2010 Goals for Ruin & Wesen

* polishing the Minicommand firmwares
* creating a community around Mididuino
* releasing our first analogue synthesizers

Read more about each on Ruin & Wesen

Ruin & Wesen Minicommand batch ready

via the Ruin & Wesen blog:

"It's been a really long time, but we finally received the missing encoders (had to switch distributors due to the crisis). This means that we have about 90 Minicommands ready to go (actually, we have about 20 wooden boxes left, the new boxes should be arriving in 2 weeks)."

more details there.

NOT NAMM: A Collection of Logic Modules via Ruin & Wesen

"There has been a lot of ideas being stewed around here at Ruin & Wesen. Some of these ideas come from the act of using digital logic as a sort of analog synth, patching between modules to create flexible signal flow. A lot of these modules have coalesced into what I've called the 'Cashbox', read more about it later. Technically it's not an analog synth but the way you work with it is sort of, well, analogous to... analog. This synth was inspired by what is known as a Lunetta synthesizer."
Full details at Ruin & Wesen

A few nice new things at Ruin and Wesen

via Ruin & Wesen
"Quite a lot has has happened lately at Ruin and Wesen, although we were pretty quiet about it. The first 100 minicommands have been shipped, another 100 is ready to go here in the lab (actually they just need to have the encoders soldered in), and the first monojoystick prototypes are ready. But most importantly, a lot of work has been done on the software framework that runs on the minicommand. This allows for some very relaxed controller programming, because despite the "easy" looks, at lot of things take place inside. The following list is just a short overview of the work that has been done:

* new MIDI sync (way tighter and allows for "transparent" clock merging: no latency, I use it with 3 minicommands queued one after the other)
* merging of MIDI on the second input (select which messages you want to merge: notes, ccs, sysex, clock, etc...)
* automatic recognition of machinedrum global settings and kit changes
* automatic recognition of monomachine settings and kit changes
* new monomachine firmwares
* generation and parsing of machinedrum and monomachine patterns
* a bunch of new machinedrum firmwares
* (preliminary) looper for machinedrum
* the whole framework can be used on MacOSX or Windows to write software interacting with MIDI and the Machinedrum
* and much more...

If you're a programmer and/or interested in the inner workings of the Minicommand, you can get the full sourcecode that we write at Ruin & Wesen, as well as the schematics for the minicommand..."

click here for more details and more updates including video and the PatchManager.

MD Arpeggiator

"This is a demo of the [Ruin & Wesen] minicommand arpeggiator controlling the machinedrum. It's really really good fun!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Zoom 506II control mod - Ruin & Wessen blog

"This mod adds a knob control for effects as well as a very simple CV input. This is not limited to just the 506II however, any zoom pedals with an expression input can use this mod. best part: you don’t even need to open up your zoom to perform this mod! when its been constructed just plug it into the control jack!!!………!!!!!!"

via ruinblog: diy and musical exploits where you'll find more details and more diy.

Note: this is the Ruin & Wesen blog.

max patch idea

YouTube via daswesen

"minicommand implementation of a remixer idea"
The minicommand is from Ruin & Wesen

Ruin & Wesen

via Wesen:
"I am very proud to announce the launch of the Ruin & Wesen website at http://ruinwesen.com/. I am Wesen, and Ruin is my partner in Canada. We are building analog and digital music gear, and our first two products are especially directed towards Elektron users. I am specializing on the digital side and software programming, while Ruin is a master of analog noisemakers. Our goal is to make flexible gear for musicians, because we think that with electronic music it all boils down to the workflow rather than pure sound shaping. Careful thought has been put into the user interfaces of our machines. Both Ruin and Wesen are musicians, and value the possibilities that lie in well thought out instruments.

As each musician's approach to electronic music is different, we believe in making our products easily customizable. This means that we will work and rework our firmwares, adding additional features, modifying some, and sometimes completely changing the purpose of our products. We also believe that users should be able to do these modifications themselves, which is why we provide extensive documentation, schematics and sourcecode for our devices.

But enough about that – without further ado, please welcome the MidiCommand and the MonoJoystick.

MidiCommand:
The MidiCommand is a “generic” MIDI controller that has native support for the Elektron MachineDrum. It features 5 endless encoders, a small backlit LCD and an additional button. The initial firmware features 8 patches, each of which is made up of 4 pages of 4 controls each. Pages and patches are easily accessed and each parameter can be configured using the built-in editor. The MidiCommand can also be programmed from a computer.

Each page of the MidiCommand features a Macro knob which allows you to change simultaneously up to 4 parameters at once – all at the twist of a single knob. Each patch also features a Macro page where each encoder can be assigned to modify up to 4 parameters. With native support for the MachineDrum, the MidiCommand can access the effect machines of the MachineDrum directly, allowing you to tweak effects without the need of a CTR-FX machine.

I use the MidiCommand a lot in my sets, here is a small set recorded on video:

Playlist: Machinedrum Monomachine Liveset Practice 1 - 4

YouTube via daswesen


MonoJoystick:
The MonoJoystick is a joystick companion for the Elektron MonoMachine. Its interface makes it very easy to integrate and the device sends the same data as the SFX-6 joystick, allowing it to be controlled directly using the ASSIGN menu of the
MonoMachine. The MonoJoystick is more than just a joystick replacement or add-on, however – the MonoJoystick allows you to send joystick data to multiple tracks at once, to revert the current kit to its saved status (think function + classic on the Machinedrum), and to revert a single track to its saved status!

If you’ve been waiting for a CTR-AL machine on the MonoMachine, the MonoJoystick is perfect for you. Press the SELECT button on the MonoJoystick, and each knob twist on the MonoMachine will be sent to each track. You can also broadcast knob twists to only certain selected tracks.


Here is a small video showcasing the MonoJoystick:
Ruin & Wesen MonoJoystick


Both the MidiCommand and the MonoJoystick can be preordered from our website at http://ruinwesen.com/. Also check the website for additional information, product manuals, example videos and DIY information! Use our RSS feeds to stay up-to-date – there is much more to come in the following weeks!

Cheers,

Manuel aka Wesen"