Category: software

software development

another little effect…

i’ve put together another little JS audio processor for reaper. this one is called ‘paranoia’, and it’s a harsh digital mangler (with bonus bugs!) and a bunch of soft clippers and filters bolted onto it. it started off being modeled on a little hardware digital fx unit going around at the moment but the signal chain ended up evolving into something quite a bit different.

here’s an audio example (updated link, works now! updated 2012: oops, broken again)… crunchiness everywhere.

doesn’t work great on all sources, but does the trick on percussion tracks. the multimode filter in there is pretty nasty as well.

more info (including instructions and presets) and a download link up at the reaper site here: http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=55205

this effect can be used in other DAWs, you just need to get the cockos effect pack and there’s a JS interpreter VST in there. apparently. that’s what i heard, anyway. comment if you get stuck.

stuff and things

the blog’s been a bit quiet…

but:

  • go/no-go have a new website up: http://gonogo.remaincalm.org – and there’s some new music on there. let me know what you reckon.
  • i gave up on the whole pedal dsp idea. it’s just going to be too much work and i don’t have the cash for a devkit at the moment anyway.
  • but… i’ve been working on some more JS effects and these ones might actually work
  • i was also doing a little bit of dev work on the DS stuff but the development environment is a total pain in the ass (in that the core platform keeps getting updates that break compatibility with all the other 3rd party tools). i still have my old dev environment in a virtual machine somewhere so i can get back to that one day but really, it’s just so much damn effort. and bliptracker already does everything i need. so that’s all a bit ugh. i really need to put out that updated beta of dsmcu one day though, i just need to package it up…
  • i’ve been mucking about with the XNA XB360 dev environment. it looks very interesting. i have two separate ideas – one for a 2d puzzle/action game that doesn’t have gems or tiles and one for an experimental art game.

also i want to get a JLM preamp kit and get some soldering happening.

anyway.

‘avocado’, ‘floaty’ js effects demo

i’ve uploaded a quick demo of some of the free js effects i’ve built for reaper (linked here, click for more info)

[audio:jsfx_example.mp3]

this is just a quick guitar improvisation, played into two instances of floaty and one of avocado, streamed live to disk – no offline edits or effects except for a limiter were added to this.

update: i’ve just updated all of the effects, here’s a demo of avocado tempo sync’ed to some drums:

[audio:avocado_demo.mp3]

more js effects for reaper – ‘avocado’ and ‘floaty’

i’ve been mucking about making some effects using reaper’s js effect engine, and i’m happy enough with the results now to release them.

there are three effects in here:

  • floaty – modulated delay inspired by mda’s dubdelay, but with lots of extra craziness
  • avocado – powerful glitch engine, with a ducker built in so it won’t stomp all over your tracks
  • tonegate (previously released) – triggered tone generator

click here to download all three effects:
http://remaincalm.org/jsfx/remaincalm_org_jsfx.zip

and yeah, i’ll get back onto the dsmcu/bliptracker ds stuff soon. as soon as i can find where both of my ds’s have gone…

edit: audio demo of these here

want: line6 tcddk!

line6 tcddk

line6 are releasing a dsp guitar stomp box devkit! i can’t wait til this thing launches, i’m already getting crazy ideas.

(also: i move into a new flat in about two weeks, regular development work is going to start up again pretty soon after that, sorry about the delay on everything…)

update: apparently there’s this thing as well that looks interesting: openstomp

update2: more awesome stuff i want to play with: machinecollective.org

update3: some more info on the tonecore ddk, scrounged from the freescale website: (giant pdf thing) – short version, there’s 4Mb+ of onboard RAM (8 banks of 512kb plus whatever’s onboard the DSP), and it’s rated at about 100Mips. 24 bit. doesn’t look like there’s any FPU onboard, bah.

dsmcu – quick update for end of june

work is continuing on dsmcu. here’s what is in the new version so far:

