modulo

A Toolkit for Tinkering with Digital Musical Instruments.

About

Think of it as a LEGO set for your musical ideas. Each module is designed with simplicity and versatility in mind, where core functionalities (and patching) are housed within a compact and user-friendly interface. You can mix, match, customize and extend your own musical tools in a modular and multichannel workflow.

Architecture

modulo is a modular ecosystem that allows the user to seamlessly interchange bespoke sound and modulation stages for rapid prototyping of digital musical instruments. Each module represents a building block in the processing chain. The system consists of different types of module, from input signal generators to control processing algorithms such as smoothing, calibrating and scaling, sound synthesis, recorders and routers. To streamline the patching experience, all modules share the same logic of "one-cable" patching, eliminating the hassle of connecting multiple input and output cables. Moreover, modules are encapsulated within an adjustable user-friendly GUI, making it easy to access, store and recall main control parameters and settings.

Modules

While the toolkit focuses on acquiring, processing and mapping input data to sound, the routing and utility modules make it easy to connect to different workflows and external sound synthesis tools.

• input modules capture, display and map input data, such as pads, sliders, and computer keyboard input.

• route modules interface with external devices, including Max internal routing, MIDI, OSC, and Euroracks.

• transform modules process signals via different algorithms, including filtering, averaging and smoothing.

• utility modules can handle auxiliary functions, such as mixing, visualising and recording input data.

List & Multichannel

Modules can transmit data as list of control signals or multichannel audio signals, where data is normalized within a bipolar (-1. - 1.) / unipolar (0. - 1.) range of floating-point numbers to simplify communication with subsequent modules. Since each device allows a different set of input channels, each module is designed to automatically adapt to the number of input channels.

• Please note that the Max DSP has to be restarted (turned off and on) to update the number of channels.

Abstractions & Bpatchers

Users can combine two different methods of patching:

1. Abstractions (with objects exposed): Each module is instantiated in the main patcher window as an abstraction, where the main parameters can be modified using the appropriate message (e.g. mute 1).

2. Bpatchers (with GUI exposed): Each module is instantiated as bpatchers, which exposes the main control parameters in the top level Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Preset

Key parameters are internally “bound" to a pattr object using a consistent namespace. This means that the preset object can be used together with pattrstorage to save and recall a snapshot of any parameter in a patcher window.

Installation

Search for modulo in the Max Package Manager or find it under the Featured Package section.

If you have Git or GitHub Desktop installed, you can clone this repo via Terminal using the following commands:

cd ~/Documents/Max\ 8/Packages
git clone https://github.com/francesco-di-maggio/modulo

Alternatively, you can download the latest release here, and place it in the Max 8 > Packages search path:

• ~/Documents/Max\ 8/Packages

Get Started

Open the Overview Patch (modulo-main/extras/modulo.maxpat).

Links

Discord - Join the discourse to keep up on future updates, make suggestions, share ideas and musical examples.

YouTube - Join the channel to learn how to get started with modulo.