Expresseur employs standard protocols. It provides extensive opportunities to create various connectivity options.
MIDI is a music protocol designed to control musical gestures, sound rendering, and more.
A lof of MIDI devices are available. From the standard "piano-keyboard", up to breath-controller, sound-expanders ...
On the Expresseur menu
Modern MIDI devices use USB connectivity, automatically recognized by the computer.
Many small independent tools exist to validate the MIDI connectivity. Please validate such control before to use MIDI device on Expresseur.
Former MIDI devices was connected with round-MIDI-plugs : MIDI-USB adaptor exists. Take care to cross the IN-OUT plugs, connecting a MIDI-out to MIDI-in, and vice-versa !
If you want to connect an electronic synthesizer, consider it as three components : the MIDI-input ( the keyboard ), the MIDI-out ( the sound-expander to render MIDI to sound), the loudspeaker (to hear the sound). Thanks to this splitting, it will be easier to connect these components to Expresseur, like if it is three independent components.
On the configuration of Midi-out in Expresseur (menu settings/MIDI & Edit/mixer ) : select the MIDI-output of the MIDI device.
Warning : the synthesizer must be MIDI-compliant and must have "local-off" capacity (to disconnect the keyboard from the soun-expander)
A lot of MIDI-keyboard exists.
A MIDI keyboard does not generate sounds : it is just an input - a MIDI-in - to drive Expresseur.
Even a tiny one works fine with Expresseur : 25 keys is enough.
Be sure that the keyboard as velocity capability. Test the "feeling" to be confortable for your expression.
Lot of MIDI-keyboards accepts pedals (sustain, expression) : commands are sent in the same channel than keys. It needs midi-thru configuration in the Expresseur menu MIDI/settings/shortcuts, to forward these MIDI-messages (usually Control) to the sound-expander.
Pedals can be also plugged with a MIDI-adaptor, making an independent MIDI device. Make sure that your expander is listening to this MIDI device.
A MIDI expander expands MIDI-pitches & controls to a sound.
Such device becomes rare today : software expanders are preferred.
But hardware expander is very useful : no latency, no powerful PC needed, easy to use..
The Buran expander is the best and cheap example.
On the configuration of Midi-out in Expresseur (menu settings/MIDI & Edit/mixer ) : select the MIDI-output of the MIDI device.
That's a simple mouth-piece, controlled by the breath and head-position. It delivers MIDI-control which are useful if you want to play complex sound-expanders (violin, sax...) in the output of Expresseur.
Make sure that your expander is listening to this MIDI device.
Lot of software MIDI expanders exists, with a fantastic sound rendering.
The best example is Moddart . It provides a simple solution to play fantastic piano, harpsichord, harp, organs, vibraphones, steel-drum ... It does not require large computer configuration : just a correct modern CPU to compute the sound-rendering.
In addition, you must have :
Configuration of MIDI virtual connectivity :
You can build your own physical device. It can be useful for disabled musicians.
Teensy offers cheap ยต-controller to translate gesture to MIDI. It needs some electronic and C skills.
3D printing is a good way to adapt the physical object to specific needs.
Don't hesitate to contact frevolle@gmail.com for more explanation.
DMX is a lighting protocol utilized to manage light projectors.
Just connect a DMX-USB adaptor to your PC, then connect the DMX-projector with a daisy chain using DMX cables.
Configure each DMX projector in a simple way. For exemple : first projector RGBW on channels 1 2 3 4, next projector RGBW on channels 5 6 7 8 , etc..
Test the basic DMX configuration in Expresseur ( menu setting/DMX) :
The result is simple and impressive : the lights follows the pitches played by Expresseur, following your interpretation...
If you want to build your own logic, use LUA scripting :
MusicXML is a description format for music scores, compatible with numerous score editors.
Use scored-editor to export your music in MusicXML format. Import this Music-XML file in Expresseur.
Export your Expresseur improvisation in MusicXML format.
LUA is a scripting language that enables the development of custom logic.
The PC keyboard can be used for any shortcut (mixer, chords, .. )
Expresseur user interface capture each keystroke, and ask LUA script expresseur.lua to make an action.
The physical mapping of the keyboard is done in Expresseur ( menu setting/keyboard ).
The standard logic is explained in the Expresseur Manual.
The logic can be adapted to any need, modifying the expreseur.lua script.
Expresseur offer a middle-layer to enable LUA-scripting.
You can write your own music logic inside.
Don't hesitate to contact frevolle@gmail.com for any assistance.
Standard LUA script is already included in the package. It can be adapted according to your needs.
Warning : each Expresseur update will re-install standards LUA scripts. Be sure to keep your own scripts outside of the Expresseur package.
A full set of MIDI -DMX-Sound API is available in the Expresseur Manual.
In the LUA script, you can :
You can also build your own standalone application over this LUA Expresseur layer, through API.
An example of such application is available in the package : expresscmd. It just launches expresscmd.lua script, with all Expresseur API pre-loaded available.