MIDI Live Input

[Photovor]

From my thread in the Renard forum, I have turned the stand alone app into a Vixen AddIn. This AddIn allows a MIDI Instrument to control channels in a sequence in real-time. Open a sequence, import the channels and then map channels to MIDI notes. As the notes are played on your midi keyboard, the channels will trigger.

**The AddIn must remain open during usage.

This is a very basic release, and I'm working on fixes as I see the problems arise. If anyone has a midi instrument that they're willing to give this a go with, I would be really interested in your results.

This has been tested on vixen 2.1.3 and .NET 3.5

Installation:
Unzip LiveInput.zip into the Vixen\AddIns folder. Both Midi.dll and LiveInput.dll are required for this AddIn to work.

[Photovor]

Just updated the Zip in the first post to address a few issues:

Fixed:
-When closing Vixen, it no longer causes an ouput plugin error message
-Fixed the way it sent the packet of channels to be updated into Vixen
-Fixed the MIDI error with colsing the Addin and then re-opening the Addin

Added:
-Debugging checkbox to see the channel packets heading into Vixen
-Messageox to let you know when it actually saved the channel mappings (this is still only for the current session) Currently doesn't save to a file.

[Photovor]

Updated zip in first post.

Added
-Ability to export/import channel mappings so you can save your work
-Multiple channels can be assigned to the same note

Fixed
-Few issues causing stability problems
-Used actual channel names, rather than just the cannel numbers

Coming Soon
-Chord detection macros (assign channels to chords as well, rather than just notes)
-Ability to set fade when a note is left off
-Other macros such as a chase line, blink, etc...

[rwinn]

Super excited at the prospect of recording from MIDI. The lack of a more "natural" input method is a big reason Light-O-Rama and Animated Lighting didn't seem that great.

Now, I just need to find a suitable device/interface. I have an M-AUDIO MIDI/audio interface but I use it in a small home-studio on a Vista machine...

I wonder what the chances of a USB/MIDI controller like a Korg nanoPAD or nanoKONTROL (http://www.korg.com/nanoseries) are of working with the MIDI AddIn on an XP machine?

[Sharkey]

Great Work! I would love to use this! I have a keyboard here, just no interface for MIDI cables to my computer. This mean's it's time to get one!

Thank you, for all your hard work and dedication.

[David_AVD]

I bought a cheap MIDI - USB interface from eBay. Cost about AUD $12 and seems to work ok.

[rjchu]

This sounds awesome! If I have a control surface with sliders/faders can I use that to dim a channel or is it just straight on/off at this point? (which is still a vast improvement over the drag/click method)

Thanks,

-joni-

[rwinn]

This sounds awesome! If I have a control surface with sliders/faders can I use that to dim a channel or is it just straight on/off at this point? (which is still a vast improvement over the drag/click method)


Hey Joni,

I haven't tried this out yet myself since I'm still waiting for my output device to arrive and haven't yet determined what kind of MIDI input I'm going to use, but Photovor's original post (http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9857) in the Renard forum indicates that input from a keyboard will be velocity sensitive.

I'm not a MIDI expert, but this leads me to believe that there may be some dimming capability. Do you have anything you can test with? I'm also interested in knowing the answer as it may influence what kind of MIDI controller I end up getting.

- Rob

[rjchu]

No, I don't have hardware to test with though I was thinking of buying this http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHBCF2000 to help with video editing. Being able to use it for Vixen sequencing as well would certainly help justify, if only in my own mind, the purchase. ;)

What "output device" did you order?

Thanks,

-joni-



Hey Joni,

I haven't tried this out yet myself since I'm still waiting for my output device to arrive and haven't yet determined what kind of MIDI input I'm going to use, but Photovor's original post (http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9857) in the Renard forum indicates that input from a keyboard will be velocity sensitive.

I'm not a MIDI expert, but this leads me to believe that there may be some dimming capability. Do you have anything you can test with? I'm also interested in knowing the answer as it may influence what kind of MIDI controller I end up getting.

- Rob

[rwinn]

Nice! I came across the BCF2000 while browsing MIDI controllers. It looks good and people seem to like it. I have a feeling I'm going to get something lower end, maybe a MIDI drum pad of some sort.

For output, I ordered the Velleman V116 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IRMFUW?ie=UTF8&tag=bosblbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001IRMFUW) USB/DMX interface. The same interface is available in a kit form as the K8062 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TA79UK?ie=UTF8&tag=bosblbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000TA79UK), but only for a few bucks less.

