PERCUSSA Announces New Mode in MIDIBridge: IMPROVISOR

An update via Percussa: "After releasing the MIDIBridge 3 update a while ago, along with the firmware update that introduced topology mode (see blog posts … ) I’ve been working on a new version of IMPROVISOR, the generative composition software for the AudioCubes. If you don’t know what this software does, check out the video below:



What is IMPROVISOR?

In short, using IMPROVISOR you can play live generative music by programming patterns into the software and then linking those to AudioCubes, and by then placing AudioCubes next to each other.

Depending on the orientation and location of AudioCubes, the resulting sequences will be different since each cube plays back a different pattern, and when cubes are placed next to each other patterns add up and subtract :-)

It’s great fun to play with and much easier to use than all the other generative / algorithmic composition software out there which has a lot of focus on academic concepts and is not very interactive, IMHO.

From Max/MSP patch to C++ application

IMPROVISOR started as a Max/MSP patch, and after the feedback from AudioCube users I’ve decided to turn it into a C++ application, and make it part of MIDIBridge, the main software application you are already familiar with when using AudioCubes.

This way the speed and performance of IMPROVISOR will be drastically improved, and it will instantly work with up to 16 cubes, and you’ll be able to take advantage of the features already built into MIDIBridge, such as MIDI clock syncing.

IMPROVISOR MODE

IMPROVISOR will show up in MIDIBridge as a new mode (see the lower left corner in the screenshot below). When two cubes are in this mode, they will work together. The cube that is following will add the pattern played back by the leading cube to its own pattern and a root note, and will send the resulting notes out through its MIDI port (selected on the right hand side in MIDIBridge).
This way, you can have up to 16 patterns playing simultaneously and in sync, each pattern potentially influencing the other patterns. By setting different pattern lengths for different cubes you’ll be able to create really interesting results, as you can see in the video below:

Of course you’ll be able to reuse patterns between cubes and you’ll be able to load and save them along with the other settings in MIDIBridge. IMPROVISOR will also have some global controls allowing you to set the tempo, as well as tap it, and start/stop/reset the sequencer as you wish.

Finally, you will notice there is an AUDIO button at the top in MIDIBridge now. I’ve added audio out, and this button calls up a dialog box letting you set the audio driver type (ASIO, DirectSound, CoreAudio, etc), buffer size, sample rate, resolution, etc. I’m planning to build SYNTHOR, the upcoming modular synth, into MIDIBridge as well, and this is where you will configure your sound interface to use the sound generation capabilities of new modes such as SYNTHOR. Check out a SYNTHOR video below:



When will it be available for download?

This new update of MIDIBridge 3 with IMPROVISOR mode is not available for download yet, but I’m working on it as we speak and will make it available for download over the next weeks. Look for a seperate announcement on one of the next newsletters :-)

That’s it for now :-) I hope you are excited about all this like me, and I can’t wait to finish IMPROVISOR mode and push out the next MIDIBridge update!"