Computer music workstation: Difference between revisions

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The computer music workstation is a Dell Optiplex 755. It runs Windows Vista Business which is near EOL so halp! The [[MOTU_828| MOTU 828 mkII]] is connected to it to provide some interesting options for audio I/O. The physical box is located under the [[Plan_9| Plan 9 workstation]] and the two share a monitor, but have separate mice and keyboards.
'''THIS IS MOSTLY OBSOLETE AS OF 6/2017'''


[[File:Computer_music_workstation.jpg]]
== Hardware ==


==Specs==
The computer music workstation is the core element of [[GNAR]]. It's a PC with a [[MOTU 828]] attached via Firewire because, cheap, fast and good.


* Dual core 2.8 gHz Intel core II duo 64 bit CPU (fast)
[[File:Computer_music_workstation.jpg|512px|thumb]]
* 4 GB RAM (no ECC)
* 32 Bit Windows Vista For Business, serious business(slow) and Debian GNU/Linux "stretch"
* 160 GB 7200 RPM SATA drive (No DAW Action for us)
* 1024 GB LaCie RAID-0 external storage via Firewire 400. (slow, if you want to DAW with this fine, you might lose your magic to bitrot)
* Fancy Nvidia graphics card (Vancy visuals)
* Firewire 400 PCI card for multichannel audio interface (pro audio)
* USB Wifi networking! (that's the little white thing on the back. it blinks green.)


==Audio==
==Audio==


There was a Denon home theater receiver on the hackshelves. I appropriated it for the power amps and myriad supported inputs. The main outputs of the [[MOTU 828]] are wired to the ''STEREO CDR [Analog]'' source input of the Denon. There are some AudioChoice speakers that were on the floor by the west wing lounge. I made some custom cables and hooked them up to the ''A'' speaker output on the Denon.
There are some little desktop computer speakers connected to the main outs of the Behringer, as well as some old school over the ear headphones. If you went to public school in the 1980s you might recognize them from an AV room.


There is a mixer called a Behringer [[Eurorack MX1604A]]. It is wired up to act like a 12 channel 4 bus analog mixer with two aux sends. The PC is sort of like the "mixdown" unit but we're not building a recording studio here! So who cares? Wiring diagram forthcoming.
There is a mixer called a Behringer [[Eurorack MX1604A]]. The channels are noisy and the mute buttons need some jiggling to get full stereo output. I blame cheap switches and opamps.


Sometimes there is a [[Nord Micro Modular]] connected to the mixer. This is an excellent analog modeling synth, though the module editing interface is shit.
Sometimes there is a [[Nord Micro Modular]] connected to the mixer. It accepts audio input as signal to presets 90-99. Many of these are vocoders and amplitude modulation or envelope follower. The input it attached to the mixer aux send 1. Any channel can send signal to the Nord, including the Nord, so WATCH OUT! Feedback warning. This is an excellent analog modeling synth, though the module editing interface is shit.
 
The computer depends on JACK for all sound routing and low latency operation. With the current hardware the latency is bad, though usable for sequencers and arps. Around 60ms at 44.1khz 16 bit. The Rpi internal DAC is very noisy as is the analog mixer.
 
==Recording==
 
There is a cassette player/recorder for that vintage feel. This is the only recording device at the moment, though a desktop PC should work fine for a stereo mixdown type thing. Multitrack recording is not expected to be a feature at noisebridge, since it is not an acoustically isolated environment or spacious enough to track live studio sessions.


==Software==
==Software==
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* [http://libremusicproduction.com/articles/lv2-plugins-mixing-my-favorite-basic-plugins-zthmusic Plugins]
* [http://libremusicproduction.com/articles/lv2-plugins-mixing-my-favorite-basic-plugins-zthmusic Plugins]
* [http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/Applications:Carla Carla] (Plugin host)
* [http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/Applications:Carla Carla] (Plugin host)
* [http://bristol.sourceforge.net/ Bristol] (Analog modeling synthesizer package)
* [http://qmidiarp.sourceforge.net/ QMidiArp] step sequencer
* [http://yoshimi.sourceforge.net/ Yoshimi] is a additive/subtractive synthesizer
* [https://github.com/pichenettes?tab=repositories Mutable Instruments repositories]
* [http://mutable-instruments.net/cyclic Cyclic]
* [http://linux-sound.org/ A List of stuff], since Linux Audio is chaotic.


Much of this software can be used to create digital models of classic synthesizers. The information in the [[Modular | modular synthesizer workshop]] applies to much of what can be built here using software.
Much of this software can be used to create digital models of classic synthesizers. The information in the [[Modular | modular synthesizer workshop]] applies to much of what can be built here using software.
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==MIDI==
==MIDI==


The monitor sits next to the [[Yamaha PSR-1700]] MIDI synthesizer and sequencer. Sound output works via the headphone jack or built in speakers. MIDI in/out work. It's possible to control Sunvox from the keyboard by opening the application on the PC and clicking the mouse on a generator in Sunvox. It's also possible to send MIDI to the keyboard and play lol karaoke files.
There's an [[Akai APC40]] on the table. It is known as a controller for the popular Ableton Live software, though it can also operate in "general purpose mode" by default. This means there is also a MIDI controller with 8 addressable faders, a crossfader, 16 CC1 knobs and a big matrix of buttons that produce note on/off messages.
 
There is a little 2.5 octave MIDI keyboard. It works.


There's an Akai APC40 that's floating around. It is known as a controller for the popular Ableton Live software, though it can also operate in "general purpose mode" by default. This means there is also a MIDI controller with 8 addressable faders, a crossfader, 16 CC1 knobs and a big matrix of buttons that produce note on/off messages.
There is a [[Yamaha PSR-1700]] MIDI synthesizer on the ground. It's big and old. It has some cool sounds but weighs way too much. It uses the old 5 pin DIN MIDI plug. Sound output works via the headphone jack or built in speakers. MIDI in/out work. It's possible to control Sunvox from the keyboard by opening the application on the PC and clicking the mouse on a generator in Sunvox. It's also possible to send MIDI to the keyboard and play lol karaoke files.

Latest revision as of 15:36, 15 June 2017

THIS IS MOSTLY OBSOLETE AS OF 6/2017

Hardware[edit]

The computer music workstation is the core element of GNAR. It's a PC with a MOTU 828 attached via Firewire because, cheap, fast and good.

Computer music workstation.jpg

Audio[edit]

There are some little desktop computer speakers connected to the main outs of the Behringer, as well as some old school over the ear headphones. If you went to public school in the 1980s you might recognize them from an AV room.

There is a mixer called a Behringer Eurorack MX1604A. The channels are noisy and the mute buttons need some jiggling to get full stereo output. I blame cheap switches and opamps.

Sometimes there is a Nord Micro Modular connected to the mixer. It accepts audio input as signal to presets 90-99. Many of these are vocoders and amplitude modulation or envelope follower. The input it attached to the mixer aux send 1. Any channel can send signal to the Nord, including the Nord, so WATCH OUT! Feedback warning. This is an excellent analog modeling synth, though the module editing interface is shit.

The computer depends on JACK for all sound routing and low latency operation. With the current hardware the latency is bad, though usable for sequencers and arps. Around 60ms at 44.1khz 16 bit. The Rpi internal DAC is very noisy as is the analog mixer.

Recording[edit]

There is a cassette player/recorder for that vintage feel. This is the only recording device at the moment, though a desktop PC should work fine for a stereo mixdown type thing. Multitrack recording is not expected to be a feature at noisebridge, since it is not an acoustically isolated environment or spacious enough to track live studio sessions.

Software[edit]

Much of this software can be used to create digital models of classic synthesizers. The information in the modular synthesizer workshop applies to much of what can be built here using software.

MIDI[edit]

There's an Akai APC40 on the table. It is known as a controller for the popular Ableton Live software, though it can also operate in "general purpose mode" by default. This means there is also a MIDI controller with 8 addressable faders, a crossfader, 16 CC1 knobs and a big matrix of buttons that produce note on/off messages.

There is a little 2.5 octave MIDI keyboard. It works.

There is a Yamaha PSR-1700 MIDI synthesizer on the ground. It's big and old. It has some cool sounds but weighs way too much. It uses the old 5 pin DIN MIDI plug. Sound output works via the headphone jack or built in speakers. MIDI in/out work. It's possible to control Sunvox from the keyboard by opening the application on the PC and clicking the mouse on a generator in Sunvox. It's also possible to send MIDI to the keyboard and play lol karaoke files.