I think I'm going to keep my LC-2 for a while, it's a very old model but still has loads of encoder banks, joystick, 6 faders and a crossfader. Quite handy for Drambo.
I wish you great fun with it and don't hesitate to discuss anything MIDI-related here.
Would someone here who owns a Nocturn please try mapping in Drambo or record a few MIDI messages from knob turns, button presses and the crossfader? (Hexler Protokol is a nice iOS MIDI monitor).
I wonder what kind of MIDI messages the Nocturn sends, as it was always used in conjunction with the infamous AutoMap software driver.
Edit: I'd love to be proven wrong but I've found a github repo with some python code to make the thing compatible with MIDI communication under Linux which basically says that the Nocturn doesn't speak MIDI by itself. For $29, that would be great though 😉
The protocol was reverse-engineered by felicitus (timoahummel on github). This project will eventually allow the Nocturn to be used as a normal MIDI control surface in Linux. There is basic functionality now, but much is still broken. Notably broken/unimplemented things are:
* the GUI, for the most part - no on-the-fly config. it's really just a display
* smoothness - the rotary encoders seem to be a bit "jumpy", and I'm really not too sure why
* specifying inc/dec vs. value mode - all encoders just send a 0-127 value
* specifying key presses as actions - this is super useful in the original Automap, since you can assign random keyboard shortcuts to easy-access buttons (you do need to buy the "Pro" version though!)
* touch sensitivity - only turning encoders works, not just touching them
So it seems that the Nocturn doesn't send anything useful over USB.
@rs2000 so i got the faderfox ec4 and could only try it quickly as i have my daughter but quickly mapped a control and guess what i get a jump in sw as soon as control is mapped. This must be a problem in Drambo no? Because this controller has incremental updates for sure. @giku ?
@stellaremodular I think the EC4 encoders may default to absolute, since lots of software expects that. You probably need to configure the knobs to transmit incrementally.
Yes that was it, I did not had time to look into it until now but when I set the encoder to the 2nd Relative mode it works :) the displays dont work then but I guess thats to be expected.
To make the automatic detection more reliable, the user would have to be instructed to turn the knob following a certain pattern and Drambo would have to wait longer... probably not what everybody wants.
BTW, on the EC-4, Name Mode is independent from Command Type, you can give each encoder a name. The value cannot be shown though because that would require bi-directional communication.
First of all, the iDevices are touch devices which is already much better than using a mouse, and second, most cheapo MIDI controllers only have pots instead of encoders so many developers just don't care.
Its actually not that bad with the EC-4, I can setup each synth outside Drambo on a different group with Absolute Control and I do not get jumps it remembers the last position :)
I have been enjoying my Beatstep as a Drambo/AUM controller, but I was finding that the big encoder didn't cut it as a fader. Especially since the rubberization on my knobs was giving out.
After waiting ~2 months I got a new aluminum knob in from China and its such an improvement. The weight and ridges along the side allow a lot more expression. Looks solid too!
This is the eBay listing I went with. You can also get it for ~$7 and not wait for China shipping.
Just to chime in with my experience. I got the Behringer Xtouch Mini controller. It offers 2 layers of 8 encoders and 16 lighted buttons, with 8 encoder push as well, all configurable using a computer editor app. I configured the layer B encoders as relative 2, which Drambo recognizes. Made a StreamByer script implementing 8 banks of 8 encoders, selected by buttons, and 8 CC toggles for the remaining buttons. Added a little acceleration to the knobs, so fast turns are faster. Handy for making large changes.
@rs2000 It has a hole for a tiny hex wrench screw (1.5 mm, and it doesn’t come with it). I did have to put a tiny bit of aluminum foil in the main hole to raise up the knob a tiny bit.
@uncleDave that sounds rad. How do the double button presses work? I love streambyter but every time I use it I feel like I have to spend half an hour reminding myself the basics of the language.
@quartzite not sure what you mean about "double button presses". The device buttons send Note On/Note Off. For the toggles, I trigger on Note Off and toggle (x=1-x) a local variable, then send that to the app as CC value 0 or 127. I send back a note to turn the light on/off matching the toggle state.
I agree on the oddity of the language. Reminds me of Basic.
@uncleDave that makes sense. Sorry, I misread first thing in the morning :p. I’ve been thinking about adding additional functions to my controller as well. I had been thinking of doing a “hold one button then press another” which would also work with streambyter variables.
Like a Shift key. I've thought about that too. If your buttons send notes, it should be easy to set a flag on the specific Note On, clear it on Note Off. Then, other events can detect the flag and decide what action to take.
Just a note on my Xtouch Mini experience: the button press and release turn the light on/off locally. So I use the note off message for my action. Then I can set or clear the light as desired. Doing it on note on didn't work, because the light always ended off.
Yep, maybe. I've heard from people who had issues with the encoders.
The Twister would happily use LED feedback though, do you have a rough idea when you're going to work on such controller support? The community offer to build hw controller templates for Drambo still stands.
Comments
Beautiful box!
I think I'm going to keep my LC-2 for a while, it's a very old model but still has loads of encoder banks, joystick, 6 faders and a crossfader. Quite handy for Drambo.
I wish you great fun with it and don't hesitate to discuss anything MIDI-related here.
Im interested too. I saw a used Nocturn at 29€ in a shop this morning.
Would someone here who owns a Nocturn please try mapping in Drambo or record a few MIDI messages from knob turns, button presses and the crossfader? (Hexler Protokol is a nice iOS MIDI monitor).
I wonder what kind of MIDI messages the Nocturn sends, as it was always used in conjunction with the infamous AutoMap software driver.
