Islands 0.1.3

[junklight]

• Updated to new param groups so it hides away all the layer noise
• added MIDI destination option to layers so Kria channels can be routed to midi (& the Earthsea grid)
• saves the current synth patch as well in a default setting - you still need to save them if you want to keep them

[Dogma]

first up im so in love with trios thing - I wanna donate a little if possible

second - how do I hide the noise?

[junklight]

@Dogma

second - how do I hide the noise?

What I meant was it puts each layer in a group so at least the top level isn’t full of millions of parameters (something that will only get worse as I improve the engine). There still are a lot of parameters - the intention is to edit sounds using the grid editor not parameters.

[chailight]

Using isolation as an opportunity to dig into Islands as a self-contained instrument.
I’m already familiar with Kria and I’m loving the Earthsea interface with the looper.

The thing I’m finding hardest is programming the FM synth - I’m only just beginning to understand FM synthesis, so working out what to be trying here and how to relate it to other FM synthesis material is bit beyond me right now.

Can anyone recommend a good starting point for doing things like manually “copying” a patch from another FM synth? E.g if I load up an sound in Ableton Operator, is there a recipe for how I would manually translate the settings in Operator into the FM7 synth in Islands? I’ve had a go at this, in terms of setting frequencies and operator routings, but I’m really not confident about what I’m doing, and don’t feel like I’m getting the Islands patch into anywhere like a similar sonic territory.

Operator might not be a good starting point for manually copying settings. Maybe Dexed is a better place to start, but I’m still unsure of how to translate from one to the other as a learning exercise.

If anyone has any pointers, that’d be much appreciated - even if the best advice is to go learn FM synthesis on a different synth and then return to Islands.

[Puscha]

Having some fun with this!

Jacob Richards

Mind the sudden jump in level when bringing those two voices in an out - in fact maybe there could be a level control in the kria part? Not sure where it could fit but I’ll have a think. This feature would be really useful, especially given that there can be some fluctuations when changing some of the FM parameters around, and introducing longer gates/envelopes, etc.

I’ve also experienced some odd behavior that I’d like to report (for kria, really). When I open up kria, I’m unable to add any notes to the bottom level until I add a note anywhere above and then hit it again. Sometimes changing the notes in kria doesn’t actually send any information and doesn’t play any sequence, too.

Very much looking forward to crow i2c and modular integration and the eventual addition of the legato and directions features on the scales page! I also use the teletype sync toggle buttons on my ansible kria (same page, hard left next to legato) often as a pause per channel (as opposed to mute, where the sequence keeps playing without sound), so hoping that will be ported too. It’s very useful. Perhaps this could have some overlap function with crow? Will have a think of some suggestions.

Keep up the excellent work @junklight! My favourite norns app so far by a lot.

[junklight]

@Puscha

Mind the sudden jump in level when bringing those two voices in an out - in fact maybe there could be a level control in the kria part? Not sure where it could fit but I’ll have a think. This feature would be really useful, especially given that there can be some fluctuations when changing some of the FM parameters around, and introducing longer gates/envelopes, etc.

yeah - having a look at the engine, introducing a mixer and more FM features is next on my todo

@Puscha

I’ve also experienced some odd behavior that I’d like to report (for kria, really). When I open up kria, I’m unable to add any notes to the bottom level until I add a note anywhere above and then hit it again. Sometimes changing the notes in kria doesn’t actually send any information and doesn’t play any sequence, too.

hmm - will have a poke about. There are definitely a few bugs still in there!

@Puscha

Very much looking forward to crow i2c and modular integration and the eventual addition of the legato and directions features on the scales page! I also use the teletype sync toggle buttons on my ansible kria (same page, hard left next to legato) often as a pause per channel (as opposed to mute, where the sequence keeps playing without sound), so hoping that will be ported too. It’s very useful. Perhaps this could have some overlap function with crow? Will have a think of some suggestions.

My crow has spent the last week doing something at Chicago airport hoping that it will be getting on a plane soon…

hadn’t thought of teletype integration - although I’m using mine a lot at the moment - yeah shout out ideas and I’ll see what can be done

@Puscha

Keep up the excellent work @junklight! My favourite norns app so far by a lot.

thank you!

[Veiththepower]

@junklight

Crow support

Thanks for this beayfull patch. Is it possible to get the clock in from crow? Doesn’t seam to work for me. Is there a trick? Best, V

[junklight]

thank you

“Is it possible to get the clock in from crow?”

it likely just needs updating perhaps - I implemented that very early on when the code was released (or not at all yet - I’d need to look)

I’m hoping to do an update to the whole thing with improved engine, new features and better crow integration in the next month or so but I’ll see if there is anything obvious to be fixed before then

[coreyr]

New islands user here. This script is great! Kria took a little while to figure out but this thing is powerful!

I am finding myself wanting a per layer level control. Also wishing I could just bulk load dx7 patches into the synth. The grid interface sure does help when programming sounds though.

[coreyr]

Is there a way to reduce the input to the delay/loop buffers? I seem to be getting distortion and clipping regardless of time or feedback settings. The softcut input parameters in the menu don’t seem to do anything either.

[junklight]

Hi @coreyr

glad you are finding it interesting. Sadly this is one of the things I’ve had no time for of late (bloody pandemic, Brexit, life etc )

Per Layer level control - when I finally do get back to it a mixer is part of my plan including some effects and better routing

Bulk load DX7 patches - TBH my instincts are to evolve the engine in different directions BUT I might look at this - no reason why it couldn’t have a DX mode and it would give access to lots of cool sounds

Input buffers - yeah I find I need to turn the velocity right down AND the outputs from the operators

Softcut parameters - hmm - that’s a bug

Hopefully I’ll get time for another round of work on this sometime soon but like I say - time is in far to short supply at the moment

[coreyr]

Is there currently a way to overwrite kria presets? At the hold button 1 press button 3 preset page with the glyphs, if I long press a button for a preset slot, it just loads the preset and does not want to over write. What am I doing incorrectly?

[okyeron]

FYI - I was just checking todays norns update on various scripts and I’m getting the following error for Islands:

### SCRIPT ERROR: load fail
/home/we/dust/code/islands/lib/kria.lua:12: module 'kria_midi/lib/scales' not found:

So apparently kria_midi is a requirement - but it’s not listed as such in the readme as best I can tell

Launches OK after installing kria_midi