New Tool (3.4.3) MIDI Universal Controller (+ Wave Builder) v3.2 build 374 (January 2023)

Raul · May 13, 2021, 5:58pm

MIDI Universal Controller Download “Demo Version” & “Image Capture Album”:

Download the Demo Version here

MIDI Universal Controller v3.2.374 Demo (January 2023, Recent Release)

MIDI Universal Controller (Old Versions):

MIDI Universal Controller v3.1.369 Demo (January 2023)
MIDI Universal Controller v3.0.361 Demo (December 2022)
MIDI Universal Controller v2.1.344 Demo (November 2021)
MIDI Universal Controller v2.0.327 Demo (August 2021).
MIDI Universal Controller v1.2.255 Demo (July 2021). Not published.
MIDI Universal Controller v1.1.252 Demo (May 2021).
MIDI Universal Controller v1.0.245 Demo (May 2021). First Release.

Update History

MIDI Universal Controller v3.2.374 (January 2023):

Fixed: Track + DSP/Automation/Mixer: Parameters with an index greater than 35 (“Z” value) are marked with a green light when automation is enabled for the parameter editor. It is now displayed correctly with the pilot in red. In this case, these parameters are not automatable due to the limitation to 35 (1,2,3…8,9,A,B…X,Y,Z). This can occur with Multitap Delay devices, *Hydra, and other plugin effects devices with a number of parameters greater than 35.
Fixed: Sampler Waveform: Wave Builder: Changing the “Wave Banks Chooser” (list 5) does not update the Wave Builder panel of the sliders & your values. By changing this list, it should update.
Added: Sampler Waveform: Wave Builder: New waves in bank 2 (muc_waves_2.txt) have been included.
Modified: Sample Recorder: Now the “Sample Recorder” window will be displayed even if the “View/Focus Control” switch inside the “General Preferences” is disabled.
Fixed: Bottom buttons [-] [+]: the repeat loop on mouse hold could return an infinite loop when displaying a instrument plugin window that is pinned to Renoise. Now there is no loop for the mouse anymore, only for MIDI input.
Modified: Some tooltips have been modified.
Improved: Some features have been improved and polished.

MIDI Universal Controller v3.1.369 (January 2023):

Improved: Loading of all panels is now done with a short delay to speed up any changes in Renoise. This allows for much smoother loading when changing things, like navigating between instruments, plugins & so on.
Improved: Instr. Plugin: now reloads faster when there are many parameters (sliders) visible.
Fixed: Instr. Plugin: the “Plugin Sel.” list does not update its state when Renoise does not have instrument plugin detection enabled. This could cause an already loaded plug-in to be improperly loaded into an instrument slot from the “Insert” button. The criteria is: never allow to load a instrument plugin if Renoise doesn’t have plugin detection enabled.
Fixed: “Track + DSP”: the “Effect Sel.” list does not update its state when Renoise does not have effect plugin detection enabled. This could cause an already loaded plug-in to be improperly loaded into an dsp slot from the “Insert” button. The criteria is: never allow to load a effect plugin if Renoise doesn’t have plugin detection enabled.
Fixed: Sampler Waveform: Wave Builder: may return an error when loading your panel or controlling some sliders when the maximum visible number of sliders is less than 100. Now Wave Builder will always show all your sliders.
Modified: The initial popup window panel has been visually modified.
Modified: New logo style & effect.

MIDI Universal Controller v3.0.361 (December 2022):

Added: New custom routing feature for instrument plugins. It is now possible to route each parameter from the Slider Master using «Rou» mode.
Added: Instr. Plugin: new switch [Mst|Rou] to route each parameter in a customizable way, with «Rou».
Added: Instr. Plugin: The Slider Master reroute the parameter index when «Rou» is on.
Added: Instr. Plugin: The right button of the sliders for each parameter allows you to reroute the selected index of parameter in the Slider Master by pressing and holding when «Rou» is on (click to select, clic & hold to reroute).
Added: New folder «ins_plugin». It stores custom routings for each parameter for each instrument plugin.
Added: Preferences: new button «Restore Custom Routing» to restart the original index order of the parameters of the current instrument plugin.
Added: Preferences: new button «ins_plugin folder» to open it directly. This folder contains the parameter routing files of instrument plugins.
Added: Sampler Modulation: new button «As» to assign this «set modulation» to the current sample.
Added: Sampler Effects: new button «As» to assign this «FX chain» to the current sample.
Added: Pattern Editor (list functions): new function «Hide rest columns» to hide the note columns or effect columns to the right.
Fixed: Sample Waveform: Wave Builder: Initially inserting a wave could return a file load error for invalid name using «Insert» button.
Fixed: Sample Waveform: Wave Builder: The switch of «Insertion Modes» does not update the state of the sliders (maximum values), when the checkbox of «Auto Insert» is disabled. This can cause an invalid maximum value error on some sliders.
Modified: Some tooltips have been modified.
Modified: the integrated Basic User Guiide has been updated with new information.
Improved: Some of the code has been revised.

