how to use monome devices
provided that the setup instructions have been observed in addition to the optional installations of max/msp and chuck.
basic testing and max/msp
included in the monome base collection is a simple max/msp patch which lets you see keypad presses, toggle leds, and generally assure yourself that everything is working. making this work is identical to running our other patches:
1. run monomeserial
monomeserial translates the hardware’s low-level serial communication to more general protocols like midi and osc in addition to providing support for reorientation and multiple-unit spanning.
since most of our applications communicate via osc, you need to be running monomeserial concurrently. startup order does not matter in this instance.
once running, ensure that osc mode (not midi) is enabled and the device was detected.
2. open the patch
execute monome_test.mxb from the monome base collection. if max/msp is not running already, it will be launched.
3. focus the prefix
click the button near the top of the window labeled
/sys/prefix /testthis tells monomeserial to direct traffic between the hardware and applications using the prefix /test. a prefix is like an address. by changing monomeserial’s prefix you change which application is “using” the hardware—it’s possible to run several patches at once and switch hardware focus. it’s also possible to map different patches to separate hardware units. more information about prefixes is available.
4. done
push some keypads, see the left grid light up. click on the right grid, see your hardware light up. change the mode drop-down to “toggle” and draw with bits.
running a program in chuck
running life is similar to our previous example.
1. run monomeserial
again, we’ll be using osc. while chuck does have extensive midi functionality, it is much less flexible as a programming interface to monomeserial (the osc protocol allows for more readable, dynamic coding.)
manually set the prefix inside of monomeserial to
/life2. launch midiaudicle
once the application is onscreen, start the virtual machine. this activates processing.
3. load source program
256life.ck maps to 16×16. 64life.ck maps to 8×8.
4. add the shred
click the big plus sign at the top left. this adds the code to the current system, and the program begins. mash keypads.
using midi
(soon)