From frets to keys to finger holes, musical instruments in every culture have provided ways to easily access musical ideas quickly. But these are physical, acoustic instruments, so any solution they find is more or less restricted to a single set of choices.
Digital hardware can do what digital software can: it can be a blank slate for new ideas.
The monome and Tenori-On grid instruments, each in their own way, demonstrated that a radically simple grid can generate a surprising range of possibilities. The monome’s claim to fame, above its other applications, was the way a companion Max patch treated sliced samples (the mlr app). Tenori-on, drawing on earlier work by Toshio Iwai, excelled at playful, game-like mechanics.
If the piano had centuries of development, the digital grid is still pretty new. And now it’s adding color and velocity/pressure sensitivity. So now may be the best time to revisit its possibilities.
I’m now in London, about to take part in discussions tomorrow to work on the Novation Launchpad Pro’s open source API. I think this could be not only a font for some neat Launchpad ideas, but perhaps a template for how such a hardware API could be developed and supported, and some new thoughts on how to make a grid instrument work.
As I do that, by happy coincidence, developer Fabrizio Poce is back with his J74 ISO Controllers.
Fire up a standalone Mac or Windows application from J74, and you open up a range of new modes on Novation’s whole Launchpad line, from the original model (with a simple grid) to the latest Pro version (with velocity, pressure, and color). This isn’t anything to do with Ableton Live specifically, for instance – you can use any software you want. (I’m sure some of you will opt for Ableton, but not all of you.)
These melodic layouts are “isomorphic.” That is to say, they function geometrically so that a a particular shape produces the same intervals wherever you happen to be on the grid. That means that the distance between pads beneath your hands will always produce the same chords (or the same pitch relationships) wherever you are. Musical meaning is always under your fingers. Pianos and frets learn that way, which is why you can so quickly translate gestures into musical ideas – and why composers often favor working at instruments. These connect your muscles, your brain, and the resulting sound.
That concept isn’t new, but what this software pack does is extend what you can do with it.
There’s a drum rack, for percussion. There are layouts set up for chord progressions, diatonic melodies (so you’re never out of key), and octaves. One mode is set up diagonally. Others emulate guitar frets or the keyboard.
It’s not just a collection of useful layouts, either. You can also transpose pitches around, live, jump momentarily between scales (for combining scales in performance), and navigate by the Circle of Fifths. You can create your own custom scales. The Launchpad Pro hardware gives you the most power. You can simulate pitch and modulation wheel input, send Program Changes (for changing parts on another instrument, for instance), and still have full velocity and aftertouch support.
This works standalone via MIDI, so, whie you do need to have a computer connected, you can work with any software. With the Launchpad Pro hacks, we’ll be able to do this sort of thing even with the hardware operating as standalone.
The upshot of all of this is more than just some clever note layouts. It’s really down to accessing a range of melodic concepts without taking your fingers off the grid. And the grid is unique in that way, too, in that sometimes it’s about breaking habits and muscle memory to find new things rather than training it. I’ve never seen anything as liquid melodically as this is.
The patch is US$10, among a range of cool tool goodies from the author.
And this could be just the beginning of what people will begin to explore on grids.
Stay tuned.
http://fabriziopoce.com/isocontrollers.html
Hat tip to Synthtopia on this one. You’ve added extra inspiration.
wonderful Peter thanks for this article, I was going to hold off for a bit but I think you persuaded me to pick up a lp pro, looking forward to hearing more about the progress the stand alone hacks will be making
wonderful Peter thanks for this article, I was going to hold off for a bit but I think you persuaded me to pick up a lp pro, looking forward to hearing more about the progress the stand alone hacks will be making
wonderful Peter thanks for this article, I was going to hold off for a bit but I think you persuaded me to pick up a lp pro, looking forward to hearing more about the progress the stand alone hacks will be making
Peter, will you have a chat with the (awesome) guys from Novation? Love the LPpro so far. But I really hope they improve on threshold/sensitivity or allow to change the settings for your own apps (See https://github.com/dvhdr/launchpad-pro/issues/6).
404’ed
fixed 😉
Peter, will you have a chat with the (awesome) guys from Novation? Love the LPpro so far. But I really hope they improve on threshold/sensitivity or allow to change the settings for your own apps (See https://github.com/dvhdr/launchpad-pro/issues/6 ).
404’ed
fixed 😉
Peter, will you have a chat with the (awesome) guys from Novation? Love the LPpro so far. But I really hope they improve on threshold/sensitivity or allow to change the settings for your own apps (See https://github.com/dvhdr/launchpad-pro/issues/6 ).
