Cranes

[dan_derks]

2.0.1 posted!

• took @zebra’s kind advice and removed superfluous buffer clearing.
• to avoid weirdo behaviors while recording in paper crane mode, I’ve built in automatic playback muting. nb: this does not affect the overdub / overwrite bird buddies. @n-So, should take care of that unwanted blippy stuff.
• small tweaks to overdub / overwrite bird buddy behavior

enjoy + plz share what you make + report any unwanted weirdness!

[ypxkap]

oh my god i can finally start working on my reich norns cover album this is amazing!

[lloydcole]

Cranes is wonderful. Thanks so much, it pretty much exactly what I was hoping for.
I have one request, OK, two… could stop/play and reset be added? Creating phasing offsets is great but it might be nice to be able to start a track/performance with two loops tightly synced, so that they can then gradually fall out of phase… or pull them back into line, suddenly.

Here’s a little sketch from my first day, with Lorre Mill Keyed Mosstone providing the audio.

[ypxkap]

be able to start a track/performance with two loops tightly synced, so that they can then gradually fall out of phase… or pull them back into line, suddenly.

co-sign! trying to recreate “it’s gonna rain” with someone from the the conservative talk radio station that’s clearest on my op-1 actually turned out to be super hard.

alternative framing of the above— “creative limitations spare word from horrible noise”

[yobink]

Mosstone is the perfect instrument for Cranes! Makes me miss mine! Very nice @lloydcole

[dan_derks]

Norns: ideas

And for scripts which do use softcut, like Cranes? Would that be simple enough, too? Should I look at your Awake scripting?

re: delay in cranes, you could definitely load up a third softcut voice per @tehn’s halfsecond script and route voice 1 and 2 into it!

or as @swhic mentions, you can use softcut as a delay for the input as well. softcut is able to pull in from adc and dac, you just need to specify which (input channel and/or another cut buffer) goes into which voice at what volume. see https://monome.org/docs/norns/script-reference/, but these commands will do the trick:
softcut.level_input_cut(ch, voice, value)
softcut.level_cut_cut(src, dst, value)

by specifying routing and arguments, you could chain either of these:
input -> delay -> cranes
input -> cranes -> delay
or just input -> delay -> out while cranes does its normal thing

[lloydcole]

re: delay in cranes, you could definitely load up a third softcut voice per @tehn’s halfsecond script and route voice 1 and 2 into it!

or as @swhic mentions, you can use softcut as a delay for the input as well. softcut is able to pull in from adc and dac, you just need to specify which (input or another cut buffer) goes into which buffer at what volume. see https://monome.org/docs/norns/script-reference/

Would you have any interest, given I don’t script, in investigating this avenue as standard for Cranes, or maybe ‘Many Cranes’? What would be perfect would be if the echo could choose its source - ie change from ADC to DAC… but if it had to be just one, I’d vote for DAC.
This request/suggestion should probably be over at the Cranes thread…

[dan_derks]

given I don’t script

let’s change that! i’m more than happy to help u get a simple implementation of this idea going for your personal version. i’ll move these messages into the cranes thread when i’m back at a laptop

edit: moved!

[lloydcole]

As the Indigo Girls once said to me - You’all are awesome. Many thanks!

[dan_derks]

could stop/play and reset be added?

for sure! definitely into it. also absolutely lovely track. thank you for sharing it. holy moly.

do you have a grid? I’m trying to balance what should be on-device and what expansions could be offloaded to grid. I’m looking to add speed and a value preset system (a la less concepts), so this could be a nice thing to add rather than overhaul the current KEY + ENC gestures.

also, straw poll: do folks use the KEY3 gesture? I really like using it to quickly toggle speeds while overdubbing voice 1, but I can’t tell if others work this way.

[yobink]

I use the key3 gesture extensively and LOVE it. I think it kind of gives Cranes it’s signature sound. Like on this little trumpet thing:

[Ithacus]

I also love the key3 feature (one of my favorite parts of Cranes).

Expanding other features onto grids sounds like a great idea

I had some simple ideas for Cranes on Norns 1 that I posted about (voice panning which would also allow independent processing etc.). I should really get started on trying to implement some of them.

[dan_derks]

oh yeah! these, right?

Norns: ideas

My wishlist and ideas would be:

• Integrate some form of ‘record/overdub’ enable for either buffer (so independent material can be recorded to either buffer).

in current version!

• Independent shift/wobble (Key 3) values, and enable, per buffer.

on the roadmap!

• Simple forward/reverse control per buffer (with speed as independent parameter).

great idea! on the roadmap!

• Panning per buffer (so both buffers could be routed independently via the L+R outputs for further processing).

in current version!

thank you for the reminder on these. <333

[Ithacus]

Wow that’s great thanks Dan!

So many Norns developments I can’t keep track (not tried Cranes since updating to Norns 2 last week).

[lloydcole]

also, straw poll : do folks use the KEY3 gesture? I really like using it to quickly toggle speeds while overdubbing voice 1, but I can’t tell if others work this way.

Only started experimenting yesterday. I didn’t realise the KEY3 thing was active when recording. Will try and will report back.
I do have grid and arc but don’t plan to travel with them, unless performing electronically. Mostly I’m touring my day job (2 guitars, or more, lots of luggage).
Glad you enjoyed the piece. It has that slight thing I seem to be drawn to. Plus I seem to make my better pieces when I’m not trying to be ‘creative’.
Shameless self promotion - If you like that sort of thing you might enjoy my 1D, which are mostly unfinished pieces which we decided we (me and record co) preferred that way. http://www.lloydcole.com/album/1d/

[Prnts]

20 characters of key 3 is nice

[lloydcole]

Ongoing, right now, but once settled I’ll see if I can make printable version. For old coots like me who retain almost nothing.

[junklight]

Just posted a track I made with it in latest tracks. Lots of fun

My greatest wish would be frippertronics like fading away of the loop…

[dan_derks]

was just listening as I received your notification! you were able to find some really wonderful pockets, thank you for sharing it!

My greatest wish would be frippertronics like fading away of the loop…

ah, this definitely is possible but depends on your config – if norns is on a send from a mixer, you can just leave the small birds / overdub on with maybe 0.25 overwrite, then cut the audio path from the mixer to norns and it’ll fade as the buffer plays. but if you are plugging directly in, I could expose a record volume parameter that would allow you to pull down the level of the audio hitting the record head and let the overdub ride.

lots on the laundry list

[junklight]

Thank you

Yeah i’d Worked out the overdub “trick” I guess I’d need a mixer in the setup. Which is a possibility