BrainModular

1. I'm unsure of the exact name of this component but it's loaded from the Sounds Tab/Section within the browser. It's basically a drum sampler (IE: 808kit). Anyhow is there a way to load this without preloaded sounds? To load my own sounds I have to load a kit, delete those files, then load my own files which is a bit inconvenient.

Secondly, how does one set a key range per sample within this device? I notice the colored bars expand above and below which I assume sets the key range but even if it is set to just one note/key, it still plays along other keys directly below and/or above it (if no other samples are loaded/occupying those keys).

Lastly, is there way to transpose the samples? In other words, select the key range where the sample will playback but also set the root note for it's pitch?

2. Is there an undo function in HH? I for the life of me am unable to find a way to undo.

3. Panning for the racks???? Was unable to find that as well.

4. How can one set parameters for keystroke control?

5. How can I automate VST parameters? It would be great if one can do so directly from the plug's GUI.

I know the following belongs in a different section of the Forum but In case I am missing something and these features are already available, here are a few FRs:

1. Exclusive BPM per Piano Roll.

2. Ability to save on/off states of patches within the Rack's preset panel.

3. Ability to view racks horizontally. I do a lot of automation and it gets a bit sloppy with a vertical view.

I'm unsure of the exact name of this component but it's loaded from the Sounds Tab/Section within the browser. It's basically a drum sampler (IE: 808kit). Anyhow is there a way to load this without preloaded sounds? To load my own sounds I have to load a kit, delete those files, then load my own files which is a bit inconvenient.

Get to the point where the player is empty, not for sure but hold ctrl when you click and I think it will just remove the file. This works when files are loaded for graphic backgrounds.Seems the only way to clear an entry.

As far as key ranging and pitching, I dont know....have you checked the Wiki?
MIDI Sampler

Is there an undo function in HH? I for the life of me am unable to find a way to undo.

Yes a standard ctrl-z for windows will undo (I am not sure of OSX).

3. Panning for the racks???? Was unable to find that as well.

In the Browser / Usine Library / Audio FX there is a panaromic section that has the panning patches. Just add these at the end of your chain.
There is no standard Mixer panner, they must be added by case.

4. How can one set parameters for keystroke control?

Click the object and in the settings panel there is the MIDI icon. Select this and you will notice a "key learn" Just teach the keys here.

5. How can I automate VST parameters? It would be great if one can do so directly from the plug's GUI.

You have to expand the VST and add interface objects. Then you can create curves for these objects.
I have a really nice expansion that allows you to drag and drop parameters to a selection of 8 knobs. These can be easily remoted or automated.
If you want it, say so...and I will have it in the add-ons for you

Exclusive BPM per Piano Roll.

Not for sure about this one, I have some problems with the piano roll too. I created an Arming one for recording....however your options are the free loop and synchro options.
There is a ppqos (pulse per quarter note), I think you could drive this...but I've had problems forcing positions as well with the piano roll.
I think it is time to look at an updated piano roll, that is a big need. If you need a sequencer I have the Advanced Sequencer, with Note-Tie length in the add-ons.

3. Ability to view racks horizontally. I do a lot of automation and it gets a bit sloppy with a vertical view.

Cannot do this, although I would like to see the option as well
Have you used the Grid at all for sequencing? You might try this...check the Wiki for more info.

Hi Sephult, thanks for all the info. Totally forgot about looking into the WIKI for more info on HH. I will also check out the add ons including your Advanced Sequencer.

You have to expand the VST and add interface objects. Then you can create curves for these objects.
I have a really nice expansion that allows you to drag and drop parameters to a selection of 8 knobs. These can be easily remoted or automated.
If you want it, say so...and I will have it in the add-ons for you smile

This sounds really cool! No rush in adding it to the add ons because I'll be extremely busy with work so won't be hollyhocking again until towards the end of the month. But I'll keep an eye for it in the add ons section. Thank you!!

