fresh approach on DAW Controller

[Lifer]

I too long for a plugin controller like this one. Its ideal..well done!
I think it is similar to the screens on the Studer Vista console? Perhaps it is their patent?
Anyone able to put one of these into production would make a KILLING! Especially if it had something similar to Automap.. its what Digidesign has needed to make for a long time..shame they prob never will..

[Mazaga]

Muito bom Paulo....
Se rolar um group buy eu to dentro!
Onde é seu estudio em SP?
Abç
M.

[thedommer]

Id buy that. thats amazing and what I've always wanted. touch screen is lame but knobs on a template that is always changing as needed is awesome. retaining the look and feel of the actual plugin so the learning curve between finding where the heck all the parameters are on an external controller is nil is freakin awesome. plus because its not touch screen it wouldn't be insanely priced. This is far superior to automap because you can retain the look and general placement of the different parameters. automap could be used for when there is no designed template.

[Brad McGowan]

Originally Posted by thedommer

This is far superior to automap because you can retain the look and general placement of the different parameters. automap could be used for when there is no designed template.

Automap could be integrated with this kind of idea. Automap is merely software that allows you to map plugin parameters to digital encoders. So it would tie in nicely with what Paulo has come up with. My suggestion is for Paulo to team up with Novation to create Automap 4.0 and a next generation control surface like he has demonstrated.

Brad

[Fidelis]

Olá Paulo,

gostaria de conhecer isto de perto. Onde vc está em SP? Por favor me mande um email com seu tel para eu entrar em contato. mosca@me.com

Parabéns pelo trabalho!

[Paulo Egidio]

Originally Posted by mim

I would definitely purchase one, Cubase4/reaper PC.

some questions :

1) will you ship the software to create the adapted plugin for the plugin controler's screen ?

2) will this be a "standalone" version (without the touchscreen) ?

3) is it possible to change the inserts (remove/add) of the selected track directly from the plugin controller ?

Bravo again,

I'm always confident to brazilian people since I know "Os mutantes"

mim

Please keep in mind that I am still investingating "the patent problem".
Now, supposing that I could sell something to someone, and of course that I am speaking only for the "prototype" version. If there would be an retail version, that would be another thing...

1) Of course!
2) I think there's more people interested in the plugin controller than in the touch screen. However, you'll get the touchscreen software for free. I imagine that I would think of a way to use only the plugin controller.
3) I didn't do that. I don't remember why know, but I think it's feasible. However, you'll need the touchscreen for to do that. That would work just like choosing a send destination (look at the movie!)
4) You should hear also "14 bis" and "O terço". That's also good stuff!

5) More important: I think that you people are somehow "backing me up". I will try to do everything to make everyone happy. I don't know if I would have the time and money to do it, but I'll definitely try!

Paulo

[Paulo Egidio]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

Automap could be integrated with this kind of idea. Automap is merely software that allows you to map plugin parameters to digital encoders. So it would tie in nicely with what Paulo has come up with. My suggestion is for Paulo to team up with Novation to create Automap 4.0 and a next generation control surface like he has demonstrated.

Brad

"Automap" here would be very simple to do. But it will be just labeling; The practical part is to get accurately the values on the dials. If a dial shows 400Hz it should be 400 and not 250!

I don't think that can be seen at the movie, but when you'll change something within the plugin controller, the VALUE is displayed at the right and a little below the encoder. That does not work for the waves plugins (the waves plgin midi controller implementation is not exactly a good one). But it works great for all uad and sonnox.

HOWEVER: The most important part of this is that it would be much simpler to do an database of .dragon files, each for a different plugin.

I usually take 5 to 10 minutes to create one. And the most hard working part is to create the background bitmap.

Perhaps vst 3 has some modifications to improve this.

Paulo

[Brad McGowan]

What you have created is in a sense your own version of Novation's Automap. I'm suggesting you team up with them and combine forces to improve upon it.

I think the ability to change inserts from the plugin controller via touchscreen would be a very powerful thing. You could then truly mix with an MCU and your pluugin controller.

Brad

[nick303]

Great work Paulo. Like most others so far, I think the plugin controller is the way to go! I've actually got a BCR2000 that hasn't been used in a while... perhaps there's hope for it still :) Keep us posted!

[D K]

Terrific stuff Paulo - i would definitely be in for this plugin controller

gearslutz - here is a smart "small" guy innovating his ass off !

With all the juice on this board - How about some of the "bigger more industry connected types" that hang around here help this guy make this happen?

The replies here cement he has the product and the market

I would hate to see somebody take his ideas and hardwork and beat him to the market by simply outspending him,

You already know what he needs...MONEY!

If I had it and could invest it I would be all over this thing...

[jkrummri]

I would not undersell the Touch Screen
I think some people as well as my self are not grasping the whole interface.

Going off of the video it could be a little overwhelming. If you did shorter more focused videos I think People would get a better idea what you have done. As far as I know you are the first private person to really use the Steinberg SDK. You seem to be getting the same feedback from Cubase that Euphonix is getting with EuCon. Pretty dam impressive if you ask me. You have really done the hard part the Program Coding, Debugging and the Interface Design. The look of interface that some people have said they do not like, I pretty sure could be changed (with just a bit of pain). By no means am I telling you to change the way it looks. You have some serious program interfacing going on. I just wanted to point out don’t go by the look of the interface.

