How to Connect Bluetooth MIDI Devices to Android

MIDIHub supports connecting to Bluetooth LE (BLE) MIDI devices like keyboards, controllers, and instruments. Once connected, you can route their MIDI data to virtual ports, USB devices, or network sessions.

Prerequisites

Ensure your MIDI device supports Bluetooth LE MIDI (not classic Bluetooth)
Grant location permission when prompted (required for Bluetooth scanning on Android)
Enable location services if your device requires it

Connecting a BLE MIDI Device

1. Enable Bluetooth Scanning

Open MIDIHub and go to the device selector. Your Android device will scan for nearby BLE MIDI devices automatically.

2. Select Your Device

When your BLE MIDI device appears in the list:

Tap on it to initiate connection
The list may also show BLE devices already connected by other apps - you can use these existing connections

3. Verify the Connection

Check the port list for your new BLE device
Open the port’s log view to confirm MIDI messages are being received
Play some notes or move controllers to test

4. Route Your MIDI

Swipe from the BLE input port to any destination:

Virtual outputs - Send to other Android apps
USB devices - Forward to connected USB MIDI gear
RTP-MIDI - Stream over your network
Multiple outputs - Fan out to several destinations

Troubleshooting

Device Not Appearing

Ensure the device is in pairing/discoverable mode
Toggle Bluetooth off and on
Restart both devices
Check if the device is already paired with another app

Connection Drops

Disable battery optimization for MIDIHub
Keep devices within reasonable range (typically 10 meters)
Avoid interference from other wireless devices

Permission Issues

Location permission is required for Bluetooth scanning
Some devices need location services enabled
Grant all requested permissions in Android settings

Tips for Stable Connections

First pairing: Keep MIDIHub in the foreground
Save your setup: Use Presets to restore connections automatically
Battery life: BLE is designed for low power consumption
Multiple devices: Connect several BLE devices simultaneously

Common BLE MIDI Devices

MIDIHub works with:

Roland keyboards with Bluetooth MIDI
Korg nanoKEY Studio series
CME Xkey Air
ROLI Seaboard Block
Yamaha MD-BT01 wireless MIDI adapters
Any device supporting the BLE MIDI standard

Next Steps

Apply rulesets to transform your MIDI data
Set up RTP-MIDI for network streaming
Create virtual port connections to other apps