MIDI Universal Controller v2.1.344 (November 2021):

Improved: Sampler Waverform, Wave Builder: Optimized navigation via drop-down list for MIDI input. Now the presets will be loaded when the presets list panel disappears. This allows you to conveniently navigate between the different preset names from a knob or fader.
Improved: MIDI, SysEX In->Out: MIDI Output Data Send: now MUC automatically detects the connection/disconnection of devices, updating the device drop-down lists and remembering the last selection of the device that was connected.
Added: Wave Builder: more presets added.
Fixed: GUI: small visualization issues fixed when loading a panel.
Fixed: MIDI Input: some functions could be executed from MIDI input when certain graphical interface controls that control these functions were hidden.
Fixed: when turning ON the tool, the first load in the area does not load the upper icons correctly.
Improved: the renaming and saving sections of data tables for envelopes and wave presets it is now easier. Now it is possible to insert with name, overwrite existing name or delete existing name from the container TXT file.
Modified: the sliders panel of “Track + Automation” has been remodeled.
Modified: Envelope & Wave Presets: it is now possible to classify envelope and wave presets into separate text files.
Added: MIDI Mapping: new access for Slider Master Default Value.
Fixed: Hiding parameter 0 prevents negative index navigation of the Slider Master.
Added: new “Routing*” parameter for “InstrumentVolPan” device of FX Chain inside the “Sampler Effects” area.
Added: new “Plugin Properties” area.
Fixed: Instr.Plugin: the program index returns an error when it is 0 (when the plugin does not have programs). Always this index must be greater than 0 (>=1) for being a drop down list.

MIDI Universal Controller v2.0.327 (August 2021):

Added: New «Wave Builder», the magnificent audio wave generator for digital audio synthesis that works with the Renoise Sampler Waveform.
Modified: the old «Sampler Waveform» area has been updated with the name «Sample Properties».
Modified: the Wave Builder panel has been transferred to the «Sampler Waveform» area.
Added: New section to edit and save audio wave presets. Include a new folder named «waves» to save the audio wave presets and other configurations.
Modified: the Slider Master also show the parameter name when the options panel is visible.
Added: new View Value Status for «Sampler Waveform» (Wave Builder), «Sample Properties» or «Sample Recorder» area.
Fixed: Sample Properties Slice 1 to Slice 4: when loading the area this sliders erroneously moved 4 frames.
Moddified: Reordered the Options Panel.

MIDI Universal Controller v1.2.255 (July 2021):

Fixed: Sampler Keyzones/Distribyte Type: «Distribute» returns an error when the number of samples is >120.
Added: Sampler Keyzones/Distribyte Type: «88 Piano Vel». This distribution classifies the samples accumulating every 88 notes, starting from A0. You can classify up to 440 piano samples in 5 pitches (up to 5 stacked velocity ranges).
Added: new area: «Sample Recorder». Include start/stop recording button, cancel recording button and show/hide Sample Recorder window checkbox.
Moddified: «Options Panel/List Customization» updated: Area Preset B & Area Preset C.

MIDI Universal Controller v1.1.252 (May 2021):

Added: “Device Panel” of Pattern Editor/Pattern + Matrix area: new slider bar “Note End RDM”.
Moddified: “Device Panel” of Pattern Editor/Pattern + Matrix area: the slider bar “Note” is now “Note/Start RDM” (predominates over “Note End RDM”).
Added: “Edit List” of Pattern Editor/Pattern + Matrix area: new operation “Randomize Notes (RDM)”, with a range between “Note/Start RDM” & “Note End RDM”. Obey the Step Length value.
Added: “Edit List” of Pattern Editor/Pattern + Matrix area: new operation “Insert Lines (Step Length)”, will add number of lines based on switch selection (Row-Lne-Col-PtTr-Ptt-Sel) & Step Length value.
Added: “Edit List” of Pattern Editor/Pattern + Matrix area: new operation “Remove Lines (Step Length)”, will remove number of lines based on switch selection (Row-Lne-Col-PtTr-Ptt-Sel) & Step Length value.
Modified: “Edit List” of Pattern Editor/Pattern + Matrix area: the names with “Delete…” are now called “Remove…” for consistency.
Updated: “Edit List” of Options Panel/List Customization has been updated with new operations.
Updated: “Edit List” of Options Panel/List Customization: the default lists of the 3 Edit Presets (A-B-C) have been updated.
Improved: Options Panel/List Customization: the panel that contains the lists has been remodeled and rearranged to occupy less height because of the large number of operations available.
Improved: Options Panel/MIDI & SysEx In ➜ Out: the panel that contains more information can now be hidden to occupy less height. It now supports older resolution laptops that are at least 768 pixels high.
Modified: [-] & [+] bottom buttons of Pattern Editor/Pattern + Matrix area can now add or remove lines (allowing also press & hold) when edit mode is enabled.
Modified: The text of some tooltips has been updated.
Improved: some editing operations functions have been revised.