Edit: I'd love to be proven wrong but I've found a github repo with some python code to make the thing compatible with MIDI communication under Linux which basically says that the Nocturn doesn't speak MIDI by itself. For $29, that would be great though 😉
From https://github.com/dewert/nocturn-linux-midi
...
So it seems that the Nocturn doesn't send anything useful over USB.
Thanks for the help 👌
Seconded... 👍️
@rs2000 so i got the faderfox ec4 and could only try it quickly as i have my daughter but quickly mapped a control and guess what i get a jump in sw as soon as control is mapped. This must be a problem in Drambo no? Because this controller has incremental updates for sure. @giku ?
Would be great if we can find a solution so that i do not have jumps after spending quite a lot of money on the midi controller ;)
@stellaremodular Hi, if you have problems like this contact me directly.. Save your controllers! :)
Have you tried different control types? I would need a midi stream (may be just a screenshot) when you move a fader.
@stellaremodular I think the EC4 encoders may default to absolute, since lots of software expects that. You probably need to configure the knobs to transmit incrementally.
Yes that was it, I did not had time to look into it until now but when I set the encoder to the 2nd Relative mode it works :) the displays dont work then but I guess thats to be expected.
There is one thing, sometimes Drambo recognises the control as Absolute while its Relative....happens randomly.
To make the automatic detection more reliable, the user would have to be instructed to turn the knob following a certain pattern and Drambo would have to wait longer... probably not what everybody wants.
BTW, on the EC-4, Name Mode is independent from Command Type, you can give each encoder a name. The value cannot be shown though because that would require bi-directional communication.
Yes makes sense...Drambo is already way ahead of the rest of IOS Music world, its crazy to see such little support for Relative Midi CC even in AUM :(
I think it's due to different reasons.
First of all, the iDevices are touch devices which is already much better than using a mouse, and second, most cheapo MIDI controllers only have pots instead of encoders so many developers just don't care.
Its actually not that bad with the EC-4, I can setup each synth outside Drambo on a different group with Absolute Control and I do not get jumps it remembers the last position :)
I have the finger on the buy button for this one
Looks like a good interface for drambo
@lala Have you checked the MIDI spec?
Are the bank switches and play modes supported on the hardware when used standalone?
Do the transport buttons send CC or notes?
Are the bank switches and play modes supported on the hardware when used standalone?
I guess the bank switches happen on the hardware
the rest is just buttons ?
I looked a little into it
it seems be able to send program change so ...
I already molested giku
^^
no software on iOS currently does support all these controllers out of the box
so its on the to do list
I guess the pads are great to trigger sounds and (clips)/patterns on another bank ...
and simply send notes on the other bank so I can play melodies too ...
(note repeat I dont care for)
I just midi learn it something cool I haven't thought of yet, ^^
it will be the make interesting music button ^^
looking at the editor software not all buttons appear to be remapable
so I guess tab tempo clock and note repeat are hardware funktions
I have been enjoying my Beatstep as a Drambo/AUM controller, but I was finding that the big encoder didn't cut it as a fader. Especially since the rubberization on my knobs was giving out.
After waiting ~2 months I got a new aluminum knob in from China and its such an improvement. The weight and ridges along the side allow a lot more expression. Looks solid too!
This is the eBay listing I went with. You can also get it for ~$7 and not wait for China shipping.
Looks good @quartzite!
How do you fix it though? I can only see a flat bore, no screw, no detents...
Just to chime in with my experience. I got the Behringer Xtouch Mini controller. It offers 2 layers of 8 encoders and 16 lighted buttons, with 8 encoder push as well, all configurable using a computer editor app. I configured the layer B encoders as relative 2, which Drambo recognizes. Made a StreamByer script implementing 8 banks of 8 encoders, selected by buttons, and 8 CC toggles for the remaining buttons. Added a little acceleration to the knobs, so fast turns are faster. Handy for making large changes.
@rs2000 It has a hole for a tiny hex wrench screw (1.5 mm, and it doesn’t come with it). I did have to put a tiny bit of aluminum foil in the main hole to raise up the knob a tiny bit.
@uncleDave that sounds rad. How do the double button presses work? I love streambyter but every time I use it I feel like I have to spend half an hour reminding myself the basics of the language.
@quartzite not sure what you mean about "double button presses". The device buttons send Note On/Note Off. For the toggles, I trigger on Note Off and toggle (x=1-x) a local variable, then send that to the app as CC value 0 or 127. I send back a note to turn the light on/off matching the toggle state.
I agree on the oddity of the language. Reminds me of Basic.
@uncleDave that makes sense. Sorry, I misread first thing in the morning :p. I’ve been thinking about adding additional functions to my controller as well. I had been thinking of doing a “hold one button then press another” which would also work with streambyter variables.
Like a Shift key. I've thought about that too. If your buttons send notes, it should be easy to set a flag on the specific Note On, clear it on Note Off. Then, other events can detect the flag and decide what action to take.
Just a note on my Xtouch Mini experience: the button press and release turn the light on/off locally. So I use the note off message for my action. Then I can set or clear the light as desired. Doing it on note on didn't work, because the light always ended off.
I'm back to looking at controllers. Thought folks might find this search page useful https://controllers.cc/
This page had me looking at the midi fighter twister. Looks pretty awesome for a compact controller.
(Sorry to revive a dead thread, but its a good thread :) )
@quartzite What's the advantage of the Twister over the Arturia Beatstep 1?
I guess quality..
Yep, maybe. I've heard from people who had issues with the encoders.
The Twister would happily use LED feedback though, do you have a rough idea when you're going to work on such controller support? The community offer to build hw controller templates for Drambo still stands.