MATRIXSYNTH: Something for 2011 - TouchOSC Wireless Editors for Your Synths


Friday, December 31, 2010

Something for 2011 - TouchOSC Wireless Editors for Your Synths


If you recall from my XMas post, this year, a big focus on the synth front for me has been the iPad. What you are looking at here is a TouchOSC template for the Waldorf Pulse+. Every editable parameter on the Pulse is represented. Click each image for a full size shot. The kicker is I have it working wirelessly with The Missing Link. I am able to control my Waldorf Pulse+ with my iPad without wires. I was literally able to control it from a different room. This is BIG for two reasons. One, the obvious wireless control of synths, and two, creating an entirely new OPEN interface for editing synths. For those of you that used Sound Diver, this is like it on steroids.

No, the Waldorf Pulse is not that complex, BUT, you are limited to six knobs, small print, and it sits in a rack which may or may not be close to you. Now, imagine having an iPad sitting on your MIDI controller and having a custom editing interface in front of you. OR, imagine picking up that interface and kicking back on a chair in the studio while you tweak away. If you look at the last image of this post you will see a keyboard control and the ARP controls. You don't even need a MIDI controller to get going. You can use the iPad all on its own. You can create any number of custom controls - unlimited x/y pads, unlimited sliders, knobs, keys, etc. With a MIDI merge box you can run a sequencer into your synth and edit away with the iPad.

Back in November you might recall my Rhodes Chroma TouchOSC template. I now have that running wirelessly with The Missing Link as well.

Next up will be a template for the Yamaha FS1R. The Yamaha FS1R is Yamaha's most powerful FM and Formant synthesizer to date. It is a four part, 8-Op, FM and Formant synthesizer. The DX7 was only 6-Op with no Formant synthesis. There was only a rack mount version of the FS1R and editing it was like trying to paint on a wall sized canvas through a keyhole. It is a powerful and beautiful sounding synthesizer, but most have barely scratched the surface because of it's editing interface. The iPad coupled with The Missing Link will finally unlock this synth. Note, the Missing Link does support sysex and I have verified it does work with the FS1R. I was able to watch the parameter values on the FS1R change as I manipulated a slider on the iPad, all wirelessly. That said, see you on the other side! My New Years post will follow tomorrow. All done for the year! :)

Update: you can find the template here. It's mapped for The Missing Link, but you can remove the mappings by checking the auto box in TouchOSC for each parameter, followed by making a mapping with OSCulator.

Update: screens captured direct from the iPad added below.

Update: I updated the template to use toggles instead of sliders for selection parameter, so screens here are slightly different.















11 comments:

  1. This is awesome! Now i REALLY need to grab an iPad! I have a UC-33 for my Pulse, but it seems to like to corrupt my MIDI stream sometimes. So i might have to dump it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice! I'm very excited to try the FS1R editor.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Is it possible to buy the missing link? Or it's not yet on production?

    ReplyDelete
  4. And is there a way to get the template for the Waldorf Pulse and load it into my iPad? The FTP transfer of the Moog app is very appealing to me. Works here fine.
    It would be nice to have a growing pool of adaptions somewhere to load then to and from.

    ReplyDelete
  5. very, very cool.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks great! I love the potential of the iPad for editing and controlling synths, particularly non-knobby ones. The UI capabilities of the iPad are wonderful, it becomes whatever app you're running, in this case a really nice synth UI. I've got some synth and effects boxes I'd really like to add better UIs to, and plan to do so unless others beat me to them (and save me the time!). Good stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  7. @Project we're pushing to have the Missing Link ready in time for NAMM, so it won't be long now!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Qwave, you can find the template here. It's mapped for The Missing Link, but you can removing the mappings by checking the auto box in TouchOSC for each parameter followed by making a mapping with OSCulator. You should be able to get going now if you want. Let me know if you have any questions.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Also, I'll be hosting templates I find and create here. As you already know, you can check them out even if you do not have the synths. The ChromaML one does need some tweaking. The Pulse editor is about 99% there, I just need to test the modulation routings a bit. I put this post up more as an FYI, this is working, vs. it being completely done and tested. It is usable though.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your arpeggiator page with the keyboard made me realize that a latching keyboard (made with toggles instead of push buttons) would be great for some arpeggiator stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Definitely. I've been thinking of creating a keyboard specifically for holding notes. That's one thing lacking on most synths.

    ReplyDelete

To reduce spam, comments for posts older than one week are not displayed until approved, usually same day. Do not insult people. For items for sale, do not ask if it is still available. Check the auction link and search for the item. Auctions are from various sellers and expire over time. Posts remain for the pics and historical purposes. This site is meant to be a daily snapshot of some of what was out there in the world of synths.

PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE HOME


Patch n Tweak
Switched On Make Synthesizer Evolution Vintage Synthesizers Creating Sound Fundlementals of Synthesizer Programming Kraftwerk

© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH