MobMuPlat OSC-to-MIDI Remote Control, spec. for PD, Guitarix, and Rakarrack and other guitar effects apps


It's always funny to me how working on one PD project results in fruit that might also prove useful.

Currently, working on a broader project, but this part (at least) (I think) is ready for distribution.

Background: I Really hate leaving the side of my guitar (for example to click a mouse or tweak a setting) when I am playing. So designed this mmp app so that I can attach (with funtack, ex.) my handheld to my guitar and control my settings from there or perhaps even as I play. Like so:



Note: the broader project also includes (on the front-side) controls driven by the handheld's tilt, as well as, the adc~ pitch, env~, and distance of the pitch from a "center". But that part has to wait (though the code is all inside the mmp_osc2midi_rc.pd patch just disconnected/does not use the cpu). 

SETUP (linux is what I know so other OSes may work just can't/haven't tested them):

JACK
Pure Data
a2jmidid - JACK MIDI daemon for ALSA MIDI (in the Ubuntu at least repos)
guitarix a/o rakarrack, or other midi-driven effects apps (such as the included set of 30 effects(see below))

PIECES:

The mmp_osc2midi_rc.zip (extract(android)/install(ios) to MobMuPlat directory)

The osc2midi_bridge.zip (to be run on the "pd receiver") and includes the osc2midi_bridge.pd, help file, and a set of 30 mmp-ready-(mono) effects (in the ./effs directory) that can be used if PD is to be used as the receiver. (They are standardized to include 3 inlets: left=inlet~, center=[0 $1(, [1 $1(, [2 $1( messages sent to 3 parameters on the effect, and right=[switch~] and 1 outlet~ and a demo guitarix "bank" file called "MIDITEST.gx" (which includes 2 presets/programs and set midi values (0-8) to test. Just add the file to the guitarix config "banks" folder).

Instructions:

1) Start Jack;
2) In Pure Data, open the osc2midi_bridge-help.pd file; toggle "listen" on; and set MEDIA to "ALSA-MIDI" (the additional pieces are just examples of the receiving the midi values);
3) In Jack>ALSA: Connect Read:MIDI to Write:PD & Read:PD to Write:Midi;
4) From the command line execute "a2j_control start" (no quotes);
5) Start (ex.) guitarix;
6) In Jack>Midi connect a2j:Pure Data(capture) to (ex) gx_head_amp:midi_in_1.

Note/Alert/etc. For a machine to receive OSC messages the recipient-computer's firewall must (I believe) be turned off.

GUI:

The GUI has 3 pages that look (basically) as follows (with the subsequent 2 pages having only the 3 knobs and 3 buttons).



The buttons trigger text entry boxes which allow you to enter numbers (0-127) representing:

PGM: the number sent to (midi) [pgm]

and

(the buttons beside the knobs) the midi value, i.e [ctrl] (0-127), each knob is to be sent to (all on channel=0). (The resulting number of which are all written to the label to the left.)

For example:



Results in:



You can now to do 1 of 2 things:

Set the mmp-knobs to whatever midi values you have set in guitarix
or
Set the guitarix midi values (mousewheel click on a control) to one of the mmp preset 0-8 midi values.

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WOW!!! 

That took a helluva a lot of writing (and reading) but I hope you can both see the value and make use of this bit of technology.

As I said before,

I look forward to being able to fine tune my sound ALL while my hands and I are BOTH still at my guitar and not bend over, move, etc. etc. etc. to get the sound I want.

Peace, Love, and Ever-Lasting Good Cheer.

If you made it this far :-), Thanks for Listening.

Sincerely and Optimistically,
Scott

p.s. ask whatever you want regarding setup, how to use, points-of-clarification, etc. I am more than happy to help.