MIDI Universal Controller v1.0.245 (May 2021):

Initial Release.

How to start installing?

Download the ZIP file. Please always download & use the latest version published.
Inside is the tool in XRNX format. Install it like any other tool.
The access link is at “Renoise: Tools / ~ MIDI Universal Controller…”

Image Capture Album. A first look!

You can see much of the content of the tool by looking at the captured images. You will see that there is a lot of content there. Many things will be familiar to you! Download the album and take a look!
MIDI Universal Controller 2.0 - Image Capture Album

MIDI Universal Controller. Get the full version!

MUC is available as a Full Version, which requires a personalized user license, valued at € 20 (euros). If you are interested, please, contact the author «ulneiz» to get your personalized user license (send me a PM for more information).

Please, seriously consider supporting the development for this type of projects buying a license. Keep in mind that it takes a lot of time, effort and money to build!!!
…ulneiz

I also want to give a big thank you to all the users who are supporting the PRE tool and SMC tool. Thanks to this support, it is possible to continue developing complex tools such as MUC.

Enjoy it!

Concept of the MUC.

The MIDI Universal Controller or MUC allows you to control practically everything Renoise from the MIDI input, managing to unify the control magnificently.

Represented as a single dynamic floating window, the MUC works as a MIDI bridge between your physical MIDI devices & Renoise, controlling all operations. It offers access to a multitude of functions (navigation, transport, song characteristics, or instrument, sample, phrases, MIDI properties…), as well as unified control of all parameters (both for effects, modulation or VST/VSTi devices), editing features, automation, & other unique functions & controls not available from Renoise.

Use absolutely all of your MIDI routing for all your song projects without exception!

The MUC window. Controls distribution.

The main window is divided into 4 parts & will show a width & height determined according to the selected control area (List 1). To position it, use a strategic corner of your image monitor, or place it on a secondary image monitor. The window layout is as follows:

Top bar for internal navigation & selection of main elements.
Main device panel. Displays a multitude of sliders to control specific parameters or properties.
Bottom bar for load or remove different elements.
General button bar for transport & navigation.

How to start? Steps to MIDI Map.

As a general rule, you only need to do these steps once. The goal is to save the entire MIDI mapping somewhere. This way it will be possible to use it in a multitude of projects. Start a new project & immediately get to control the knobs, faders & buttons of your physical MIDI devices. The steps to map & save the mapping:

Go to “Renoise: Edit/Preferences…/MIDI” & make sure you have your up to 4 MIDI devices enabled.
Go to “Renoise: Tools/~MIDI Universal Controller…”. This operation will display the floating window of the MUC.
Go to “Renoise” & press “MIDI MAP” button (top right), the “MIDI Mapping” window will appear… Keep “Learn Mode” on.
Go back to the MUC window & go through each MIDI mapping by first clicking on each virtual control:
▸ Use the physical knobs, faders, or buttons on your MIDI controllers to map at least all of the most important controls of the tool window.
▸ In general, use the “absolute map mode” of the limited rotary knobs or faders for the drop-down lists.
▸ It is recommended to use the “relative map mode” of the 360° rotary knobs (if available) for all sliders.
▸ For most button or switch type controls, be sure to use physical buttons that output two MIDI push-&-release signals.
▸ Map all your physical controls strategically. Remember that you will need to do a short mental memorization exercise to associate the physical control with its corresponding virtual control.
Go to “Renoise: Song/Midi Mappings Info…”. Read & check that you have the correct mapping of all your controls.
Save all your MIDI mapping somewhere. You can do it in 3 ways:
▸ Save it inside an XRNM file. Go to “MUC: show options panel: MIDI Map & OSC/MIDI Mapping Files”.
▸ Save it in the general “Template Song”, valid to start any project. Go to “Renoise: File/Save As Template Song”.
▸ Save it in a existing “Song”, in the middle of the project. Go to “Renoise: File/Save Song As…”.

