Sneak Peek - Introducing Maxwell - A software laser synth (analogish)

[maxcady]

the top video (phase independent of cycle) looks like stuff that has broken my analog controlled galvo system in the past (going straight from synthesizer into the galvos). would the stuff like that top video actually work with the laser? if so i'm assuming its because Maxwell figures out an optimized way to draw it? versus my SYNTH>GALVO method where its really trying to do those super high frequences

[colouredmirrorball]

the top video (phase independent of cycle) looks like stuff that has broken my analog controlled galvo system in the past (going straight from synthesizer into the galvos). would the stuff like that top video actually work with the laser? if so i'm assuming its because Maxwell figures out an optimized way to draw it? versus my SYNTH>GALVO method where its really trying to do those super high frequences

Maxwell sends the frames as points to Etherdream at a fixed rate and I suppose with a fixed maximum distance. The thing that kills scanners is doing a too large jump in too short a time, as this requires more current than the system can bear. In software implementing a maximum distance is easy but not in analog hardware. This means software is limited to a certain complexity, which the shown images might exceed - resulting in either a very flickery image or cut off image.

[CDBEAM]

YES....Keep it commin !!! Ether Dac being....funded !!! Maxwell to be " played "....as a musical instrument...twiddle the knobs....as the music so inspires you.... Something I have been waiting for....for a long time....Thank you ! CDBEAM=======>

[BlueFang]

Maxwell sends the frames as points to Etherdream at a fixed rate and I suppose with a fixed maximum distance. The thing that kills scanners is doing a too large jump in too short a time, as this requires more current than the system can bear. In software implementing a maximum distance is easy but not in analog hardware. This means software is limited to a certain complexity, which the shown images might exceed - resulting in either a very flickery image or cut off image.

This is more or less correct. The max distance is a parameter in the "opt_values" parameter of the Ether Dream output box in Maxwell. The default value is 1500 - if the distance between points exceeds this value, points are automatically added by the Maxwell software. Maxwell currently doesn't cull points, it only adds points if necessary.

I believe the Ether Dream library limits its drawing speed to the pps setting used in the EtherDream.DLL library. If you exceed this limit, you will see frame rate limiting - or flickering.

[wlan]

Got an etherdream and maxwell (PC) up and running tonight.
I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm having fun doing it!

Does anyone have a midimap.json for an original APC40?
I'm curious how to set this all up.

Another thing I noticed is that the APC Trigger Mode does not work for my APC40. A few buttons activate a few cues but it's not right. Maybe it needs an offset (but I don't think so)?

[BlueFang]

Hey wlan...

I don't have an original APC40 to test with - but there are a few things to try...

1) If you have some type of MIDI monitor program, could you use that to capture some MIDI output from the APC40 when hitting the cue/clip launch buttons - and post the results here? The docs on the APC40 suggest these should be the same with both models - but I just want to confirm.

2) One thing to try is to use the APC40 Colorizer app to set the APC40 to Mode 1. Here is the way to do this:

- open the APC40-Colorizer App
- Assign the midi-in to the APC40 (by double clicking on the button)
- Assign the midi-out to the APC40 (by double clicking on the button)
- Hit the red Reset button on the top right of the app
- Hit the button labeled "Mk 1" on the top row of the App

This puts the APC40 in "MIDI mode 1" for the Mk1 - or original APC 40 model

You can now close the APC40 Colorizer app.

The interesting thing here is that the cue/clip launch buttons shouldn't change MIDI values when changing the modes on the APC40 - so this is probably not going to fix the issue - but is worth a try.

[VJ AIWAZ]

im having the same issue with the first gen apc i have

i tried the colorizer and it still dont work

[CDBEAM]

BF...B4 I pop for a Ether Dream DAC....do you plan on supporting the Riya DAC....which I have ??? Is the Riya DAC a 64Bit unit ?? Thanx. Beam out

[VJ AIWAZ]

im not sure if its just me but im having trouble saving to ilda files i either get 0 frames (0k file)or only 1 frame(80k ish)

another small unrelated issue is on pc you need to save the file with the extensions its easy enough to change manual but the software should save the .ild extension automatically

[BlueFang]

BF...B4 I pop for a Ether Dream DAC....do you plan on supporting the Riya DAC....which I have ??? Is the Riya DAC a 64Bit unit ?? Thanx. Beam out

I have sent a request to RIYA requesting information on their SDK. Their website claims they have an SDK - yet it is not published - you have to contact them to get more information. I contacted them several weeks ago and have not heard anything. It might help for RIYA customers to contact them separately to let them know there is software hoping to use their DACs.

im not sure if its just me but im having trouble saving to ilda files i either get 0 frames (0k file)or only 1 frame(80k ish)

another small unrelated issue is on pc you need to save the file with the extensions its easy enough to change manual but the software should save the .ild extension automatically

I am not able to reproduce the issue with saving ILDA frames. I have both a Windows 10 machine and a Windows 7 machine - and it works fine on both. I do not doubt there is an issue, I just need to figure out a way to reproduce the issue so I can investigate.

Regarding the .ild extension, yup that is a small overseight- but for now, just make sure to manually add the .ild extension to the file when you name it.