New version of farmpad - os x hack for padKontrol

[flycycle]

Hi,

I've uploaded a new version of farmpad which should hopefully fix the problems PPC users had with the earlier version, and also has a config option so you can define controller and channel numbers, mix different trigger modes and assign notes to pads and switches.

I figured I'd start a new thread for this version as it hopefully clears up the problems you all were having in the old one.

Sorry I've been away from the forum for a while, and that this took so long! I don't know what to say, other than this took much longer than I expected, and thanks for your patience.

Get it here: http://farmaudio.com/farmpad

It should work on Intel and PowerPC macs running 10.4+, although I don't have the means to test it. If it works on your machine please let me know

[S4racen]

Yes Yes... I'm so fiddling with this when i get home, which if my delegates get a move on in their exam could be quite soon....

Cheers Flycycle!

D

[S4racen]

Right i'm on it now, when you say the utility can be customized with a text file, where do i need to put the text file??

Cheers
D

[flycycle]

Config files can be placed anywhere on your machine - if you create a 'farmpad' folder in your home folder for example, you could load a config file called 'config.txt' using the command:

Code: Select all

farmpad -c ~/farmpad/config.txt

[flycycle]

I've uploaded a new version (0.9) which lets you set up pad groups - only one pad in a group can be switched on at once, which is useful for playing clips in Live - only the clip that's playing is lit up. Nice one S4racen for the suggestion

[S4racen]

This is awesome just what i've been after.... Now to get tinkring!!

Cheers Flycycle!

D

[S4racen]

Thius application is sssssssssssssssooooooooooo good....

Absolutely the missing link between ableton and the Padkontrol....

Wicked!

Cheers
D

[flycycle]

Thanks S4racen, glad you're enjoying it

I've uploaded a new version (0.9.1) which has a retrigger mode - when you light up a pad, hitting it again sends another 'on' value. You turn off a retrigger pad with another control in the same group. It works great with drum loops

[autogenesis]

Thanks for this flycycle! works a treat now on my G4 Powerbook 1.67GHz running 10.4.8.

The new groups functionality sounds awesome too, nice work.

One question though, is it possible to set a control on the pK to switch MIDI channels live with this yet? or are we limited to just 1?

Thanks again for your hard work on this. If I can switch MIDI channels with this it will be damn near perfect.

edit-

Just played around with the config files to get retrigger groups working how I want them, and I have to say wow man this is awesome!
If I could just switch MIDI channels now, and have the lights update to show how they were last triggered on each channel, then this will seriously make my pK the definitive perfect controller for my VJ & Ableton Live sets. Major props to you man!

[flycycle]

Hey autogenesis, thanks for the props!

I'm pleased to hear it's working on your G4.

Sounds like what you want to do is covered by the new scenes stuff that I've been adding in over the last few days. (You can already assign individual controls to different channels, but the new stuff's better )

What you'll be able to do is have 16 different scenes/setups (like a normal padKontrol), and select a scene by holding down a scene select switch (you choose the switch) then hitting the pad number for the scene you want. The settings on each scene are remembered as you switch between them. By default the controls on each scene are mapped to the channel of the scene number - scene 16's controls are on channel 16 etc. You can change the lcd text on each scene to remind you which channel you're on.

If you've got a custom setup you want to replicate across each scene it'll be a copy/paste job in the config file, sticking 'scene:x' before each scene.

It's almost sorted out, just testing now, and then I'll upload it asap. It works a treat

[S4racen]

oh my god oh my god oh my god....

Yes yes yes!!

That will truly be awesome!

I'm at last rocking ableton with my gear now it does what i thought it should do in the first place!

Cheers
D

[autogenesis]

Hey autogenesis, thanks for the props!

I'm pleased to hear it's working on your G4.

Sounds like what you want to do is covered by the new scenes stuff that I've been adding in over the last few days. (You can already assign individual controls to different channels, but the new stuff's better )

What you'll be able to do is have 16 different scenes/setups (like a normal padKontrol), and select a scene by holding down a scene select switch (you choose the switch) then hitting the pad number for the scene you want. The settings on each scene are remembered as you switch between them. By default the controls on each scene are mapped to the channel of the scene number - scene 16's controls are on channel 16 etc. You can change the lcd text on each scene to remind you which channel you're on.

If you've got a custom setup you want to replicate across each scene it'll be a copy/paste job in the config file, sticking 'scene:x' before each scene.

It's almost sorted out, just testing now, and then I'll upload it asap. It works a treat

That sounds bang on man. I knew my telepathy lessons would pay off one day

If letting someone else help to road test is something you might consider. I'd love to run it through its paces when I VJ at the weekend, and let you know how it holds up. I've been trying to think of a way I could use it in its current incarnation, but I think I'd have to completely change my whole workflow to accomodate it . I really need 4 scenes minimum for my current VJ setup, so it'll be a bit restrictive trying to use just one.

[JaJu]

I'm at last rocking ableton with my gear now it does what i thought it should do in the first place!

I totally agree – I've waited for a proper way to get clip feedback from Ableton for years. When I first saw padKONTROL I thought this was the solution, but no. Now comes flycycle to the rescue – thank you so much for doing this and sharing

[JaJu]

Sorry for the N00bish question – I'm new to terminal. My user is called 'janusnovak' and my configuration files for farmpad are at:

/Users/janusnovak/Music/Presets+Patches/farmpad

So what exactly should I write to activate farmpad with another configuration from that folder?

Another thing – will all the parameters that are not in a configuration file be set to the default configuration of farmpad?

[autogenesis]

Sorry for the N00bish question – I'm new to terminal. My user is called 'janusnovak' and my configuration files for farmpad are at:

/Users/janusnovak/Music/Presets+Patches/farmpad

So what exactly should I write to activate farmpad with another configuration from that folder?

Another thing – will all the parameters that are not in a configuration file be set to the default configuration of farmpad?

Assuming your configuration files are in the folder named 'farmpad' like you stated above, this should work -

Code: Select all

farmpad -c ~/Music/Presets+Patches/farmpad/your_config_file.txt

(obviously replace 'your_config_file' with the name of the configuration file you wish to use) then just hit 'return'.

Regarding your second question, I've only defined some retrigger groups in my config file for the main pads and nothing else. The rest of the buttons still function as toggles, and the knobs and encoder still send MIDI, so I guess the answer is yes.