saemola's Recent Posts
Hey all, I have a few question about the Soundplane.
1) For OSC-ready plugins (like Kaivo), my understanding is that Soundplane would "bypass" the DAW and connect directly with them, meaning that once the Soundplane client is launched you simply start playing and the plugin responds, except you can't record OSC in your DAW of course, so you have to create an internal routing to record the plugin's output to audio, correct?
2) Is it the same thing with MPE? Can I just connect Soundplane to, say, Pigments and play as if it were a OSC plugin?
3) Is there a software solution that will allow me to output Soundplane data to control voltage with a DC-coupled audio interface? I currently use Reaktor's MIDI to CV block to control my eurorack with a standard MIDI keyboard.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for clarifying everything, Randy!
I've been waiting for a 64 bit Aaltoverb for years and like many here I was bummed out when I realized I can't use it on Mavericks.
The reality of the matter though is that Madrona is a small company. This isn't Waves or Brainworx. For them to support a 6 year old OS and and 8 year old hardware means investing resources that they might not have.
Sucks for us, but I don't think there's much they can do. Other than taking it into consideration in case Aaltoverb becomes a hit. =)
Was really hoping for a "blind" panel, but I guess this opens up a lot of possibilities.
Looks like I'm gonna have to break my no-display rule for this one.
Great job guys!
Is the display here to stay or is it there temporarily to test things out?
Looking forward to this and Sumu (or maybe this is included in Sumu)!
that's intriguing to say the least.
Hey Randy, any news on a 64 bit Aaltoverb?
It's still such a gem of a plugin, would be so great to have it.
If only a day was made of 36 hours...
Have you tried asking on the Muff Wiggler forum?
Many eurorack manufacturers hang out there (Malekko, Synthesis Technologies, Audio Damage, ...) and occasionally insightful manufacturing topics pop up.
I'm sure they'll be happy to help you out.
This sounds intriguing to say the least.
Aaltoverb really is a gem of a plugin.
Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Hey Randy,
any chance we'll ever get to see an AAX version of Virta?
Of course it would be great to get all your plugins in Pro Tools, but my case for Virta being more urgent is that Pro Tools is really what most people use to do sound design for picture and it just looks like Virta was born to design creature voices.
That's how I'm using it right now and I'd love not to have to bounce audio between Pro Tools and Logic and back again.
Loving this plugin more day after day.
That would be absolutely amazing.
Keep up the great work, Randy!
Wow, that would be incredible. I miss that little plugin.
In the meantime I have finally had time to seriously experiment with Virta and I'm still trying to pick my jaw off the floor. It is a true gem.
A thought:
- have you guys considered building a standalone unit rather than a eurorack-mountable module? CVPal works in the same way, can be both on the rack or off, doesn't matter. Since this would be more of a set-and-forget module that requires little user interaction, it could save some space to have it off the rack.
Gotcha Randy, thanks for getting back to me.
Can't wait to see what you come up with (and Virta!!!)
Thanks for another thorough explanation.
I have another suggestion (sorry, but this module would be THE reason for me to get a Soundplane).
There's been talk of a unit with 8 outs with the possibility of expansion.
The first thought one might have is: "well, 8 outs, hence gate, X, Y, Z per voice".
But what if one would want to use it as a continuous controller rather than a "keyboard," by having each parameter (X, Y, Z) of different zones modulate stuff in your modular?
I think it was Randy who mentioned editing zones via a computer and importing them into the module.
But I'm thinking: would it be feasible to have the module learn the zones by touch?
I'll make an example. Let's say we have 8 outs: Gate 1, X1, Y1, Z1, G2, X2, Y2, Z2 (and so on for the expanders.)
We could:
Hit the "Zone Learn" button (it could be done pushing the encoder itself)
Use the encoder to select Gate 1
Touch the Soundplane on fret 5, row 1
Touch it again on fret 9, row 2
Now the Gate 1 output will only present signal when touched in that zone
Select Z 2
Touch fret 7, row 1
Touch fret 15, row 1
Now fret 7-9 on row 1 will output Z2 as well as Gate 1, and the rest is left unvaried (i.e. fret 5 row 1 up till fret 9 row 2 will still output Gate 1)
Much easier to show (or with a picture to look at) than to write about.
I wouldn't even call the outputs G, X, Y, Z... Just Gate 1, CV1, CV2, ... and then give the user the chance to assign X on CV 1 out, pressure on CV 2 and so on.
Am I oversimplifying it again?
Maybe it's way simpler in my head than it is to implement, but sounds like a nice way to me to have the module learn zones in a matter of seconds. You could reprogram the whole module in less than a minute.
I think it would be especially great, especially if there's a chance to save some presets.
