Approaching: norns

xmacex · 2024-05-20T21:12:08.112Z

Sure, why not! Search the forum for “shield battery”.

Works fine, although some batteries might underpower norns leading to glitchy audio. MIDI duties are in any case fine, according to my experience. A bit more serious battery will allow heavier scripts to work fine too.

Summer is here on the Northern hemisphere, I hope everyone gets out with their gear.

radian · 2024-05-20T21:32:00.424Z

I run mine off a USB power bank all the time. The one I have is probably overkill for this infact. (it’s Duracell brand, can’t remember model.)

Rushup_D · 2024-05-24T19:32:18.033Z

So I finally got a brand new RPI 3B+ with original adapter and a MicroSD Sandisk Pro Extreme 250GB.
I have order the original Norns Shield kit with CS4270 codec that Im waiting for. Meanwhile I will setup the SD-card.

In the Norns GitHub page I don’t understand what I should download?
And nothing here seems to have the name “CS4270”

GitHub

Release 231114 · monome/norns-image

instructions for a fresh install hardware version pi software version to download standard norns cm3 or cm3+ norns231114.img.tgz 211028 revision shield raspberry pi 3 norns231114-shield-pi...

graymazes · 2024-05-24T20:47:11.958Z

https://github.com/monome/norns-image/releases/download/231114-img/norns231114-shield-pi3-cs4720.tgz

Rushup_D · 2024-05-24T20:55:06.556Z

Thanks alot! Im so excited to start this adventure!

dani_derks · 2024-06-06T13:46:52.098Z

3 posts were merged into an existing topic: Norns Scripts for a 64 Grid

tofuBahnMi · 2024-07-22T14:51:36.150Z

just curious, which global settings should i be looking at to minimize cpu load on norns?

tehn · 2024-07-22T15:56:38.196Z

activating reverb and compressor will add CPU, but otherwise CPU use is determined by the script and more acutely the supercollider engine.

so this question can be answered with more detail after understanding what issues you’re running into, and if you’re writing a script or engine— or simply using scripts found in the collection.

tofuBahnMi · 2024-07-22T16:41:08.764Z

i’m using scripts found in the collection

the issue i ran into this morning was clipping and popping on graintopia when i added a 3rd sample. they were all pretty big samples, so i imagine trimming would help some. with three samples loaded i was at 77% CPU and there was clipping. if i erased the third sample slot it dropped to around 55% CPU and no clipping.

i also loaded mlre without any samples and that read 55% CPU. i didn’t really have time this morning for more playing.

it makes sense that longer samples and more grains would use more CPU. i’m wondering what a normal CPU range might be for granular and sampling scripts and what i should keep in mind when using them

sonoCircuit · 2024-07-22T16:59:31.097Z

tofuBahnMi:

i also loaded mlre without any samples and that read 55% CPU

just to provide some background info:

In mlre, even when all tracks are stopped they are still running silently in the background. This means the CPU at startup is roughly the CPU load you’ll get when all 6 tracks are playing at normal speed. The higher the playback rate the higher the CPU load. When all tracks are running at max speed the CPU load is roughly 70%. In the case of mlre the number of loaded samples will not have an effect on CPU load but the speed of the tracks and the number of patterns (and triggered events) running simultaneously.

If you run into cracks and pops even when supplying norns with the recommended power supply specs, please let me know.

graymazes · 2024-07-22T18:43:29.824Z

tofuBahnMi:

’m wondering what a normal CPU range might be

it’s not a simple linear relationship, but as a rule of thumb, you can expect buffer underruns when overall CPU load gets much higher than 70% (say 75)

tofuBahnMi:

all pretty big samples, so i imagine trimming would help some.

intuitively this seems like it would be related, but turns out it basically is not

jaseknighter · 2024-07-22T21:43:00.387Z

tofuBahnMi:

clipping and popping on graintopia

there is a reverb in graintopia that is simple to remove by commenting out line 148 of the script’s SuperCollider engine and restarting. doing so will reduce CPU by a bit, perhaps enough to address the clipping and popping.

edit: another way to reduce CPU on graintopia would be to reduce the number of “grains” per “land.” (there are six grains for each of the three “lands” by default.) i believe you can do this by replacing instances of 6.do with a lower number (e.g. 4.do) in the above linked SC file and restarting.

brucegill · 2024-08-18T22:54:38.907Z

Hello! Been lurking for a while and been wanting to try a Norns for ages. Finally got my hands on one but have a question about power and a usb hub. Apologies if this is a stupid question, it will be the first of many!

Have a grid and crow on the way, use a ROLI block M or a midi keyboard and the WiFi dongle. Currently run a Mac laptop charger usb c to usb mini for charging and power.

If I get a powered hub, what do I plug into what usb socket? Do I still run the Mac charger into the usb mini and then the powered hub has everything else connected - then connect that to one of the x4 usb sockets on the Norns, so everything can talk to each other?

Hopefully some kind soul can point me in the right direction.

Thanks! And thank you all the amazing content on here

xmacex · 2024-08-19T03:55:06.902Z

Hi welcome to world of norns. An adventure awaits you, hopefully a long one, maybe lifelong

brucegill:

what do I plug into what usb socket?

I don’t have most of the specific gizmos you mention, but I do have norns and crow. The basic idea of norns USB is

micro-USB is for power input
4xUSB-A are for data input and output as USB host, and for power output

secretstates · 2024-08-24T10:12:36.830Z

Direct or on the user market.

The documentation and help page has lots of the answers.

Bonne chance!

Tonybologna · 2024-08-24T16:08:59.206Z

where did you hear about a new one coming out?

wakyct · 2024-08-24T18:07:21.885Z

HenryO:

Are all of the Standards the same spec, or do they differ since the original release?

There have been some HW changes (read the old news at the link @secretstates gave), and software/API changes, but in general I think backward compatibility is pretty good.

St0rMl0rD · 2024-08-29T16:30:44.262Z

For me it was a major jump from shield to factory norns. Audio quality, the high quality and not-jumpy-knobs, build quality and aesthetic fit into my studio is just so worth it. I don’t often use it on battery but sometimes I do for social media posts, and it’s nice to not have to crawl under my studio desk to move the cable and charger.

Shamanistikal · 2024-08-29T16:44:21.167Z

HenryO:

Does this look like a good build?

Looks nice! That user is also here on Lines, I appreciate their posts

The only difference I ever heard of that mattered was the price. Never heard audio from shield users that noticeably sounded any different than regular norns. Battery seems like just a superficial/temporary difference(batteries don’t last forever).

Hope you find what you like

fivethirtyoneam · 2024-08-29T17:00:52.865Z

+1 on this. I had some weird grounding issues with Norns Shield. they could easily be cut out with a ground eliminator but it’s not something I was interested in. I like clean audio signals so I upgraded to the full size Norns. Plus the battery is a nice addition.