My Self I would Pay for the Software alone.

You could have people DIY there own Hardware or use there own If you would make a Version that would fit good on a 7 to 10in Touch Screen it could really open things up.
I have just bought a Tascam M 3500 to Mod. I am going to put a 7in Touch Screen in the blank space where the automation controller would go on a M 3700. I will be able to Switch between my flash Interface, RME total Mix and Video Feed on the Touch Screen.
I Not meaning to get off topic. I just can think of so many applications for what you have done.

Keep it Up

[drakem]

Hi Paulo

Its just brilliant!!.
´m in for 2 of the plugins controllers. And I´m sitting on MC5 Pro.....but your thing is 200 times faster to get to the plugin.
Send me PM when ready to cash funds..
regards

[Kickflip]

That is amazing work! I'm very impressed. I'm another who'd love to get one into my setup. Particularly the rotaries version, but the touchscreen could be useful in there as well.

I read through the KVR thread, and I have here a suitable computer, a BCR2000 here, and a laptop that can be cannibalised (if that's possible?), and would be very interested in building my own! It seems the tricky part is the software, as I would be using it with Logic 8. I've been reading through the Logic Control MIDI spec though, looks feasible but time consuming!

[TheBoss]

Originally Posted by Paulo Egidio

It seems that the idea of using hardware buttons over an lcd screen is already patented in the USA.

I am investigating this; if this is true, I'm sorry but I could not sell anything to anybody.

However, somehow I think I got a lot of new friends :-)

Paulo

Just because there is a patent on similar technology does not mean you can't get around it. You need a real patent lawyer who understands patents. The cost is going to be around 6-10k for the patent. There are still ways to patent you're product if you have smart enough lawyer who knows how to write it up and sketch it up.

If you happen to hire cheap lawyer who has no expertise in this area and convinces you there is no way around, then you can always try contacting patent holder for licensing royalties rights of some sort of deal.

Rambus is a memory patent holder and they were collecting royalties from thousands of memory makers. Don't let a small thing like patent stop you from making you're product. Again you need to seek professional help by a professional technology/software/hardware lawyer. Lawyers have expertise in different fields. Have you found the right lawyer first? Lawyers job is to protect you and help you make the product. If they are not able to do that then they are not the right lawyers for this job. That is why it costs so much money to do this.

We are here to give you all the confidence you need to make you're dream come true and perhaps help us with ours.

[TheBoss]

Originally Posted by D K

Terrific stuff Paulo - i would definitely be in for this plugin controller

gearslutz - here is a smart "small" guy innovating his ass off !

With all the juice on this board - How about some of the "bigger more industry connected types" that hang around here help this guy make this happen?

The replies here cement he has the product and the market

I would hate to see somebody take his ideas and hardwork and beat him to the market by simply outspending him,

You already know what he needs...MONEY!

If I had it and could invest it I would be all over this thing...

I have already offered to invest in this venture so we shall see what happens.

Worse case scenario there is a way we can even open up a trust account for his security to be able to get the product done and then the money will be released to him.This will also insure him how many units he is selling before going into production. This will require someone who you guys trust to be the trust account holder. Plenty of guys here with big names who can do this for him. Again I am really trying to help him on every level possible.

If others want to partner up and believe in his product don't be shy to speak up! More importantly I think you will end up making a few bucks by investing in this venture.

If that still does not work then I am willing to hire Paulo for his expertise to help me build it and deal with all the legalities and lawsuits of it and still give him profit sharing. Again this is last option, I really hope that he can do it all on his own. I don't want you guys to think I am snatching this away from him. I will do everything possible to help him first with his own venture. Paulo you should have absolutely no reason to not make the product with all the options you have now. :)

[Clairaudience]

Hi! First of all – great work Paulo!

I was into this a year ago, trying to figure out how some type of controller could be made to suit my needs. The "project" started out as an idea, but it basically got down to theoretically "pairing" the current technologies that was/is available. As a proffessional recording engineer, issues such as workflow, reliablility, touch vs. multi-touch, touch vs. encoders, platforms, programming, new software/hardware features, design, serviceability, etc., was being formulated, developed and taken into account.

Knowing the full potential of such a controller for the home- and project-sized studios in the music biz, I decided to contact the DISPLAX company to make a co-joined effort in the development of this new product (or rather my two product solutions). They did show some interest, but was more into the development of consumer products. I can see that you follow along the same lines and might consider some commercial aspects.

I was just unfortunate and realized that even though I had a great plan with a fairly early timing, things are getting complicated when you really want to go for it on a comercially level! I just couldn't lift the task and manage it on my own and I'm not sure I possess the necesary skills to sell the idea! There was also the intellectual property issue. Patents, existing patents, etc.

