Norns: alternative grids

DoS · 2020-10-01T16:19:51.240Z

Thanks very much @delineator.

I successfully installed midigrid from Github using your instructions.

When running from Awake with midigrid called as per the instructions, I get:

including /home/we/dust/code/awake/lib/halfsecond.lua
including /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/lib/midigrid.lua
including /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/lib/vgrid.lua
including /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/lib/supported_devices.lua

etc; again, only the top-left up arrow button lights up (this is in Programmer mode)

Running the led_test.lua script from the minigrid install, however,

results in:

Norns.script.load(“code/midigrid/led_test.lua”)
# script load: /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/led_test.lua
# cleanup
# script clear
ERROR (i2c/hp) failed to write
including /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/lib/midigrid.lua
including /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/lib/vgrid.lua
including /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/lib/supported_devices.lua
Default 64 layout init
vgrid init with layout: 64
core midi devices
6 table: 0x362638
5 table: 0x497800
finding device: 6 with name Launchpad Mini MK3 2
Dev6 FD launchpad_minimk3
finding device: 5 with name Launchpad Mini MK3 1
mounted_devices
6 launchpad_minimk3
Loading midi device type:launchpad_minimk3 on midi port 6
including /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/lib/devices/launchpad_minimk3.lua
including /home/we/dust/code/midigrid/lib/devices/generic_device.lua
Connected devices:
6 table: 0x4f6ae0
attaching devices:
6 table: 0x4f6ae0
device._reset
pset >> write: /home/we/dust/data/system.pset
# script run`

etc, with only the top-left button lighting up as before.

EDIT: I switched the previous

include(‘midigrid/lib/midigrid’)

in Awake to

local grid = include(‘midigrid/lib/midigrid’)

And now it works (sort of)! Amazing - now to update the other scripts.

JaggedNZ · 2020-10-01T19:08:59.256Z

If you try
local grid = include "midigrid/lib/mg_128"
Then you should be able to switch between two halves of a 128 led grid.

DoS · 2020-10-01T21:23:11.310Z

JaggedNZ:

you should be able to switch between two halves of a 128 led grid

I’ve tried mg_128 in Awake, and got the top-left up-arrow button lit up - pushing it or the unlit down-arrow button next to it does nothing.

However, if I then swap out of Programmer mode on the Launchpad Mini Mk3 by going to something like Legacy mode (in which the lit 8x8 grid buttons work, but with the wrong positions), then switch back to Programmer mode, I get the arrow-down button in the top-left corner lit, and the other half of the 128 grid from Awake working. Pushing the lit arrow-down button (or any of the non-8x8 grid buttons) does nothing still.

A bit of swapping back and forth between Legacy modes eventually gets back to the left-hand side of the 128 grid on Awake, with the top-left up-arrow lit (and still unresponsive).

Throughout, I get orange lights flashing across the 8x8 Programmer mode grid – as well as into the right-hand colum of > keys – in positions which seem to reflect the Launchpad’s MIDI note positions in response to Awake (this also happens in the Keys page of the Live mode, but in what I assume are correct note positions and not always in orange).

Update: using mg_128 and a freshly arrived second Launchpad Mini Mk3 works excellently well - some scripts (eg Timber Player) don’t seem to have keys light up, but they do function. Off to enjoy the wonderful Buoys script in all its glory. Huge thanks are due to everyone who made midigrid possible!

P12808024000×3000 2.81 MB

DoS · 2020-10-31T18:03:42.537Z

Also - kudos for @delineator for including midigrid support in the source code of his intriguing Pitfalls script:

Pitfalls Library

Actually you don’t need to alter the pitfalls sourcecode to use midigrid. Instead I’ve added a grid_lib parameter. You can change the grid_lib parameter option, and save a default PSET file like so: K1 -> E1 right -> Parameters EDIT -> PITFALLS -> grid_lib -> choose between grid, midigrid/lib/midigrid, and midigrid/lib/mg_128 K2 -> PSET -> SAVE -> OK

tehn · 2020-11-03T15:17:04.153Z

2 posts were merged into an existing topic: DIY monome compatible grid w/ Adafruit NeoTrellis

sophie · 2020-11-12T21:04:35.844Z

Apologies for bringing this back up way after you resolved your issue but I have been reading this thread very closely today as I am very keen on getting MLR working with my launchpad (just standard, not pro). It seems we have had the same issue but I cannot work out what I’ve done incorrectly.

I have downloaded the midigrid stuff from github and put it is dust > codes folder. https://github.com/miker2049/midigrid

I also got MLR64 and stuck that in the dust > codes > MLR folder. https://github.com/noiserock/custom64

I then copied exactly what you put in your successful MLR64 script to override the global grid object:

local grid = include(‘midigrid/lib/midigrid’)

Here’s a screengrab of the script.