Once you have saved the MIDI mapping, you can work with all your song projects. MUC allows you to always use the same mapping universally, regardless of what items are added or removed in each song project.

On the other hand, MUC offers a bidirectional MIDI routing alternative. Access “MUC: Options Panel/MIDI & SysEx In ➜ Out”. This is especially useful for communicating with the MIDI Controller, allowing you to send raw MIDI messages or SysEx messages compatible with the MIDI controller in a custom way.

Peculiarities of the MUC.

This advanced control tool offers exclusive functions & some unique ways of handling. Thanks to its design, it is possible to control much more than Renoise via MIDI input, using far fewer physical controls. Some peculiarities:

With the window in “OFF” mode it is possible to change the Custom List 1, the Custom List 5, change MIDI mapping or access to Options Panel.
The List 1 (Area Control) and List 5 (Edit Operations) are customizable, with 3 presets (A-B-C) to choose from.
The automation switch (top bar) allows you to switch between the two automation modes with a simple click or toggle recording on/off, by press & hold.
MUC can display up to 1000 parameter sliders, useful for VST and VSTi plugins.
Customizable plugin routing! Inside «Instr. Plugin» is possible reroute each parameter of current plugin (use «Rou»). This works for every instrument plugin & is saved automatically for all sessions or song projects.
The “Slider Master” can be individually bridged with all parameter sliders (positive indexes) or all drop-down lists & transport valuebox for song operations (negative indexes).
Transport & Navigation button bar:
▸ [Stop] + [Play] buttons or [Stop + Collapse] button let you play the song from the current line or collapse only the selected track.
▸ [Stop] button will return a panic when the song is already stopped.
▸ The central switch (next to the transport valuebox), allows to switch between 6 different control song operations.
▸ The navigation buttons allow “press & hold” for repeat operations.
The “options panel” has several preferences & more information that can be turned on or off. This allows greater customization in the functions to be executed.
Inside “Pattern Editor” o “Pattern + Matrix” area the List 5 It allows to directly execute a multitude of editing functions, combining them with the 6-position switch.
Customizable device panel. It is possible to customize the distribution of the number of slide bars & number of columns, adapting to the physical MIDI controller.
The layout of the 4 main transport buttons is customizable -play, loop pattern, stop, edit mode- (1-2-3-4 Distribution), adapting to the physical MIDI controller.
It is possible to insert tracks with custom settings.
It is possible to control the Distribution Type (Sampler Keyzones) or the Keymap Distribution (Sampler Phrases), using a rotary knob or fader only.
MUC provides the ability to reproduce the sound of the instrument, sample, or phrase from a rotary knob or fader, via OSC.
MUC includes envelopes for automation. Allows you to easily save, add or modify envelope points by text editing.
MUC is bi-directional. It also allows you to send MIDI output messages (SysEx Data) to enable/disable transport or navigation buttons (LEDs) or others.
The Section “MIDI & SysEx In ➜ Out” provides an alternative to custom bidirectional MIDI routing. Use it to gain more control of your compatible MIDI controller.

Peculiarities of the «Wave Builder».

The «Wave Builder» is a charismatic audio wave generator for digital audio synthesis. Works with Renoise’s Waveform Sampler:

It uses specific mathematical formulas and variables controllable by means of sliders to construct audio waves of different kinds.
It offers 9 blocks of audio waves with 10 parameters each (Wavetable, No. Samples, Period, Amplitude, H Dephase, V Displace, Fade In/Out, Reverse, Channel L+R, Random Noise).
Includes more than 30 types of calculated audio wavetables that can be modified or combined.
Includes a Custom FS wavetable with the possibility of manually or randomly setting up to 20 harmonic values with various mathematical formulas.
The blocks can be added in series, one after the other, or added together to generate combined audio waves.
There are 5 different insert modes. This will add endless possibilities.
It includes some post-processing parameters that affect the final resulting wave.
Wave Builder allows you to save and load audio wave profiles, without limits.
Basically an audio wave preset saves settings for 5 features:
1. The values of the parameters of all the sliders.
2. The «Insertion Mode» (remember that there are 5 modes).
3. The editable name of the audio wave preset.
4. The Custom Harmonics values for Wave Custom Fourier Series.
5. And also, all the Sample Properties (Volumne, Panning, Transpose… Loop, NNA, Playback, etc.).
When inserting a preset from the drop-down list, the loading of the sample properties can be disabled from Preferences.
Of course, all parameters are controllable via a USB MIDI controller or from the mouse.
All wave presets are saved using tables in a single editable text file (.TXT). In this way, it is very easy to share everything with your friends.

