SDS MIDI Merge Build 3x3 Arduino-based

Published on Oct 24, 2019 freshnelly

"At last, I got around to making a MIDI merger!
It did take 4 days of programming and even after filming this video I found 3 more bugs (well during the video as they always show up then!)

It's a nice little unit with Clock routing, channel re-defining, 3 way keyboard split on each input, up to 10 user configurations can be saved, Input to Output blocking of transport messages, Program changes, and CC's.

The SPLIT is the really cool part as instruments (PC) can be assigned to each region, note offsets (start note) per region, any channel, any output per region, and a 0 to 14 note upward overlap setting. One SPLIT can be assigned to each input so theoretically, you could have 3 splits fanning out to 9 synths.

The output drive is 25mA so hard wire splitting between 2 MIDI synths is easy. I have tried 3 but you get one that's a pig and it's game over ;)

I will be posting the .ino, 3D Print .stl, and some diagrams & data on parts etc. It's really simple as there's hardly any parts.
The OLED is i2c (wire) 128x32 chinese type.

The whole thing is guitar pedal powered but also runs for a long time on a 9 volt battery... well several hours, not really sure

Links:
Program:

http://www.freshnelly.com/midimerge/M...

3d Print files (obj & stl):

http://www.freshnelly.com/midimerge/3...

Info & manual (doc):

http://www.freshnelly.com/midimerge/S..."

SDS Digital Reflex LiveLoop & ModEM-1 LFO & ADSR Eurorack Modules

Published on Sep 14, 2016 freshnelly

The above is a playlist of all the videos currently featured on the freshnelly channel. The first 29 are on the SDS Digital Reflex LiveLoop eurorack module, followed by four on the ModEM-1 LFO & ADSR, followed by a few DIY videos.

The following is some info on SDS Digital Reflex Liveloop module via freshnelly.com. I couldn't find additional info on the ModEM-1 LFO & ADSR as the home page requires Flash which I do not have installed.

"Introducing the Reflex LiveLoop! The tradition of sampling in the modular world has always been guitar pedal loopers, offering no external control, or a large complex external box, or modules with only 3 or 4 seconds of sample time. The Reflex LiveLoop breaks all of these barriers by gracing your rack with only 16HP, but sporting a full 174 seconds of sampling time @48KHz 16 bits, in stereo! This is better than CD quality sound, ready to manipulate with CV's and triggers in multiple layers, and record all at the same time.

The Reflex can slice up a long sample using the unique "peak slicing" algorithm, a trigger, or just a button. The power of these slices is then accessible via CV and trigger. Furthermore, they can be modified with the PlayFX button to tune the start and end points for each slice. These slices, or even samples, can also be Granulized into a micro loop, which then can move reverse or forward at varying rates up to 2 times. This also allows for pitch shifting a sample without changing the beat, or changing the speed without changing the pitch.

With 3 different Modes, Record/Play, Echo, and Layer, all with the ability to sync to an external clock, almost every sampler /looper requirement can be realised. Imagine an echo, synced by a trigger/ clock/ foot switch/ Record button, with controlled feedback and even a 3 band EQ. Then imagine it being 30 seconds or 8 bars long! The echo can be switched to an infinite echo that will continue forever, or can degrade according to feedback settings, EQ settings, or a feedback insert that can run through any filter or FX that you can imagine!

The Reflex LiveLoop can take you intuitively on a sonic voyage you don't want to miss!

CLICK FOR MORE »

Wifi MIDI for Your Modular from SDS Digital

WiFiMIDI module prototype demo1

Published on Apr 10, 2017 freshnelly

"This is the old prototype doing a note derived clock using a pair of SDS_VCO's and a Reflex in delay (Echo mode) with PlayFX reverse on "F" Note on the iPhone.
The Clock is feeding to a MI Frames module, and the MIDI output jack (WiFi + module MIDI) is feeding out of the bottom left jack.(T)
Notes and their velocities are being sent from the other 8 jacks, but only 2 are patched in here
Guess I should put together a proper WiFiMIDI, just so busy these days!"