  • now requires dldi patching.
  • the entire application is fully skinnable using text files (maybe xml) csv text files and png graphics. *DONE*
  • skinning extends to the midi commands (midi data sent or monitored for feedback) supported – this should allow the device to be used as a generic midi controller. there will be a number of basic control types available.
  • support for multiple layouts, selectable from L/R triggers. *DONE* (memory limits on how many backgrounds can be loaded, though)
  • layouts supported will include: standard mcu control, simplified/expanded mcu control (e.g. big transport), generic MIDI kaoss style touch pad or multi-kaoss (any number of pad zones on the same page), MIDI keyboard interface, MIDI drum pad interface, generic vsti synth control (faders for cutoff, resonance, etc), and combination of those elements…(MIDI and mcu controls possibly won’t be usable at the same time due to host limitations)

no estimate on when it’ll be ready – i’m going to be moving house soon so that might slow me down a bit. but what’s there is working really well so far.

if anyone has gotten the beta working under leopard, can they let me know? cheers.

dsmcu (ds wireless mix controller) video clip

here is a short video of dsmcu in use

dsmcu is a wireless mix controller for reaper (and possibly other applications if they tolerate my abuse of the particular midi control spec i’m using).

click here for more info

(song download link HERE)

note: i haven’t had much of a chance to work on this lately and my ds is a bit sad, i’m only really posting this in the hope someone will donate a pink ds with a properly working touchscreen (black is also fine)

dsmcu – nds mix controller [preview!]

dsmcu is a nintendo-ds based emulator of the MCU control surface protocol. it talks to your audio workstation over wifi via dsmi.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD (beta software, please exercise care, no warranties expressed or implied, and you’ll need the readme file to get it working)

dsmcu

requirements: a homebrew-capable ds (which can connect to your computer over wifi), compatible audio workstation software (like ‘reaper‘) and dsmi correctly set up on your computer. more details in the download link.

dsmcu

tested on: reaper; (primary testing platform, works great), samplitude V8 SE (works but no VU display).

does not work with pro tools or logic yet, but support is planned

the following subset of the mcu protocol is supported:

  • fader send, receive
  • vu display
  • track select, mute, arm and solo (w/ feedback)
  • bank up/down
  • scrub
  • more coming soon…

possible applications include: a wireless rec/arm remote or end-user monitor mix interface for tracking, touch-sensitive automation recorder during mixdown, multi-user mixing, ‘left-hand’ level control while tweaking VSTs…

lots more planned, more info soon.

some user interface elements have been taken from Reaper – BIG THANKS to White Tie and the Reaper posse for granting permission for use of this and helping out with design/layout. cheers again to tobw for the dsmi library. also uses palib and devkitpro/libnds, yay.

dsmcu – setup instructions

HOW TO CONNECT DSMCU TO REAPER ON A PC

Note: in theory this stuff all works on Linux and OSX but you’re on your own, let me know if you get it working!

(click through for more info…)

HOW TO CONNECT DSMCU TO REAPER ON A PC

Note: in theory this stuff all works on Linux and OSX but you’re on your own, let me know if you get it working!

Maybe print this out before you start.

  • Obtain a Nintendo DS and a cartridge that will let you run homebrew (I use an R4DS – http://www.r4ds.com – works great). If you get stuck here, hit up Google.
  • You need a wireless router or something else that will let you connect your DS to the network your computer is on. Make sure that you can connect to the Nintendo WFC online services. If you get stuck here, hit up Google.
  • Go to http://www.midiox.com/myoke.htm#Download and download MIDI Yoke NT 1.75 (163K 09-23-07) (NOT the manual install). Run it. You might need to reboot.
  • Go to http://dsmi.tobw.net/index.php?cat_id=1 and download the DSMIDIWiFi Server for Windows. Extract and run it.
    • Set input to “IN FROM MIDI YOKE PORT 1”
    • Set output to “OUT TO MIDI YOKE PORT 2”

