Usine and monome 40h.....

[meloday]

Guys, i just ordered the monome 40h!! I'm too excited! I can't wait to receive it!

here is a link to the website:

http://monome.org/

check it out in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFKXwHre1bM

This controller combined with Usine is, imho, an absolutely inspiring live setup!

I suppose it might help to think of this controller as a midi sequencer/sample trigger device.

Or maybe think of it as an 8x8 midi step sequencer (ala Fruityloops). You could, say, lay an eight bar piano sample for the whole of the top row. Then, you could slice that piano sample into 8 slices and assign them to each of the 8 pads in the second row. Then you could program some one-shot drum hits across the next couple of rows. Then you can have any of the rest of the pads controlling all kinds of different automation (cutoff, delay, bypass, mute, solo, gate, etc.)--all in real time as the sequencer/lights scrolls across. For me, the biggest selling point was that you could visually see the roll of the sequencer across the board itself (the pads light up as they scroll across the board at your host's tempo). That's what separates it from something like the korgKontrol and the mpd24. In those models the pads are static-- there is no physical representation of a timeline that connects the whole board. With the mpd24 you can only trigger samples, not sequence them live. With this thing I can pre program the sequencer/lights to taste, load 64 samples, then play away, without ever having to look at the laptop! Combine this with the mind boggling options within Usine and....it's insanity! Especially with the automation sequencer within Usine!

The programs that ship with the unit have been developed in max/msp (the program in the youtube demonstration ships with the unit). You don't need to buy max/msp though...you only need to install the free max/msp runtime. The unit also ships with some utility max/msp runtime patches which you need to get the controller communicating with your host (Usine!) The controller speaks midi and osc.

I haven't looked into the osc modules of Usine. Olivier, any idea on the best way to get the 40h to communicate with Usine?

The devs are currently working on mapd...i'm not sure what it is exactly...all i know is that it takes the max/msp utilities out of the equation and lets the controller talk directly to the host. The OSX version is nearly completed. Then, they'll begin on the Windows version. In the meantime for us windows users though, from what i'm told, the max/msp utilites perform without a hitch.

It is a bit on the pricey side--$500...well worth the inspiration though!

I can't forget to mention that the firmware and software for the controller is open source!!!

everyone buy one so we can bounce 40h and Usine ideas off of one another!!!!

and no, i don't work for them!!!!!!!!!!

[senso]

looks very interesting.

How does it comunicate?
from the monome to computer? (midi or osc)
from to computer the monome? (midi or osc)

In both cases (OSC or MIDI), it should be (nomally...) very easy to create a patch that sends apropriate codes to the monome and hilight pads according to the current position of the synchro of Usine.

Also the Lemur (www.jazzmutant.com) works well with Usine (tried with B Moussay at home) in OSC or with the midi emulator.

[meloday]

looks very interesting.

How does it comunicate?
from the monome to computer? (midi or osc)
from to computer the monome? (midi or osc)

In both cases (OSC or MIDI), it should be (nomally...) very easy to create a patch that sends apropriate codes to the monome and hilight pads according to the current position of the synchro of Usine.

Also the Lemur (www.jazzmutant.com) works well with Usine (tried with B Moussay at home) in OSC or with the midi emulator.

wow that jazzmutant controller does look amazing! way out of my price range though! someday maybe.

The Monome 40h controller communicates with your host program through a utility patch that needs the free max/msp runtime to operate. So, if i understand correctly, you plug the 40h into your usb drive. open and run the utility patch. confirm that the controller is detected by the patch. open your host program and configure your hosts' midi/osc protocols to communicate with the patch. the devs said that they are working on a way to bypass the whole utility/max/msp runtime thing. actually, after reading about the jazzmutant controller, it sounds like they had a similar setup before going completely midi and osc.

would you mind holding my hand as i try to set up the 40h with usine? i know i'm gonna needs some help. Thanks man!!

[senso]

Yes of course I can help you.
but first, I need precisions about the communication protocol (host<-->monome).
I'll check it out on the web.

[senso]

Yes of course I can help you.
but first, I need precisions about the communication protocol (host<-->monome).

But you have to wait until the next version of Usine (will arrive around december,5) with a new OSC protocol setup and a new collection of OSC modules.

[meloday]

Yes of course I can help you.
but first, I need precisions about the communication protocol (host<-->monome).

But you have to wait until the next version of Usine (will arrive around december,5) with a new OSC protocol setup and a new collection of OSC modules.

thanks! I'm not sure what the communication protocol is though...

no problem, i can wait until the next version of Usine.....