Using the Wave Builder is the first step to using the sample Modulation Sets and Effects Chains. It allows full creativity from the start, without the need to load WAV or FLAC audio files.
In addition, it will help you learn how sound synthesis actually works, gaining a deeper insight into how to create the foundation for new sounds.

Also, MIDI Universal Controller offers some exclusive MIDI operations that are not available from Renoise, such as being able to change “presets” in the effects devices, or change “programs” in the plugins, & MIDI access to some specific parameters, such as the “Routing”, “Delay”, “Colors RGB”, “Color Blend” of the tracks, the “Track Headroom” parameter, or the main volume of different elements (song, tracks, instruments, plugins, samples, phrases…). This allows for faster & more direct control.

Use the MUC as a powerful interconnected network of controls for true MIDI control more easy, whether for any modest physical MIDI controller or a sophisticated mix of high-end MIDI controllers!

Raul · May 24, 2021, 4:26pm

I am pleased to inform you that I have just released the new MUC v1.1 build 252.
You can download the MIDI Universal Controller tool in the first post, here.

You can read all the news in the Update History (be sure to unhide the list to read it!).

This new version adds some editing operations, among other things, and improves parts of the options panel to contain its maximum height. In this way MUC can also be used on screens with a minimum of 768 pixels, typical of older laptops.

It is now possible to insert or remove lines in various ways, even affecting one column, all columns, the entire pattern, or even the selection in the pattern.

Another interesting editing operation is the randomization of notes. The range is defined by two sliding bars, and the jump is defined by the Step Length value. Note randomization has always been a streamlined way to try new things with the melodies in the sequence.

Remember that everything is accessible from the MIDI input of the MUC tool. Execute dozens of operations from your MIDI controller!

Raul · July 22, 2021, 7:55am

Hi guys!
For those users who already have their personalized use license of MUC, I have very good news…

I am developing an audio wave generator that will be perfectly integrated into the MUC. This, in addition to allowing you to build audio waves “from scratch”, will be controllable via MIDI input. Therefore, from your USB MIDI controller you can also build new audio waves.

This will take some time, but I am really enjoying programming this kind of thing!

It is likely that before I launch a new version with a few more additions that have nothing to do with the wave generator.

As always, enjoy this tool!

Raul · August 3, 2021, 10:09am

MUC welcomes Wave Builder

MUC welcomes Wave Builder, a charismatic audio wave generator for digital sound synthesis to work with the Renoise Waveform panel!

This new tool allows you to create and save audio wave profiles that can be manipulated by wave blocks, solving series of blocks (series), adding blocks (summation) or obtaining series of summing blocks; a total of 5 ways to combine blocks.
Wave Builder provides 9 blocks with up to 10 individual parameters each to control, and some post-processing functions.
All this allows you to build audio waves in a sophisticated way instantly.
As you may have gleaned, Wave Builder is integrated into the MUC. Therefore, all its controls can be controlled by means of a USB MIDI controller, or obviously by means of the mouse.

Crude example audio wave

Here is a crude example of a possible resulting audio wave:

Wave Builder allows you to insert and manipulate different types of audio waves.

Viewing a single image of the result, you can deduce the level of manipulation of each segment of the entire resulting wave. Stretch, compress, amplify, twist with fade in / out, add silences, and use all the most common and some unique types of audio waves to combine them together, or create new waves by combining them.

Wave Builder will be available in the next version of the MUC. As always, thanks to users for obtaining a license from the MUC! If they can get it, you can too!

These types of tools are a continuous and desired support to the Renoise project. Keep using this software guys!

Raul · August 27, 2021, 1:46pm

New version for MUC: 2.0.327

I am pleased to inform you that I have just released the new MUC v2.0 build 327, you know, ready to go back to school!!!
You can download the MIDI Universal Controller tool in the first post, here.

There are several things to explain here, as the new version is packed with new features and a new included tool for audio synthesis.

First of all, v2.0 finally includes the Wave Builder. This new super module is a perfectly integrated tool within the MUC. It is like a wave generator but construction oriented. Generally, a “generator” allows you to form a specific wave and then allows you to shape or add effects throughout it. However, a “constructor”, such as the Wave Bulider, allows the resulting audio wave to be built in chunks, making it possible to modify each chunk or segment precisely. With the inclusion of 9 blocks or segments to manipulate, with 10 parameters each, in addition to 10 global parameters, more than 30 wavetables and more than 40 demo preset profiles, the composer will have a jewel ready to create audio waves and modify or expand more audio wave profiles, forming a succulent tool for understanding and creating digital audio synthesis.

Do you want to know more? Well, look at this: More of Wave Builder

Wave Builder has been one of the primary pieces of the MUC. Before I started programming the first lines of code, I had already planned to add it. In fact, much of the design of the MUC, with those sliding bar panels, is based on the Wave Bulider. Therefore, I never considered the MUC “finished” until today.

On the other hand, the previous version 1.2.255 of MUC was never published. This was because I was immersed in creating Wave Builder, and did not have time to move so many files to the server and other tasks to publish by the time I finished this version. But it doesn’t matter, because all the improvements / additions are in version 2.0.

You have the demo version to test. Remember that the demo version adds sound artifacts in the audio waves, but it is fully functional. Get a custom license to get clean sounds without artifacts.

You can see all the update history here (at least the summary points): Update History.

Remember, again, that everything is accessible from the MIDI input of the MUC tool. Execute dozens of operations from your MIDI controller!

Acknowledgments!
I would like to thank the users (they already know who they are) who have helped me behind closed doors to improve the MUC, mainly by allowing the addition of Wave Builder. Thanks for your advice and opinions.
These types of tools are created to support the Renoise project, so that it continues to live and for the entire community of users, providing useful and creative tools, at the same time that they allow to continue learning, patiently and calmly.
Thank you very much for your support to the developers!
…ulneiz

As always, enjoy it!

Neuro_No_Neuro · August 28, 2021, 2:05pm

OK, gonna help bring this up to the top of the forum -

So, if you all remember when I was posting a set of sound generators for the Renoise system here: The MOTHERLODE of Sample Generators

Well, I’m going to also say that MIDI Universal Controller + Wave Builder is something you’re going to need. Not only is it a Universal Controller (to control as many Renoise parameters as possible), but it’s now a sound generator. The Wave Builder is going to give you a literal TON of possibilities to generate all sorts of sounds, and different than the ones I had mentioned before. Not only will you get the typical 'bread ‘n butter’ sounds of analog synthesis, but you’ll get an incredible amount of FM (varying types, not just simple 2-OP), and even Fourier synthesis sounds.

On top of this, you can actually SAVE the formula(s) you are using to build them. So, generate all kinds of sounds, save the formula to come back to it later on, and get crackin’ on making new sounds for your sampler!

Of the incredible things the Wave Builder can do, one that is most mentionable is that you can get near-immediate updates to the sound as you drag the sliders. So, when you finally have that abstract sound you’ve been working on, you can then fiddle with the sliders even more to make those fine adjustments. This is not an ordinary synthesizer, so support @Raul’s hard work and get this beast of a Tool!

unconventionalmauric · August 31, 2021, 12:11am

Hey I was actually testing the demo after you said this, but could you explain how the wave builder can create FM sounds I haven’t been able to find where it is. This tool is like loaded with parameters. Which is a good thing, but I think I am gonna need way longer than 30 minutes to figure out how this works.

Neuro_No_Neuro · August 31, 2021, 1:21am

Takes quite a few steps

Turn Tool to “ON”
In first drop-down menu, select “Sampler Waveform”
Big honkin’ window should open up, looks like this:

In the Sampler Waveform screen (behind the big honkin’ window), you should see some sort of waveform. This can be changed with the slider that says “Wavetable 1*”. You’ll then see every kind of waveform that this synth can make. Set the waveform to ‘loop’ (in the Sampler Waveform screen), and you’ll hear them by holding down any keyboard key that acts as a ‘piano’ keyboard (or MIDI keyboard key).

Above that first slider, you’ll see a set of formula(s), each one does a different thing depending on how many wavetables you have running. Hover over them to see what they can do, and how they affect the sound.

Check out the descriptions provided by Raul here, titled “More of Wave Builder”:

Also, you can do some custom waveform designs via this window here:

You can get there by clicking the ‘gear’ icon in the upper-right corner. On this screenshot, look in the bottom-left corner and you’ll see “Harmonics for the Wave Fourier Series”, and under the heading “Custom Harmonics”, you can create custom waveforms with varying harmonic series. This can be heard by going back to the screenshot you’ve seen posted above, and moving the “Wavetable 1*” completely to the right, selecting “Custom FS”.

For some of the more FM sounds you’re looking for, many of the wavetable selections are basic FM waveforms. By adding another wavetable, you’ll be able to modulate the waveform in various ways. Pick the ‘Sigma’ symbol (third modulation method of 5) and you’ll be able to modulate the waveforms in so many ways, it’ll knock your socks off.

Hope this helps a little. It’s really going to take significant effort and exploration to get the most out of this Tool.

unconventionalmauric · August 31, 2021, 2:00am

Gotcha thanks

Jek · August 31, 2021, 2:49am

Ah this is cool, like some of these presets! ‘Abduction’ sounds really good at lower octaves.
Untitled

Raul · August 31, 2021, 8:14am

@Jek. If you want to hear the “final real sound” that the creator of the preset has desired, you must access the next panel and check the box “Load Sample Properties …” (this will also load all the changes saved in the preset related to the "Sample Properties "), but keep in mind that you have it activated:

Next, go to the “Wave Sel” popup, and select a different preset, and select “Abduction” again. Listen again. You will see that the previous resulting sound is totally different from the current one.

Remember that you can name and save any preset to use in future song projects. For example, here I have created a new preset called “Organ 2”:

{1.45,1680.00,280.62,3.20,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1.45,1680.00,560.00,3.80,577.92,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1.00,1680.00,24.77,7.80,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1.00,1680.00,42.31,12.80,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1.00,1680.00,100.00,16.60,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1680.00,168.00,75.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1680.00,168.00,75.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1680.00,168.00,75.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1680.00,168.00,75.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,30.99,2.00,1.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,1.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,3.00,16,16,25,20,1,968.51,547.86,896.71,462.23,541.22,421.24,562.71,146.31,584.29,583.86,927.61,690.15,890.99,227.04,113.53,334.31,76.75,190.87,233.24,518.33,0.5,0,0,0,16,1,3,0,2,0,0,0,0,2,0,1,50400,1,Organ 2}

You can simply copy the table and paste it into the muc_waves.txt file (between any position in existing tables) that is inside the waves folder and save the text file. It will then appear in the “Wave Sel.” list for audio wave presets.

Therefore, you can share among yourselves these tables that define each preset or the entire muc_waves.txt file. For example, if you want another composer friend to get the same sound you are using.

@unconventionalmauric. Although this panel shows 100 sliders in total. There are really only 20 different parameter sliders. You will see that it has 9 segments or blocks numbered from 1 to 9 with 10 identical parameters. When you understand what each of these 20 different parameters does, you will understand Wave Builder well, leaving aside all the extra functions that it currently has. Later you will be able to navigate on the “Envelopes, Waves” tab and play with all the additional parameters of the “Wave Builder” section.

Raul · August 31, 2021, 8:37am

“Load Sample Properties…” checkbox

The Sample Properties are the next parameters (a total of 17 different parameters):

The “Load Sample Properties…” checkbox is important:

Activating the “Load Sample Properties…” checkbox is suitable for loading already created presets.

But if you are creating new content, that is, a preset that you want to save for future projects or you are experimenting to achieve a new surprising sound texture or timbre, it is advisable to deactivate this checkbox. The act of saving the preset with a new name will always save all additional parameters related to the sample properties, regardless of this checkbox.

In any case, you must bear in mind whether this checkbox is activated or not. You may be interested in trying another preset with the configuration of the sample properties of another preset, for example.

Raul · August 31, 2021, 8:51am

@Jek…
Screen Shot 2021-08-30 at 6.07.00 PM
If you want to obtain a specific distribution of sliders and columns equal to the one used by @Neuro_No_Neuro (which is the most advisable), go to the following panel:

Change the distribution of “Sliders x Columns” with 10 x 3 and press the “Apply” button. Then select the “Sample Waveform” area again to return to the “Wave Builder” panel.

Jek · August 31, 2021, 11:52pm

Thanks, looks much better this way!

Jek · September 24, 2021, 6:17pm

Wanna take a moment to say ‘Thanks’ and let you know how ‘Totally Awesome’ MUC is!!

Just got an Akai Midimix and it took all of ten minutes to unbox it and get this electric piano
mapped up to the controller, it was a piece of cake. MUC instantly and automagically discovered
all of the parameters of the VSTi …then by simply pressing MIDI Learn and wiggling a slider on the
controller …stuff got mapped! Its so great, exactly what I hoped for thanks so much!

Untitled

Raul · September 24, 2021, 6:31pm

@Jek, I like that you like it. Soon I will release another new version!

jachy · October 15, 2021, 6:29pm

This looks very very nice but I don’t fully get it. Would this be possible:

Mapping my controller’s slider 1 to panning (GroupTrackVolPan)
Then mapping the same slider 1 to some EQ lowpass filter.

When I change to GroupTrackVolPan I could change panning with slider 1 and when changed to this EQ plugin, I could change lowpass filter with slider 1. It seems that I choose can’t select what parameters I can map with certain sliders. In GroupTrackVolPan the panning is the first parameter. Am I forced to use my slider 1 to that or could I use sometimes slider 5 to parameter 1? Do you get my point? Seems that I can only map one instrument or fx right and then it messes up all my other mappings. I really can’t change the order of parameters.

Other thing. Is it possible that MUC would focus into what plugin I’m using? When I would have this EQ plugin open/focused it would use all the mapping of EQ plugin. This would be perfect!

Raul · October 15, 2021, 8:27pm

I understand, in fact MUC is programmed for this, precisely: it controls a lot of parameters with very few physical knobs.

I will try to briefly explain the MUC control to understand the concept, clarifying several points:

Range of values of a parameter. Each parameter has a specific range of values. This range can be small, or very high. This directly influences the control of each parameter. A slider or a limited turning wheel (travel limited from 0 to 127 values) is not the same as an infinite turning wheel (no travel limit). The best physical control is always the unlimited spinning knob!
Ordered distribution of parameters. Each Renoise device, be it an effect chain or modulation device, or a VSTi plug-in, has a certain number of parameters, which will always have the same order, always starting with the index “1”.
MIDI mapping. Look at your MIDI controller, having 8 physical controls, for example. Mentally, you number your sliders (or wheels), starting with 1: 1,2,3 … 8. Map each of these controls to the first 8 parameters respecting the order.
Navigation. With the drop-down lists on the top bar of the MUC, you can previously select which device you want to control. All MUC controls are MIDI mappable. Select the desired device first. Then you control the parameter with the sliders or knobs.
Direct control with Sliders 1,2,3…8…. Slider 1 will always control the first parameter of the selected device (of any device). Slider 2 will always control the second parameter of any device … Slider 8 will always control the eighth parameter of any device. This way of controlling is especially useful for a MIDI Controller with multiple physical knobs or for several MIDI controllers, strategically routed.
Indirect control with “Slider Master” + two buttons. Now, MUC also has the Slider Master (top right), which is a great control. This slider has two buttons to its right to change the parameter index (and other negative value indexes, for navigation for example). By mapping this slider and its two buttons, you can control all the parameters you want. With these buttons you will only have to change the index of the parameter previously. That is, with only 3 MIDI mappings, (1 slider + 2 buttons) you can control any parameter! This is especially useful for USB MIDI controllers with few physical controls. Also suitable for reaching very high index parameters, for example.

For more information, MUC has a basic guide in the options panel (upper right button). Then go to the last tab on the right, in About MUC and Guide. Here you can complete the information.

…

MUC is probably the best MIDI routing tool available for Renoise, intended for any MIDI controllers, especially effective for MIDI controllers with infinite spin wheels (by turning the wheel continuously, it is possible to control a very high range of values.). If you understand how to navigate from the tool first (change area, change device … etc.), You will quickly understand the routing of the parameters and all the control.

Basically the top part of the tool is for navigation. Move there! The main drop-down list is the first (top left), Area Chooser (then change the rest of the drop-down lists). Depending on the work area, you can control one type of device or another. Select “Instr. Plugin” first, and you can control your VSTi Plugin device (all parameters supported).

Most VST / VSTi plug-ins do not allow direct MIDI routing. They are not programmed for it. MUC allows to unify the control of the parameters of all the plugins. Map your MIDI controller once, save the mapping, and control everything the same way, every time, for any session.

jachy · October 15, 2021, 8:46pm

Thanks for explanation.

Well, it seems that MUC is very near being very powerful midi beast. But it’s too bad If I always must use faders 1-8 to change parameters 1-8 instead of having freedom to map them individually to any parameter for every plugin and instrument. Then it would be magical!

Slider Master is only giving me one parameter at once. That’s slow and cumbersome. And you still can’t choose an order of parameters. Some plugins have bad default parameter order.

Raul · October 15, 2021, 9:33pm

I thought about this possibility but ruled it out given its great magnitude.

If each slider were variable routing, the global control for the user would be chaos, as well as being able to have cross indexes. You would waste a lot of time routing, memorizing, adjusting indices, and remembering your settings from the last session (the tool would remember it, but would the user remember it too?). Unless you only intend to control a single parameter with only a single slider and you actually control very few parameters. Also keep in mind that devices may or may not exist.

In addition, this tool is also designed to work with the hidden MUC window (the user can see the panel he is controlling in Renoise).

The idea is something like this: that a sliding bar always controls the same type of parameter, for example the panorama, regardless of the device, previously reindexed by the user. That is, each slide bar has a variable index and the tool remembers it according to the selected device. This is feasible with few parameters, but not with many of them.

After all, what you are proposing is that all the 1,2,3,4 … sliders behave the same as the master slider (but remembering the index for each device). This implies that the user should reassign a new index to each slider, and the tool should keep it, allowing the parameter name, range and value to be changed. Although this can be programmed, it is very tedious because there are hundreds of parameters, probably feasible for Renoise devices, but not for plugins…

Of course, it is a complicated subject but interesting!