A program for connecting a keyboard to a tablet. Connecting and configuring an external keyboard to Android devices. Connecting equipment via infrared or bluetooth

Thanks to this experiment, we will find out whether it is possible to connect a mouse, flash drive or keyboard to the phone via the USB port.

This would make the phone a mini computer with the ability to type, for example, text files and so on.

The first test device was the A60 + smartphone from Lenovo... Operating system - Android 2.3.6.

Connecting the mouse to an Android phone via an OTG cable

If you have a regular USB mouse or wireless mouse with a regular radio connection, in order to connect such a mouse to an Android phone, you need a special adapter, also known as an OTG cable. This adapter allows you to connect devices with a regular USB cable to the MiroUSB input on your phone ( USB Type A).

Please note, if your Android phone uses not the usual MiroUSB connector, but a new USB Type C connector, then you need an OTG cable with this connector. Since a regular OTG cable may not work if you connect it via a MiroUSB to USB Type C adapter.


There are also OTG cables with a wide 30 pin connector. This connector is used on some older models of Samsung tablets.


As you can see, OTG cables are different. Therefore, be careful when buying, so as not to buy something that does not fit your Android phone. You also need to make sure your phone supports OTG. Phones without the support of this technology are now rare, but nevertheless, it is better to check.

After the required OTG cable is found, you can start connecting the mouse to the phone. This is done very simply. We connect the OTG cable to the phone, and connect the mouse to the OTG cable. If you have a wireless mouse with radio communication, then the radio communication module is connected to the OTG cable.


Mouse connected via OTG cable

Immediately after connecting the mouse, a cursor will appear on the screen of your phone, and you can control the Android operating system using the cursor. At the same time, no additional settings or applications are required for the mouse to work. Everything should work out of the box.

Connecting the keyboard to the Android phone is similar. The keyboard starts working immediately after connecting it using the OTG cable. The only difference is that when connecting a keyboard, you may need to adjust the keyboard layout. To do this, you will need to open the upper curtain, click on the notification of the keyboard connection, go to the settings USB keyboards and select the desired layout.

Connecting the mouse to an Android phone via Bluetooth

If you have a wireless mouse with Bluetooth, then connecting it to your Android phone is even easier. First you need to make sure that the mouse is turned on and not paired with any other device. After that, you need to go to the Android settings and turn on Bluetooth there.


Turn on Bluetooth

After turning on Bluetooth on the Android phone, you need to turn the mouse over and click on the button responsible for pairing the devices. Usually this button is located on the bottom of the mouse and is highlighted in blue.

Bluetooth pairing button

After clicking on this button, on the Android phone in the Bluetooth settings, your mouse should be found. Click on it to connect it to the device. After connecting the mouse via Bluetooth, the cursor will appear on the screen, and you will be able to control it.

I'm sure many of those who use a computer as a musical instrument have midi keyboards or midi controllers. It's really handy! Moreover, even if you are not performing live, turning the knobs or, for example, playing a part "live" is much more interesting and effective than writing it in a sequencer. However, these devices are an additional item of expenditure, which is not always affordable for non-professional musicians. But, fortunately, the software developers are improving and improving it. And on this moment any owner of an Android device can turn it into a midi controller. How to do this in specific programs and this article will be.

What do we have at the moment

So, I assume that you are the lucky owner android devices and, of course, a computer on windows based... Unfortunately, I don't have the opportunity to consider iMac and compatible devices, but I'm sure everything happens there in a similar way. Examples will be based on Ableton although other sequencers with midi support can be used. Now about the android device. In my case, it is Lenovo phone A750 with Android ICS 4. Again, on earlier operating systems, I have no way to check, so we will proceed from this configuration.

I chose the free programs available on Google-Play service... Links will be listed below. The first is Touch OSC(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.hexler.touchosc_a). The second is FingerPlay MIDI(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flat20.fingerplay&hl=ru). And if the first allows you to work, in general, without additional programs(with its own driver), the second requires the installation of its server on the computer as a separate program. But first things first.

Preparation

First, we need to set up virtual midi ports. I described how to do this in. Who does not know - we read. Secondly, we must have a wi-fi connection configured with a static ip-address. In windows 7, this can be checked (done) by going to " Network and Sharing Center-Wireless Network Connection-Properties-Internet Protocol version tcp / ipv4"(Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Setting up a static IP address on the computer.

As you can see in the figure, installed static address 192.168.1.57. We will need to remember this address, it will be useful to us further, in setting up programs on the android.

Secondly, it must be installed wi-fi connection between your computer and your phone. There are many options here. Personally, I have the usual wifi router, with standard settings, through it the computer and the phone are connected. Other options for connecting a phone and a computer directly via wi-fi are also possible, but this is a topic for a separate article. We assume that there is a connection between the computer and the phone. Now we install the above programs on the phone and we will start.

FingerPlay MIDI

The first program is FingerPlay MIDI. In addition to the main program in the phone's memory, it requires the installation of a server on the computer to create its own channel through which midi messages will be transmitted to the virtual port (Midi-Yoke) on the computer. First, let's set it up on the phone. Launch it, click on the settings icon (the gear button) and go to the Settings tab (Fig. 2).


Figure 2. FingerPlay settings.

First, set the Server type - FingerServer. Secondly, in Server Address we set the ip-address of our computer. Now on the computer, unzip FingerPlayServer.zip and run run.bat. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that java is required for it to work. So, a window appears in which we see the connection status of the phone and computer. Now on the phone we put a checkmark in front of Connect to server and if everything is correct, the status will turn into Connected to 192.168.1.57 (or your computer's address). The server window on the computer will also change to show that the device is connected (Figure 3).


Figure 3. FingerPlay server window.

As you can see, in the status - Phone connected, which means that the phone is connected, and it is also displayed on which output the midi messages are received (Midi-Yoke 1). In addition, in the settings on the phone, we can select another virtual midi device (Fig. 4).


Figure 4. Selecting a midi device for displaying messages.

That is, in fact, all the preparation. Now you can turn any knob and the server window will display messages about which parameter is being changed. Now is the time to go to Ableton.

In Ableton, we just need to select the midi device indicated in FingerPlay (in our example, Midi-Yoke 1) (Fig. 5).


Figure 5. Turning on Midi-Yoke 1 in Ableton.

If everything is correct, now you can map different controllers and buttons. And by touching the screen on your phone, control the options in Ableton. For example, let's go to the Layout for the mixer in FingerPlay (it takes the middle position on the panel on the right, see Fig. 6).


Figure 6. FingerPlay mixer layout.

Now in Ableton press Ctrl + M, the midi-mapping mode is turned on. Click, for example, on the volume control of the first channel in Ableton and touch the first control on the phone screen. If everything is correct, the mapping will show new entry(fig. 7).


Figure 7. New parameter in the midi-mapping map.

Press Ctrl + M to return to normal mode. And now if we touch the first knob on the screen, we change the volume on the first channel in Ableton! (fig. 8).


Figure 8. A slider on the phone screen controls a slider in Ableton.

That's all, mission accomplished. Similarly, you can map buttons that are in a different FingerPlay layout and use.

Touch OSC

This application differs from the previous one in multiplatform. Its client is available not only for android, but also for iOs. And the server, accordingly, can work on mac-compatible computers. But I will consider a bunch of android + windows 7, as mentioned above. Server for windows can be downloaded from the official website at this link: http://hexler.net/pub/touchosc/touchosc-bridge-1.0.1-win32.zip.

Install it in the phone and on the PC, if everything is correct, then the TouchOSC bridge icon will appear in the system tray on the PC (Fig. 9).


Figure 9. TouchOSC Bridge server installed and running.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this program can work not only with the midi protocol, but also with the OSC protocol. We are interested in midi in this case. As for the connection to the computer, the requirements are the same (see above). Now let's move on to the TouchOSC settings on the phone. When you start the program, the settings window starts immediately. Here we click on Midi Bridge (Fig. 10) and enter the ip-address of our computer.


Figure 10. Touch OSC settings in the phone.

