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.
