#2523

Just completed my first Norns project, a midi generative sequencer. I ported an old program of mine from Max 4 Live. It took a fraction of the time to complete in Norns and quickly surpassed the M4L version in functionality. It plays well with my Eurorack rig or midi synthesizers.

It’s no hyperbole to say that Norns is a revolution in my musical workflow. Finally, I feel I can quickly code my own custom generative instruments or really any idea that comes to mind. The minimal UI forces me to focus on what is most important.

My sincere thanks to @tehn and everyone who is contributing to the platform. This is the most amazing device I never knew I needed.

30 Likes
#2524

Lets see it :slight_smile:

5 Likes
#2525

20 characters of ditto

#2526

Yep, I’ll post a video when I have a chance

5 Likes
#2527

Not quite ready to share the code yet (which is why I’m not posting this in Library) but I was excited to get this working and wanted to share.

I made, what I’m referring to as, a circles sequencer. You can use encoders 2 and 3 to move a cursor around. Key 3 will drop a circle that starts growing. A circle will burst if it touches another circle or gets too big. I’ve hooked it up to the PolyPerc engine for this test. The note that’s played when a circle bursts is determined by its y position and the amplitude is determined by its size. Really enjoying Norns. Thank you to everyone that worked on it!

29 Likes
#2528

Since this is a beginner thread, can someone explain to me in a nutshell what Monome is? I see this all over here, and I’m so confused. Is Norns the same the thing?

EDIT… Oh Norns is made by Monome. Its just a computer? Why not just use a laptop?

Monome Beginner Questions
Norns: help
#2529

i might suggest more specific questions, as we attempt to give the “nutshell” version both on the main site and in the very extensive approaching thread where i slowly introduced norns over an entire week. check those out first.

#2530

Cool thnx. Yeah it appears my nutshell request is a bit broad considering you have a whole ecosystem here.

I’m relatively new to modular and this forum, and its all very fascinating indeed, but the sub niches of stuff is overwhelming too.

#2531

It may be useful to note that “monome” is the name of the company that makes things (grid, arc, norns, modules, etc.).

Some years ago, the (first?) thing they made was a grid device and people often referred to the grid as “a monome”. In the present time, as you’ve observed, there’s an ecosystem of things, not just the grid.

#2532

monome is also

  • two people, sometimes three
  • an idea
  • a place where people gather
  • friends old and new
  • a particular spirit
  • a color seen and unseen
36 Likes
#2533

This is exactly why its so confusing to the outsider. Is this the intent? If its a product I want to know what it does how I can use it. To me it just seems like a really obfuscated version of a laptop and midi controllers that run things that Max, Ableton etc can already do. Sorry, I’ve come from the land of guitar forums and people talking endlessly about the mythical Klon pedals and Dumble amps and have seen many cult that has grown around gear, so I’m just wary of that sort of hype speak.

#2534

monome devices have the ability to be extremely minimal, that’s something that sets Norns and the Grid apart from something like Ableton and Push. They are intentionally ambiguous to allow for the user to define them if they want (or you can use other people’s programs/scripts on Norns for example). A lot of what Norns does has been contributed by different developers that are part of the community, rather than a large corporate entity.

#2535

@909one

the offical description linked above seems clear enough: “norns is a small, portable sound computer.” that page continues to list technical specifications and so on. there is also the norns software stack which is likewise well documented.

there are other small, portable sound computers in production. you are maybe asking after specific reasons why anyone would want such a thing (philsophical, pragmatic, &c.) that sounds like a good subject for its own forum topic.

2 Likes
#2536
  • Laptops cost more money.
  • My laptops don’t have three programmable encoders with higher resolution than MIDI
  • My laptop’s sound card requires a separate power supply

Norns is a special purpose computer. It’s rad.

1 Like
#2537

Sorry, I shouldn’t make judgements before understanding something new. It seems very interesting, just trying to wrap my brain around the ecosystem

1 Like
#2538

In use Norns doesn’t feel like a computer. When I open Ableton I find it hard to disassociate it from the computer I’ve been using all day for work, even with the Push. Norns is its own thing. That’s just me though, others use Norns alongside Ableton and a computer. I think the most important thing to understand if you’re trying to grasp any limitations of the ecosystem is that whilst Norns can be a bunch of different things it can only be one of those things at a time. You can’t run a script that makes it a synth at the same time as a script that makes it a looper - unless you write a script that incorporates both of those things! But that’s how new scripts are born, and it’s part of the fun.

2 Likes
#2539

Yeah I’m in front of a screen all day too and I have no desire to use a computer for music these days, unless I’m mixing. I’ve got a Nebulae, so similar idea scaled down. I’ve not scratched the surface at using anything but the main granular instrument. Its all very interesting.

#2540

Wait, looking at this more…
So you need a laptop still to write the scripts anyway? And Norns doesn’t send CV? So if you want to send CV you need that Ansible? That gets expensive really fast.

Norns: help
#2541

Yes, you’ll need a laptop to write the scripts. Or, I guess, a phone or iPad - though I’ve not tried this. Norns is just a url away if you’re on the same WiFi network.

To be honest, I’m mainly in it for mlr which is a looper script. Give me a piano, a mic and mlr and tell me that’s all I’ll have for the rest of my days and I’d be utterly content. Elated! So depending on what you’re after you might not need to mess around with the scripts. That said - if, for example, you want mlr to always overdub by default - just edit the script! Hurrah!

I remember being at university when those first videos on Vimeo came out showing off the ‘monome’ and mlr all those years ago - it always seemed so out of reach! An impossible goal - to own such a thing! I’m so happy after all these years to have a grid sat on my piano next to my Norns. It feels like I’ve closed a loop.

6 Likes
#2542

is it possible to use mlr without a grid?