dimanche 21 novembre 2010

AlphaPad (English version)



Welcome on the alphaPad website!


Alphapad was at first a personal project. I wanted to use my Launchpad as a step sequencer. Since I didn't find any software to do that, I decided to program it myself. I realized then that other people would maybe be interested as well. In view of the success of the first youtube video on the alphaPad, I wanted to continue improving the alphaPad and adding new functions.

I am open to any proposition of collaboration for promoting or selling alphaPad. Your comments and suggestions are also welcome! contact : alphapadstepsequencer(at)gmail.com



AlphaPad 1.4 features (Windows only)
* 8 instruments working on distinct channels
* 8 patterns / instrument, 64 patterns in total
* 8 notes / pattern
* Pattern length from 8 to 32 steps
* Gate, velocity, speed and pitch control
* 3 modes:
 - Edit mode for creating patterns
 - Launch mode for playing patterns (works as the session mode of Ableton Live)
 - Select mode for choosing the pattern to edit
- Copy/paste mode
* Easy synchronization with the host using midi notes
* Save and open functions

Buy
In order to continue the alphaPad development, I propose the latter at 13 USD (10€). Updates are free, you will receive them automatically by email.
Click here to buy

Demo http://www.mediafire.com/?i271nvv522hfpk1
Limitation: no save function

Tutorial



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Installation Instructions

alphaPad requires MidiYoke for the midi routing. Midi Yoke provides 10 midi ports that will be useful in order to link alphaPad with the DAW. It can be downloaded for free here: http://www.midiox.com/myoke.htm

The midi routing must be done as follows.

Midi in:
AlphaPad receives two types of midi notes: the Launchpad notes and synchronization notes. AlphaPad is indeed synchronized using midi notes A#-2 and B-2. A#-2 corresponds to the first tick of the bar while B-2 corresponds to the other ticks. These synchronization notes must be sent by the DAW to the AlphaPad on Midi Yoke 1.

Midi out:
AlphaPad sends two types of midi notes:
* Launchpad notes for displaying patterns on the Launchpad (channel 1).
* Pattern notes (channel 4 to 11, 1 channel / instrument)



Installation steps:
1. Download and install MidiYoke.
2. Open your DAW.
3. Create a midi track for the synchronization notes. Add a midi clip containing these synchronization notes. Set the output to Midi Yoke 1.
4. Create a midi tracks for the Launchpad. Set the input to the Launchpad and the output to Midi Yoke 1.
5. Create 8 midi tracks for the instruments. Set their inputs to Midi Yoke 2, channel 4 to 11.
6. Open alphaPad.
7. In the Midi In menu, check Midi Yoke 1.
8. In the Midi Out menu, check Midi Yoke 2 and Launchpad.

The following screenshot shows for instance how to configure Ableton Live:

AlphaPad can however be used with any DAW!

If you have problems in configuring alphaPad, write a comment ;)

!! alphaPad (from version 1.1) does not react if the synchronization notes are not sent. Even when there is no pattern playing, synchronization notes are required for creating patterns. !!

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User guide

Button functions

Initialization
In order to initialize the alphaPad, the Reset button must first be pressed at least twice.

Select mode
The alphaPad is initially in the select mode (button (6) is lit) in order to select the pattern to edit. The columns correspond to instruments while the lines are different patterns on these instruments. This presentation is equivalent to the session mode of Ableton Live.

Select the pattern you would like to edit by pressing the corresponding button. AlphaPad switches then to Edit Mode (button (5) is lit).

Copy/paste mode
In select mode, press the select mode button (6) again to enter the copy/paste mode. Select then the clip you want to copy and next the slot in which you want to paste it.

Launch mode
The launch mode is activated by pressing the launch mode button (7). This mode is used to play and stop patterns. The scene launch buttons can be used to launch the patterns of the complete line.

Edit mode
The edit mode is used to create patterns. Add notes by pressing the corresponding button. The current played position is showed on the first line, but notes can still be added on this line.

The pattern length can be adjusted using buttons (1) and (2). The launchpad can only display 8 steps at a time. In order to see the other steps, change the pages using buttons (3) and (4). The current page is indicated by a green light on buttons (1) to (4), while the pattern length is indicated by orange lights.

The length of the notes can be adjusted by pressing button (9). The page that appears first shows the gate of each line. By pressing the corresponding scene button, the gate of each step of a given line can be changed. Notes can last for more than one step by activating several steps and setting their gate to the maximum value.

The velocity can be adjusted in the same way using button (10).

The pitch of each note can also be adjusted using button (11). The first page shows the octave of each line. By clicking on a specific line, the pitch can be adjusted accurately on a keyboard that is drawn on the Launchpad.

The pitches of the 8 lines can be adjusted on a specific scale using button (12). Select the root of the scale and the octave. You can switch between a major and a minor scale by selecting again the same root. 


The play button (13) is used to play the current pattern.

The playing speed can be adjusted with the three last buttons (14).

Reset button
In the select and launch modes, the reset button initializes the alphaPad and erases all the patterns. In edit mode, it only erases the current pattern.

9 commentaires:

  1. I try to run alphaPad with Reaper with no success. There is one problem, there are no such notes as: A#-2 and B-2 because C-1 is already the minimum value (00h) - you can look at the programmers reference or any midi logger:
    http://www.novationmusic.com/support/launchpad/
    (there is a mistake in the first note - it's C-1, not C-2 on the diagram on the page 5).
    I tried to trick Reaper using script by sending FEh and FFh note values (-2 and -1 in byte) with no success. A#-1 and B-1 don't work either (0Ah / 0Bh).
    Could you please tell me what hexadecimal values should be sent as A#-2 and B-2?

    RépondreSupprimer
  2. Hi,

    Sorry for my late reply.

    The hexadecimal values are 0Ah and 0Bh, I have no idea why in Ableton Live it corresponds to A#-2 and B-2 notes whereas it is A#-1 and B-1 in the midi reference.

    Maybe it didn't work for you because of a wrong midi channel: those notes have to be sent on channel 0 (status value: 90h). The velocity must besides be greater than 0!

    If you still have trouble, it is maybe easier for you to contact me at alphapadstepsequencer@gmail.com

    RépondreSupprimer
  3. Hi Thibaut,

    have you had any success, using this with cubase ?,

    am having difficulty getting it going

    RépondreSupprimer
  4. I've never tried with Cubase, but it should work the same way. Could you describe your problem more precisely?

    RépondreSupprimer
  5. The instrument track is receiving the control click along with the notes.

    here are the track settings


    midi track 01 syncro
    (record enable & monitor both off)
    In:not connected
    Out: to midi yoke 01


    midi track 02 Launchpad
    (record enable on ; monitor off )
    In:Launchpad
    Out to midi yoke 01
    channel 1

    Midi track 03 Instrument 01
    (record enable off & monitor on)
    In from Midi yolk 02
    Out to vst instument (tal noise maker)
    Channel 04

    RépondreSupprimer
  6. of course Alphapad settings:
    Midi in: in from midi yolk 1
    midi out: out to midi yolk 2 & launchpad

    RépondreSupprimer
  7. On your instrument track, did you really specify channel 4 for the input (and not for the output to your vst)? AlphaPad indeed sends control notes on channel 1 of Midi Yoke 2, so you need to filter this by selecting only channel 4 of Midi Yoke 2 (or another channel for the other instruments)

    RépondreSupprimer
  8. Thanks Thibaut, will give that a try.

    RépondreSupprimer
  9. hey! is this website still running ?
    I have problems connecting alphapad with FL Studio.. could you help me maybe :o?

    RépondreSupprimer