Homebrew MIDIControl DS v2 (DS Entry)

[Ben_j]

EDIT :
Finally the final version is available !
You can download it here on FileTrip :
http://filetrip.net/file.php?id=25286

There is a comprehensive (I think) manual inside, to explain how to use it. Here are a few screenshots:

I'll be in the competition with my new version of MIDIControl DS, a MIDI controller using the touchscreen of the Nintendo DS.
The v1 had three main features : X/Y Touchpad controller (Kaoss Pad style), MPC style Pads, with velocity, and 8 faders.

The new version I'm working on will have several new major features, starting by synchronization with the controlled software (see video), and features made possible by the synchronisation.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRjslmP-aQA[/youtube]

It's probably not something that the average Joe will have interest in, but I hope to make it the Rolls Royce of DS midi controllers.

http://midicontrolds.blogspot.com/

 

[mechadylan]

This looks realllly coooool! Aside from Ableton Live, what other software is this compatible with? ...or is it more of a question of what software is compatible with DSMI? Btw, +1 for going with the 12 pad MPC-500 set up as opposed to the 16 pad MPC-60/1000/2000 etc. Although the 16 pad MPC set up is more common, it would have suffered in the DS's rectangular screen, imo. Gl in the bounty. Cheers.

 

[freestile]

Awesome man. Been messing with korg ds-10 and some other stuff.
I've got a hardware studio with lots of stuff but its still fun to tinker with all this.
Wonder how this can compliment my 1000. Wrd up dude.

 

[Ben_j]

This looks realllly coooool! Aside from Ableton Live, what other software is this compatible with? ...or is it more of a question of what software is compatible with DSMI? Btw, +1 for going with the 12 pad MPC-500 set up as opposed to the 16 pad MPC-60/1000/2000 etc. Although the 16 pad MPC set up is more common, it would have suffered in the DS's rectangular screen, imo. Gl in the bounty. Cheers.

thanks for the support !
It's compatible with any software with midi, although I do all of my tests with Ableton. I don't know if other softwares handle midi sync differently, but I guess it's standard. I followed what I found on the net about that and it went just fine with Ableton in "Song" mode. "Pattern" mode looks different though. I'll try to see if it works well with Cubase and other softs.
12 pads was the easy way. If I make them smaller, the velocity wouldn't be great : when you hit the center of the pad, velocity is max. They're 64*64 pixels, so that makes a resolution of 32 instead of 127. An even smaller resolution for the velocity, and smaller pads wouldn't be very comfortable.

I'm currently working on record features, to save control tweaking loops, just like on the DS-10. Not really sure how that will come out yet, as I need a good enough resolution, without taking too much RAM.

EDIT : I've just seen that libnds provides support for the DS Easy Piano extension. I might add that to the homerbrew, but I don't have a DS tank/lite and I don't have easy piano. If I have time left before the 31st of may, I'll look into it

EDIT bis : the DS Paddle and Guitar Hero grip could be nice additions too. I really need a DS Lite and all those extension paks !

 

[mechadylan]

This looks realllly coooool! Aside from Ableton Live, what other software is this compatible with? ...or is it more of a question of what software is compatible with DSMI? Btw, +1 for going with the 12 pad MPC-500 set up as opposed to the 16 pad MPC-60/1000/2000 etc. Although the 16 pad MPC set up is more common, it would have suffered in the DS's rectangular screen, imo. Gl in the bounty. Cheers.

thanks for the support !
It's compatible with any software with midi, although I do all of my tests with Ableton. I don't know if other softwares handle midi sync differently, but I guess it's standard. I followed what I found on the net about that and it went just fine with Ableton in "Song" mode. "Pattern" mode looks different though. I'll try to see if it works well with Cubase and other softs.
12 pads was the easy way. If I make them smaller, the velocity wouldn't be great : when you hit the center of the pad, velocity is max. They're 64*64 pixels, so that makes a resolution of 32 instead of 127. An even smaller resolution for the velocity, and smaller pads wouldn't be very comfortable.

