Yeah, I get it, but in this discussion a tablet was being put forward as a way to make the JG app “bigger” and easier to use. In that context using a free emulator makes a hell of a lot more sense, unless you’re rich and don’t care about throwing money away.
I don’t know how you record music on your PC, but all I do is open [insert app here], click the record button, and it records. How does a tablet make that any easier?
That’s true, but given that a guitar is inherently not particularly portable, it’s not really an issue for a lot of people. Performers sure, but people learning at home on Justin’s app?
Janky how? As mentioned, it worked perfectly for me on my Windows PC. The audio from the Justin Guitar app, which is what we are discussing, was just as good as any other audio coming from my PC speakers, and was a hell of a lot better quality than when playing through the speakers on my phone or tablet. Would I use an android emulator to record, mix and produce music? No, but that’s not what we’re talking about, is it?
Yes, it’s cheaper. But it does tie you to places you can put your computer. If desktop, then you’re tied to wherever you keep it. If laptop, you have a bit more portability, but it can still be annoying at times. Trust me, I have (and have used) all of these device options. I don’t bother with emulators because if I only want a bigger screen, I can cast to my TV, which is bigger than the screen on either my laptop or my desktop (also free).
No recording program I’ve ever used on my laptop or desktop has been as simple to use as the basic camera app on a phone/tablet. When I want more control and better audio quality, then I go to my desktop where I have my interface. But if I just want quick and dirty, I just use a phone/tablet. My desktop needs a camera/microphone attached to it to be able to record anything, as well. The built-in camera and mic on just about any halfway recent phone or tablet is more suitable than what I have on my desktop, which is intended for video conferencing (and is why I bought it) and does not have an adjustable zoom or field-of-view. And the laptop - yikes. Quality of the built-in camera and mic on that is pretty terrible, tbh.
What kind of portability are you talking about? I’m talking about the kind of portability where I might want to play on the porch in nice weather. Maybe I want to go jam at a friend’s house. Maybe I’m going to visit family for the weekend and I want to bring my guitar. Maybe I’m going camping. All things I have done, by the way, and I’ve never “performed” in front of an audience. A tablet is easier to deal with than a laptop. No, lugging an electric with a full-size amp is not especially portable. But an acoustic? And if you only have an electric, there are affordable headphone amps or other portable amps you can use.
Don’t you think it’s possible to connect a tablet to external speakers, just a you do with a PC? My iPad has a wired connection to my speakers, so again, not inferior to a PC.
To be clear, as I stated in my original post, I don’t care whether other people choose a phone, a tablet, a laptop or a desktop as their device of choice but I do care when people are spreading bad information. There’s pros and cons of all devices but a tablet doesn’t have to be a second-rate device. On my desk, my iPad is connected to an external screen, with mouse and keyboard, SSD storage, audio interface and good speakers - and when I disconnect just one USB-C cable, it’s back to being a tablet again. Obviously it doesn’t’ have the wide range of software that Windows has (which I mentioned earlier) but it’s got everything I need
I’ve been using Window 11 “Phone Link” (which is part of Windows) with my Android phone successfully from day one. I can open the Justin Guitar app up on my larger PC screen and it’s all running from the phone. My phone screen on my PC monitor (I have a 27" monitor that is 2560x1440 pixels) shows a window that is 845x1390 pixels, so roughly 1/3rd of my monitor is showing the app.
Even better, if I am watching a lesson, I turn my phone on it’s side to get the screen to rotate and the window on my PC resizes to 1670x1240 (over 1/2 my monitor screen), which is definitely large on my monitor.
Oh, and audio comes through the PC to your PC speakers, which since my amp has a line in, I feed from my computer to my amp and from that all the audio from the guitar and amp plays one my headphones.
So, if you haven’t already, try Phone Link. As I remember it is available with Windows 10 and 11 and though I never have had an iPhone, it’s supposed to work with iPhone as well.
Another option that can work is if you cast you PC screen to a TV… I use a Samsung S21 and it can cast direct to a Firestick plugged into a TV. It works well though I have had some occasional lag issues.
Thank you for sharing the Phone Link capability. The small display on my phone is the reason I have not purchased the app yet. I think this could be the solution I need. Thanks again!