Konkreet Performer - a new multitouch controller

[8O]

This looks really cool.

But somewhat like M4L it seems like you need to have a specific purpose in mind to get something useful and repeatable out of it.

Thanks!

You can get extremely useful results from it in exploring sounds much more quickly than the old one hand controls one parameter method. And it's very repeatable - once you find a sound you like you can save that shape as a snapshot for recall later. There are 8 snapshots per bank, 8 banks, 64 snapshots to retrieve your cool sounds.

[pepezabala]

I'm starting to get my head around Performer and took a close look at the OSCulator template file.

One thing that I didn't realize is that Performer is sendout out a BUTTLOAD of CCs! lol.

I dropped an instance of Alchemy into a new MIDI channel in a full set of mine, and started using Performer. Suddenly my hand gestures were firing off tons of clips and controlling stuff that I had already mapped with the same CCs that Performer was sending out. What this means - I think - is that in order to use Performer in a full set with other mapped CCs, you really have to get into the OSCulator file and restrict the CCs that are sent. Right? But once you start doing that, you immediately cripple the functionality of Performer because it NEEDS all those CCs for the ultimate experience.

I will have to think about remapping all my clip slots and FX parameters to MIDI notes...... That should solve it.

Thoughts?

I use osculator for the wiimote and soe reactivision set-ups. My solution was to restrict each controller to a certain midi channel, so they don't interfere. All mappings for my wiimote will always be on channel 5, all mappings for reactivision will always be on channels 7 & 8.

For konkreet performer I would then change all assignments in osculator to channel 9 or so.

[Akshara]

I never used TouchOSC. Never needed to. I was using LiveControl, so no need to buy OSCulator. I've since switched to touchAble, so really no need for OSCulator there either.

Same here... $25 + $39 (or $19) turned this from a day one purchase into a "must evaluate if I really need this" purchase, unfortunately.

... I understand that it is what it is; yet do want to share my disappointment, as $65 to $45 is not a casual investment for something that cannot be demoed beforehand.

Anyway, congratulations with the release, and I genuinely wish you success with it.

[8O]

I never used TouchOSC. Never needed to. I was using LiveControl, so no need to buy OSCulator. I've since switched to touchAble, so really no need for OSCulator there either.

Same here... $25 + $39 (or $19) turned this from a day one purchase into a "must evaluate if I really need this" purchase, unfortunately.

... I understand that it is what it is; yet do want to share my disappointment, as $65 to $45 is not a casual investment for something that cannot be demoed beforehand.

Anyway, congratulations with the release, and I genuinely wish you success with it.

Hi Akshara, thanks for your comments. We're working on ways to make the connection from Konkreet Performer to the laptop easier and that does include iOS Core Midi which is planned for the future (but not the very next update as some bloggers have got in to their heads ). Plus I think we'll be seeing many more videos, not just from us, but from musicians who've picked up Performer already, which may also help make your decision easier...


I just saw today that Jochem Paap (aka Speedy J) bought Konkreet Performer... he tweeted: "just downloaded konkreet labs performer... awesome!" - I have Speedy J tracks from almost 20 years ago, am dead chuffed!

[8O]

I use osculator for the wiimote and soe reactivision set-ups. My solution was to restrict each controller to a certain midi channel, so they don't interfere. All mappings for my wiimote will always be on channel 5, all mappings for reactivision will always be on channels 7 & 8.

For konkreet performer I would then change all assignments in osculator to channel 9 or so.

Thanks pepezabala - very neat solution.

[beats me]

I think given the price point, it's uniqueness, and the fact that it isn't exactly plug-n-play (following LSZ's posts), I think a free watered down lite version would be helpful here in making a decision. Really I think it would inspire more sales of the full version.

[LoopStationZebra]

I use osculator for the wiimote and soe reactivision set-ups. My solution was to restrict each controller to a certain midi channel, so they don't interfere. All mappings for my wiimote will always be on channel 5, all mappings for reactivision will always be on channels 7 & 8.

For konkreet performer I would then change all assignments in osculator to channel 9 or so.

Thanks pepezabala - very neat solution.

+1 Excellent pepezabala, tnx for that. Don't use OSCulator so I'm used to setting the MIDI channel in the app/hardware, lol.

[LoopStationZebra]

Hmm. I went in and changed the MIDI ch to 9 for all the relevant messages in OSCulator. Live is definitely receiving the MIDI, but Performer will not affect the macros within a rack. When I open the previous file (ch 1), everything works fine.

Not sure what I'm missing...

[ekwipt]

Very cool app...

My want:

An AU plugin that can host other AUs with automatic mapping of all CCs of each plug and a visual representation of whats happening on the iPad in the plugin.

Audio/Midi feedback from itself and other plugins

Some sort of glitchy Drum machine interface/randomisation snapshot (I wouldn't have a clue how'd you go about it though

My girlfriend came in last night and asked what all the screaming and squelching was coming out of the computer, then saw what I was playing with and started playing with it saying how cool it was.

I think Performer works very well with atmospheric synths and FM synths

[8O]

Hmm. I went in and changed the MIDI ch to 9 for all the relevant messages in OSCulator. Live is definitely receiving the MIDI, but Performer will not affect the macros within a rack. When I open the previous file (ch 1), everything works fine.

Not sure what I'm missing...

Yes, you just need to change the channel number in the Live user remote script too, as that also sets channel 1.

Just open <user>/Library/Preferences/Ableton/Live8.x.x/User Remote Scripts/Konkreet Performer/UserConfiguration.txt

In that file just change the Global Channel number to 8 (the file uses Channel number - 1 for some reason):

[Globals]
# The channel that the controller should send on
GlobalChannel: 8

Save that file, reload your live set and it'll instant map on channel 9.

[8O]

Very cool app...

Thank you!

My want:

An AU plugin that can host other AUs with automatic mapping of all CCs of each plug and a visual representation of whats happening on the iPad in the plugin.

Nice idea to put it in an AU...

Audio/Midi feedback from itself and other plugins

Already in our to-do list...

Some sort of glitchy Drum machine interface/randomisation snapshot (I wouldn't have a clue how'd you go about it though

Hmmm... what do you mean exactly with the Drum machine interface?

My girlfriend came in last night and asked what all the screaming and squelching was coming out of the computer, then saw what I was playing with and started playing with it saying how cool it was.

I think Performer works very well with atmospheric synths and FM synths

Hehe - great!

[LoopStationZebra]

Hmm. I went in and changed the MIDI ch to 9 for all the relevant messages in OSCulator. Live is definitely receiving the MIDI, but Performer will not affect the macros within a rack. When I open the previous file (ch 1), everything works fine.

Not sure what I'm missing...

Yes, you just need to change the channel number in the Live user remote script too, as that also sets channel 1.

Just open <user>/Library/Preferences/Ableton/Live8.x.x/User Remote Scripts/Konkreet Performer/UserConfiguration.txt

In that file just change the Global Channel number to 8 (the file uses Channel number - 1 for some reason):

[Globals]
# The channel that the controller should send on
GlobalChannel: 8

Save that file, reload your live set and it'll instant map on channel 9.

Cool. I went into the script file and changed EVERYTHING to ch 9. Good to know I just have to set the global to 8 and be done with it. Tnx I'll try it tomorrow.

[ekwipt]

Hmmm... what do you mean exactly with the Drum machine interface?

Yeah i dont know just thinking out loud

[8O]

Nice new video showing how to set up Performer with Twisted Tools' Scapes in Reaktor...

[LoopStationZebra]

Got that minor script change working perfectly now with MIDI ch9.

Wow. It's just so amazingly cool to interact with this app...

Once I lay down some ambient loop stuff in a few clips, I might fiddle with more precise return FX or whatever. But then it's fantastic to jump out of touchAble and into Performer to really start manipulating the sound of those clips in a unique and much more dynamic way. It's hard to describe, but you can get a very tight sense of control over the sound you're getting, or just start to go crazy with the finger work in order to generate bizarre and cool shit, lol. Your fingers start to go to familiar patterns within the screen in order to generate beats and rhythm and expressions. It really is like an instrument in that sense (depending on the initial sound/Macro mappings, of course).

The snap shot feature is great. I will get a nice long delay going on a return track when I use Performer, then start hitting the snapshot buttons in order to get a smooth/blended transition. Excellent.

I'd again put in a request for some bounce/throw physics. I think the unpredictability of that kind of pseudo-gravity stuff was a hugely cool thing in the Lemur that hasn't yet seen the light of day within an iPad app. I think Performer would be the most logical place for that to happen first! lol.

Anyway, great app guys. Looking forward to the coreMIDI via CCK/USB version as well.