Tag Archives: touch surface

Chroma Update 1.0.3

Here is version 1.03 of the Chroma and Gris Gris sequencer and synth, which adds a few features and fixes a couple of minor bugs. The Gris-Gris synth now has two additional filter types, bandpass and high pass, and a ring mod control for metallic and bell tones. It comes with a much expanded and refined Lemur template that allows full editing of sequences.

To celebrate the release of this new version, the Chroma and Gris-Gris sequenced synth ensemble is temporarily reduced in price from $24.99 to $19.99

Chroma can be purchased and downloaded right now. Remember, Chroma is a Reaktor ensemble and requires a full installation of Reaktor 5.8.0, not just Reaktor player.

Buy Chroma and Gris-Gris Now

A link will be emailed to you immediately upon completion of payment.

I’ve also added further support for Lemur. The new template has three pages – the original quickpage, plus a sequence edit page and a full synth edit page that offers control of every parameter in the Gris-Gris synth. The quickpage now has controls for sequence speed, key and scale type.

Here’s the sequencer page. Swipe a finger across to set pitch and velocity, or use multiple fingers to adjust many values at once. If you enable bidirectional control, all parameters in Lemur will update on snap change, including sequence lengths and values. Note the cursors – their position will move as Chroma plays, letting you know where you are in the sequence without having to keep your eyes on the computer screen.

Here’s the synth page. All Cgris-Gris parameters are editable and also update when you change snaps in Reaktor. The filter section features a drop down menu to select scale types.

Here’s the updated cheat sheet – new features on the GUI are highlighted in blue.

Now, about that bidirectional control – in order to have your Lemur controls update when you change Reaktor snapshots, simply create an OSC target called Lemur, and direct it to port 8000 and whatever the IP address of your iPad is on your local or ad hoc network. Here’s what my config looks like:

Pretty easy, actually. Make sure you use port 8000 for Lemur though – that is its standard port and cannot be changed. (I use port 10001 for Konkreet Performer and TouchOSC)

More info on Chroma and Gris Gris, including video, is here.

Chroma and Gris-Gris: Sequenced Monster Monosynth

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Ladies, Gentlemen, Exalted Bipeds, may I introduce to you my latest creation, the Chroma and Gris-Gris ensemble:

Chroma is a performance oriented monosequencer and VA carefully tuned for ergonomic ease of use and glitch free operation in standalone and plugin mode. Slur features in Chroma match up with legato and glide features in the Gris-Gris synth to create a slinky sinuous note articulation.

Sequences can be created and controlled via mouse, MIDI, Konkreet Performer, TouchOSC and Lemur. Since there is now full OSC support in the Reaktor plugin version, you can do everything with Chroma in your preferred DAW that you can do stand-alone. A dream come true!

Now, about those Konkreet Performer mappings:

TouchOSC and Lemur templates are included in the package but there’s something special about Konkreet Performer that sets things on fire when it’s paired with Chroma and Gris Gris, a certain magic in the way it morphs and distorts sound. It is my firmly held opinion that not nearly enough people use KP and if you want something really special and unusual on your iPad you should rush right over to Konkreet Labs or head straight for the App Store and buy a license.

The Gris-Gris synth is easy to program, surprisingly versatile, screams like a bastard and can be played on its own with MIDI input. Check out the effects bank for some wild quasi-modular sounds. A dedicated filter LFO with a morphing shape control and chaos flux knob provide mutating automation. Flux controls are also provided for the mix and filter feedback sections. Want more sounds? Here ya go:

Chroma’s MIDI output can be used to trigger external synths as well, depending on the completeness of the synth’s MIDI implementation. Tested and fully working synths include NI Massive, NI Absynth, U-he Tyrell and Tal Noisemaker. Some synths may work perfectly for note sequences but not for slur and glide.

Here’s the full cheat sheet:

Chroma is 24.99 USD temporarily reduced in price to $19.99 and can be purchased and downloaded immediately. Remember, Chroma is a Reaktor ensemble and requires a full installation of Reaktor 5.8.0, not just Reaktor player.

Buy Chroma and Gris-Gris Now

The Science of Surfaces

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Hey kids, there’s a new poll on the left. Please vote and select multiple options if you use multiple touch surface apps.

UPDATE: the built in Blogger poll is broken and I’ve switched to a widget from pollcode.com. Apologies to anyone whose votes were lost… it kept resetting to different numbers of votes. (if this is actually someone messing with me through a Blogger security hole, well played sir, by which I mean, get a life 😉

My experience of touch surfaces as controllers is that they shouldn’t be clones of what they’re controlling. I admit that there’s a certain cool factor in having a Lemur or TouchOSC template that allows full access to every parameter on a Reaktor instrument’s GUI. And in some cases, that can add to the playability and usability of the instrument.

On the other hand, though, what’s the point of replicating an instrument GUI? Generally speaking there will be too many controls, and they will be too functionally and ergonomically diverse to provide a fluid performance experience.

This is why I keep coming back to Konkreet Performer. It doesn’t attempt to provide the ability to mimic a GUI. What it does, and does well, is translate touch into control in ways that are both simple and complex, in the right ways – simple in that setting up a layout is easy and direct – and complex in that parameters can describe not just touches and movements, but the relationships between different touches and movements. Unexpectedly cool things ensue.

This is not to say that I don’t recognize the relative strengths of the other touch surface apps – maybe this is just a personal preference and I simply prefer a simple touch interface that functions as an adjunct to a standard computer setup, rather than a replacement for it.

In the long run I’m pretty sure tablets and laptops will glom together in some form – if the Microsoft Surface doesn’t succeed then something eventually will and every Reaktor ensemble or synth plugin will be its own touch surface – a situation which will bring its own set of problems and solutions.

Anyhow, please vote in the poll on the left because I’m getting ready to launch a new instrument and I’ll take into account the popularity of the apps when designing controller mappings and templates.

First Lemur Template

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All reety then, after buying Lemur for iPad the other day and sifting the PDF manual for the chunky bits, I spent a few hours today crafting my first Lemur template. It’s a hybrid OSC / MIDI creation that borrows the stock drum pads, adds a sustain latch, and also five bouncing balls with individually adjustable speeds, friction and scaling.

The scaling turned out to be especially important, as setting the balls loose on their full range of travel then mapping them to Reaktor controls is a bit sloppy. So using the X and Y scale controls, you can specify a range of travel for whatever control you map them to. That way, you can specify that your filter cutoff stays within a useful range, or open it up to the full range of travel for crazy wildness.

The MultiBalls output both OSC and MIDI. The OSC signals look like /Multiball/X1 etc, and the MIDI CCs are in the range 17 to 26. There are X and Y lock toggles to make MIDI learn easier.

There are probably better ways to address the creation of variables and math formulas than what I’ve done here, but give me a break, this is my first try! If you’re a longtime Lemur demigod, I welcome your criticisms.

The HolyBallz template can be downloaded here. I’ll be adding templates more specific to my own ensembles soon.