Can't get WIDI Master to work with Android

[richro65]

I have Band Helper all set up and working on a iPad. However, the person using the keyboard has an Android tablet and while the WIDI Master software says "connected", the MIDI presets do not work on the Android.  They work perfectly on the iPad.

I found a thread from 2022 where Arlo says that WIDI Master has compatibility issues with Androids, but the app is offered for Android so I don't get it. It's been 3 years so perhaps that has changed?

Any help is appreciated.

[arlo]

Please click the MIDI button in the top toolbar. Is the Widi listed under Connected Ports? Are your outgoing MIDI messages shown in the Activity Log?

[richro65]

There is no MIDI button in the top toolbar and there doesn't seem to be an option to add it.  The MIDI button I have on the set list/song screen is not grayed out but does nothing when you tap it. Does not even change color like it does on the iPad when the MIDI presets work. 

[arlo]

If the MIDI button isn't showing in the top toolbar, you can turn on Settings > Appearance > Top Toolbar Buttons > MIDI. The settings in your screen shot are for buttons that are a part of the layout and only appear in the set list view.

[richro65]

OK, I added the MIDI button and here is what happened. See first screen shot. After that, I went to the tablet settings and it showed the WIDI not connected, and the same when I went to the WIDI app.  I restarted the keyboard and then was able to connect the WIDI to the tablet.  See screen shot 2 for what happened after that. The 2 numbers that are circled count up endlessly and it does not record any further activity that I try with MIDI presets. Then I went to the WIDI app and it can't find the device.

Prior to using the MIDI button and connecting the device through that, the tablet never lost its connection to the WIDI, but when I used the connect feature in the MIDI menu to connect, the tablet loses its connection.

[arlo]

The F8 messages are MIDI beat clock messages from your keyboard. You should have a setting on the keyboard that turns that off. Then you can send some MIDI presets again and confirm that your outgoing data appears in the Activity Log (it's there in your first screen shot).

[richro65]

It does not look like the Korg Krome has a way to turn off the MIDI clock.  I thought maybe it was possible through the WIDI but it doesn't seem to be an option there. 

After further reading about the WIDI master, it says the Android needs a different app to connect, called MIDI+BTLE.  I installed that and connected to the WIDI, and then went to BandHelper and connected there.  Even though the activity log seems to indicate success, the programs on the keyboard do not change.

Then I went back to the MIDI+BTLE app and it now shows no device connected even though BandHelper still says it's connected.  The only way to get the connection back is to restart the keyboard.  I am keeping the MIDI+BTLE app running in the background as per the instructions.

I have tried this several times and each time, as soon as I connect to the WIDI master in BandHelper, the MIDI+BTLE loses its connection.

I also notice that the MIDI activity log freezes where you can't scroll to see more of the log or clear the log.  This was the case in the first screen shot. I could not scroll down.

[arlo]

I don't think you need to MIDI+BTLE app since BandHelper has its own Bluetooth MIDI connection function. If you do connect from MIDI+BTLE, then I think you would not need to connect from BandHelper.

I bet there is a way to stop the MIDI beat clock output from your keyboard. That could be the reason for the Activity Log freezing or for other MIDI data not being transmitted.

I do see in the first screen shot that the Widi Master is connected and the program change messages are sent, so it seems that BandHelper is doing its part correctly.

[richro65]

I was able to find the menu to change the MIDI clock to external.

As for the MIDI log, the results are inconsistent. 

Starting from scratch, I tried it with MIDI+BTLE installed and it shows a connection. BandHelper also shows a connection, but nothing appears in the activity log no matter how many MIDI program changes I try to send. Shown in the first attachment.

Then I unpaired the device, uninstalled MIDI+BTLE and installed the WIDI Master app.  I connected using the WIDI app and then went to BandHelper.  It cannot find the device now.  It seems like the WIDI Master connection blocks the connection to BandHelper.

Lastly I again unpaired the device, uninstalled all MIDI connection apps and tried using only BandHelper to connect, which it successfully did, but nothing beyond the connection information appears in the activity log no matter how many MIDI messages I try to send.  This is shown in the 2nd attachment.

It's looking like I am going to have to convince the keyboard player to use an iPad instead. 

[arlo]

I would forget about the MIDI+BTLE because it sounds like BandHelper is able to connect directly to the Widi Master.

If you are sending MIDI presets, the data will appear in the Activity Log regardless of whether you are connected to any external devices. So if there is no outgoing data shown in the Activity Log, you are not sending MIDI presets. What are you doing to send them?

[richro65]

I have a MIDI preset for each song where the keyboard program needs to change.  These all work perfectly on the iPad. 

Also, on the Android, the MIDI button I have added to the song screen does not change color when you tap on it.  On the iPad it changes color as you tap.  The button is grayed out on any songs that do not have a MIDI preset.

I did check actions and for some reason 2 of the MIDI actions disappeared from the app on the Android.  When I assigned the MIDI program change action again, then data appeared in the activity log, but the keyboard still does not change programs, so it seems like a compatibility issue between the Android and the WIDI Master.