404’ed
fixed 😉
i really love the direction novation is going in/has. creation for the masses!
i really love the direction novation is going in/has. creation for the masses!
i really love the direction novation is going in/has. creation for the masses!
Agree with everyone, this is a great, great move on the part of Novation. I’d love to see this in tandem with iOS music software, too, as the device looks like it’s nice and portable and I believe it can work on un-powered USB, right?
Yeah, it works with the iPad if the external power supply is plugged in.
That’s a minor bummer in terms of portability. Nonetheless it’s an awesome device.
Well the thing gives of more light than an iPad itself. I imagine that takes some power. A low brightness mode could work. Or a built in battery (this would be my dream along with bluetooth MIDI).
Agree with everyone, this is a great, great move on the part of Novation. I’d love to see this in tandem with iOS music software, too, as the device looks like it’s nice and portable and I believe it can work on un-powered USB, right?
Yeah, it works with the iPad if the external power supply is plugged in.
That’s a minor bummer in terms of portability. Nonetheless it’s an awesome device.
Well the thing gives of more light than an iPad itself. I imagine that takes some power. A low brightness mode could work. Or a built in battery (this would be my dream along with bluetooth MIDI).
Agree with everyone, this is a great, great move on the part of Novation. I’d love to see this in tandem with iOS music software, too, as the device looks like it’s nice and portable and I believe it can work on un-powered USB, right?
Yeah, it works with the iPad if the external power supply is plugged in.
That’s a minor bummer in terms of portability. Nonetheless it’s an awesome device.
Well the thing gives of more light than an iPad itself. I imagine that takes some power. A low brightness mode could work. Or a built in battery (this would be my dream along with bluetooth MIDI).
Really interesting project. wonder how it compares to launchpad95.
Am I missing something here? Isn’t this just launchpad95 with a simple GUI and $10 price tag, minus the the great step sequencer / clip launcher features?
You nailed it Tom 🙂
Really interesting project. wonder how it compares to launchpad95.
Am I missing something here? Isn’t this just launchpad95 with a simple GUI and $10 price tag, minus the the great step sequencer / clip launcher features?
You nailed it Tom 🙂
Unfortunately Launchpad95 doesn’t support the Launchpad Pro yet, so this is the only option as far as I know. This is a great tool, but I really want to use the Launchpad Pro as a step sequencer, so hopefully launchpad95 adds support for it soon.
Really interesting project. wonder how it compares to launchpad95.
Am I missing something here? Isn’t this just launchpad95 with a simple GUI and $10 price tag, minus the the great step sequencer / clip launcher features?
You nailed it Tom 🙂
Unfortunately Launchpad95 doesn’t support the Launchpad Pro yet, so this is the only option as far as I know. This is a great tool, but I really want to use the Launchpad Pro as a step sequencer, so hopefully launchpad95 adds support for it soon.
very interesting stuff, the programable 64 grid with velocity and pressure is the way of the future..and Launchpad Pro is paving that way.
I don’t know. I’m having the damndest time getting as much out of my launchpad as I do a good ole midi controller. But I hopped on this program quickly hoping that maybe I can find a new groove.
very interesting stuff, the programable 64 grid with velocity and pressure is the way of the future..and Launchpad Pro is paving that way.
I don’t know. I’m having the damndest time getting as much out of my launchpad as I do a good ole midi controller. But I hopped on this program quickly hoping that maybe I can find a new groove.
very interesting stuff, the programable 64 grid with velocity and pressure is the way of the future..and Launchpad Pro is paving that way.
I don’t know. I’m having the damndest time getting as much out of my launchpad as I do a good ole midi controller. But I hopped on this program quickly hoping that maybe I can find a new groove.
the pro version looks great, but it looks like ISO Controllers is basically just a translator patch written in Max/Msp. So you can’t really use the unit in standalone to play Midi hardware with these note layouts?
the pro version looks great, but it looks like ISO Controllers is basically just a translator patch written in Max/Msp. So you can’t really use the unit in standalone to play Midi hardware with these note layouts?
the pro version looks great, but it looks like ISO Controllers is basically just a translator patch written in Max/Msp. So you can’t really use the unit in standalone to play Midi hardware with these note layouts?
I only wish there would be standalone hardware like this, with midi support..
I only wish there would be standalone hardware like this, with midi support..
I only wish there would be standalone hardware like this, with midi support..