Right now I only have a small LED DMX fixture... but between Vixen, the Velleman interface, and a MIDI input device I should have enough to learn on before getting any more serious hardware!

- Rob

[rjchu]

This looks like a DMX interface so maybe I'm not understanding something but don't you still need a way to get MIDI into/out of your computer? Or is DMX the same thing as MIDI? For me, I was looking at the cheap-o MIDI interfaces from M-Audio (http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=midiinterfaces) - Probably the $50 ones or maybe the $90 for 2 ports. Though the idea of the wireless MIDI interface is also interesting - ideas of sitting in front of the house with the BCF2000 connected via wireless MIDI and doing sequencing against a live/wired/lighted house?! Who needs adjustable preview in Vixen at the point?! ;)

-joni-



Nice! I came across the BCF2000 while browsing MIDI controllers. It looks good and people seem to like it. I have a feeling I'm going to get something lower end, maybe a MIDI drum pad of some sort.

For output, I ordered the Velleman V116 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IRMFUW?ie=UTF8&tag=bosblbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001IRMFUW) USB/DMX interface. The same interface is available in a kit form as the K8062 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TA79UK?ie=UTF8&tag=bosblbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000TA79UK), but only for a few bucks less.

Right now I only have a small LED DMX fixture... but between Vixen, the Velleman interface, and a MIDI input device I should have enough to learn on before getting any more serious hardware!

- Rob

[Photovor]

Sorry- I haven't been able to keep up with this post, but yes, it is dimming capable in relation to the 'velocity'. I'm not sure if all instruments are like this or not, but typically velocity ranges went from 1-128, and I basically built the dimming brightness proportional to that.

[rwinn]

This looks like a DMX interface so maybe I'm not understanding something but don't you still need a way to get MIDI into/out of your computer? Or is DMX the same thing as MIDI? For me, I was looking at the cheap-o MIDI interfaces from M-Audio (http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=midiinterfaces) - Probably the $50 ones or maybe the $90 for 2 ports. Though the idea of the wireless MIDI interface is also interesting - ideas of sitting in front of the house with the BCF2000 connected via wireless MIDI and doing sequencing against a live/wired/lighted house?! Who needs adjustable preview in Vixen at the point?! ;)

-joni-

No, you're exactly right. I'm pretty much starting from scratch here, I'll be using a keyboard or other MIDI device to create sequences, and the USB/DMX interface to control the lights. I have an M-AUDIO interface but I use it in a small home-studio, and will probably get something else for Vixen on my other computer.

If I can't get one of the USB/MIDI devices like the Korg NanoPAD (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001H2QCMU?ie=UTF8&tag=bosblbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001H2QCMU) to work, I'll probably get a cheap MIDI interface (found some for under $6 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017H4EBG?ie=UTF8&tag=bosblbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0017H4EBG) on Amazon) and a low-end controller keyboard.

Wireless MIDI sounds pretty sweet but is probably well beyond where I'm at at this point :)

[rwinn]

Sorry- I haven't been able to keep up with this post, but yes, it is dimming capable in relation to the 'velocity'. I'm not sure if all instruments are like this or not, but typically velocity ranges went from 1-128, and I basically built the dimming brightness proportional to that.

Sounds great!

[rjchu]

I like the $6 from Amazon - good to keep it cheap at first so I may end up going the same route if/when I start doing this stuff. Also good to here back from Photovor on the velocity/dimming piece.

Back to controller construction for another month or so and then on to this stuff and hard core sequencing.

Thanks,

-joni-



No, you're exactly right. I'm pretty much starting from scratch here, I'll be using a keyboard or other MIDI device to create sequences, and the USB/DMX interface to control the lights. I have an M-AUDIO interface but I use it in a small home-studio, and will probably get something else for Vixen on my other computer.

If I can't get one of the USB/MIDI devices like the Korg NanoPAD (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001H2QCMU?ie=UTF8&tag=bosblbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001H2QCMU) to work, I'll probably get a cheap MIDI interface (found some for under $6 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017H4EBG?ie=UTF8&tag=bosblbl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0017H4EBG) on Amazon) and a low-end controller keyboard.

Wireless MIDI sounds pretty sweet but is probably well beyond where I'm at at this point :)

[rwinn]

Okay... so I have a USB/MIDI keyboard that the plugin is detecting, and I can even use it to turn lights off and on. Is there a way my live tapping on the MIDI controller can be recorded in real-time?

[Photovor]

Okay... so I have a USB/MIDI keyboard that the plugin is detecting, and I can even use it to turn lights off and on. Is there a way my live tapping on the MIDI controller can be recorded in real-time?


No. The plugin is designed for live i/o only. If I ever get back to working with Vixen again, that may be a future idea. Thinking about it now, isn't there a MIDI input plugin that converts a midi file into a sequence?

[Drodriguez]

Hmm, I just tried this with a Nano Kontrol to no avail, running windows 7 and Vixen 2.1.4 I get error messages: "Error in application" and "Device is not open". What am I doing wrong here?

[rjchu]

+1, this is the same controller I was thinking of using as an input device so I'm following with interest.

Thanks,

-joni-



Hmm, I just tried this with a Nano Kontrol to no avail, running windows 7 and Vixen 2.1.4 I get error messages: "Error in application" and "Device is not open". What am I doing wrong here?

[gdyrdave]

Just tried to download the live input plugin. Just comes up with a blank screen. I have encountered this with some others too. I appears it all started with the server move.

[pk85]

I too can not download the live plugin. I have been unsuccessflyy contacting photvor. Does anyone have it that can send it to me? Send me a PM.

[gdyrdave]

I did get in contact with Photvor and he said he would send it to me when he finds it. He has been out of the LOOP for a while he stated. If he responds and I get it I will post it again.

[ritztech]

i found this on google code .... not sure if this is the correct one but it seems like it...

http://code.google.com/p/vixen-live-midi/

[Photovor]

Sorry guys, I haven't spend any time on here in more than a year. The google code page that was mentioned earlier is indeed the project that I originally started. It does not have a download for the vixen plugin. I'll look tonight or tomorrow to see if I still have the plugin- I've changed computers once or twice since I've first wrote it, so I'll have to locate the hard drive that it might be sitting on.

[gdyrdave]

We also need to refine this to input the channels as the song goes. IE: recording sequences as we hear them on the computer and keying in the notes. Then we can pizzaz them up afterwords. I found the original plugin in my archives but it only plays what you type/play on the keyboard without sound. This needs to record your keystrokes to a sequence while you listen. this will make sequencing soooo much easier. Using a piano keyboard is great. I never played piano before but this would simplify things. You can label the keys to the light/channels you have mapped and go to town. I am not a programmer. I was versed in the old fortran/ basic days. Trying to learn "C' and their derivitives but guess my patience and learning curves have diminished. My Pholisphy is:\

Can't see...Cant Pee
Cant chew... Cant SC^ew
All these things have come to pass,
These Golden years can KISS MY A#@!

BUT ...... YOU ARE AS OLD AS YOU FEEL !!!!!!!

Thanks Photovor for helping us guys!


DAVE

[rjchu]

Exactly what I've been looking for. So, are you volunteering to implement it? ;)

Thanks,

-joni-


We also need to refine this to input the channels as the song goes. IE: recording sequences as we hear them on the computer and keying in the notes. Then we can pizzaz them up afterwords. I found the original plugin in my archives but it only plays what you type/play on the keyboard without sound. This needs to record your keystrokes to a sequence while you listen. this will make sequencing soooo much easier. Using a piano keyboard is great. I never played piano before but this would simplify things. You can label the keys to the light/channels you have mapped and go to town. I am not a programmer. I was versed in the old fortran/ basic days. Trying to learn "C' and their derivitives but guess my patience and learning curves have diminished. My Pholisphy is:\

Can't see...Cant Pee
Cant chew... Cant SC^ew
All these things have come to pass,
These Golden years can KISS MY A#@!

BUT ...... YOU ARE AS OLD AS YOU FEEL !!!!!!!

Thanks Photovor for helping us guys!


DAVE

[KeithTarpley]

Greetings,,,

This may be it. Downloaded from here last year, I believe.

Keith

[boyelroy11]

I think you're file is empty, Keith. I can't get anything out of it.

Bruce

[KeithTarpley]

Greetings,,,

Hmm. It's good here. Let me see if this uploads it correctly.

Keith

11214

[budude]

Greetings,,,

Hmm. It's good here. Let me see if this uploads it correctly.

Keith

When I try to download it downloads "clear.gif" - amazingly enough - a clear GIF file... The size is a bit of a giveaway as well on 20 odd K?

[KeithTarpley]

Greetings,,,

hmmm... Obviously it's not connecting properly somehow. Testing...

Keith

[boyelroy11]

Whew. At least it wasn't just me :)

[gdyrdave]

Exactly what I've been looking for. So, are you volunteering to implement it? ;)

Thanks,

-joni-
Wish i could. Need the the files to at least see if I could. But I highly doubt it. I am not versed on c language nor have been in programming for 20+ years. I would love to look at it anyway.

dave

[KeithTarpley]

Greetings,,,

Ok, to get around the zip file upload issue, I've extracted the two files. They are both dll files. I've renamed them .txt files. Just rename them both back to .dll extension files and that should temporarily get them to whoever wants them.

Keith

1122411225

[Photovor]

Here's a link to the Zip file on the google code project page. This way it's not hosted on the forums for it to get messed up again.

http://code.google.com/p/vixen-live-midi/downloads/detail?name=LiveInput.zip

Both dll files, when extracted should go in the Addins Folder. This was originally developed for Vixen 2.1.1.0

[Photovor]

I *might* decide to look at this, though it's been 2 years since the plugin was written, so I'd probably have to relearn everything again, and that's if I can even find my original source. I've have been out of the loop for a while on here, so I'm not sure what changes have been made in vixen. I also no longer have hardware to test the original plugin. I'm very busy with other programming work, so no promises :p.




We also need to refine this to input the channels as the song goes. IE: recording sequences as we hear them on the computer and keying in the notes. Then we can pizzaz them up afterwords. I found the original plugin in my archives but it only plays what you type/play on the keyboard without sound. This needs to record your keystrokes to a sequence while you listen. this will make sequencing soooo much easier. Using a piano keyboard is great. I never played piano before but this would simplify things. You can label the keys to the light/channels you have mapped and go to town. I am not a programmer. I was versed in the old fortran/ basic days. Trying to learn "C' and their derivitives but guess my patience and learning curves have diminished. My Pholisphy is:\

Can't see...Cant Pee
Cant chew... Cant SC^ew
All these things have come to pass,
These Golden years can KISS MY A#@!

BUT ...... YOU ARE AS OLD AS YOU FEEL !!!!!!!

Thanks Photovor for helping us guys!


DAVE

[Macrosill]

test11226

[Macrosill]

test

[rjchu]

I *might* decide to look at this, though it's been 2 years since the plugin was written, so I'd probably have to relearn everything again, and that's if I can even find my original source. I've have been out of the loop for a while on here, so I'm not sure what changes have been made in vixen. I also no longer have hardware to test the original plugin. I'm very busy with other programming work, so no promises :p.

I think I just wet myself with excitement! Ok, maybe not. ;) But wow, this would be a tremendous help/time saver. I'm trying to do something similar using a combination of things to record MIDI input on an iPad and then get it into Vixen via the MIDI Mapper addin which is cumbersome and error prone so I'm probably going to abandoned it but being able to map MIDI input to channels in Vixen and record directly to the sequence? Wow!

(Please, DO let my enthusiasm sway you into implementing it!)

Thanks,

-joni-

[pk85]

A big thank you to photovor and the other members for posting this

[budude]

Might I suggest a regular MIDI keyboard -- I have THIS (http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOKEYRIG49) one - works great - the keys are velocity senstive and it's not too big. You can program the keys although I never played with that much. M-Audio, Behringer and ZZounds are all great places/products - I've purchased several things from all.

[gdyrdave]

Might I suggest a regular MIDI keyboard -- I have THIS (http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOKEYRIG49) one - works great - the keys are velocity senstive and it's not too big. You can program the keys although I never played with that much. M-Audio, Behringer and ZZounds are all great places/products - I've purchased several things from all.

I have the same one. Think how easy it would make sequencing.

[DanS]

I have been able to get the application working with the following simple setup:

Vixen v2.1.4 with DMX add-in
Enttec Open DMX (USB to DMX)
Rainbow Brain Controller (a DMX controller)
2x Rainbow Flood RGB LED lights
M-Audio USB/Midi interface - MidiSport Uno
Casio LK-40 (a "learn to play with lighted keys" keyboard with Midi In/Out) -No velocity

The setup works with an occasional crash - I'll take a screenshot if it occurs again.

I think this app has tremendous potential - holiday lighting, live band stage lighting, etc.
I am not a programmer but I would be willing to help by testing any new revisions.

[ritztech]

hmmm could be fun to intergrate this as a LIVE midi to channel grouping or change events but that would take quite a bit of work but maybe easy for the user to do that..


i do some little bash linux programming hehe might try this :)

[Photovor]

hmmm could be fun to intergrate this as a LIVE midi to channel grouping or change events but that would take quite a bit of work but maybe easy for the user to do that..


i do some little bash linux programming hehe might try this :)

That's what it does now :confused:

[ritztech]

ohhh ahha i havent used it yet to see.... i just read you cant play live with vixen.... hehei might have to load it up ;) :)

[ritztech]

I actually finally loaded it (with my midi USB you rock guitar FREAKING awesome )

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=you+rock+guitar&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=4242496477&ref=pd_sl_68how7bc26_b

But i am able to see my notes and even turn (JUST ON) the lights but once i exit the live input plugin mode cant get the channels to show up when playing the song....

[jukingeo]

Hello All,

I just stumbled upon this thread because I was wondering if there was a way to control Vixen live via Midi both with & without a sequence running.

This is what I would like to do:

I use a Ren16 controller for both my Christmas and Halloween shows. For my Halloween show, I am using 10 channels for a singing pumpkin display. So that leaves me with 6 free channels.

Now in addition to the singing pumpkins I also have an interactive display in which I control a digital puppet and this is where I give candy to Trick Or Treaters (TOTs). Now, I do have background music and general Halloween lighting to set the mood, but this year I want to take it one step further and be able to control some of the lights live. That is when I got the idea that if Vixen is already running the singing pumpkin show nearby if I could control the free channels live.

Now I fortunately already own a USB midi device, the Korg Nano Kontrol:

http://www.amazon.com/Korg-nanoKONTROL-USB-Controller-Black/dp/B001J8LJWK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1317044647&sr=8-2

As you can see by looking at this unit, it is a natural for for controlling lights as it has one knob, one slider, and two buttons across 9 channels (of which I would only need 6).

So, is this doable with the download mentioned above?

I saw the setup DanS mentioned above used to get it going, but with his interfacing with DMX there is just too much going on there with that setup. What I would like to do is just set up the live plug in, then plug my Korg Kontrol into the USB port and then just configure it.

Is that possible or do I have to go through the whole DMX kit and kaboodle?

Thanx,

Geo

[gdyrdave]

I am still looking for a way to record events using the usb midi keyboard I have. I would like to be able to load a sequence and fill in the blanks so to say and have them recorded in the sequence. If I didn't like it I just would't save it. If it does it now I don't see it. I am also going to label my keyboard with the channel #'s so I can do this.

[rjchu]

I am still looking for a way to record events using the usb midi keyboard I have. I would like to be able to load a sequence and fill in the blanks so to say and have them recorded in the sequence. If I didn't like it I just would't save it. If it does it now I don't see it. I am also going to label my keyboard with the channel #'s so I can do this.

If you figure this out, let me know. I'm waiting to do the same thing but via configurable MIDI pads on my iPad. ;)

-joni-

[jukingeo]

I am still looking for a way to record events using the usb midi keyboard I have. I would like to be able to load a sequence and fill in the blanks so to say and have them recorded in the sequence. If I didn't like it I just would't save it. If it does it now I don't see it. I am also going to label my keyboard with the channel #'s so I can do this.

In addition to live control, that is a nice feature as well. I am sure it will cut the data input time in half (or more) over using the keyboard alone.

Geo

[zeppelin1007]

Seems to me guys...

Since it only trigger live input, but doesn't record...we could open up a DAW program, such as cubase/sonar (I'm a Logic 9 guy, mac only though) and use the first track to play our audio, while we tap/record the midi. Having both programs open at the same time should globally send the midi data correct? I know on a mac it can be finiky. Ie having Garageband and logic open at the same time, only the app in the foreground will respond to input.

That way you can stand in front of your house, tap out your sequences, have the midi data recorded, then use the MIDI mapper plugin to import the data.

Any thoughts on why that wouldnt work?

[ritztech]

hmmmmmmmm gets me an idea to maybe make an app to take your picture of your display. and then Channel map it (or import from vixen profile where channels are what) and then overlay that picture and do like a OSC midi to wifi and somehow adding it to the plugin of the vixen or just as an input. and when the user touchs the area it will light up the channels (unless its alredy out there....

[ritztech]

so im not sure if im missing something all i did was put midi.dll and liveinput.dll in the addins directory.

I can set channels to midi and it tests fine ... but when i close out of the liveinput addins its not seeing my my keys for when i start the song in vixen and press keys.... im running Vixen 2.1.4.0

[boyelroy11]

Here's your picture touch app, ritztech. I don't know if it works they way you described, but the end function is the same :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdTOtVXFjcA

It is by one of the members here, lboucher.

Bruce

[gdyrdave]

That was sweet!!