I recently got an Android tablet, and naturally was curious if there are any music production apps that are not completely worthless. I have plenty of hardware midi controllers and as such am not interested in a control surface type of app. I am more interested in a good sequencer/rompler type of app with good piano roll features that can export midi files. On the go composition is of more interest to me as I would prefer to do any actual production in my studio. Thanks in advance!

 

I've tried some, and I think these are my favorite, Caustic 2 and G-Stomper drum-machine.

 

+1 to jennyblack's suggestions.
Caustic is imho by far the most powerful of the bunch, but FL Studio Mobile could satisfy your needs as well with all its audio/midi export options and good piano roll.
G-Stomper has less features but is very quick and easy to use and maybe more fun on-the-go (a lot like Korg Electribes, you can import your own samples etc).
I'd like to suggest SPC Music Sketchpad too. Especially for its composition concept. It has a pattern grid like Ableton's session view, a step sequencer, a sample recorder and editor. I haven't seen any MIDI export but honestly, after trying out the hassle with apps that do, I'd rather go for exported audio and have the original sound, then quickly play the pattern again in the studio if necessary.
Otherwise you'll likely have to stick with Caustic or FL Studio Mobile.

 

Right on. Caustic looks like it might be kind of cool. Thanks guys.

 

Caustic is cool and do you really need any more reasons besides the name? *no*

 

Caustic is leading in terms of workflow and gui but there is one disadvantage: the modules are mono though you can pan and "stereoize" them.
In terms of audio quality and engine G-Stomper is by far the best.
For live performance Mikrosonic SPC is a nice tool...

 

IMO the latency and the sound sux. Android is no iPad when it comes to making mobile music. I don't feel that music making is on the Android list of priorities.

 

Absolutely, but that was not the question. The Army of Ninjas has already equipped itself with Androids ;-)

 

Including myself, but I tried it once and the latency was unworkable for me ;-)

 

Indeed.
Considering that you can get an old iPad 1 in good condition for maybe $100 or less, and that there's still some good music apps available for iOS 5.1.1 (BeatMaker 2, Genome MIDI, Music Studio, FL Studio HD, StepPolyArp, Cubasis, Thor, Lemur, TouchAble etc etc), it doesn't really hurt to have both

 

I got a VERY cheap quadcore tablet for school. Making music with the thing is an afterthought at best. If I can get a couple of midi files back into my 'real' projects at home I will be more than happy. I don't expect much and I'm not planning on replacing my real PC anytime soon. Thanks for the suggestions guys. Oh and mono won't kill me. I'm mostly looking to compose basic melodies, etc on the go.

 

Another vote for caustic. For getting 'ideas to file' on the go, or laying in bed, i havent found anything better for me on android.

Also, the dev is nice enough to have a free desktop version (no support!) downloadable from the site.

It makes transfering stuff to pc, editing, and making custom lib's on pc and bringing to android easier too.

 

I wonder how to play any synth or bass, when the latency is still to high.
I don´t get it.
(Caustic,RD4) even when OpenSL/LowLatencyAudio is enabled, the Latency is still to high on Android.

 

Ive got an ASUS TF101 and caustic doesnt have bad latency issues. My main problem is that i threw about 2gb worth of soundfonts, need to remove what i dont use

Im sure theres 3rd party apps similar, but i have an asus widget 'Task Manager', its a one button 'shut down all running apps'. When i boot up this is whats running:

Gmail 4.5mb, talk 5.1mb, google play 6.8mb, asus weather 3.1mb, superuser 3.6mb, my uploads 3.3mb, pixwe 3.5mb, calendar 3.9mb, google play music 7.3mb, startup auditor 9.6mb. One click and they all close. All worthless and eatting resources.

J4T, Sunvox, Supreme MPA, SPC, Reactable, Solo guitar, fl mobile, caustic, zquence studio, none really have latency issues for me. If im not messing around with audio, im playing GTA3, vice city, soul calibur, pinball arcade, no real stuttering in those either.

Im not using this stuff as studio quality or 6ms latency, im using it to get an idea in a savable format, so i dont forget it.

Quick youtube search finds others with not horrible latency:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPByV-sGWAQ

If i wasnt worried about bricking my tf101, id do what this guy did and dualboot linux:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ1zrIPmeXc

 

Awesome. Thanks for the info. I've found that the latency isn't terrible. @Zenarcist - iPad is no pc lol. ;)