Conductive Labs The NDLR

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"Four midi tracks, sequenced arpeggiator, chord player and drone machine! Swiss army knife of melodies. Excellent used condition w/ original box and USB cable."

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Conductive Labs NDLR: Creating Generative Music

Published on Apr 10, 2020 Oscillator Sink

"The NDLR can be a tricky device to classify. It is not a traditional sequencer, but it certainly does sequence. To call it an arpeggiator would be to undersell it significantly, but arpeggios are very much an intrinsic part of its DNA. It is obviously far away from a traditional midi controller but it offers hands on control over midi instruments.

So I think that maybe it's better to think about the NDLR in terms of how it influences your relationship with your instruments. When you use a keyboard controller, you are playing the role of performer. When using a sequencer your job is more that of composer, with the sequencer then in charge of the actual performance.

With the NDLR you are more acting like a band leader during a jam. You set up a musical environment with rules, and as the performance happens, you direct the flow of the music with broad strokes; the details are left up to the performers jamming away inside the NDLR.

This blurring of the line between composer and performer really speaks to my interest in generative music so in this video, starting with a blank slate, I look at how you can use the NDLR to create generative music, taking an in-depth look at some features that I think are really cool when working in that kind of environment.

Here's Loopop's video on the NDLR:" [posted here]

You can find additional posts featuring the NDLR here.

Improvisation with Cirklon and NDLR

Published on Feb 22, 2020 Martin Peters

"It has been a while for various reasons. But this afternoon I thought, let's do a quick improvisation to show off with the NDLR. I got the NDLR at the end of last December and it is a great source of inspiration. The Cirklon clocks the NDLR and sequences the NDLR's chord progressions by sending CC messages. The NDLR drives the Mopho and the Korg ARP Odyssey as the 2 motif's and the Roland JD-800 as the pad. The Cirklon drives the Synthesizers.com for the bass, the SEM, the Plaits and the Braids for the snare sound. Some soloing on the Moog Voyager Old School, the Moog Prodigy and the Moog Polymoog Synthesizer. This all is recorded in 1 take. Sorry for my bad camera work and the fact that the camera stopped after 15 minutes. Hope you enjoy it nevertheless."

Ambient poly synth jam with the NDLR, Deckard's Dream, OB-6, Peak, Dreadbox Abyss, Polymoon, Big Sky

Published on Dec 12, 2019 Jay Hosking

"A live, semi-improvised performance, all on hardware, and inspired by winter looming. I've long wanted to make a couple of videos about how the sequencer really determines where the music goes, and I thought there was no better example of this than the NDLR, which is such a beautiful little inspiration device. In my opinion, I think the NDLR thrives at making interesting ambient explorations, and I hope I've demonstrated that here.

I've also wanted to make a "poly synth jam" and show each of the poly synths I currrently have next to each other. Some really interesting things revealed themselves here: 1) the Peak is the clear winner for bass; 2) I like the OB-6 a lot better for plucks or shorter decays than I do for pads; 3) the Abyss holds its own among these bigger names and is a real gem with lots of personality; 4) the Deckard's Dream isn't particularly rich or versatile, but adds the most beauty to the track, and it's a joy to make a patch from scratch.

Conductive Labs NDLR — Sequencing
Black Corporation Deckard's Dream + Meris Polymoon — Pad
Sequential/Oberheim OB-6 — Motif 1 (brighter arp)
Dreadbox Abyss + Strymon Big Sky — Motif 2 (mellower arp)
Novation Peak — Drone (bass monster)

Written and performed within a 24-hour period, and uploaded as is, with only a little compression/limiting on the master.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/"

ndlr / cirklon / perfourmer

Published on Nov 20, 2019 ljs8888

"ndlr chord changes sequenced by midi cc #26 sequence on cirklon

ndlr programmed with drone + 2 motifs"

Intro to MRCC MIDI Router Control Center

Published on Oct 15, 2019 Conductive Labs

"Shot in a hotel room before Knobcon, Steve goes over the MRCC's features. A couple of clarifications; there are 17 directly routable outputs, but you can connect 21 devices (not including MRCC Remote outputs). The current direction is to have a single enclosure with included rack ears, for both desktop and rack mount options right out of the box."

