NMG2 Open Source Editor

brunov · Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 5:19 am Post subject:

I finally got around to put up a new version 0.4 of the desktop editor. It is available for download here : http://www.bverhue.nl/g2dev/?page_id=17

This version contains a lot of interface changes suggested by Francesco, for example all the buttons are now in the top row, the slot strips can be hidden, the tabs in the main frame are gone, all to make more room for the patch.

Also the knobs, banks, patch settings, synth settings, application settings are back in a subform, as in the original editor.

I haven't updated the help file yet, but I added a quick reference text file with all the shortcut keys, available by pressing F1. Most functions should be accessible with a shortcut key.

I also made a lot of changes in the back end of the application to prepare it for an Android version.

I had a remark about the OSX version, that it has a bad performance, but I haven't really been able to reproduce it on my Mac system: Mountain Lion 10.8.5 - 3.29 Ghz Core i3 8 GB mem. But I have noticed that it doesn't get much processor time allocated from the OS. I would be grateful for any confirmation or suggestions about this.

I hope I didn't make to many mistakes in this version, if so let me know.

Bruno

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Electromagnetic Wave · Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 9:58 am Post subject:

alot of people will be happy! Very Happy

I test it now! after 1 hour, everything seems to work well. In fact I opened the old version too(NMG2 OS Editor v0.26) and I play with it from 2 days.

I noticed that you added the "log file" on the version 0.4. But we can not see the complete messages. Just the name changes. I think in "NMG2 OS Editor v0.26" we can see more information. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I wonder if we can save some commands (add module, add cable, assign #cc, etc..) within a patch? And send this command from 1 slot to another slot. A small editor into a slot that can interact with other slots ???

Does the editor messages must absolutely go through the USB connection?

for now, I learn from your "NMG2 Open source editor help" (the bottom of the page) and this link :

http://dewb.org/g2/pch2format.html

blue hell · Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 1:06 pm Post subject:

brunov · Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 11:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys Smile

I fixed a couple of errors I overlooked:
- switched buttons on knobs
- external clock didn't show
- access violation when switching patches while knob form is open

Put up the new executables

brunov · Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 11:24 pm Post subject:

Elektromagnetic wave

Yes, that link to you mention got me started with further reverse engineering the file and usb protocol. And work from a lot of other people as well. Jan's work for example helped me a lot also, and I from this work
"https://github.com/msg/g2ools g2ctl.py"
I learned the basics of the usb-protocol.

Heres some more messages I worked out using a usb-analyser: http://www.bverhue.nl/G2EditorHelp/G2_messages.html

Electromagnetic Wave · Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 1:15 am Post subject:

brunov · Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 9:57 pm Post subject:

In don't think that is possible. There are no sysex patching commands for the g2 as far as I know, only usb messages.

Electromagnetic Wave · Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 10:43 pm Post subject:

Ok thanks! Btw, I noticed after some research that my example posted before does not represent the sysex message for adding a cable.

Again, congratulations for the project! Maybe I'll start using a tablet with my G2 soon.

anigbrowl · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:58 am Post subject:

Delighted to hear you are working on an Android version! I see USB host adapter cables for Android are very cheap (under $5 for most types) so I think I found a job for an older tablet! Exciting news.

I will try to check out the desktop version this evening, like the changes you have made to the user interface.

urbanspaceman · Joined: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 77 Location: italy

Tnx Bruno!
if I can still be useful, count me!

Francesco

urbanspaceman · Joined: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 77 Location: italy

For the italian G2 users i have a section on my forum Noisecollective.net
http://www.noisecollective.net/forums.html/kunena/nord-modular

Francesco

brunov · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 2:28 am Post subject:

Hey Francesco, maybe if you can find out a bit more about the performance problems on osx you encountered, let me know, I can't seem to reproduce them. Otherwise thanx for your help sofar!

Meanwhile I have been working a bit on the Android version. I am beginning to like my Android tablet more and more. It's cheap, it's simple to use and its an open system so as a developer I can access all of it's functionality. Bit slow of course.