Yeah this week I will release it, I have plenty of time to clean up and export.
I would love if you could use and give some feedback, I really think people will like.
It adds an easy method to automate and interface VST to Hollyhock, and allows quick MIDI control.

Glad to help, if there is anything else...let me know.

-s

Of course! I'll be glad to give some feedback. Just tell me the name of the add on so when I check back I can DL it.

Hi ? ? ? !

I just updated my VST Tools and they are located in the Other section of the addons section of the browser, this should help you out a bit.

-s

for independant tempi you can use the local synchro module and drop one in each wanted patch. /synchro time

Thanks for the VST tools, septhuit! Just what I needed to make configuring my MIDI controller more simple - and a good example for me to learn how to use drag & drop in my patches too!

sephult wrote:Hi ? ? ? !

I just updated my VST Tools and they are located in the Other section of the addons section of the browser, this should help you out a bit.

-s

Perfect! I just got it right now. I also got your advanced midi sequencer so i have some work to do. I'm going to set aside time this weekend to get this going and check back.
Thanks for uploading the add ons!

23fx23 wrote:for independant tempi you can use the local synchro module and drop one in each wanted patch. /synchro time

This is exactly what i was looking for. Thank you! Now I'm starting to get addicted to this app.

Hi Usine community,

I am completely new to Usine and have a general question.
Sorry, I could not find helpful info in the forum / web. Maybe
someone can help me to answer my question?

I want to control a midi-capable VJ-app (Elektronika), running on my Laptop (Win 7)
from a Win 8.1 tablet (Dell Venue as a custom touchscreen midi-controller. Like this:

Tablet (Win 8.1 with Usine) ==> (Midi lan via Network/Wlan) ==> Laptop (Win 7 with Usine)
--> receice Midi lan --> Midi through to virtual midi-device (Loopbe1) --> Elektronika (VJ-app)
midi-in on Loopbe1.

- Is that possible with Usine? (I guess: YES)
- I understand Usine has to run on both PCs (sender & receiver). Can I do (try) this for
free and what licences do I need to use this (not making money, just 4 personal use)?
- has anyone used such setup and can help me with setup on both sides?

I tried to find info here and there - reading the manual, searching forum etc.

Maybe someone can help a newbie with some hints to save lots of time?

Thanks!

Mike

Hello marky!

Yes I have done this several times.
I actually have several computers I interconnect via Usine. I've Sync'd Reason and Ableton on one computer through Usine, including...then on another have setup Sonar and Usine. I have also done this with other applications like Traktor and Resolume.

Actually I found Usine to be a better network MIDI than the others I was using. Just use it to bridge the MIDI and patches.
Unfortunately audio does not bridge across too, that's why I have messed around with applications like Jack and are hopeful for Audinates Dante Via to finally come out.

Look at the Wiki and there are some 3rd party tools. Get LoopMidi, this will allow you to make virtual ports for Usine->external VJ app.
I've got some internet problems going on here, and a few other things but.....check the Wiki, read the manual, and keep posting.


As far as licenses you can use on multiple computers (especially just personal). Just don't abuse. Help out the effort, it's well worth it.

Hi sephult,

thanx for your time and the fast & friendly answer. Very welcome!

What you wrote sounds promising! I just want to use my win 8.1 tablet as midi-controller
over Wlan to control somethink like Resolume (Elektronika) running on the Win 7 laptop.
I found only one ready-made "app" for Win 8.1: MetroOSC from the Windows store.

Its (still) free but does not work at all when I tried it. And I tried all, I can think of:
MetroOSC can define controllers and send data either OSC or Midi over lan/wlan.
The receiving prg. forwards the data to the virtual midi-port (LoopBe1 or LoopMidi).
I tried with Elektronika w/o success, then used MidiOX to monitor the incoming Midi-data:
nothing at all. Then: with all firewalls OFF and the UDP-port opened in the wlan-router:
still no sucess And they/their support does not answer since days

Anyway: Usine would be much cooler and more flexible for my task and future projects!

Now after reading a lot Wiki, Manual, testing Usine with its samples and watching videos:
I understand: Usine is almost the perfect software for me! I did/do VJ-ing since the mid 1990ties
on many parties / raves with upto 30.000 ravers in Europe and Goa But I never went deep into
audio/DAW software - just know some basics of old analogue synths (grown up with Moogs, ARPs and Korgs)
with VCOs, LFOs and cables. Later PCM etc. and stuff like that. I know Traktor, VirtualDJ, MixMeister & Co.
and since some years DJ as well on small, private events (between Minimal-(Tekkno), Prog-Goa,
Dub/Psy-Step).

What do you do, besides of earning money (and feeding a family?). Lol.

Back to Usine:

Have I understood you right: for my purpose, I can use Usine on 2 computers like this:

1. the tablet Dell Venue 8 pro with Win 8.1 and multitouch-screen:

with Usine I can
- define my own interface with its controls like knobs, faders, buttons ...
- assign those to certain midi-channels, notes and controls ...
- send the midi-data from Usines midi out "network" via wlan to PC2:

2. the laptop with Win 7 home and Usine & Elektronika (VJ-Soft)

there with Usine I can:
- receive the midi-data from the wlan and send it (through) to the virtual Midi-port (loopback)
- and Elektronika receives it from there?

That would be so nice!

--------------------------------------

If you have used Resolume, you might want to take a look at the (free) Elektronika!

I tried/used Resolume some time over the years but still love Elektronika. Because of its
modular concept. Its very similar to Reason with the racks and virtual cables backside.
But Resolume is also very good (nowadays) for advanced features like 3d-mapping etc..

When I vj, I mainly use REALTIME-visuals, generated on-the-fly from the music - no use
of many video-clips. Eletronika is a "virtual" Video-Mixer for Win (XP/7/8) and
can easily handle upto 4+ video-channels in realtime - either own sound-reactive video
or "grabbed" input from other video (av) apps ... so very flexible and performant!
But not further developed since a while you can take a look or get it free from
http://aestesis.net/elektronika-live-is ... performers

Back to Usine:

can you give me some help / hints / screenshorts / patches,

where and with what to start with Usine on

- PC 1 (tablet / midi-controller) and
- PC 2 (win 7 receiver / Midi-through to Elektronika

I have no idea about modules, racks & patches ...

? mikey

Hi markey,

Thanks for sharing the Electronika definitely sounds like something I would like, as far as Resolume I just run demo... as I do not use professionally.
Interesting as well that Hollyhock does do some minor video playback and sequencing too, along with the full DMX control items that were added in HH2.

So if you are familiar with the rack concept, this is the same but in a vertical configuration, almost more like a modular synthesizer...than a 19" rackmount.

There are inputs at the top, the patches in between, and the outputs at the bottom.

If you would like to use a multi-touch tablet, you could set a device out to send MIDI to the LAN....on the second computer with Usine you could receive this and send to a virtual midi port output (Using LoopMidi).

If you need syncronization like MIDI beat clock, it works really well when you Network to Usine instances and send Syncro information between. If your tablet is running the Master Tempo and Play/Stop then it would sync the two.

Also if you have several computers with multiple users, you can share the active patch between. So say you have an XY pad or Physics bouncy ball patch on your tablet.
If you have someone at the computer receiving, you can share the patch so the other user sees and can react to it.

Very cool when you work with other people, say you are more conducting what is going on, but you want to include someone else to control certain aspects.


So the Wiki and Manuals do have quite a bit of information regarding setup, and some of the links can be seen below. If you need step by step, I can help.

First install on both computers and look at the networking section, and the MIDI LAN.
Look through the manual and learn a little about how patches work, just to give yourself a starter on it.