MLR64 Launchpad error2166×1158 315 KB

I have a very long error message from Matron, although it looks like the Launchpad is detected. Here’s the last part of that in case it helps…

MLR64 Matron Error1596×950 79.4 KB

If it wasn’t already completely obvious I’m a musician, not (yet!) a programmer, the github instructions are tricky for me to follow so I may have missed something important here. Anyone know what I can try? Thanks a lot.

nokulture · 2020-12-09T20:14:17.501Z

@sophie I’ve got a similar issues, but after reboot norns, the scripts worked fine. Have you tried after a reboot?

@beepboop when I test some of scripts (awake and zellen) the pads on my launchpad blinking sync on tempo… is that normal? in the case is so annoying.

Someone knows how to tweak this to stop the blinking pads?

Thx.

delineator · 2020-12-12T11:24:04.950Z

@nokulture I’ve had success using 2 LP mini mk3 with a patched version of minigrid. See this post for code in a pull request link: Norns: alternative grids

I’m not sure if my patches have made it into the official minigrid release yet? Or there might be a vgrid release that contains them?

nokulture · 2020-12-12T11:55:54.700Z

Hi, thanks!
But I’m new in norns environnement, and I don’t understand which is the portion of code you have used to fixed the blinking pads. I have a launchpad pro (mk1) and I guess I have to fix in their midigrid scripts, could you tell me more specific? Thx.

sophie · 2020-12-13T20:41:15.686Z

I can’t remember where I got up to with this. Absorbed myself in some of the other scripts I guess! Thanks for the advice, when I get a moment I’ll see if I can get it working with my launchpad after a reboot.

Chico · 2021-01-01T00:27:59.720Z

Hello all!

I’m already getting a bit confused… should I get the APC Mini or a Launchpad?
Which one offers better compatibility at the moment/near future as a Grid?

At the moment I’m inclined towards the APC because of the faders (even if they aren’t useful with Norns, they could be with other gear).

Help please! Thanks

CarlosUnch · 2021-01-01T13:01:18.910Z

Faders are useful for Norns scripts that have MIDI mapping enabled.

Chico · 2021-01-01T13:18:00.839Z

Yes, for sure. My concern is optimized compatibility with Midigrid. All else being equal, I guess I’ll go with the APC because of the faders. Thanks!

delineator · 2021-01-01T13:19:48.137Z

Note: APC Mini and LP Mini mk2 are limited to 3 colours, red, green, and yellow - so cannot represent the 15 brightness levels of the vari-bright grid.

LP Mini mk3 has rgb configurable colours, and many colour presets, so can represent 15 levels with different hues/brightness.

JaggedNZ · 2021-01-11T06:43:54.264Z

Tbh, alt grid setup is a compromise any which way you look at it. I went with the launchpad mk2 because I’d already brought one and buying a second one S/h was easy and cheap. It does have the advantage of square buttons similar to the monome grid.

I suspect there is a bug in the launchpad mk2 Linux driver, I have no proof though but I’ve ruled almost everything else out. It causes some minor glitches / mid lights, which annoying but not a show stopper.

I haven’t used the apc or the MK3 (prices on the MK3 are a lot steeper and scarce around here in New Zealand)

Hope that helps in some way?

bharris22 · 2021-01-11T17:39:13.408Z

Hi Everyone,

I am a new Norns Shield user who is very excited to try using my Launchpad Mk2 and Launchpad Mk2 Mini with Midigrid. Is there a very dumbed-down, centralized step-by-step list of instructions available regarding what scripts I need to install on the Norns and how to get the Launchpads up and running as a poor-man’s Grid?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Chico · 2021-01-13T17:01:28.981Z

Hey! Thanks for helping. Sorry for replying so late. I ended up getting a Launchpad MK3 mini instead of the APC (got an OK deal used). This was yesterday night, will probably only be able to try it out this weekend. Cheers!

DoS · 2021-01-13T18:22:49.947Z

Chico:

a Launchpad MK3 mini instead of the APC (got an OK deal used).

I’m using a pair of mini Mk3s in place of a 128 grid with more or less success, so feel free to ask if you need any assistance (hopefully it will just work…)

Chico · 2021-01-18T22:38:54.800Z

Hey! Taking you up on your offer to help. So, how do I actually proceed? midigrid-master.zip into Norns dust folder? Or another folder? What are the steps? I’m kind of lost actually… Thanks!

shoggoth · 2021-01-19T20:24:42.569Z

The one insanely tempting grid script is arcologies - does this setup work well with that app?