I'm done with suggestions now, I promise. :)
Gotcha.
Thanks for the clarification!
So literally putting the content of the hypothetical module (processor and what else) inside the Soundplane couldn't be possible? I am curious, what would the difference be between having the module in a rack or inside the Soundplane? Power supply issues?
Or are you saying that the euro module is meant to be connected to the computer where the Soundplane is already connected and I'm getting it all wrong?
I was thinking of something, probably completely out of question, but why not asking: have you ever considered adding CV outs to the Sound Plane itself?
Not really for the convenience of having everything in there, but more to be able to have the SP connected both at Aalto/Kaivo and the modular at the same time.
I guess there is no way of modding previous SPs, but why not giving the option, with the extra cost, to new customers if space and engineering are not an issue?
I would also add: depending on whether or not you play an acoustic/electric instrument, everything changes.
I come from a bass/guitar background, hence the fretboard layout of the Soundplane just makes total sense to me.
On the other hand, I am not a keyboard player and I really struggle to play piano, so I'm not even considering the Continuum as a choice: on the one hand the Soundplane is an instrument I can improvise on and can literally play with my eyes closed, on the other hand the Continuum is... well, a keyboard.
If you are a piano or keyboard player of course it'll be the complete opposite for you.
Not taking away anything from any of the two instruments, just throwing it out there.
thanks for the explanation, rsdio, that clears up a lot of stuff for a total ignorant like me.
excited to read you are moving on with sketches for the module!
just another idea I'm gonna throw out there:
I have a CVPal ( http://mutable-instruments.net/modules/cvpal ) which I use to control my Eurorack via my computer. It is a USB MIDI to CV converter.
The CVPal has 2 CV outs and 2 gate outs, giving you several different control modes, each accessed depending from the MIDI channel you are transmitting to: ch1 is mono with velocity, ch3 and 4 are duophonic, etc...
Since the CVPal is recognized by the computer as a MIDI device, you can simply select it from your DAW, send MIDI to it, and it will jus work.
Since we are talking about the Soundplane module having USB and supporting MIDI... would it be a whole other project to have it integrating with the computer the same way the CVPal does?
For example, from my Maschine Studio hardware I can simply select the output as the CVPal and start sequencing my Eurorack from there... it would be incredibly cool if the same could be applied to the Soundplane module and, from the bottom of my ignorance, it doesn't seem like a hard thing to implement.
I guess it would just be a matter of figuring out which CC to assign to which output.
Am I completely wrong?
I think the computer-transfered presets choice is definitely the way to go:
- it's clean (no need for a display: a set of LEDs can show what preset is selected... multiple color LEDs or other smarter solutions can make this even cheaper and more space friendly)
- it avoids the pain of having to edit zone maps and what else on a tiny module
- it's cheaper (again, no need for a display or more than one encoder)
- being that it would make for a much simpler module, it can save a lot of space
if no display or added encoders are necessary, I'd love to see it contained in a 8-10hp module, maybe with an expansion header in case more zones are required.
Speaking of iPad, I'll just throw this idea out there, out of ignorance: would it be a whole other bunch of work to make the module compatible with other USB controllers or with an iPad? Kinda like the Expert Sleepers FH-1.
well, don't know about "opposite", just something without a display.
I understand that the presence of a display is a completely feature-driven choice.
some features might be hard or impossible to implement without a display, but as far as a simple 2-voice output module, I think it could easily be left out (heck, there are wavetable oscillators lacking displays).
also, price would certainly benefit from it.
again, it sounds like you want this module to be more than just an output utility module, so the presence of a display might be something to be considered further down the way when things are more clear.
just pointing out that I'm not a fan of displays and that my (other people's) modular is purposefully built avoiding display-centric modules.
curious to see what else will come out from this discussion.
This might sound trivial but I really think the module shouldn't have a display.
I specifically pick my modules to avoid displays in my system as it gives me more of a "real" instrument approach.
It's not just an aesthetic reason, but also a functional one (knob-per-function instead of menu diving) and I really think this is the same philosophy that lies behind the Soundplane and should be carried out into the module.
On a side note, I agree with the two voices choice: more would be overkill for most people and for the rest a simple 4hp expansions (8 outs, hence 2 extra voices) would be a no brainer.
hi Randy,
would there be a way to morph between different bodies (or resonators, or any other parameter for that matter) in a way similar to Logic's Sculpture?
That would bring such an amazing degree of expression to the instrument, especially controlled with soundplane or even just aftertouch.
A simple X/Y pad would go a long way, I feel the instrument is screaming for it.
Loving Kaivo!
thanks for the reply randy.
keep up the great work, really curious to see what the next bodies will be.