Re: [PD] patch bay

On 24 Nov, João Miguel Pais wrote:

I am thinking about how to build a patch bay for a live-impro patch. For example, with 3 or 4 different input sources, and more 3 or 4 effects, one input source to be connected with several effects in series (input->fx1->fx2->...). The ideia would be that like on an analog patcher, it would be easy to make fast changes between (radically) different setups during performance.

For this to work, all audio signals (sources and effects) would have to go through the central router. I was trying this with multiplex~, but it does not allow feedback inputs - when something which comes from it's output is connected to the input, the object switches off processing: for example osc~ -> mux~ input 1 -> freeverb~ -> mux~ input 2. Lacking of more ideas, I am thinking of keeping the connections window on edit mode, and edit them manually during performance just simply by putting the wires on and off, like an analog version. It won't be so fast and efficient.

Has anyone thought / developed something similar before?

I use a patch matrix generator. A patch matrix has n*n+n toggles, receives signals by catch~ (so send to using throw~) and outputs using send~ (so recieve using r~) the technology is *very* simple, so find out. (a switch~ can be enough and efficient!). Note: You can send sequencer messages (qlist) to toggle objects.

One can send object creation messages (which look similar to .pd files) to pd canvases and dynamically create a patch. Try making a generator so you don't have to know n in advance. See my other mail for a simple token substitution external.

I once built a matrix of faders by hand-connecting a number of delays. (My idea was 1 tune, 18 delays, and 1 piece of music) This is very flexible but also feels quite strange in practical use. Two mice and a sequencer would have been very handy but now i'm using bitmaps... but i'm off topic again... ;)

Ciao

• Robert Figura