Update:

WiFiMIDI eurorack module demo1 with narration

Published on Apr 11, 2017 freshnelly

"This is the same as [above] that was playing without my narration on mono phones (from phone speaker)"

SDS VCO Delay/FX/Distortion Modes

Published on May 12, 2018 freshnelly

1. SDS VCO Delay FX Dist FW Modes 0 to 4

Ahhh, audio processing at it's finest! Well for a 3HP VCO anyway. I take you through the first 5 modes available in this firmware alternate.

2. SDS_VCO Delay/FX/Distortion ALt FW Modes 5 to 9

SDS_VCO Alternate Function Firmware (available at http://www.freshnelly.com/sdsvco/sdsv... )

This tutorial covers modes 5 to 9
5 - Tremolo-semi clocked
6 - HiFi Delay
7 - Compressor/(Expander)
8 - Bit Crusher (with a twist of lofi lemon)
9 - Stutter (Imitates the Reflex LiveLoop's live stutter in Echo Mode)

3. SDS_VCO Delay/FX/Distortion Firmware Modes10 to 15

Here's the final installment of the tutorial series for the new alternate firmware that turns your SDS_VCO into an audio FX processor.

New Melisma Eurorack Module Sneak Peek

Published on May 30, 2019 freshnelly aka SDS Digital

"Our newest module! We love it, hope you do too!!
It's primarily an easy to use CV to MIDI chords & melody module
There will be a link and more info in the near future"

SDS Digital Melisma CC CV Internal Functions

Published on Jan 29, 2020 freshnelly

"This video/tutorial demonstrates all of the internal functions the CC CV input can be assigned to control (rather than MIDI functions).

These greatly expand possibilities of methods of sequencing chords and changing dynamics of chords, arps, and LHAND"

SDS Digital Melisma

Max 8 First Look: Patching Improvements

Published on May 30, 2018 Cycling '74

"For Max 8, we’ve been working on a few new features to improve patching and streamline your work."

---
Her voice reminds me of Sandy Sims aka freshnelly of SDS Digital.

Sequarallel TRAX Tracker: SHIFT

Published on Mar 30, 2020 freshnelly

"This short video demonstrates the TRAX (using #2) Tracker's Shift feature, shifting individual lanes and inadvertantly Recording in a short progression via MIDI. Shift rotates all notes in a selected lane with each click of the encoder.

The Shift can be used in conjunction with "SKIP" to only shift every 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. step. As it destructively updates the sequence, changing the SKIP setting and re-shifting can jumble the orders up with surprising results!

Shift can be used to shift all lanes together, and possibly using the RANGE parameter to only shift within a certain area (TBD)

This can be achieved now by simply changing the Start/End parameters found further down the QB pop-up SHIFT is in."

SDS_VCO WaveFold's 8

Published on Mar 20, 2018 freshnelly

"This is a video on part of the new Alternate Firmware for the SDS_VCO: Delay/FX/Distortion. MOD jack is audio input and CV in is the modifier.
The T/G jack will offer functions in some modes (Like "Freeze")
The video covers Mode (function) #11, Wave Folder and how to use it.
This firmware is presently under development ;)"

New SDS Digital RIT_M Rhythm Sequencer Module - Sim Demo 1

Published on Jul 7, 2017 freshnelly

"Here's the first demo (simulated as "real RIT_M is pretty ugly!) to show a basic rhythm being created, then edited with new CV levels at some beats.
The mere movement of the knob sets the RIT_M to edit existing beats until a time out of 1 loop plus a bit occurs from last knob movement, or tap on the Rhythm pad.
Beats can be added/removed (not shown) simply by either *not* moving the knob first or waiting for a timeout if was moved. Simple!"

RIT M Sequencing Many Samples

Published on Aug 2, 2018 freshnelly

"As many RIT_M users are using their sequences to control samples I thought I'd chime in and do a bit of that myself!
It helps if the samples are slices from a set progression or in a set key. These samples are from the Reflex Liveloop Flash-8 Expansion demo so are in Cm except the drums.

There are a lot of samples and the Reflex uses the CV input to offset selection of these samples. There aren't exactly 60 samples to cover the +0-5V range (default RIT_M setting) so sometimes there's thresholds that can go one way or the other, thus producing a random adjacent sample glitch.

