#30

I took a quick look and I would expect that in combination with a Roland um-one mkII (or equivalent) would work fine.

…assuming that the kmix along with that expander is designed such that your computer can output through it as if it is a normal midi interface.

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#31

Hello ngwese
I figured i ll ask here too as i did in the earthsea topic

I wanted to ask if there is a slight chance the midi functionality of Ansible will ever recieve some kind of clever code changes that would allow for a few slimmed down functions that are usually only accessible via the monome hardware modes.
I am thinking about very simple sequencing duties like note/melody loop for example. Not sure what else exactly… but while thinking of it, on a pure performace perspective i think having some spare keys on a keyboard for functions instead of notes would be quite possible? Not knowing a bit about how hard that might be to implement. Just the performance

I dont have my hopes up, but figured i would ask.

Another idea would be to have spare cv/tr outs that arent on voice duty be usable for things like lfos? Would sth like that be possible and in your interest of Ansible?

I am asking bc i am more of a keys person than buttons. The layout of keys is just more intuitive for me, so i would most likely use Ansible via midi and feel like missing most of what it actually can do.

#32

It’s not the best solution to your question but you could always use keys to lay down a MIDI track in a DAW like Ableton or something and then send the MIDI track through Ansible.

#33

Never. the most daw i might do is running an ios sequecner but even that is a compromise. Really displike using puters for music

#34

I don’t personally have any plans at the moment - all my free time is going into norns right now.

One of the main challenges with respect to expanding the midi modes is really just ui. The grid has the advantage of being consistent - beyond size, the capabilities are largely the same. Midi controllers are wildly varied so it is difficult to come up with an extended ui which uses anything other than midi notes. The existing ansible midi behavior is already pushing the limits of what can be squeezed into the three buttons on the front panel. There is functionality which is currently only accessible via teletype to tweak pitch offsets and the arp logic. Part of me doesn’t like the idea of requiring another piece of hardware just to unlock certain functionality but in the end I felt that there were enough folks that would end up with both a tt and ansible in their rig that it would prove useful to a sufficiently large number of folks.

If you have specific ideas on what you think would be interesting to see in ansible I’m happy to discuss further.

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#43

The flexibility and custom behavior that it sounds like you’re looking for is in computers, though. That doesn’t have to be a DAW. It could be a Max or PureData patch that you set up, then close the laptop most of the way and play your keyboard basically the same way you’re describing it might behave being plugged into theoretical extended Ansible firmware.

You could also code custom Ansible firmware and then it’ll do whatever you tell it to. But that’s a taller order. PD is free though, and can be set up and then turn away from the screen.

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#44

You probably don’t even need Ansible in this case. What you’re looking for I think could be achieved with a CV recorder like Brain Seed and a keyboard that outputs CV like a Keystep Pro or the Keith McMillen one (think it’s the Qunexus?). You’d also save 2HP with the Brain Seed.

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#45

Lovely idea but really above my tech skillz i suppose.

But what exactly would get me play the patch away of puter here?

#46

Totaly see your points. Thanks for being detailed about them.

Well this is pre coffee but i suppose a bit of added candys to the midi mode would be all i hope for. Then one could get ansible and be open to get grid in future but get still a good use out of it beforehand.

Mainly a cv record of the midi notes played. Could be basic like a looper with the buttons doing add-erase-start/stop. Even a fixed time would be fine here. Like 15-20 sec maybe
And a way of having at least one lfo to a gang of 3 voices/ midi cv‘s

I have no idea how hard this would be to implement but that would be so useful tools for every key player that might not need the complex sequencing of the main modes with grid/arc.

#47

Btw are there any custom/alt firmwares around on github? I suppose i would have read about them here if there would

Alternative tuning, scales, quantizing, etc
#48

I mean the entire point of Ansible is to have a physical form of apps specifically made for Grid and Arc. The MIDI capabilities are just kind of an added bonus I think. Just seems like the wrong tool for the task at hand, a general CV recorder/looper like Brain Seed would be exactly what you’re looking for I think.

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#49

Ofc and thanks for the cv recorder suggestion, being the place this is i throw this function in as a nice potential idea or suggestion for a midi addition as midi additions where earlier said to be welcome to discuss here.
To explain why this would matter to me is simply i need a midi cv for now, i would be interested where the i2c might develop concerning ansible, and the modules future flexibility also with potential addition of a grid or arc later. All this is happening on 56hp so maybe it gets more understandable why i ask?

I dont see a better future save module to take, allready as is, many roles in this context and i wonder if the cv record to its flash would be doable in a not overly time consuming way

I will however see if i can hunt for cv rec in 2hp not sure how easy it would be to implement but maybe you are right and its the best solution

#50

Not so much away from the computer, but without needing to interact with it. Ansible is basically a small chip running software, so it’s not terribly different. Plug your MIDI into Ansible or into your computer and run a program.

Though to be fair, Ansible outputs directly to your modular, and a PD patch wouldn’t do that per se w/o something like an Expert Sleeper’s I/O module that has DC coupled outputs.

Just trying to come up with ways to maybe get what it sounds like you’re describing you’re looking for, given that doing it w/ Ansible would require firmware development and most folks in the community who do firmware development appear not to be working on Ansible at the moment.

What I think you’re describing wanting is custom behavior particular to your setup, which means you’d probably need to do the coding, and PD is much more approachable than firmware development.

Alternative tuning, scales, quantizing, etc
#51

Actually thinking about it, you wouldn’t need an Expert Sleepers module, just something that does MIDI-to-CV conversion. There are a lot of modules that do that.

So, in sum:

  1. MIDI into computer running PD. Computer screen can be off :slight_smile:
  2. PD does whatever you want it to do, and outputs MIDI.
  3. MIDI goes to whatever MIDI-to-CV module you have at hand, and drives your CV-speaking modular.
#52

„At the moment „ thats the point. Never asked for it, just showing interest in a sidechain development of ansible midi when one of the devs touches it again.

Iam fine with learning to play Just Friends and loop/resample in audio for my early journy and ansible is on its way;)

I made a custum case with a power bank to be free of any outlets and screens. Happy about trigger box tho, but thats offtopic

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#53

Dont have midi cv yet. Ansible just ticks many boxes as we probably all agree

Alternative tuning, scales, quantizing, etc
#54

Cool! Just trying to give you options to help yourself. Waiting for an open source developer to do something for you can be a frustrating experience :slight_smile: It might be more rewarding or at least faster to learn to do it for yourself.

PureData can run on a Raspberry Pi, so it could be made very portable and off-grid, and screen-less. Again, I’m only suggesting this because of the lower barrier to entry, compared to firmware dev.

http://www.axoloti.com/ might be another option for setting up something custom, and could be wrapped up in an Axo Control. http://musicthing.co.uk/pages/axo.html

I have not done any of these things…they just seem reasonably possible.

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#55

Might be worth looking at the Bela/Rebeltech Salt.

#56

I just recieved Ansible with latest firmware including Earthsea and facing a problem with midi.

At first i tried powering my midi keyboard via Ansible but it wouldnt turn on. So i then tried to power the usb midi keyboard (icon nano demands 12v 100ma) via usb to ipad, works fine powered from ipad usb. I have now powered the keyboard with a wallplug, it powers just fine but inserted to ansible STILL nothing. No mode light up, no reaction.

Whats up with that? I wanted to power it from ansible but it not even being recognized when powered by itself is making me quite confused.

Also i noticed that, when i patch a cable from cv out of ansible to Just Friends v8 in, the pitch gets a little drift to higher. Not sure if that’s supposed to be?

For whatever reason when ansible recieves power TR2 is orange lid and stays lid.

#58

those solder joints are absolutely fine (by which I mean: entirely within normal parameters of functional solder joints.)

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