BCR Performer 1.6

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
Post Reply
hoffman2k
Posts: 14718
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 6:40 pm
Location: Belgium
Contact:

BCR Performer 1.6

Post by hoffman2k » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:42 am

Image

The BCR Performer application is something I wrote because the BCR2000 doesn't work like I want it to work.

Why?

Say you're using 2 BCR presets. One preset has its messages sending out on MIDI channel 1 and the second preset is sending out messages on MIDI Channel 2. You currently have preset 1 selected, this means that anything assigned to preset 2 won't receive any updates from Live.

So when you load a set, the BCR is only updated on 1 preset. And if you change MIDI Learned parameters that aren't currently displayed on the BCR, they won't be updated.

- Click here to read more
Last edited by hoffman2k on Fri Apr 24, 2009 5:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.

SubQ
Posts: 531
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Sao Paulo-Recife-Brasil
Contact:

Post by SubQ » Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:49 pm

Awesome as usual Bjorn!

Im wondering if this baby has born of your experiments towards The Live Set.... Is the saga finished, or there´s more to come?
http://soundcloud.com/coelho
Dave Smith Prophet 08 SE, Genelecs, RME Multiface, Faderfoxes, Doepfer Drehbank, Padkontrol, DIY Footcontroller, Electro Harmonix Pedals.

hoffman2k
Posts: 14718
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 6:40 pm
Location: Belgium
Contact:

Post by hoffman2k » Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:30 pm

There's more to come. I've been lagging a bit behind, but I'm getting back on track.
As far as the Live set goes, I've written an alternate version of this application for myself that includes a Faderfox LX1. Instead of a knob to select presets, I use one of 16 buttons. The remaining 48 buttons are per song. So thats 16x48 buttons. With labels for 16 of them.

I'm sticking to my method but I'm also making my set bigger. This is mostly to get rid of the impression that my songs are one-scene-tracks. But in all fairness, anybody who comes from working with various grooveboxes recognizes that method I guess.
Not a lot of grooveboxes had a nice way to switch patterns and sounds. Thats why I got drawn to Live.

SubQ
Posts: 531
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Sao Paulo-Recife-Brasil
Contact:

Post by SubQ » Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:27 pm

these lx1 48 remaining buttons are set for clip triggering or what?
http://soundcloud.com/coelho
Dave Smith Prophet 08 SE, Genelecs, RME Multiface, Faderfoxes, Doepfer Drehbank, Padkontrol, DIY Footcontroller, Electro Harmonix Pedals.

hoffman2k
Posts: 14718
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 6:40 pm
Location: Belgium
Contact:

Post by hoffman2k » Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:33 pm

SubQ wrote:these lx1 48 remaining buttons are set for clip triggering or what?
Yeah, to trigger clips and/or scenes.

rozling
Posts: 1760
Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Post by rozling » Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:45 pm

Outstanding - thank you!

beats me
Posts: 23319
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:39 pm

Post by beats me » Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:53 pm

On one of the earlier releases of this you had the 8th push encoder assigned to changing MIDI channels. In my selfish idealized romantic world that's the knob I want to use for scene scrollin'. Has that been changed?

Aside from that, when I insert your app in the chain the BCR works the way I want it to. When I don't use your app, not so much. At this point I'm not even doing anything all that elaborate but using the BRC in default without the app it does crazy things like insisting I click something twice in order for it to work or sometimes the LEDs on the buttons don't light up the way they should. Tone was nice enough to tell me the deeper programming options to fix those things but I was honsetly surprised it didn't work the way I wanted it to by default.

benmiron
Posts: 180
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:38 pm
Contact:

Post by benmiron » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:07 pm

this thing looks amazing. I cant wait to try it.

hoffman2k
Posts: 14718
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 6:40 pm
Location: Belgium
Contact:

Post by hoffman2k » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:54 pm

beats me wrote:On one of the earlier releases of this you had the 8th push encoder assigned to changing MIDI channels. In my selfish idealized romantic world that's the knob I want to use for scene scrollin'. Has that been changed?

Aside from that, when I insert your app in the chain the BCR works the way I want it to. When I don't use your app, not so much. At this point I'm not even doing anything all that elaborate but using the BRC in default without the app it does crazy things like insisting I click something twice in order for it to work or sometimes the LEDs on the buttons don't light up the way they should. Tone was nice enough to tell me the deeper programming options to fix those things but I was honsetly surprised it didn't work the way I wanted it to by default.
I've said it before, but in case you missed it:

This application is one of those happy accidents. I was working in a Live set and got annoyed that I need to adjust all the knobs I used while "having a play".
I could just reload the set, but I made some tiny changes that I want to keep.
So there's only one thing to do.. Turn all the knobs to the right position and save the set.

This application came to life because I got sidetracked (luckily so...) from the original idea which was to make an application that stores several snapshots and allows you to recall them on the fly. The only reason this isn't out yet is because I have to resume work on it and figure out some neat features I had in mind. Like selective snapshots.. Imagine having 8 different settings for a 303 emulator at the press of a button(s).
This would be like a Macro of Program Changes.
Making a virtual BCR is a piece of cake compared to cracking this nut.

The knob for selecting channels is still the 8th encoder. Though I included the (2 items long) specification chart so that you can change it to any controls.

What you're asking for with the selecting of the scenes is something I can add in a future version. Also coming in the next version is keyboard support. So you'll be able to do the channels transposing with notes too. Thats essentially what I'm doing now with my faderfox LX1. But in theory you could use anything from keyboards to pad controllers to that Lived Ohm thingy you got (if it sends notes).

It'll be a while before the next version though. I got some videos that need finishing up. Never a dull moment at Covops HQ.

beats me
Posts: 23319
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:39 pm

Post by beats me » Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:42 pm

hoffman2k wrote:
beats me wrote:On one of the earlier releases of this you had the 8th push encoder assigned to changing MIDI channels. In my selfish idealized romantic world that's the knob I want to use for scene scrollin'. Has that been changed?

Aside from that, when I insert your app in the chain the BCR works the way I want it to. When I don't use your app, not so much. At this point I'm not even doing anything all that elaborate but using the BRC in default without the app it does crazy things like insisting I click something twice in order for it to work or sometimes the LEDs on the buttons don't light up the way they should. Tone was nice enough to tell me the deeper programming options to fix those things but I was honsetly surprised it didn't work the way I wanted it to by default.
I've said it before, but in case you missed it:

This application is one of those happy accidents. I was working in a Live set and got annoyed that I need to adjust all the knobs I used while "having a play".
I could just reload the set, but I made some tiny changes that I want to keep.
So there's only one thing to do.. Turn all the knobs to the right position and save the set.

This application came to life because I got sidetracked (luckily so...) from the original idea which was to make an application that stores several snapshots and allows you to recall them on the fly. The only reason this isn't out yet is because I have to resume work on it and figure out some neat features I had in mind. Like selective snapshots.. Imagine having 8 different settings for a 303 emulator at the press of a button(s).
This would be like a Macro of Program Changes.
Making a virtual BCR is a piece of cake compared to cracking this nut.

The knob for selecting channels is still the 8th encoder. Though I included the (2 items long) specification chart so that you can change it to any controls.

What you're asking for with the selecting of the scenes is something I can add in a future version. Also coming in the next version is keyboard support. So you'll be able to do the channels transposing with notes too. Thats essentially what I'm doing now with my faderfox LX1. But in theory you could use anything from keyboards to pad controllers to that Lived Ohm thingy you got (if it sends notes).

It'll be a while before the next version though. I got some videos that need finishing up. Never a dull moment at Covops HQ.
But what about MY needs, NOW? :wink:

I'll have to brush up on your updates and explanations.

Seriously, your personal journey into "who designs this shit?" inspired me to get off my duff and join in. All the thanks and blame will go to you because that's what Covert Ops is all about.

ze2be
Posts: 3500
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2004 2:17 am
Location: Europe

Post by ze2be » Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:40 am

rozling wrote:Outstanding - thank you!
+1!

You are on a great path mr.Bjørn!

hoffman2k
Posts: 14718
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 6:40 pm
Location: Belgium
Contact:

Post by hoffman2k » Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:57 pm

beats me wrote:
hoffman2k wrote:
beats me wrote:On one of the earlier releases of this you had the 8th push encoder assigned to changing MIDI channels. In my selfish idealized romantic world that's the knob I want to use for scene scrollin'. Has that been changed?

Aside from that, when I insert your app in the chain the BCR works the way I want it to. When I don't use your app, not so much. At this point I'm not even doing anything all that elaborate but using the BRC in default without the app it does crazy things like insisting I click something twice in order for it to work or sometimes the LEDs on the buttons don't light up the way they should. Tone was nice enough to tell me the deeper programming options to fix those things but I was honsetly surprised it didn't work the way I wanted it to by default.
I've said it before, but in case you missed it:

This application is one of those happy accidents. I was working in a Live set and got annoyed that I need to adjust all the knobs I used while "having a play".
I could just reload the set, but I made some tiny changes that I want to keep.
So there's only one thing to do.. Turn all the knobs to the right position and save the set.