I personally like this as it adds variance, but can be made more stable by adjusting the RIT_M's CV-to-Gate pulse delay. It's default at 1mS but can be set up to 8mS to allow more time for the CV (and Reflex circuitry) to stabilize.

I guess a good lesson here is to keep all of the samples in the same key with variety to easily implement a sequence with them!"

SDS AutoPlay Piano Music Box!

freshnelly

"This project is a 1-off gift for my parents. It began as an experiment with the SDS Accord Melisma module's core. Outside of a module rack the hybrid synth must provide all of the signals you would normally patch, in the way they might be patched allowing autonomous operation as a stand-alone composition.

The piano also has a fairly large Flash memory and sequencer system similar to the Accord Sequarallel module (some of the SW was stolen from the Sequar!) in order to play recognizable songs that have been recorded in. I included a couple of Sequarallel's FX, and would have added more if time permitted, but as is usually the case, time ran out and I had to wrap it up and send it on it's way in time for Chrissy.

The piano has some settings, primarily the "mood" selector which will bias randomization of song types toward this selection. i.e. Mood=Summer, then there's a good chance a Beach Boys tune will start playing, followed by "Sunny Days" or "La isla Bonita". Like Christmas, "Melisma" is one of the moods and will either compose it's own music from banks of progressions in any one of the 8 PROG memories, or will take an existing song and apply Sequarallel FX to it, thus completely changing the way it sounds. (It's the perfect plagiarism tool I'll tell ya!)

On top of all of this, the keys on the piano animate thus making it a player piano! I'll be honest, the keys don't match actual chords even though the original design was for just that. Due to circumstances beyond my control parts didn't arrive so I had to wing it with what I had around the workshop. It would have been nice, but only to someone that plays piano, I doubt anyone else would even notice!

The project wasn't without disastrous goof-ups though. I managed to fry most of it by passing 12 volts through everything, AFTER recording in over 200 songs. Luckily I had backed up over 100 songs so it only took 2 days get the rest in. Then there was the "I have no idea how electromagnets interact" crisis which was a result of making a bad decision under stress from Canada post losing my order or whatever happened. That's covered in the video.

All in all this was a fun & challenging project which pulled me away from the intense programming I had been slaving on for 3 months prior, thus offering a holiday without leaving the farm, which is double bonus these days. Wow am I ever refreshed and ready to just back into it, both feet tippy toes down.
Cheers!
Enjoy the video!"

SDS_VCO Delay/FX/Distortion Firmware Modes10 to 15

Published on May 21, 2018 freshnelly

"Here's the final installment of the tutorial series for the new alternate firmware that turns your SDS_VCO into an audio FX processor."

All parts here.

Select Bus Breakout/Storage/Test Module

Published on Nov 4, 2019 freshnelly

"The mystery continues!! The very useful Select Bus or modular MIDI CV line bus has a lack of masters so I decided to make a module while waiting for the PCB's for the Melisma & Sequarallel to get here (which will both have Select Bus features).

Not sure about the zoom feature. I saw it work somewhere but now can't find that video and thought there was a certain MIDI message for that but can't find that either. Basically I'm calling out for help on zoom!
I'm going to drop it into the demo rack soon enough so will video findings then."

Sequarallel Module with the Reflex LiveLoop Sampler!

Published on Sep 29, 2019 freshnelly

"At last I got around to connecting the Sequarallel's MIDI out to the Reflex LiveLoop's (w/Flash8 exp) MIDI control input. The results were not disappointing!
I used a demo sequence created a while back for the Flash-8 when it came out, but modified it to play MIDI drums and added 8 Loop Markers for the Seqarallel (Note#121).

What it does is records a few seconds of whatever audio is at the inputs by creating 10 slices (there can be up to 400!) then playing them and twisting them with PlayFX, granulizing, stuttering etc.
This is all from the Seqarallel which is running under the modular clock rate so it's all in sync.
I mixed the input with the MIDI percussion being played so when recording, the beats are always there at the start of slices, thus acting as a rhythmic beacon. This means any audio coming in will sound great! And it does :))

After recording it in, away it went. Jumping around the sequence was fun, but transposing produced really unpredictable stuff to happen as many of the Reflex's functions are note dependent (like PlayFX button, Record button etc) so that's probably a no-no.
Otherwise it was amazing.
Jumping to Loop 0 of course starts recording a new sample slice set."

Accord Melisma - Non-C Note Custom Chords

freshnelly

"I must admit, I have been really enjoying the new Custom chords feature since V.1.4 and have come up with some interesting methods like this one...

This is an interest video made just after the release of V.1.4 using Custom Chord Editor to make chords that don't follow the "rules" of music so much.
I have added 3 versions of a 7 chord, which is originally a preset 4 note C E G Bb. and popped in duplicate notes (+ 1 octave) etc as:
E1 Bb1 C2 G2
G1 Bb1 C2 E2 Bb2
Bb1 E2 G2 Bb2 (no C at all!)

Inversions +1,+2 etc act differently too of course. Expansion hasn't be shown here but changes quite a bit because it relies heavily on the number of notes in a chord but also repetition of notes, will cover in future video..
Generally though, 7 chord over 2 octaves @ 7 notes makes for a very different expand :)"

VoiceLive Touch 2 Pedal 7 Project - Eurorack Interface

Published on Dec 23, 2018 freshnelly

"Today I was testing out the first 3 outputs for the Eurorack Modular Interface. The Triggers/Gates can output generic beats (as here) until the actual Clock and MIDI clock starts (set at 16 beats)

I have refined timing some and coincidentally just fixed a RIT_M clock start problem that I would have discovered today had someone not mentioned there was a problem a couple of days ago.
The perfect storm!!

This thing is so much fun it's hard to do work on it now ha ha. The new piezo pedal setup is:
Stopped:
2 or more taps to start & set tempo
1 Tap will abort if not playing yet.
Once Playing:
1 Tap = drumLoop bridge to alternate or if Song, loop to last marker
2 Taps= Jump to an Alternate drumLoop
3 Taps=Pause, 1Tap will re-start (+ Taps will re-sync)
4 Taps=Stop All
5+ Taps= resync
This scheme seems pretty easy to get used to so I'll stick with it a while :)
Next I'll be moving into menu diving and that stuff. Have made the sampler framework (PIC18F46K22) and it's probably going to take a few days to get that running, but hope to have a running pedal in time for New Years Slam Bam thank me maam
Cheers!"

SDS Digital Melisma Firmware V.1.5!

freshnelly

"Here we are 1 week later and already another update?
Some really great feature requests and ideas popped up a day after the previous release and to be honest were to cool to be hidden for long!
This somewhat laid-back video covers some of the new features in a basic way, but not reverse Spread or CC CV & LINK MIDI control of LHAND's Bass Octave. (Those weren't added yet!) so that'll be a future video."

Update:

Melisma-Firmware V.1.5 Part 2

Here's the last two additions to Version 1.5 released yesterday.
Reverse Spread:
This new "hidden" feature adds a way to play a chord in reverse order, which is done quite often while playing a keyboard, so it only makes sense to add this capability. Spread already had note order presets but not true reverse!
LHAND Bass Octave Break-out:
Now you can control the Octave when LHAND is in trigger (bass) mode. CC CV has the option + it has been added to the MIDI CC list for remote control.

SDS_VCO Intro

Published on Mar 29, 2017 freshnelly

"This is a continuation of the more advances parts of the SDS_VCO 'behind the LED's' functions that had to wait until the features were finalized.

Attack & Decay offsets are covered, as well as Waves offset, Modulation "alternate use" recorder, and the MIDI expansion sending notes and also percussion with velocity control"

SDS Digital RIT_M CVin+Knob Hold Feature

Published on Jan 28, 2018 freshnelly

"Here's a quick little video presenting the RIT_M's new CV in + CV Knob hold feature.
When the knob is moved, it generally switches out the Playing CV's for a live CV preview instead. (BTW this can be disabled)
For some control while using this to momentarily "overdub" the playing CV's with a Live CV, just hold the Loop pad and turn the knob a bit. The knob won't time-out and the preview ends immediately upon release of the Loop pad."