#487

Hello all!

I am finally in a position where I can consider buying a grid (when they become available) and was wondering if there was any places I could find good info for starting when I do? Tutorials etc… direct info seems to be sparse (or rather I’m missing it)

I have ableton suite with max, is it literally a case of finding plugins putting them into ableton like any other max plugin and it straightaway works? Is my apprehension of it being waaayyyy more complex than that completely fabricated by myself?

On getting various complete scripts that people have made, besides mlr and the ones directed from the monome website. Do I just find them directly from GitHub? Or are there more specific sources?

Also, from the looks of things, do you think it’s reasonable to get one and get a lot out of it without code knowledge? Like with max there seems to be a massive community around it and plenty of scripts around to experiment with without needing the background working knowledge from the off…?

Cheers for any help you can give

#488

Hi @Gordiegoose -

I suppose I’d like to ask whether or not you plan to use the grid only with ableton/max for live via serialosc only, or if you plan to also use it with a norns device.

welcome to the community! happy to have you here.

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#489

Hard to say

As somebody who has never developed my own grid app, but happily used one for years, my gut response was “YES”

but really this might be dependent on your desired usage (some require knowledge of code)

speaking of which
like @sademik i’m wondering if you have a defined goal already for your grid

are there any videos you saw which piqued your interest more than others? if we know a bit more we can definitely explain what you’ll need to get yours working in a similar fashion

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#490

I was thinking just with ableton to start with, depending on finances and whether I want to grow into that. From looking at it that would require more experience with the whole thing.

Thanks for the welcome

#491

I’m trying to wrap my mind around Norns. From what I’ve gathered, I’m going to run out of mind before I’m finished wrapping, which is a good thing! Never used supercollider, so the prospect of entering that field is really exciting. Coming from the Axoloti environment right now, and I know that they’re completely different platforms, but it’s the overall diy, endless imagination aspect that has drawn me to it.

I’m looking for one very specific thing though, which is sort of the make or break. Is there a polyphonic/linear sequencing patch available? A la a DAW style sequencer that someone has made? I discovered Norns on my search for something open source/diy that has that capability. I want to find a sequencer that does clips/patterns, and can be arranged into a song mode, and can also do multiple events per step. Ultimately, I just want to be able to play chords where you can hear my fingers hitting the keys at different times, rather than all notes hitting at the same time. It doesn’t even need to be crazy high ppq or anything.

The difficulty in finding something open source that does this has made me determined to learn how to code in an environment like supercollider, but given my (almost 0) experience with coding, it will be a good while before that’s something that I can provide for myself and put out open source. Either way, this is a wonderful forum, happy to be here!

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#492

welcome

hopefully someone else can offer suggestions which meet your need

takt might work well for your style of sample seq (or at least show whats possible to build)…not sure i fully understand your idea for chords tho

#493

This one looks incredible! Is there any way to get it to work without a grid 128? I was digging through this thread and it looks like that’s proprietary to this particular program, but there’s a lot that I have to learn. This is a wild guess, but I just learned about OSC tonight, which looks like a protocol that’s similar to MIDI but for use with supercollider. Would this mean that I could program a controller to send the information in place of the grid 128? Thanks for helping this noob out :slight_smile:

Oh and in regards to the chords, for example when someone is playing the piano, sometimes they’ll play a chord where each finger hits a note after each other in quick succession instead of all at once, like tapping your fingers on the desk one by one really fast. I don’t know the musical term for it, but my goal is to record it like that and have it play back the same way :sweat_smile:

#494

Mainly about the sample manipulation and mangling on the fly that got me really interested. The experimental nature of it and limitless possibilities feel is genuinely exciting!
Looking to be able to do synced and asynchronous looping as well.

After a few days of research it looks like I will be getting the Norns as the scripting on that side has been focussed on considerably more than serialosc/max and the ability to physically route it into my setup would be a great thing.

#495

Earthsea (either the module, or mode on ansible, or script on norns) and a grid could do this for sure.

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#496

I’ve got a used meadowphysics and earthsea and a 2010 64 grid… couldn’t figure out what was going on with either of the legacy modules because of whatever presets the former owner had going on (and couldn’t find my way without varibrightness) so I reflashed both of their firmwares… earthsea has been working great, and starting from scratch I’ve been able to figure everything out.

My issue is with meadowphysics: the reflashing appears to have worked (clock light started flashing to acknowledge flashing complete), but instead of being a blank “scene” there’s already triggers going. Also, when I plug the grid in the little start up lights happen in the corner of the grid, but then no other lights appear and I can’t get it to affect meadowphysics at all… Before I flashed the new firmware I could affect things with the grid, I just coudn’t quite figure out what was going on lol… pretty sure it was working then though so I don’t think it’s a hardware problem. Definitely not a power problem, it’s all been working well—I’ve used the grid successfully with teletype (via 2>1), and earthsea, all with the same combo of modules in the case… Does this sound like a familiar problem, or does mp not really work with 64 grid? I tried to find an older firmware (like 2.0 or 1.0) but I coudn’t find em, if anyone could point the way I was thinking I should give those a try… Thanks!