There is one difficulty with which I suffered for a very long time. The fact is that my phone did not want to show my computer in the Found Hosts list. There was a constant display of 0. Despite this, everything worked fine, so do not pay attention to it and continue. Go to Ableton.

In Ableton, as you might guess, we need to select the Touch OSC midi port. This time it is its own port, which appears in the system after installing the server (Fig. 11).


Figure 11. Touch OSC settings in Ableton.

Now you can try to map buttons and knobs in Ableton as described above. Similarly, you can use our android controller in other sequencers.

A little about the interface and capabilities

As we can see, there are no particular difficulties. For me personally, the biggest challenge was to connect a computer with a phone, and then only in the case of TouchOSC. And what do they essentially offer us as controllers? I must say right away that TouchOSC will be stronger both in terms of the interface and in terms of ready-made layouts.


Figure 12. Keys layout in TouchOSC.

There are 5 layouts available, each with 3 tabs. In Figure 12, for example, we can see that there is even a piano octave layout. Multitouch support is present. In addition, the Touch OSC has a lot more controllers - there is a keyboard and all kinds of knobs, faders, cross faders, X-Y controllers. Finger Play, unfortunately, has only a few types of controllers, no keyboard. And he has only one layout. But, unlike the Touch OSC, here you can edit these layouts with your own hands, without any problems, create your own. Of course, you have to understand the syntax, or use the online constructor (https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1856630/fingerplay/index.html). It doesn't work very well, to put it mildly, though. In Touch OSC, loading layouts is available only for iPod, iPhone. Editing is also possible on windows. Although there is a way on the net how to upload your layout to an android device. But the method is quite complicated.

Outcome

Well, at the moment, both programs are doing their job quite well. Each has its pros and cons, but nevertheless, having a laptop, wi-fi and an android phone, you can successfully use the phone as a controller. If I choose from these programs, I still prefer the Touch OSC.

The life of young, active people these days is hardly imagined without a large number of various mobile devices - phones, tablets, players, etc. And the gadgets themselves from year to year are becoming more sophisticated, perfect and functional. V recent times there is a steady growth in interest in peripheral components connected to gadgets - first of all, this concerns, perhaps, full-fledged keyboards. In this article we will tell you . Believe me, this procedure is not particularly difficult these days.

Ways to connect the keyboard to the tablet.

There are several options at once, how to connect the keyboard to the tablet and at the same time ensure it works correctly. Let's list the most common:

  • Wireless keyboard connection via Wi-Fi;
  • Wireless connection via infrared or bluetooth;
  • Wired connection via tablet port.

Choosing a way how to connect the keyboard to the tablet, it should be borne in mind that each option has both advantages and disadvantages. And, of course, it is worth remembering such simple things as the fact that when connected via Wi-Fi, not only a tablet, but also a keyboard should be equipped with this module.

How to connect the keyboard to the tablet via Wi-Fi.

To connect the keyboard to the tablet via the Wi-Fi module, you must observe whole line conditions, without which the connection will either be incorrect or completely fail. Here are just the main ones:

  • The external keyboard, as already mentioned, must have a Wi-Fi module, and it is best of all of the same standard as the analogous module in the tablet;
  • Devices should be able to work without a third-party network router. Or, a tablet should work in the role of a router, which will be responsible for both receiving and distributing IP addresses;
  • The keyboard must be able to process and correctly, in the required format, send the necessary commands to the tablet.

The above conditions make it very difficult to connect the keyboard to the tablet in this way. Perhaps over time given type connections will become much easier.


How to connect the keyboard to the tablet viaIR port or bluetooth.

We will allow ourselves to be so advanced that we will venture to declare that the probability of connecting via the infrared port is so negligible that we will not consider it at all. In order to connect the keyboard to a tablet running Android OS via bluetooth, you must first connect the tablet and keyboard with each other, and only then synchronize the devices, if this did not happen automatically. The connection procedure is as follows:

  • Turn on bluetooth on the keyboard;
  • Include a similar module in properties operating system your tablet;
  • Find a connection with a mobile assistant.

The main advantages bluetooth connections are:

  • Full independence in movement, limited only by the signal range;
  • Compactness, no wires;
  • Ease of connection;
  • Possibility of simultaneous communication with several devices at once (provided that the devices themselves have this capability).

How to connect the keyboard to the tablet via cable.

Cable connection is still the most common method. For this it is best to use direct connection to the tablet, if it has the required socket (full USB connector). To connect the keyboard to the tablet using the cable method, the following conditions must be met:

  • The equipment must be mutually compatible, that is, support each other;
  • The tablet must have “on board” OTG or USBHOST technology, without which interaction at the hardware level with the keyboard is impossible;
  • The keyboard drivers or its primary settings must first be registered in the tablet system, and they must correspond exactly to the version of the operating system on which your device is running.

Software configuration of the keyboard and tablet.

For the external keyboard to interact correctly with the tablet, you must install drivers that can be set both manually and automatically. The most striking proof of the correct installation of drivers on the keyboard is ... that it starts to work. 🙂 For a mouse - its cursor appears on the tablet screen.

To connect absolutely any keyboard via USB, use special program, which is called "RuKeyboard"... To configure your keyboard, you need the following:

  • Install the utility itself;
  • Go to the tablet in "Language and settings" in "Settings";
  • Check the box next to the ruKeyboard utility;
  • Go to the settings of the program itself and select the "Hardware keyboard" there;
  • In the "Layout selection" menu, select "External keyboard";
  • Open any program that provides for typing (at least even SMS) and select "ruKeyboard" as the main input method;
  • Connect the keyboard to the tablet;
  • Type a few words to check.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in how to connect the keyboard to the tablet. We wish you success!

Currently, all kinds of mobile devices are very popular. Therefore, every year they become more and more technologically advanced and functional. With the growing popularity of portable gadgets, there has been an increase in interest in peripheral equipment that can work with mobile gadgets. One of the most common add-on peripherals is a physical keyboard. Connecting the keyboard to the tablet does not require any special specific manipulations.

Additional gadgets

Methods and technologies for connecting peripheral equipment to mobile gadgets

There are several main ways that are designed to correct connection and correct interaction of auxiliary information input gadgets with tablets and smartphones:

  1. Wi-Fi based wireless connections;
  2. Wireless connection via infrared or bluetooth;
  3. Connection of additional equipment via cable.

Each method of establishing a connection has its own advantages and disadvantages, so what exactly to use depends solely on you and the capabilities of your mobile solution.

Connection via cable or wired adapter

Connecting the keyboard to android tablet most often it is performed precisely by means of a cable connection or a direct connection to the gadget, if it has a full-fledged USB connector. In order to connect a keyboard or other equipment via a cable, the following requirements must be met:

  1. The equipment must support the connected gadget and vice versa;
  2. A mobile gadget must have OTG or USB HOST technology in order to be able to interact with an external device at the hardware level;
  3. Drivers or initial settings must be preloaded into the system, and also meet the requirements of the installed mobile operating system. This is necessary in order to USB connection keyboards to Android gadget has been correctly configured for program level interaction of the periphery.

The advantage of physically connecting equipment via a cable is that you clearly know what is connected, and the speed of operation and interaction is limited only by the speed of the slowest equipment. Most often, the speed rests on the communication channel, although the speed of interaction of the periphery is very high and surpasses other connection methods. It is for this reason that it is best to connect flash drives and 3G modems via a cable, since it is in this case that the exchange of data between devices will be maximum.

Connecting equipment via infrared or bluetooth

In order to connect the keyboard to the android tablet, you must first connect the tablet and peripherals to each other, and only then synchronize, if it was not performed in automatic mode... To connect you need:

  1. Turn on the wireless adapter on the accessory device;
  2. Enable wireless networking modules in the operating system;
  3. Establish a connection with a mobile assistant;

The infrared port is practically not found anymore, as this technology is outdated. Although it can be found on some of the first models. As for bluetooth, almost all modern devices and mobile gadgets are equipped with this radio module version 2.0 and newer models. Therefore, connecting an external keyboard to the tablet via wireless networks much more convenient, since in this case your tablet is not tied to one place with wires, and external equipment can be located anywhere where the signal reaches.

