Portability: USB keyboards and USB audio input

[schrottmailone]

Hey, I’ve finally caved in and bought a Tracker Mini with the version 2 update.
Been enjoying using it, workflow is quite ok (briefly had the OG Tracker, so I knew my way around a bit already), but the I/o situation is really messed up in my opinion.
Particularly I am missing a way to connect a simple midi keyboard to input notes (I have a Korg Microkey Air, so even Bluetooth would have done it).

Secondly, I am missing a way to input/monitor/record audio through USB-C. Being able to sync the tracker to an iPad, sequencing AU through AUM, and being able to record stuff from the iPad with one cable would have actually been essential, as every iPad being sold nowadays only has the USB-C connection for everything. My SP404MK2 does this without any problems, but a device like the Tracker Mini that is supposed to be a sequencing powerhouse is not?

These two missing features make we want to send the Mini back since I think the are essential to the Mini’s promise of portability. Is there any chance that they will be added in the near future?

[3xm]

@schrottmailone

Particularly I am missing a way to connect a simple midi keyboard to input notes (I have a Korg Microkey Air, so even Bluetooth would have done it).

I’m tempted to revert the blame and ask why Korg made a MIDI keyboard without an actual MIDI port on it, but I’m not here to ruin the party

If you’re looking for a setup that includes these 3 devices specifically, I think the solution is to get a USB-C hub and let your iPad be the host in that.

[3xm]

@schrottmailone

being able to record stuff from the iPad

While it’s not exactly what you’re asking for, @Sandroid came up with a hack, in order to record from USB.

Also, there’s a wish for this that you might want to vote for.

[Sandroid]

Using your Mini and AUM is absolutely possible with a modern iPad. See here:

Play Plus Streaming Audio over USB: Potential Bug?

[iPad & Play+ Setup Demonstration] Using an Apple iPad Pro (11" 3rd Gen. M1) with the latest iPadOS (16.6 as of the making of this video) Audio goes through AUM and is routed back to the Play+ Output from the Play+ then gets recorded to a ZOOM H4n Pro The important bits: Don’t launch AUM Connect the Play+ to the iPad and turn it on THEN you can start AUM By the way this procedure is the same for the Tracker Mini I got a bit carried away, sorry , the …

While the Demo is with a Play+, the same is true for the Mini as well as the Tracker+

The one thing that is currently not possible, is to send audio back for sampling via USB only, but there is a wish for it, so go vote on it:

Sampling via USB

What is the problem? Currently the Tracker Mini / Tracker+ allow outputting audio as a USB audio device and through jack but audio input/sampling only works through the built-in mic or line input. What do you want to achieve? It would be very convenient if we could sample audio into the Tracker mini through its USB-C port; Ideally, the Tracker should be capable of sampling over USB both as a device and as a host. Sampling as a USB Audio device use case : Would make it a good pair with a USB…

And there is a tiny little workaround for now, that only requires a short 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable:

Sampling via USB

Hey folks, here’s a little trick/workaround for now: Connect your Line-Out with a 3.5mm ↔ 3.5mm to the Line In Send audio via USB to the two main USB output channels of the tracker In the Sample Recorder choose Line-In This will allow you to pipe audio via USB to the Line-Out which in turn can be sampled via the Line-In

[schrottmailone]

Ok so there’s a ton of workarounds instead of actual on-device support…
Thank you for your input

[Sandroid]

Based on your questions, there is one workaround/hack for one feature that has been requested but is not available on the device yet. That’s 1 out of 2.

I wouldn’t call that a ton

Happy to help

[schrottmailone]

I think I have decided to return the mini.
I have watched a ton more videos to gather points to make a decision, and I think this one best sums up my discomfort with the device:

Polyend Tracker Mini...final thoughts positives and negatives

It’s simply not a device that is thoroughly designed with portability in mind, or with what portability meant in 2022. It has to support portable accessories with the least friction possible which means that it has to be able to power a portable midi controller and receive notes from, and it has to allow audio in over USB.
I don’t care that there is a wish open for voting here. It’s a feature on so many other boxes, it’s ridiculous that Polyend didn’t think of it (and drags its realisation out by playing this wishlist voting game).

Worse for me is that they shot down another wish for usb midi host capability as it wouldn’t “align with the design of the device” (or something similar).
What is the device? A “portable audio workstation” that can only receive midi input if I also bring a controller with din jacks, a battery to power the controller and a din cable with adapter?

There’s this video from super booth where a Polyend staff member somewhat sarcastically complains about Polyend attracting trolls. I feel that it’s Polyend’s dumb design decisions and narrow perspective that’s doing this. You don’t make mistakes, double down on those mistakes, and then expect people to applaud you for that. That video showing note input through a phone must be the dumbest marketing spin I have ever seen on a glaringly missing feature.

The thing is about as expensive as an MPC One and less capable on paper. The least thing they could have done is make it feature complete for 2022.

I love toying around with the Tracker Mini, but I am also really annoyed by the quality of life limitations. So it’s going back…