Well, OSC seems to have two usage scenarios:
- An external remote control program compatible with OSC.
- Directly from a script tool (something like “integrated” into Renoise).
I have used it several times to program several tools, basically to control the notes, (trigger note_on note_off).The reason is because there is no choice but to use OSC to be able to play the notes from the tool.There is no other way yet. Some examples:
- A virtual piano to record notes with mouse clicks (and sound).
- A chord trigger.
- A step sequencer of 32 steps.
- A trigger of multiple notes, (or multiple phrases).
All these tools use these 2 things ( trigger/ note_on() or note_off()):
---- Realtime Messages
/renoise/trigger/note_on ( instr(int32/64), track(int32/64), note(int32/64), velocity(int32/64) )
/renoise/trigger/note_off( instr(int32/64), track(int32/64), note(int32/64) )
The only real practical problem that I have detected is the synchronization of what you intend to play with the tool adjusted to the playback of the song, with the progress of the pattern editor, since it could be useful for live recording.This, unfortunately, is aggravated by the use of VSTi’s, which for some reason does not work well with Renoise (at least the 64-bit version with Windows). I’m sure Taktik will review all this at some point, because it does not work properly (VSTi + tools + Renoise = problems).
But, despite these drawbacks, the use of OSC is the closest thing to what can make a tool fun. Most available tools are made to manipulate data here and there, they can be useful, but tremendously boring. With OSC you make “the tool sound”.
However, I find it useful to use OSC for a tool. Because the tool is together with Renoise. You see it with your eyes, and you know what you are doing.Through an external program, remotely, I find it difficult to imagine how to use the OSC for a specific control. That is, if you do not visually see what happens in the Renoise window, it seems that you lose control.
If, in addition, configuring OSC from a remote program unrelated to Renoise implies following certain rules or guidelines that even cost to understand or simply costs some time to apply, its use will be reduced to very few interested people. Nowadays, everyone wants things very fast and uncomplicated, easy to manage. Only people who are dedicated and eager to experiment will actually use OSC.
From my point of view, it is something too complicated that only a few have taken advantage of it. In the end it all comes down to “ease of use”.
Having said all this, I would prefer Renoise to have an API capable of offering sound control, specifically what it can execute in real time, without forcing the user to have to activate OSC.
If we analyze most scenarios, Renoise alone is already quite complex software to control in its entirety. Adding remote control through OSC may seem great, just like Rewire. But do people really use it in depth?I can not imagine having to use two DAWs to compose a song through Renoise. Similarly, if MIDI In control exists,It is strange to use OSC to control certain basic parts of Renoise, such as play, stop or similar.
In the end, using OSC remotely seems to be reduced to an experimental scenario, rather than something really useful or habitual to use.