The NDLR in Blue

via iSapien

"Conductive Labs NDLR Limited Edition Blue MIDI Synth Controller #synthesizer ⁦
@matrixsynth"

Knobcon 2019: Conductive Labs MRCC - MIDI Router Control Centre

Published on Sep 13, 2019 sonicstate

"It is funnny how things go in circles, if you had said that a MIDI router would be an interesting new product in 2019 we probably wouldn't have believed you. However with more and more devices without MIDI thru ports and with different types of MIDI on 3.5MM jacks something like the Conductive Labs MRCC is starting to look very promising.

The workflow of a device like this needs to be simple and effective. The MRCC looks like it covers all those bases. In this video you can see how easy it is to make new MIDI routing options. You can support this project on their kickstarter now."

New MIDI Router Control Center (MRCC) Could Solve Your MIDI Headaches

Published on Sep 11, 2019 Synthtopia

"At Knobcon 2019, we talked with Conductive Labs, who gave us a sneak preview of their MIDI Router Control Center (MRCC), described as ‘a modern reinvention of the MIDI router’.

It features 11 In x 21 Out routable and filtered MIDI ports.The MRCC offers DIN MIDI, 3.5mm MIDI, and USB connectivity, and lets you route and manipulate MIDI signals in many ways."

See the Conductive Labs label below for more.

Conductive Labs MRCC on Kickstarter

Update to this post, in via Simo.

Conductive Labs MRCC is now on Kickstarter here.

" MRCC Provisional TECH SPECs

I/O - 11 in x 21 out routable and filtered MIDI ports
Message filters - clock, note on/off, CC, prog change, & Stop/Start/Continue
Mappings - velocity scaling, channel, & 16 PC virtual cables
Tools - save/load presets, MIDI routing tests for all ports and channels, & Visual MIDI monitors
And more - MIDI CC control for MRCC, CV Clock Out, CC LFOs, "Light Show" mode & algorithmic MIDI note modifiers. Details to follow as development progresses.

The OLED screen, navigation buttons and encoder are intended to "future proof“ the MRCC. We will monitor the MIDI 2.0 spec, and as features are adopted by the industry we wish to provide FW updates where possible.
Latest Project Status

As of launch of this Kickstarter, for hardware we have created a breadboard prototype, a hand built prototype on perf board, and the latest prototypes are PCB assemblies with a socketed processor board and socketed OLED display (pictured above). All hardware features on the latest prototype are fully functional (with a couple of blue wires). The next step for hardware development is to start PCB layout with the microcontroller and OLED display down on our own PCB rather than socketed. We need to adjust port spacing and get mounting holes where we need them. We'll also evaluate if we will stay with a 5V DC input or add another voltage regulator to accept a wider range of input voltages.

We plan to make a prototype enclosure soon that reflects the proposed design language. We'll post pictures as soon as we have it.

On the software side, MRCC is routing MIDI with no issues, from any of the inputs and outputs including USB host and PC. We'll be demonstrating this at Knobcon 8 in Chicago this week! There's a functioning MIDI status screen, and some filters are implemented as a proof of concept. There's still work to be done to optimize the user experience with navigation on the display. We want a tight relationship between the button presses and what's reflected on the display so you will see exactly what information you need when you need it. Now that we have the new prototypes, this work can begin. After that, implementing configurable MIDI filters, MIDI effects and we have some really cool ideas for MIDI diagnostics features.

Why We Kickstart

Kickstarter is a great way to gauge interest in a product idea. We like to make things we want and need, and we hope others will like it too. From a bill of materials standpoint, we're creating MRCC to be the center of your music space and we are sparing no expense to make it the best it can be. The money from the campaign will be used for development expenses, such as prototypes and parts, and to get MRCC into production with some funds left to help our business grow."

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Conductive Labs MRCC (MIDI Router Control Center) by Conductive Labs - sneak peak

Published on Sep 6, 2019 Conductive Labs

"Conductive Labs demos the MRCC (MIDI Router Control Center) early sneak peek prototype from KnobCon 2019.

We'll be linking to the KICKSTARTER campaign as soon it becomes available."

Update: it's now on Kickstarter here.

Conductive Labs brought us the NDLR. Thanks to Simo for the head up!

Further Explorations // NDLR + Medusa + Magneto + Clouds

Published on Dec 7, 2018 Genshi Media Group

"::| TO HEAR THE FULL RANGE OF FREQUENCIES, A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |::

This didn't turn out quite how I had hoped, and I almost didn't upload it, but then I thought "why not" as I want to be able to show all of my little noodlings, bad or good. This is further ambient explorations with the Polyend/Dreadbox Medusa Hybrid synth as sequenced by the Conductive Labs NDLR (which is sequencing each Oscillator of the Medusa on their own MIDI Channels.) The Medusa is then going into the Strymon Magneto 4-Head dTape Echo and the Mutable Instruments Clouds Eurorack modules. The Retro Mechanical Labs Guitar Pedal Interface module is handling the Eurorack to Instrument Level audio coming out."

The NDLR - Nav the Knobs

Published on Nov 27, 2018 Conductive Labs

"The NDLR - Navigating the knobs. A demo of how to navigate around and a quick tour of the menus and editors of the final NDLR user interface.

We'll be making some more polished videos in a month or two, just wanted to get some info in front of your eyeballs!"

Conductive Labs NDLR + Dreadbox/Polyend Medusa (Reworked Version)

Published on Nov 21, 2018 Genshi Media Group

"::| TO HEAR THE FULL RANGE OF FREQUENCIES, A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |::

So this is a reworked version of the previous video. Specifically, I found that the Conductive Labs NDLR has a MIDI Polychain feature where I can spread the MIDI Channels of the PAD out to play Channels 4,5,6 - so that means I was able to turn the Dreadbox/Polyend Medusa's 6 Oscillators (using it's MIDI Channel per Oscillator feature) into a 3 Part Monophonic and 1 Part (three note) Polyphonic synth! Also, I added the Moog DFAM which is being Clocked Sync'd from the NDLR. A touch of Native Instruments Replika delay on the DFAM, and Valhalla Vintage Verb on the Medusa."

Conductive Labs NDLR Launch Party Demo Performance

Published on Nov 19, 2018 Genshi Media Group

"::| TO HEAR THE FULL RANGE OF FREQUENCIES, A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |::

This was a demo performance I did for Conductive Labs NDLR launch party on November 18th, 2018. Local folks who contributed to the crowdfunding were able to pick up their NDLRs in person, while others will start seeing theirs in the mail these next coming weeks!

My performance was a bit rough due to the Arturia Keystep not behaving. I was using the Keystep for two things: first, to switch between the "Chords" of the NDLR (same as hitting the buttons on the NDLR) but set so that Velocity would change the number of notes the PAD on the NDLR would play (so a light key press would play about 3 or 4 notes, and a hard key press would play 8 notes of the PAD. Also, the modulation strip on the Keystep was used to change the Octave range of the PAD) - and second, to switch over to play additional sounds direct off the Waldorf Blofeld, while the NDLR was Arpeggiating the first four sounds. Considering I put all of this together a couple of hours before the performance, it didn't turn out too bad."

The NDLR // with Waldorf XTk & Micro Q, Moog Sub 37, ARP Odyssey

Published on Aug 31, 2018 Genshi Media Group

"::| TO HEAR THE FULL RANGE OF FREQUENCIES, A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |::

Another beta test demo of the Conductive Labs NDLR Sequenced Arpeggiator, this time with hardware synths. The NDLR is connected and driving the synths as follows (by order of appearance):

• NDLR MOTIF 1 - Moog Sub 37 on MIDI Channel 2
• NDLR MOTIF 2 - ARP Odyssey on MIDI Channel 1
• NDLR DRONE - Waldorf Micro Q on MIDI Channel 3
• NDLR PAD - Waldorf Microwave XTk on MIDI Channel 4"

Beta Testing the Conductive Labs NDLR with U-HE "Dark Zebra" soft synth

Published on Aug 27, 2018 Genshi Media Group

"::| TO HEAR THE FULL RANGE OF FREQUENCIES, A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |::

This is a quick demo video of the Conductive Labs NDLR during my beta testing of their pre-production unit. The NDLR is a "Sequenced Arpeggiator" device that can be used with both software and hardware synths; shown here being used with 4 instances of U-HE Dark Zebra soft synth running in Ableton Live. (I added a drum track afterward for flavor.)"

Pixie - a NDLR jam

Published on Jun 25, 2018 Conductive Labs

"Steve's (Barilium8) jam called 'Pixie' with Conductive Labs' The NDLR on the Yamaha TX-7, E-mu Orbit 9090, Korg MS2000R, Behringer DeepMind12, & Novation KS rack."

The NDLR Motif Window Overview

Published on May 28, 2018 Conductive Labs

"Steve, Conductive Labs' firmware wizard, shows us what all's going on in the Motif window on The NDLR's TFT display. See more details of The NDLR here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/th..."

The NDLR Completed Rhythm Editor Overview

Published on May 25, 2018 Conductive Labs

"Steve shows us the finished functionality of the Rhythm editor."

See the Conductive Labs label below for more.