Monitoring MIDI

Monitoring automatically sends alarm messages upon a change in the state of an external digital contact. These message are sent through an existing or new a Gmail account. Set the Gmail account to allow "Access For Less Secure Apps". The Gmail service is free. Communication requires a Wi-Fi or a phone connection.

https://www.google.com/settings/security/lesssecureapps

Connect a device and fill out the app's form from top to bottom then press the buttons from top to bottom. Android offers voice to text recognition with this app’s messages. The cursor should be out of the form's boxes when complete. Monitoring may be tested using a mouse, or a ASCII keyboard. A right click on the mouse transmits message one. Keyboard buttons capital A through E also activate alarm messages. If you have converted a USB keyboard, for use with this application, please show it to us in a link.

Monitoring can accept up to 100 alarm messages from a MIDI input board. The Livid Brain J. is a lower cost MIDI input board. Purchase the cover plate along with the circuit board to allow for the soldering of wires to the board.

http://lividinstruments.com/products/builder/

Brain Jr. requires a (USB-B Printer/MIDI) to (USB-A computer) connector and an OTG charging/connection cable.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=+USB-210+MIDI+to+USB

If you know how to program a development board, the Teensy this is good option. It has a native MIDI capability and it can activate alarms with touch inputs.

This app uses an OTG (on the go) cable to connect the tablet with the MIDI cable. There are many OTG cables available. This app must keep running and supplying power to the attached MIDI card. There are a few OTG cables that supply power the HOAST (your tablet) and preserve the battery while the app is running. They charge the tablet at low charge even though the tablets battery icon may not indicate that it’s charging. Use SETTINGS to check the charge on the battery. The Micro USB Host OTG Cable with Micro USB Power by Atomic Market is a low cost option that charges the tablet and provides a USB female connection for a connection cable.

http://www.amazon.com/Micro-Cable-Power-Samsung-AtomicMarket/dp/B009YPYORM

A more expensive option is the DECEC Multi-Function Harrier Cable. It has a switch that when set to OTG powers the HOST at a low rate. This keeps the tablet powered while keyboards, MIDI boards, and the application are running. Set the cable to OTG before plugging it into the tablet. Alternately, the DECEC can be set to CABLE to directly supply higher power devices, like disk drives. The USB-A end of the MIDI/Printer cable plugs into a port on the DECEC cable. The DECEC is a nice dual function cable to have even without this app. These cables are available at Amazon. Purchase and test a cable before buying a MIDI card.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Z8WYNCG?psc=1

Check with your phone company to find out how to email alarm messages to your mobile device. For example, Verizon uses the format 123-123-5555@vtext.com. It may take a minute or so for the message to transmit across the various systems.

Someone may press a button repeatedly. This can overload the system and fill up your inbox. Messages are limited to 2 per minute to prevent this. Select: Unlimited to remove this restriction. I suggest that you leave this limit enabled.

There are many things that can go wrong with the transmissions. They include: a low battery, a down email server, a down Wi-Fi system, or the recipient’s cell phone is in a dead zone. I do not warrant that the application always works, however, if Monitoring is properly installed and routinely tested it should be reliable.

The MIDI circuit board should be connected dry contacts only. If possible, keep the runs short, use shielded cables on longer runs, and unplug your tablet during intense lightning storms.