1

so we made a new thing
but really an old thing
from over a decade ago
and so there was this impulse that we had to
somehow make the new thing actually new
with a fancy new application or something
but i guess we decided not to do that
this light pattern is an experiment we made a few months ago
with a demoscene-era plasma technique
the important stuff all happens in one line of code
which we wanted to mention simply to spread the concept of
permacomputing and also
despite the grid fundamentally being interactive
sometimes a visual or sound can powerfully stand on its own
like when nine inch nails had this same new thing on stage
just visualizing and hell they are still cooler than us
but really the point is
the grid hasn’t meaningfully changed for two decades
still doing nothing yet
containing endless horizons to explore new instrument design
a vehicle for new skills and
perhaps making new friends
but we guess everyone knows that by now
so it’s new and it’s the same
and that’s mostly why there’s not really a new killer app
lesser reasons include
us opening an art store and
still tending a farm and finding time to make music
such as this forthcoming softbits you’re hearing now
but we are glad to be building these again
and look forward to seeing what comes next

171 Likes
2

uht ohhhhh. its the return!

6 Likes
3

Really hoped an arc revival was on the way. The grid still kills in its simplicity and sleekness.

10 Likes
4

wowee! what a beautiful thing :heart_eyes: congrats on the release!!

3 Likes
5

absolute chills, congratulations y’all. it’s beautiful!

4 Likes
6

thanks for the kind words.

added the text, just in case lines is the only website you visit

// gcc plasma.c -lm -lmonome

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <math.h>
#include <monome.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <signal.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <time.h>

unsigned int grid[16][16];

int quit = 0;
int c = 0;
long total = 0;

int FPS = 60;


void handle_press(const monome_event_t *e, void *data) {
    unsigned int x, y;

    x = e->grid.x;
    y = e->grid.y;

    /* toggle the button */
    grid[x][y] = !grid[x][y];
    monome_led_set(e->monome, x, y, grid[x][y]);

    c++;
    printf(".");
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    monome_t *monome;

    if(argv[1]>0) FPS = atoi(argv[1]);

    int x, y;

    for(x = 0; x < 16; x++)
        for(y = 0; y < 16; y++) grid[x][y] = 0;

    if( !(monome = monome_open("/dev/ttyACM0", "8000")) ) {
        printf("monome_open fail\n");
        return -1;
    }

    monome_led_all(monome, 0);
    

    monome_register_handler(monome, MONOME_BUTTON_DOWN, handle_press, NULL);

    uint8_t map[4][64];
	int tt=0;

    while(c<20) {
	  tt++;
      monome_event_handle_next(monome);
      for(x=0;x<16;x++)
        for(y=0;y<16;y++) {
          int i = abs(floor(16*(sin(x/9.0 + tt*0.01) + cos(y/57.0 + tt*0.009))))%16;
          if(y<8) {
            if(x<8) map[0][y*8+x] = i;
            else map[1][y*8+x-8] = i;
          } else {
            if(x<8) map[2][(y-8)*8+x] = i;
            else map[3][(y-8)*8+x-8] = i;
          }
        }
          
      monome_led_level_map(monome, 0, 0, map[0]);
      monome_led_level_map(monome, 8, 0, map[1]);
      monome_led_level_map(monome, 0, 8, map[2]);
      monome_led_level_map(monome, 8, 8, map[3]);
      //usleep(1000000/FPS);
    }

    //monome_event_loop(monome);

    monome_close(monome);
    return 0;
}

here’s the magic:

int i = abs(floor(16*(sin(x/9.0 + tt*0.01) + cos(y/57.0 + tt*0.009))))%16;
32 Likes
7

I’m equally excited for this!

6 Likes
8

256 is back! Wow! GAS - gear acquisition syndrome & related discussion here we go!

Is also the 128 changed or is the same as previous version? A bit mer yellow lights yeah?

I gotta admit the naming is starting to get out of hand!

3 Likes
9

A useful link

2 Likes
10

huge fan of the warm white

16 Likes
11

yes, we found a much more consistent LED part which is warm white. the most recent batch of grids from 2023 were this new LED color, so there are a bunch already out in the wild.

23 Likes
12

I finally feel like I’m living in 2023!!!

And now the future isn’t in front of me, I’m right in the middle of it.

The 256 is dead, long live ZERO!

10 Likes
13

congratulations for this new iteration

6 Likes
14

it’s a better world with big grids in it. congrats on making it happen.

really excited to see how norns people take advantage of the extra space.

6 Likes
15

Beautiful machine… Are you accepting trade-ins for the original 256??:innocent:

2 Likes
16

So excited for these new grids, but damn I’m gonna be in China when this launches… hopefully my vpn works!

17

Yuuuuuup, time to put some gear on the open market, cause this is 100% my jam.

1 Like
18

Nooooo(just imagine 256 o)oooo

I really don’t need to want this but a modern 256 has always been my dream live centerpiece. It’s just kinda perfect in a very simple way.

I won’t be able to afford it though, so that’s that sorted at least.

Marvellous to look at in any case.

2 Likes
20

As a very happy vb256 owner, I am still tempted as it is probably a lot lighter? (travel)
But even without a new one, I am so looking forward to the see what people are going to make with and for it :heart_eyes:

4 Likes
21

so my 2023 grid will look nice with the new 16x16? :open_mouth: