Making shapes using midi keyboard.

[Oksenbrutus]

I'm wondering if it is possible to make random shapes by playing on a midi keyboard, if it is, then this is probably posted the wrong place, but I hope someone will tell me how anyway, if it is not, then thats my idea for the future=)

[Karl DD]

Not yet, but nice idea!
There is a mode in type-shapes to use the PC keyboard to create shapes.
Any thoughts how this would work ideally?
Some relationship between the sound and visual would work well I think.

[Oksenbrutus]

Would be nice with some sort of relationship between the two yes, not really sure how.

Maybe something like:

soft/calm sound = round/organic shapes

intense/energetic sound = hard/jagged shapes

low volume/high volume = small/large shape

Just some ideas, not really sure, don't know much about programming and what is possible, or how most people relate sound and shapes to each other, but at least that is some ideas, if you wan't more tell me and I will try to think of something. The relationship between sound and shapes is very exciting imo, but also very difficult and something I know to little about really, hehe.

[Karl DD]

Little slow getting to this but...

With a MIDI keyboard I believe you can get data on the key and the pressure.
So the key data could be used to determine the tone of the sound, and perhaps you could decide if the sound is harmonious like a chord or off sounding.
The pressure could be mapped to the size of the shapes or the colour.

So given that info what do you think?

[DV8]

I was thinking something along these same lines but thought it would be wonderful to use in a live DJ/VJ show where the music could interact with Alchemy some what like a visual Equalizer. yet the Dj would still have control of the types of effects and shapes used. Also, possibly a random option. I think the coolest part of the idea would be if you could set a time limit that the image drawn would stay visible, then fade out completely. So there would be a sequence of vector images always changing and interacting with the music. kinda like a vector fractal for lack of better words. Maybe a BPM module would work well with this idea also.

Another similar idea would be to have a module to create layers like photoshop. Save individual layers and import them into Flash and animate till your hearts content.

[totti1345]

Hi guys I am new here. I don't know a whole about Alchemy but I love using painter for doing concept design but this software has some great potential. I have always dreamed of having a software that would work in conjunction with my synthesizer and midi pad. This would be an awesome feature, and as far as which shapes with what sounds maybe just have a deal where you can program it to what you want?

[shaggy]

I posted something in the other forum (probably the wrong forum) about using the frequency of the input sound.
I think this might work better than straight midi input,

although there is the possibility of control change input in addition to the keys,

here's a quick explanation of control change for the programmers:
there are 127 control change numbers, these are usually assigned to knobs (ie: the volume knob is cc 007 I think)
each control change number has 127 values within it...so each knob / slider on a synth that uses a cc number gets 127 positions

the issue with that is that the 127 values for each knob are seen by the computer not as simple integers, but a weird progression I don't understand really...00 - 09, then 0A - 0F, then 11-19 and so on.. I'm sure the brains behind alchemy could figure it out though

also...there would have to be some option to choose a specific control, or you could just standardize it to accept input from the modwheel (cc 010 I believe), which might go against the non-clunkiness of the alchemy interface

hope that helps

[dealga]

i would love to see midi knobs and x/y pads control things like speed/opacity/brushshape/brushshape_rotation/

a mode that follows the direction of the pentool to adjust the rotation of the brushshape
a mode that unexpectedly runs out of ink