#497

Hi, Folks!

I’m brand new to this community and would love some insight and guidance about the Monome Grid. I’ve been making music for 20+ years and come through the world of acoustic instruments into electronics. The banjo was my first analog sequencer.

I’m quite drawn to the Monome Grid aesthetically but even after watching many videos, I’m not clear what it does and does’t do and whether it would indeed be a good fit for me. I love the sequencers and sample manipulation on the OP-1 but sometimes find the device limited for performance and redundant in the studio. I have an Abelton Push which gives me more control over samples but I yearn for musical ideas, samples and sequences to evolve more organically and surprise me more. I keep looking for plug-ins, arps, etc… but can’t seem to find the right tools. Cthulhu is pretty interesting and seems to be getting in the ballpark of what I hear the Grid do.

I’m wondering how the Grid compares and contrasts with the OP-1 and Push and what the learning curve is like. I understand that it’s just a controller so I’m wondering what else I need to go with it. I have a Juno 106 and Moog Sirin to send MIDI through. Do I need another device as well that hosts the code? Just Ableton perhaps? How does the Norns fit into this picture?

Thanks in advance!

Jayme

3 Likes
#498

By itself the Grid does nothing; it’s a bunch of buttons with LEDs. To use it, you need some sort of program that talks to Grids, for which it becomes an interface/instrument. (The Grid does not output MIDI, but there are Grid apps like Stretta’s Fourths that translate Grid presses into MIDI notes.) People have written Grid apps for Max / Max4Live, standalone programs, Monome’s Eurorack modules, and—most popular currently—for Norns. Part of what makes Norns exciting to a lot of people on this forum is the work its developers have put in to make writing one’s own Grid-enabled scripts easy, but one doesn’t need a Norns to use Grid.

7 Likes
#499

great + quite informative response

@jaymestone so you currently still own op1 and push?

making music using grid apps will likely feel more surprising but i’m not sure you’ll be totally satisfied with specific examples of what draws you

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#500

Thanks, @glia . I still own an OP-1 and Push. I’d consider selling the OP-1 if the Grid covers my sequencer and sample mangling needs. I suppose I’m looking for something that can keep generating new sequences, rhythms and harmonies with minimal input so I can play guitar and/or sing at the same time. I also want to write a melody or trigger a sample and then transform it in real time with some elements of surprise.

As for specific examples of music that draws me, I love Nils Frahm, Sylvan Esso, Jon Hopkins and Floating Points. Hope that helps!

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#501

ok very cool
grid and norns might be perfect for you then

#502

hi!
during this year i built myself a fates and a neotrellis grid, and i damn love this combo. so now my question is: why not sell my a4 and octatrack which are taking dust and build myself a little eurorack case to use it with norns and grids?
my idea is to have a voice which can be modualted a lot, and if possible, some effects on top.
this is something i like : https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/1398566
i’m planning to buy a nifty case bundle, so power, midi to cv and output staging are covered. i don’t mind code myself some script to use a grid sequencer and an “effect” for norns in the same script (like oooooo and krya combos or something); the main goal is to use grids and norns as much as i can.
can you give me some advice? diy is highly recommended, and i don’t care of dimension, the smaller in hp the modules are, the better :wink:
would you suggest me to buy even a crow? i don’t do livecoding, neither i’m planning to use it with ableton, only with norns.
any advice is welcomed <3

#503

yes!

especially if your goal is to control modules from norns

if you like building diy then i strongly recommend building these to start:

3 Likes
#504

I got a Fates the first part of this year, it hooked me and I sold a bunch of stuff I didn’t use and turned it into a Grid, Crow and Ansible. the Crow is so useful, I am only using it for CV/gate out from Fates. also I’m doing similar to what you’re thinking, going with a diy 80u case to only have a couple voices for Fates work. so far it looks like this but honestly I’m not so sure I even need the uO_C. the envelopes can come from scripts and the quantization is taken care of as well. you can see I’ve got a 2hp hole on the bottom that could easily be another Crow that just does scripts. I can’t figure out what I need the top 40hp for. :stuck_out_tongue: maybe two more voices for Ansible.

2 Likes
#505

Those look preatty neat! I should really consider the dual lpg, can be pretty useful.

I know but as the case i want to buy already have some USB to cv and gate output, i will keep those 2hp free… I want to try how much i can do without it AMD then decide. I wanted an ansible myself but apparently my grid won’t work with it, unless thing change. Do you like your just friend? How do you use it?

#506

still waiting! just ordered it in december so we’ll see. i have some guilt about such an expensive module but it does so much and the idea that i could control two voices via crow AND midi AND jf sounded too good.

minimim I’m gonna need another oscillator in there for the second crow voice.