Look around you... Thing are moving much faster than you'd realize! Your solution with the encoders on the screen is actually the Studer Vistonics TFT concept. Plz don't even go near the concept of dabbling with a mixer/console-thing composed of 8- or 12-channel bays. Let Devil Technologies, Digidesign, Euphonix, etc. do what they think they do best...

Now I realize that you must think I'm discouraging you, but I'm not! We need more of your kind! There IS a market for it! You just have to fill a niche with your product and you are on the right track!

I wonder how far you will go with this? I also wonder what would/could happen if we joined forces?

Best regards

-M

[Infamy]

Originally Posted by Paulo Egidio

It seems that the idea of using hardware buttons over an lcd screen is already patented in the USA.

I am investigating this; if this is true, I'm sorry but I could not sell anything to anybody.

However, somehow I think I got a lot of new friends :-)

Paulo

I wouldn't be too worried about that, that description is far too broad. Have a look at video game controllers, they all do pretty much the same thing but look a little different. It's why all game controllers have different style D-Pads, but they all exist under their own patents.

The existing patent may mention buttons over an LCD screen, where you are using rotary knobs or a combination of buttons and rotaries, that would probably be enough to get around it alone. As The Boss said, get a good patent lawyer, I'd be very surprised if you weren't in the clear.

[5down1up]

FANTASTICO ! Awesome work @ Paulo !

[jkrummri]

Hi Paulo

Other then the Midibox and X-Keys I suggested

Take a look at this even easier

Universal Human Interface Device

Universal 12-Bit Joystick Controller BU0836X


Also to completely mess with you up Ergonomic Touchpad - USB Touchpad, Touchpad Mouse, Laptop Touchpad, Tablet Touchpad - Free Yourself from the Routine - The Latest in Economy in Motion

Then just use, Or with your skill level write a HID to MIDI or SDK converter

Hope this helps

[Friedemann]

I guess the patent is hold by Harman International for their Vistonics concept on the Studer and Soundcraft desks. Could be hard to find a way around. Good work though!

[Matt Allaby]

I'd buy the plugin controller straight away too. please develop this or just build me one. :-/

[sikkemamedia]

Wow, that seems like a really nice solution....

[Tomer1]

Brilient man but his spoken english is painful to listen to.
Nice looking studio he has there.

[deuc647]

Paulo, if you decide to make em for people around here, please count me in. I loved how the UAD was on the controller. That is pure genius. Please count me in for 1.

[JB872]

I would not undersell the Touch Screen
I think some people as well as my self are not grasping the whole interface.

Neither would I. I really liked the liquid mix section of the video and how you had pictures and descriptions of the gear being emulated. Something similar for the UAD or vst's would be awesome!

[voiceactor]

Paulo, your life as you know is about to change. Hold on tight.
Great Work!

[justacat]

Mr P from Brasil...you made it happen...
don`t know for how many years I `ve been a passive GS reader now...

First post...

Whats going on over there in Brasil?... since I discovered this thread Im waiting for news and small hidden clues how you`ve done that...

Some other contributions here were also fascinating
thinking about what jkrummri added

simply using
a hid ubs interface
+encoders and buttons
+ a glass plate
+ a monitor
make an easy way to build the hardware for something like you`ve created

plug it in (usb) and you could play supermarioland with it

o.k. so
we had to add a hid to midi converter (software) to get midi data
there are so many out there like mjoy MJOY: Joystick to MIDI converter and so on
done!
that was the easy part....

So what I realy want....realy... realy...is to buy that piece of software

maybe you could enlighten me with a few anwsers?
Though I know you need all your time to get in touch with the company`s now

Question0: I dont understand (but how could I... I didn?t develop the dragon controller) why your controller runs on a second machine and does it all via tcp/ip. Why is that?



Question1: You are using the original gui elements and simply rearrange them? You have to modify/recompile any .dll ? Or does your editor "simply" *ahem not so simple extract the gui elements from the dll...



Question2: So I assume what we see on the controller pc monitor is only a representation of the actual unmodified plugin on the host pc? Somehow grabbing orig. gui elements from the plugins .dll and reading/writing values from the host?
So the orrig. dll remains unharmed :) ?
Or are we seeing the actual modified plugin from the host pc?
Or are the plugins running on the controller *probablynot

Question3: Midi is generated on the host or the controller pc?

Dammed I have so many questions... This thing totally rocks...
when your rich and this things price jumps over the 1000€ line,
so i will have to save money for about a year (still studying)
send me the sourcecode :)

I bet there is a way you could make it all run on the host pc...
but that might give the need for additional vga/hdmi outputs since most studio computers allready run 2 monitors.. you were using a usb to vg adapter? didn`t you write that? on wich pc? controller or host? for the touchscreen i assume?

anyway... rock on...
ps: gimmmmeeeeee thaaaaaaaaaaaad sourcecode
*justkiddin

[jkrummri]

Just wanted to add

Easy and you can add al ot of controllers
Carl.Kenner - GlovePIE

and very scary Plogue Art et Technologie It has a HID Data extractor

[Wiggum, Ralph]

Paulo, your plugin controller is amazing...I want one!

[DP40oz]

My main question is how did you get the custom GUI's to come up for each plugin?