The main advantages of connecting external devices via bluetooth:

  1. Mobility and independence of movement of two devices independently of each other within the signal coverage radius;
  2. Compactness;
  3. Ease of connection:
  4. The ability to communicate with several gadgets at the same time (if the software filling of the tablet and the hardware capabilities of the adapter allow).

Therefore, connecting a bluetooth keyboard to a tablet is considered the most mobile and compact solution. Since in this case you need to have the minimum of everything, and you will be able to use the maximum opportunities.

Connecting peripherals via a Wi-Fi network adapter

In order to connect an external device via Wi-Fi network, it is necessary to fulfill a number of mandatory conditions, without which the success of the equipment is not guaranteed, and more often it is completely impossible:

  1. The connected external peripherals must be equipped with a Wi-Fi radio module. Preferably exactly the same standard as the tablet;
  2. The device should work without the need for additional network equipment (router), or this function must take over the tablet (receiving and distributing the IP address to the device);
  3. Combining devices into one network. Partial IP addresses and full mask must match;
  4. Devices must be able to independently process and send commands to the gadget in the correct format.

Due to the complexity of the implementation of the above interaction algorithm, it is rather difficult to find a tablet with the ability to connect a keyboard via Wi-Fi. That's why this way interaction with mobile device more often use printers or MFPs.

Software configuration of the tablet and external peripherals

In order for the external peripherals to interact correctly and correctly, it is necessary that drivers are installed in the system, using which it could correctly translate commands from and to external device... Drivers are installed both automatically and manually. For example, the result of the correct connection of the mouse to the tablet is the cursor that appears on the screen of the gadget.

To connect any USB keyboard, use software"RuKeyboard". This program is able to work with external physical keyboards, thanks to which it quickly gained popularity. To configure the keyboard you need:

  1. To install the program;
  2. Go to device settings;
  3. Item "Language and settings";
  4. Check the box next to ruKeyboard;
  5. After that, in the settings of the program itself, select "Hardware keyboard";
  6. In the setting menu item "Layout selection" select from the list presets"External keyboard";
  7. Open any field for typing in third party program or the browser on the tablet and select “ruKeyboard” as the input method;
  8. Connect the keyboard to the android tablet;
  9. Test the operation of character input.

Establishing a connection and setting up game functionality

In order to connect gaming devices to the tablet, you need to use exactly the method declared by the manufacturer. Since it is in this case that you can be sure that the devices will work together. The most common additional gaming gadget is a joystick.

Connecting a joystick to a tablet is the same as connecting a keyboard. The only difference is that you will definitely need the USB / BT Joystick Center program, which is designed to ensure the correct configuration of gaming devices, and also contains required drivers and functions that will ensure reliable connection and correct operation and interaction of gadgets.

In this article we will talk about the possibility of using your device (tablet or smartphone) as an auxiliary MIDI device (i.e. keyboard, pads, etc.) in the FL studio sequencer, regardless of any company and your operating system. ...

Preparing the IL Remote connection.

So, in order to use your device as a Midi device, you need to have Fl Studio from version 11 installed.

Then you need to download from PlayMarket either from iTunes (depends on your handheld device and operating system) a program called "IL Remote". This program is free in two flavors.

IL Remote connection.

Now you need your device and PC to be connected to the same Wi-Fi point.

After all these manipulations, you need to go to the FL Studio settings (Options – Midi settings) and click the Enable Image-Line Remote button.

Now the relationship between your device and your PC is established. The program itself has a huge number of different functions and has the ability to narrowly customize. Among other things, it is possible to create your own preset.

The screenshot above is an example of a custom preset. Here, as you can see, there are 16 pads, a transport panel, a button for turning on the metronome, a button for selecting among the Song / Pattern modes, 2 programmable knobs and 1 fader. I would also like to note that there is no delay when clicking, the program functions perfectly. But if you notice delays, then check the buffer size in the settings sound card installed "asio" driver or standard driver.