This application came to life because I got sidetracked (luckily so...) from the original idea which was to make an application that stores several snapshots and allows you to recall them on the fly. The only reason this isn't out yet is because I have to resume work on it and figure out some neat features I had in mind. Like selective snapshots.. Imagine having 8 different settings for a 303 emulator at the press of a button(s).
This would be like a Macro of Program Changes.
Making a virtual BCR is a piece of cake compared to cracking this nut.

The knob for selecting channels is still the 8th encoder. Though I included the (2 items long) specification chart so that you can change it to any controls.

What you're asking for with the selecting of the scenes is something I can add in a future version. Also coming in the next version is keyboard support. So you'll be able to do the channels transposing with notes too. Thats essentially what I'm doing now with my faderfox LX1. But in theory you could use anything from keyboards to pad controllers to that Lived Ohm thingy you got (if it sends notes).

It'll be a while before the next version though. I got some videos that need finishing up. Never a dull moment at Covops HQ.
But what about MY needs, NOW? :wink:

I'll have to brush up on your updates and explanations.

Seriously, your personal journey into "who designs this shit?" inspired me to get off my duff and join in. All the thanks and blame will go to you because that's what Covert Ops is all about.
Aw shucks...

The good news is that I'm getting proficient at this max stuff.
I figured out how to make a BCR knob act like a Faderfox knob.
The only question is, do you want it to exact specification of the Faderfox or do you have something else in mind?

At the moment it works like this:

The knob sends out 2 messages. Those are assigned to Up and Down in the Master track wile in MIDI Learn mode.
When you push down on the knob you change the mode. It then sends out 16 messages which you can scroll left and right. Those messages are supposed to be assigned to Track Titles.

Is that what you had in mind and does the GUI need a visual indication of which mode you're in?

beats me
Posts: 23319
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:39 pm

Post by beats me » Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:21 pm

wow, visual feedback of track or clip name would be fantastic.

What I have going on at the moment is very primitive compared to what you have going on while I get comfortable with it all.

The basics:

7 track limitation: Drums (drum rack), Loops, Bass 1, Bass 2, Keys 1, Keys 2, Misc.

All tracks are written to the right of this, so to speak, and then the audio is flattened and dragged to their corresponding tracks in the performance side. The exception being beats written in the drum rack which isn't flattened.

(note to self: probably should have noted instrument and preset for each track before flattening. Oops!)

BCR:

Top row of push encoders assigned to clip launches in toggle mode and volume on the turn, 7th encoder assigned to scene and master volume.

Top row of buttons assigned to track solos

Second row of buttons assigned to MIDI mutes on individual drum hits (Bass, Snare, Hats, Perc. 1, Perc 2) I'm making multiple kits in the same drum rack and I assign the mute to anything that corresponds to the name, ie: all bass drums assigned to the same bass mute regardless of what kit they are in or how many bass drums.

This leaves some spare buttons in both rows I'm not sure how I am going to use.

From there the other knobs are just assigned to effect sends.

So for now I don't have anything assigned to VST instruments and I'm thinking with that I would want those type of controls on a controller that has an actual keyboard attached, to that extent I'm thinking of getting an R3 for all live keyboard tasks to take the computer/CPU/confusion out of it.

I don't normally PR myself on here but if you want to see what I have going on with this the top track on my Minus You myspace page linked below has the meat of 3 of the songs playing back to back I've been working on for this.

hoffman2k
Posts: 14718
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 6:40 pm
Location: Belgium
Contact:

Post by hoffman2k » Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:34 pm

beats me wrote:wow, visual feedback of track or clip name would be fantastic.
No, I meant visual feedback of which Mode you're in. (Up/Down, Left/Right).
But since then I've tried it and you can see it on the BCR as On/Off.

Visual feedback of clip and track names is something that would require the API hack.

beats me
Posts: 23319
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:39 pm

Post by beats me » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:27 am

hoffman2k wrote:
beats me wrote:wow, visual feedback of track or clip name would be fantastic.
No, I meant visual feedback of which Mode you're in. (Up/Down, Left/Right).
But since then I've tried it and you can see it on the BCR as On/Off.

Visual feedback of clip and track names is something that would require the API hack.
Oh.

4 days later and all I have to say is oh. :D















I'm a little brain swamped right now to see exactly what you are saying (no need to fully explain right now cause my brain plans to be swamped through the end of the month), but I don't think visual feedback on anything is ever a bad idea.

Post Reply