I'm currently working on record features, to save control tweaking loops, just like on the DS-10. Not really sure how that will come out yet, as I need a good enough resolution, without taking too much RAM.

EDIT : I've just seen that libnds provides support for the DS Easy Piano extension. I might add that to the homerbrew, but I don't have a DS tank/lite and I don't have easy piano. If I have time left before the 31st of may, I'll look into it

EDIT bis : the DS Paddle and Guitar Hero grip could be nice additions too. I really need a DS Lite and all those extension paks !

EZ Flash ram expansion might be another venue to consider. I've seen some music based homebrew for the DS benefiting from it in the past; Protein DS is the first one that comes to mind.

 

[coolness]

nice thank you

 

[Ben_j]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ywzO1W_f3o[/youtube]

 

[Ace]

Is there a way to implement soundfont files to it? Or can it be made without butchering it up?

 

[mechadylan]

I have Reason 3 on my Mac PowerBook G4 and have achieved communication to it with this homebrew on my DS Phat running Wood on an R4 after installing DSMIDIWIFI v1.02! I'm pretty geeked about it.

I will definitely play with this some more as soon as I get some free time.

 

[tajio]

Fabulous homebrew for us music producers

Great Job!

 

[Ben_j]

Some news !

The project is going well on its way. I just finished implementing sliders, and the general architecture of the soft, how the midi and the display parts interact with a common data structure. Midi feedback from the DAW is working !

Here's a video of what the sliders will look like :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-LpS6taOj0[/youtube]
It was a few days ago, randomly changing the color and value of the sliders, just for testing the graphics. I will post another video soon showing the sliders in action

The Mixer mode should be pretty quick to do, as it will re-use a lot of the Sliders mode code, then I will have to do a lot of work on loops, and finally re-code the Pads, since for the moment they're not implemented at all.

I also have to work on the configuration interface, for setting CC numbers, color of the sliders, etc...

Is there a way to implement soundfont files to it? Or can it be made without butchering it up?

This is only a controller, and it will stay like that for the moment


EDIT : oh yeah ! and if any of you wants to test an alpha version as soon as I have something ready, to find bugs, and give me your opinion, etc, send me a PM
You can also make a donation if you want to help me buy a DS Lite with all the extensions I talked about

http://midicontrolds.blogspot.com/

 

[Ben_j]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AnMMsV4jAA[/youtube]

 

[Mbmax]

Very good Ben_J ! Amazing homebrew for musicians.
The DS touch screen is really good for such application.

Merci !

 

[Ben_j]

New video soon ! The beta version is almost ready

 

[Ben_j]

A new video, showing mainly the kaoss pad, and the loops :

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlW6OP2cWOA[/youtube]

Some screenshots :

 

[Snailface]

Your sense of design is excellent. This really looks good.

 

[Ben_j]

Your sense of design is excellent. This really looks good.

Well, I thought the top screen was shit ugly

Thanks if you think it looks good

For the bottom screen, the kaoss pad is copied from... Well Kaoss pad 3 ! The pads are from the Korg padKontrol, the sliders are greatly inspired by TouchOSC.
I'm not really a good designer (and I hope I'm a good programmer)

EDIT :
re-post of the video, since the other post was the last of the page

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlW6OP2cWOA[/youtube]

 

[Godson777]

Hey, this looks awesome! Keep up the great work! How are you connecting the 3DS to the Computer? Also what program are you running on the computer to work it?

 

[Ben_j]

The beta testing is now over, the homebrew is ready, and I'm writing the manual. Expect to see a release before tonight !

 

[Ben_j]

Finally the final version is available !
You can download it here on FileTrip :
http://filetrip.net/file.php?id=25286

There is a comprehensive (I think) manual inside, to explain how to use it. Here are a few screenshots: