For Max/MSP, Reaktor, … or other OSC compatible software users
Open Sound Control (OSC) Logo
Are you interested in making your own software, Max/MSP or Reaktor patches that work with the AudioCubes?
You can take advantage of cube location, orientation and sensor distance information to create completely new ways of generating sound, music or visuals.
You can download the free OSC server for AudioCubes at our free software download page for AudioCubes and get started immediately. The OSC server is an application that sends Open Sound Control (OSC) messages to any software or hardware device.
OSC is a new standard which aims to replace MIDI, which has been around since the 80ies and is the standard way of communication between musical instruments (note that there is also an application for AudioCubes called MIDIBridge that you can use to make AudioCubes work with any MIDI compatible hardware or software).
Detecting cube location and orientation
The OSC server gives you cube location and orientation, for up to 16 cubes per USB port. When a cube location is changed or a cube changes orientation, an update message is automatically sent by the OSC Server. In Max/MSP (or PD) you can use the udpsend and udpreceive object to send and receive these OSC messages, and to communicate with the OSC server. See this example video of a Max/MSP patch that generates MIDI notes depending on the placement and orientation of the AudioCubes:
Using sensor distance information from the cubes
The OSC server is capable of sending sensor update messages to your favourite application supporting OSC, such that you can use these to control effects or instrument parameters. You can even get sensor updates via the network of cubes.
The video below gives you an idea of what you can do with just one AudioCube and a synthesis patch where the 4 sides of the cube are mapped to 4 parameters of the sound. With just two hands you can create impressive evolving sounds.
Changing colours for cubes via the network
It’s possible to send colour change messages from Max/MSP (or other software) via OSC to the OSC Server, which will then forward the messages to the network of AudioCubes. The AudioCubes are capable of passing messages around, such that you can change colours for any cube no matter where it is located in the network.
This is used in the videos above to automatically assign cubes a colour the first time you place them in the network.
Working with multiple computers in installations
Because OSC works over the network, you can even set up your laptop with cubes on one side of the stage and set up the computer that creates sound or visuals on the other side of the stage, as long as both computers are on the same (wireless) network, for example. It’s a great way to communicate between hardware and software.
More information about the OSC server for AudioCubes
Do you want to find out more about the OSC server? Check out the manuals at http://manuals.percussa.com/ and send us an email if you have any questions.
For C/C++, Ruby, Python, Java, … software developers
Are you working on software for which you need direct access to the AudioCubes hardware? for example, you’d like to support AudioCubes directly in your VST synth or effect? Do you want to make your cubes work with your application without needing to run the OSC server or MIDIBridge software by Percussa?
Do you want to use the AudioCubes interface for a completely new application? For example, computer games? Do you want to make the AudioCubes work with your iPad or iPhone application?
Do you want to save yourself years of development and research and just get started building software that takes advantage of the unique possibilities of tangible interfaces?
You can use our C/C++ development kit (libcube library) available for download from our downloads page here. This is a static library that you can use in your C/C++ project and that lets you communicate directly with the AudioCubes hardware. It has the same functionality as the OSC server except that this way you can include the code into your own standalone application.
Even though we don’t provide Ruby or Python or other programming language libraries out of the box, it’s straightforward to create a package for these languages based on our static library. If you are working on something like this let us know so we can add a link to your project page!
Questions?
If you have a question about the software, what option to pick or how to build your application for AudioCubes, please send us an email. Always happy to help!