If you want to try out the new version I've made (0.2), you can read about it here and download the apk:

http://www.bverhue.nl/g2dev/?p=146

Note: your device needs to support USB Host mode

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xav · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 3:25 pm Post subject:

Once more thank you Brunov for the android editor, and for all the updates! Excellent work and so useful tool!
Do you think it would be possible to use the desktop version as an interface between Max 4 live and the G2, to collect informations? The goal would be a way to build a Max4live device to control the G2 from Push, with the names of the parameters assigned to G2 display. Push would mimic G2 display and pots, and one could control the G2 and automate every assigned parameter, when playing a pattern from ableton, in Midi, with a Max 4 live patch. That would also be an alternative for people who use the engine.
Max 4 live control device for meeblip se is a is a good example, but it doesn't need to collect controllers names since there are few controllers, and there are linked to midi CC, so it is easy; it's not a modular architecture.
http://www.maxforlive.com/library/device/2516/meeblip-se-remote.
There is a video of the kind of control that can be achieved, and I think it certainly would be even more interesting with G2.

brunov · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:28 pm Post subject:

Hey Xav,

do you know what kind of interface would be needed between max4live and the g2, I mean midid/osc/something else...?

xav · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:06 am Post subject:

I'm less than an infra beginner in max programming, but I saw it can communicate with OSC. So it's just a question for future evolution and integration of G2 in a DAW, or about replacement of the G2 keyboard beloved interface by the engine and Push. Actually, it is not a hard job to write manually all the controller labels, and I really wouldn't want you to work on an extension of your software I still wouldn't be able to use!!! (I didn't manage to use correctly Jack audio connection, so you can Imagine my abilities to setup software) but it's a kind of farsighted dream.
But anyway thank for your interest

Xavier

brunov · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 5:32 am Post subject:

Yes, ok. I was planning to give osc another try and do some rewriting of code to modernise it a bit. So, that might be a step towards a possible interface with m4l.

It's only that I'm spread rather thin over a lot of projects at the moment, so I this will take some time...

3phase · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 5:41 am Post subject:

Hi there , nice progress. I havent been able to use my g2 or my studio the last year..but .. i plan to change that now again and wonder if i should try an andrtoid tablet for the editor. The android tabet needs to support usb hos mode? How do we find out which of theese devices do that? Anybody can recomend a modell that works?

Too bad that ios refuses to work with the editor.. i allready have an i pad.. and it actualy sticks on my G2 allready thanks to its magnetic lid..

I mainly use it for lemur …but there is lemur for andoid o the way now too.

How well is the patching working with a tablet?

brunov · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 6:17 am Post subject:

Host mode is usually mentioned in the specs of the tablet. It allowes you to attach usb devices like keyboards etc. I'm using a Acer A1-810, probably not the best tablet but it is cheap and it works. You also need an usb otg-cable.

Patching is not possible at the moment with the application. It is only a sort of controller, you can load patches from g2-memory, change some parameters and use the software keyboard.

There is also a problem with the usb connection, it sometimes loses connection. I have not figured out yet if this is a bug in my interface implementation or maybe a bug in Android's usb interface. To revive the connection you have to deconnect/reconnect the usb cable.

And implementing patching on the tablet will be a challenge, because of the small screen and the making it perform with all the complex graphics....

3phase · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:46 am Post subject:

oh i see.. no editing.. sure that would be THE challenge especially because you need an overview but need to precisely touch patch points in the same time.. So zooming must work really well.. or maybe a split screen where a slice of the screen shows the selected module while the rest is overview to select the module.. than you select the source module first..make the magic finger tip on the connector..than you select the destination module.. and tap on the destination connector.. and the cable connection is made..

Maybe such a split screen routine could be good already for the desktop editor to allow to operate it in smaller windows.. there adjusting a module live having it in its own sub window in a good operable szise and having a tiny but complete overview on the patch just next to that magnifying sub window....but still enough screen space for your daw or another plug in..
I sometimes suffer a bit from the need for a full screen window of the original editor.. dont makes sense to give it less.. But there are situations where a smaller window but full operable editor could be practical.

Not that a desktop editor really needs that.. but could be a development step towards touch operated devices that could show up as laptop replacements in the next years..

Jee-Bee · Joined: Dec 07, 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Netherlands

I have since this weekend a laptop with Ubuntu on it..
Is or comes there also a linux version?

brunov · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:30 am Post subject:

Not any time soon. The compiler I'm using doesn't have that capability and I haven't heard anything about adding linux support in newer versions of the compiler.

nord_balls · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 12:40 pm Post subject: Source code?

Sorry if this has been asked before: is the code for this on GitHub or similar?

I would love to help out!

In any case, I will be trying out the Android version to see if I can control my rack G2, would be a huge win for live performance!!

Thanks so much,
Stuart

gauthier · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 8:56 pm Post subject:

nord_balls, the editor sourcecode is on sourceforge in SVN: https://sourceforge.net/projects/nmg2editor

It would be great to have author migrate it to github IMHO, also as I'm totally new to Delphi, what is the main project file to open to see the complete set of projects?

Thanks

Organoid · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 7:15 am Post subject:

Hi Brunov! The vst editor that you made is amazing and very useful for my needs!!
I wanted to ask you, is there any chance to include a 64bit vst version in the future?
Thanks a lot!!

xav · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2019 9:16 am Post subject: