Norns: alternative grids

[garethlyons]

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

[Helen]

@dan_derks

cheat codes will have direct compatibility with midigrid in the coming update

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

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@garethlyons

Did you have any luck with other scripts?

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!

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?! 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!

[garethlyons]

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!

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

[ricochet]

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?

[Helen]

@ricochet

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) ?

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.

@ricochet

How easy is it to add an additional Launchpad Mini Mk3 in order that the scripts recognize it as 128 pads available in sum?

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!

@ricochet

That mentioned USB hub prevents then power dropouts since the several used Launchpads just use one USB port of the Pi together?

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!

[ricochet]

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?

[Helen]

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…

[ricochet]

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

[DoS]

@Helen

in awake that toggling between K2 and K3 seemed to switch views on the Launchpad between the upper and lower sequencers.

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.

@Helen

Whether you’d need to use a different include line when editing scripts,

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.

@Helen

using two Launchpads, a powered USB hub would probably be a very good idea

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).

@Helen

amazing arcologies script

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.

@Helen

Zellen script, and that also works extremely well with my single Shield/Launchpad set up.

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

[Chico]

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

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

Cheers!

[Helen]

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.

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!

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.

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@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!

@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!

[DoS]

@Helen

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!

No problem; and no surprise there!

The great thing about having two Launchpads around for me is that even if I eventually ever get a real grid, they’re still very handy midi controllers, especially for the Axoloti, for example - or even for scripts like sines, where the two controllers can be mapped to the different levels etc.

[JaggedNZ]

Just a note the mg_128.lua script works with a single launchpad, you can use the aux buttons in the top right to switch between ‘halves’ of the grid. This works ok for some scripts (awake), but leaves functionality in awkward places on others (cheat codes)

Fair warning, it will prob just leave you wanting for another launchpad!

[DoS]

@JaggedNZ

mg_128.lua script works with a single launchpad, you can use the aux buttons in the top right to switch between ‘halves’ of the grid

That must be what I remember using before I got the second launchpad.

[blueroses]

Hmmm I can’t get this to work, would you mind explaining more what you mean by “the aux buttons in the top right”?

[JaggedNZ]

It depends on the device config, looking at @Helen’S photos, it might be the arrow keys?
On the launchpad mini it’s buttons 5-8 that’s why I default to saying upper right.

[blueroses]

Interesting…arrow keys don’t seem to make a difference, in fact when I’m running a script with midigrid it seems like the down arrow is permanently illuminated and doesn’t change no matter what. I wonder if something on the Launchpad end changed between Mk2 and Mk3. I’m less than 24 hours into Launchpad ownship though so I’ll keep fiddling

[thmshckr]

hi guys,
as a long time lurker i pulled the plunge and got me a norns shild end of last year and now got me a launchpad mini.

problem is: i followed @Helen `s instructions on setting up with the awake script but the launchpad seems to be stuck in his wake up blinking mode.

wat do?

[Helen]

I’ve not heard of this happening.

You could try:
1 Disconnect the Launchpad from the Shield (take the USB cable out of the socket on the Shield)
2 Shut down the Shield completely
3 Plug the Launchpad USB cable back into the Shield
4 Restart the Shield

I don’t know if that will work, but it would be a place to start.

[thmshckr]

that didnt work.

bummer, its a launchpad mini MK2, but if i understood right the midigrid script would recognize it automatically.
thanks for your quick reply!
i try to dig deeper, maybe i made a mistake in installing the midigrid script or smth.

i kind of love this community. good to be here …