Give me more of a scenario of how you would want and what you want to control...and I could help you with your first patch and some help with the networking setup.
Right now a patching tutorial is also in the works, and if there is information you are missing or curious about let me know. Maybe we can edit the Wiki to make it a little clearer, or I could use some of this networking information for a more specific network tutorial.

Network Settings

MIDI LAN

Sharing Patches

Another question:

When I start up Usine I get "Can't open audio driver".
I think this is because I changed audio interfaces and one no longer exists.
Usine does come up after answering OK with the the correct "new" driver active and does work.

How do I delete the "old" driver (if that IS the problem)?

You can always redo the config file, which will scrap your settings....but will allow you to refresh.
/config/default-settings.ini

Next time you restart it will ask your language, etc...and you must put activation back in.
At this point your settings panel items will be defaulted to the initial, and your sound card listing should remove the additional card.

At this point just close out of usine, or load your old config if you choose and restart.

-s

Sephult, I really enjoy your Avanced Midi Sequencer. Very well thought out and put together. I utilized it last night and, yeah, it's really good...two thumbs up.
For the VST tools, i drag it into a rack and the patch name comes up but other than that nothing in particular appears on the rack or within the patch editor. I am on Mac Mavericks 10.10 so unsure if that has anything to do with it.

Hi ???

To use the VST tools, you need to drag and drop a VST into a patch first.
Next open the editor of the patch and drag and drop the add-ons into the editor window
When prompted select add-subpatch
Wire the Array Lines and the param name 3 (3 connections).
It will automatically appear in your VST patch.

These are sub-patch add-ons, and need the VST first

Thanks for the feedback, let me know if you find any bugs or quirks you might have with in the Advanced MIDI Sequencer so I can fix them.

-s

Ok got the VST Tools to work. I was loading the tools into the rack as opposed directly into the patch editor. Love it! I did find a bug though. Vertical faders align above one another as opposed to adjacent to one another so they overlap.

So far the Advanced Midi Sequencer is working like a champ.

@ sephult (post 2015-08-22 23:40:22):

Wow! Thanks again for your time & for your answers, comments and
suggestions! Very helpful - saved me lots of time with try & error

Now I think: HH2 maybe can do what I look for. Maybe it is the perfect
tool for my needs! I try to describe my idea more in detail:

- Maschine A (Laptop) generates the visuals realtime from the music using
Elektronika (needs a powerful CPU and GPU). I use a i7 with a Nvidia GTX 850M)

- Maschine B (Tablet) should be able to control Elektronika (on A) via networked
midi (over Wifi) as a midi controller with custom defined knobs / faders / switches
or pads.

Maschine A:

The video-mixer part of Elektronika (the Dimension-module) has 4 video-channels
to mix/control. For each channel there are several parameters to control like
gain, zoom, color, rotation, blur etc.

So far I use this external USB midi-controller "Numark MixMeister Control":
www.numark.com/images/product_large/nk0 ... mac_lg.jpg

The buttom left 4 x 4 knobs and switches are used/assigned for the 4 channels
to control the certain parameters.

----

Maschine B (tablet):

the horizontal-scrolling-modules-method of Usine seems to be perfect to
create and assign "my own midi-controllers" to Elektronikas Dimension
mixer and to other modules to scroll horizontally. Am I right?

Wow! What a powerful tool. There is nothing else currently availlable
for Win 8.x. That fact could help to make Usine famous / very successful!

"Give me more of a scenario of how you would want and what you want to control...and I could help you with your first patch and some help with the networking setup."

Networked midi-setup and shared patches I understand (guess).
Your help reg. my first 2 patches for maschine A and B would be very welcome:

A: networked midi-receiver forwards all incoming midi-data from WiFi
to the virtual midi-port xyz (LoopBe) with Elektronika listening and
controlling the visualz ...

B: a minimal setup with 1 knob, 1 fader and one button on the tablet
that send the controller-data over networked WiFi to maschine A ...

Thank you so much. You can help me, saving lots of time!

marky