#42

Hello All,

I’m considering purchasing a Norns, with the intention of doing one of two things at any given time:

  1. Sending MIDI to Ableton to control Max devices and VSTs.
  2. Processing audio from tabletop synths/noise boxes from Ciat-Lonbarde.

Either way, audio will be manipulated in Ableton, but I’m wondering as to the best MIDI setup. Is 2host the only viable option? Will Nornds not send MIDI via USB?

Excited to get one and make it an essential part of my setup, along with a Grid!

Thank you.

#43

Yes it does send MIDI over USB, but norns is a USBMIDI Host as is your computer with Ableton. Thus you need something to translate between two hosts.

So 2host or the [SevillaSoft USB-USB](https://sevillasoft.com/Archivos/Sevilla Soft MIDI Breath Controller MBC1 ENG.pdf) thingy are 2 solutions to that problem.

#44

I made a 3D printed enclosure that works pretty well, I’ll link the file with some photos when o get back to my computer.

3 Likes
#46

Thank you for the reply.

Any issues to worry about with passing MIDI data, such as using a USB-C to USB adapter, to connect the USB from 2host to a MacBook Pro?

Is it possible to purchase a 2host fully built, or only the PCB?

#47

Adapter should work just fine if it works with other standard USB devices.

I’ll DM you about a built 2host.

#48

@setfield Apologies for the long delay, I’ve been swamped with work ahead of the Thanksgiving week.
Here is the rendered case along with the 3D printed top and bottom.
My understanding on the printing side still leaves much to be desired but it works well enough.
The screws are 2.5mm X 8

ScreenClip
ScreenClip2091×1103 170 KB
2host_comp
2host_comp2108×1582 1.25 MB

I have not quite figured out how to upload the models to git so here is a dropbox link…


I’d love to see any improvements to it if anyone makes mods.

Thanks again to @okyeron for functionality - it’s so nice to be able to sequence content via ios and send to other usb midi hosts.

2 Likes
#49

Hey! That’s swell! :grin:

holes for the led would be a welcome addition (to view midi activity)

What length screws do you end up with?

#50

Screw size was 2.5x8mm.
Totally agree about the LED lights, this was rev 2 and have not revisited the print again - still feels like many iterations to get it feeling good.

I’d love to see how others prints turn out if they print it - print time was about 2 hrs on my ender 5

2 Likes
#51

Excellent! Thanks for sharing this! I may try adding the LED holes and printing it this weekend. Is the model available on Thingiverse?

#52

I have not added It yet, I’ll try and post it tonight/tomorrow and share out the link there too…

edit - I’ve added the enclosure to Thingaverse, free for anyone that has an account there.

1 Like
#53

Has anyone considered using the new RPI MCU for this: https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-silicon-pico-now-on-sale? That would cut the cost into more than half.

#54

i don’t know, but i second this question. very interesting!

#55

I can take a stab at it if no one else volunteers :slight_smile:

#56

I could probably re-do the board to use QtPy instead of the LC and that’d cut the parts cost in half.

The RP2040 is brand new. We’ll have to see what people do with it. But… I don’t think it brings anything really new to the table here for shuffling midi around.

The pico board itself is a bit big for this use. I’d probably want to wait for smaller board implementations - like the oncoming Adafruit ItsyBitsy RP 2040 (keeping it diy friendly)

3 Likes
#57

A very good point about the size. I didn’t really check that. QtPy looks even tinier, that’d be quite some improvement, IMHO.

#58

I’m all ears! :slight_smile: