#315

I had to save up a bit! The pair of Launchpads sit right in front of my computer, and also act as a handy laptop stand when I need to use one for work - they’re never far away from getting some grid activity going.

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#316

I’d be interested to hear about your experience with it @Helen ! I’m giving some thought to picking up a Mini mk3 … I don’t have Monome Grid money alas but a tactile interface of some kind feels like it would be a step up from oscgrid.

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#317

Haha, yes indeed! For me, the Shield and the Launchpad represent a really great entry level combo to get me further into the Monome ecosystem - in the longer term, subject to the laws of unobtainium and cashflow, I definitely want to move to a Norns + Grid.

But for the moment, this mix of Shield + Launchpad is the ideal way to start digging in deeper - setting up the Launchpad via maiden, then editing grid-test and (about 10 minutes ago!) awake has given me a huge confidence boost.

Tomorrow I hope to start getting properly hands-on with the Launchpad - being able to interact with the Shield from an external controller has immense appeal, as well as a learning curve, but I feel much closer to being in the right headspace to get started.

Further down the road, there’s @dan_derks’ upcoming cheat codes 2 workshops - and the Norns study zero just announced by @tehn… I feel almost giddy with enthusiasm and I couldn’t ask for a better place to be than this community.

But for tonight, it’s time to just… sit back and glisten :sunglasses:

Sit_Back_And_Glisten_big
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#318

ooh one more thing actually - did you need a powered usb hub in the end?

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#319

I feel I should jump in here, the powered USB hub @helen purchased is absolute overkill for the problem at hand and I feel slightly responsible for that :grimacing:

If you are using two launchpads or a launchpad + other high current draw devices (mostly things with lots of LEDs) then yes, I highly recommend a USB hub with a separate power supply to avoid power dropouts in the Norns/Pi.

A single 64 button alt. grid / launchpad device should work fine without, there are likely some exceptions though.

For reference I use a cheap USB1.1 hub with a 5v wallwart power supply that is probably ~15years+ old with my two Launchpad minis. New devices like the MK3’s would appreciate something a bit more modern but it should not be a major expense.

3 Likes
#320

Haha! That’s my middle name! :rofl:

I am quite cautious anyway, so I still think it’s a good idea, especially as I’m already thinking about adding a second Launchpad at some point in the future. Additionally, the hub will get plenty of use anyway, it can sit on my desk and power my tablet, for example.

Cautious Helen was keeping an eye on the Shield with the Launchpad plugged in during last night’s experiments and I was happy that the Shield’s case didn’t feel hot - I’ve noticed it tends to run a little warm anyway, but not alarmingly so, and it didn’t feel any warmer than usual while powering the Launchpad.

The hub should be delivered today so I’ll hook it all up then and see how it goes, and report back later!

Edited to add:

I’ve been keeping notes on the various aspects of getting the Launchpad Mini Mk3 and Monome Norns Shield to work together and have reached the point where I’ve gathered enough information to compile a ‘how to’, which I’ve attached with this edit.

Lovely lines community people, may I present to you my humble ‘pay it forward’ gesture in the form of a 4-page PDF, Getting a Novation Launchpad Mini Mk3 working with a Monome Norns Shield - A rough guide for n00bs, not-very-technical people and the otherwise faint of heart…

Comments and suggested amendments are welcome.

Love, light and chocolate muffins to you all
Helen :green_heart:

Norns Shield and Launchpad Mini Mk3.pdf (490.8 KB)

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[cheat codes 2] (rev 210208: macros, transport, midigrid, midi config, w/syn, even more stuff)
#321

@Helen Thanks for taking the time to do this that PDF is much appreciated. I just ordered a Norns Shield and considering a launchpad mini mk3 now too… Did you have any luck with other scripts?

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#322

This is so useful! Especially as my resolve lasted a record-short amount of time, and a Mk3 should be arriving tomorrow :sweat_smile: Thanks for doing this!

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#323

cheat codes will have direct compatibility with midigrid in the coming update :slight_smile:. i’m super thankful for @Helen 's very clear guide – it helped me understand how midigrid connects to everything and allowed me to build a configuration in minutes.

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#324

Thats brilliant thanks @dan_derks :slight_smile: cheat codes is the one of the main reason im getting into norns to be honest

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#325

ngl, this was definitely in the back of my mind - especially with Dan’s upcoming workshops! :sunglasses:

awake was actually the second script I got the Launchpad to play nicely with!

The first script I modified was @okyeron’s Grid Test - I used the exact same method as for awake (per my PDF above) - but at that point I didn’t know about the Launchpad’s Programmer display mode so the results were a bit disappointing, visually - It seemed to work okay, but didn’t really look too great.

I’ve just now re-run it - my first run with it had been bothering me - and there really is a world of difference with the Launchpad in Programmer mode!

grid-test_modes
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Apart from that, I haven’t really done any further exploring - my free time for music making is pretty limited as it is, and putting the guide together has really eaten into it this week. But, it’s Sunday morning 10.30am as I write this and I’ve kept the day pretty much clear, so I’m hoping to dig in a bit deeper today.