setup dsmi

  • Download the dsmcu.nds file and get it onto your DS flash card (i.e. R4DS, whatever). You don’t need to patch this file or do anything weird with it, just put it on there.
  • Boot your DS and run the dsmcu.nds file. If it locks up with a faint “MIDI: ?” message on the bottom screen, that means it can’t connect to your network. If you can play DS Tetris on the internet and this still doesn’t work, contact me.
  • If dsmcu can connect to the internet, the screen will fill with faders. This is good.
  • Download and run Reaper. Go to options/preferences and select the Control Surfaces section (near the bottom). Click Add to add a new control surface.
    • Set: Control surface mode: Mackie Control Universal,
    • MIDI Input: IN FROM MIDI YOKE 2
    • MIDI Output: OUT TO MIDI YOKE 1,
    • Leave everything else at default settings.
    • When you click OK, everything should work.

setup reaper

If it’s doesn’t work, try setting the DSMI output to Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth and seeing if noise is made when you click on the transport buttons on dsmcu.

bliptracker video clip

here’s a short clip of bliptracker in-use.

note that this doesn’t show the dsmi MIDI integration, only uses one of the default sample sets, doesn’t show any of the randomization functions, and there’s no theremin. i’ll post a better quality clip with some more fun stuff when i get a bit of spare time.

bliptracker download page

reaper – tonegate js effect

i’ve recently started using reaper as my main audio software. one of the best things about this thing is that it comes with a built-in plugin programming language. it’s pretty basic but you can do some cool stuff with it, and it’s way easier than futzing about with compilers and vst frameworks and garbage like that.

i’ve just released my first effect for this environment, called tonegate. it’s based on a number of other effects supplied with reaper – it’s really just a basic tone generator triggered off a gate, mainly to add sin, square or noise tones to kick or snare hits. tone type/pitch is configurable (the pitch can optionally raise or drop during tone decay), there’s a simple low pass filter and wet/dry mix.

this is a quick audio demo of the effect in action – first part is dry kick and snare tracks, second part has some (not-so) subtle sin and noise added to kick and snare, last one is way over the top. with enough of these you can do all sorts of weird nintendo-y sounding stuff:

[audio:tonegate_demo.mp3]

bliptracker – nds drum machine

[audio:http://remaincalm.org/nds/bliptracker%20-%20example.mp3]

bliptracker

click here to download BLIPTRACKER v1.0c

bliptracker is my free (and open-source) nintendo ds-based drum machine, synth and sequencer, intended for live performance.

bliptracker is stable, runs happily on most nintendo ds flash cards (tested working on R4DS and supercard), and supports custom sounds (up to four sets of six samples per ‘sample-set’).

as with any homebrew please backup your flash card before installation or use.

installation

  • unzip to flash card. make sure the bliptracker folder unzips to the root of the card, so you have a folder called \bliptracker\samples – bliptracker.nds can go anywhere, though.
  • DLDI PATCH the BLIPTRACKER.NDS file – go HERE and look for “dldi win32 right click”
  • default sounds are provided, but can be replace by 16 bit 11kHz-32kHz mono wave files named bd.wav, sn.wav, hh.wav, xx.wav, yy.wav, zz.wav. keep samples small for best performance.
  • operating instructions are on top screen. basic instructions: select and start are stop/start, use the bottom screen to fire beats manually and directional pad and buttons to control sequencer.

made with devkitpro.org and palib.info developer tools. Source code (GPL) – requires devkitpro r20, libdsmi, most recent palib + some minor tweaks to get it to compile against r20 (check the palib formums or mail me).

known issues: tempo doesn’t stay synced – need to disconnect audio from video refresh | tap tempo is a bit weird | max. 15 files in file dialogs | bad wav files can crash bliptracker

hello.

everything is broken! and new! but that’s okay. i’ll get around to cleaning up this layout properly at some point.

things from the old page are still kinda here: nds has the nintendo homebrew software ‘bliptracker’, there’s a flash game i helped with at oldgame.html, and some music and stuff up at mshopper and bsc, along with my new band which has a temporary home at myspace.

good. good? good.