MIDI device. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- For connecting the USB-A port of a power supply to the USB-B port of your audio\/MIDI device. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- TRRS:<\/strong> Stereo Audio (headphones) + Mono Audio (mic\/guitar)\n+ Ground<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Power distribution<\/strong><\/a><\/li>