I don’t have any particular ‘target scripts’ in mind - in the longer run, I’ll admit I’m side-eyeing @tyleretters amazing arcologies script, but am conscious I’m still very new to the world of monome and need to learn to walk before I run. I mean, have you seen the code for it?! :alien: This community is so very fortunate to have such talented and generous coders…

So I think today I may spend a little time going through Norns Scripts for a 64 Grid - although it’s aimed at Monome Grid users, not Launchpadders, I’m hopeful I can find something in there that will stand a little Launchpad hackery! :sunglasses:

4 Likes
#326

So I think today I may spend a little time going through Norns Scripts for a 64 Grid - although it’s aimed at Monome Grid users, not Launchpadders, I’m hopeful I can find something in there that will stand a little Launchpad hackery! :sunglasses:

Would love to hear how you get on with that. Was reading the 64 grid scripts thread last night. Makes perfect sense to try these first :slight_smile:

1 Like
#327

I’m also thinking about purchasing a Launchpad Mini Mk3.
Some questions:

  • Does this mean that only certain scripts will work since there are only 64 pads available or can the missing 64 pads somehow be simulated (like a paging mechanism) ?
  • How easy is it to add an additional Launchpad Mini Mk3 in order that the scripts recognize it as 128 pads available in sum?
  • That mentioned USB hub prevents then power dropouts since the several used Launchpads just use one USB port of the Pi together?
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#328

Honestly, I don’t know. I did notice in awake that toggling between K2 and K3 seemed to switch views on the Launchpad between the upper and lower sequencers. awake seemed to work just fine anyway, and I could still change the notes in the sequencers, directly from the Shield itself. More than that, I can’t really say at this time, sorry.

I haven’t done it, but @DoS reckons it’s pretty straightforward (scroll back up this thread to about 3 days ago)! Whether you’d need to use a different include line when editing scripts, I don’t know - ask me again after my next pay day and I have two Launchpads sitting here to play with! :rofl:

There was some discussion about this, also again upthread (@JaggedNZ’s suggestion, iirc). At the moment, I’m running a single Launchpad directly off the Shield and so far, so good. I haven’t noticed the Shield overheating, or the Launchpad behaving unexpectedly.

But I agree, if using two Launchpads, a powered USB hub would probably be a very good idea. I imagine that the two Launchpads would each use a port on the USB hub, and that you would connect the Shield from one of its USB ports to another on the hub.

But I haven’t tried this yet - this is my best guess.

I hope this helps in some way!

#329

Sure, that helps a lot, thank you very much.
So in summary you would say that it’s very worth it to start with just one Lauchpad Mini and you still have enough possibilities to play around with?

1 Like
#330

For sure, yes!

I’ve just spent a happy couple of hours lost in @sbaio’s Zellen script, and that also works extremely well with my single Shield/Launchpad set up.

And there are many, many scripts that don’t need anything more than the Norns (Shield).

There are so many possibilities, it takes my breath away…

2 Likes
#331

That sounds promising. Then i think i will also start with one Launchpad and see where the journey goes.

#332

This is normal behavior on 64 and 128 grids with awake. I seem to remember that when I had just the one Launchpad Mini Mk3 it was possible to toggle between pages on some scripts, but that’s one reason I ended up with two as it’s so much easier.

That’s correct - you put

local grid = include "midigrid/lib/mg_128

in place of

local grid = include "midigrid/lib/midigrid"

in the script you want to use.

For the record, I’m using 2x Launchpad Mini Mk3s with a Norns Shield (Pi 3 B) with no noticeable power issues while simultaneously powering a Zoom MS-70CDR over USB (as well as a USB > DIN midi adapter, though that probably doesn’t draw very much current).

I think you’re going to love it - I certainly do, though it’s a bit of a head-scratcher at first (or was for me)! Try buoys as well, and the wonderful beets too, for some amazing sample-based scripting.

Oh, I forgot to mention Zellen as well - this is another favourite and works even better with 128 buttons.

3 Likes
#333

Hello!

Finally got around to getting it to work! Awesome help everyone. And indeed the manual @Helen prepared was very clear. Thank you!

I’m having issues with audio out. I’ve always had them, actually… I have to restart Norns/Fates or go from Orac to Norns and back again or something like this until audio out finally works.

EDIT: I think audio problem went away actually. Nevermind :smiley:

If anyone can help out with this that would be great.

Cheers!

2 Likes
#334

I’ve now got @sbaio’s Zellen script working with the Shield and Launchpad, so I thought I’d give a quick overview of the process, in case it’s of any use to anybody:

In maiden:
01 Install Zellen from the available community scripts list.
02 Find Zellen in Files > Code, click to expand, then click zellen.lua to edit.
03 Scroll down to the entry for local g = grid.connect() and insert a new blank line above.
04 Enter this entire line: local grid = include("midigrid/lib/midigrid")
05 Save the edited script.

zellen_dot_lua-edit
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Shut down the Shield, hook up the Launchpad and restart the Shield.
Set Launchpad’s display to Programmer mode.
Load Zellen and adjust parameters to taste (the readme is the place you should look for all of that info - there are loads of things that can be changed!)
Activate some cells on Launchpad, hit K2 on the Shield to play - and be ready to lose a couple of hours experimenting! :smiley:

I have put a short video over at my Insta to give an idea of how it looks.

I feel like I’ve been monopolising this thread lately and will probably butt out for the time being (I’ve been from A to Z (literally!) in the scripts) - it’s been quite a trip so far, and I hope my notes on my early explorations into using a Monome Norns Shield with a Launchpad Mini Mk3 can be of some use to somebody.

@Chico - I’m happy to hear you’ve been able to fix the audio out issues, and I hope you enjoy the ride from here on out! :sunglasses:

@DoS - Thank you yet again for all the info, I really do appreciate it. It’s looking more and more likely that there’s going to be a second Launchpad in my future! :rofl:

6 Likes