I just watched the demo performance at the NDLR Launch party and really enjoyed both the music and what can be accomplished with the NDLR.  A big thanks to Craig Anthony Perkins!
What I also noticed was wood end caps on the NDLR, that looks like a classy touch to our favorite noodling device.  Is this going to be an option in the near future, after the product launch and shipping?  If is is going to be an option, then I am ready to order a set.

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about using The NDLR with an iPad.  Ever since we got MIDI over USB working I have been using an iPad for testing and several different configurations. Here’s what I’ve learned... 

Part 3 - Apps...

I’ve use iPad synths such as: Moog Model D, Sunrizer, Syndt, LayR, and Synth One, to name a few. 

Unlike MIDI 5-Pin cables, the USB cable is bi-directional. Which means iPad “controller”apps can send MIDI messages from the iPad to The NDLR.  Using an iPad “controller”app is similar to plugging a MIDI keyboard controller like the Keystep or a MIDI pad controller like the Beatstep Pro (both by Arturia) into The NDLR.

One of my favorite apps to use is called Patterning, which is a very cool drum machine app.  Patterning can be used as a clock source too. This is an easy way to experiment using an external clock source. If you do this make sure to set the clock source on The NDLR in the System 3 menu to external, on the right MIDI port and channel. 

You can also use Patterning as a MIDI CC sequencer.  Any of The NDLR CC controllable parameters are fair game. In particular the “cord degree” is fun CC to target to make chord progressions via the sequencer.  

midiSTEPs and midiLFOs are two more controller apps I really like, both from the same vendor. I used the midiLFOs app in one of my videos to demonstrate how to use external MIDI CCs to modulate The NDLR  parameters. 

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about using The NDLR with an iPad.  Ever since we got MIDI over USB working I have been using an iPad for testing and several different configurations. Here’s what I’ve learned... 

Part 2 - MIDI over USB...

The NDLR provides 4 MIDI ports over USB,  so when you select a port for a synthesizer on your iPad you should see 4 MIDI ports in the user interface labeled NDLR1, 2, 3 & 4.  This makes it super easy to use 4 different synthesizers on the iPad.  We chose 4 because each MIDI port can be used one per each part of The NDLR (Pad, Drone, & 2 Motifs).

Even though each synthesizer uses a different MIDI port, it’s still important to make sure that both the MIDI port and channel match in both the iPad synthesizer app and on The NDLR in the System 1 menu.  Also if you’re going to use more than one synthesizer on your iPad, make sure that your iPad synthesizers can run as a background app. This way if you switch focus to another synthesizer app, all of the synthesizer apps will continue to play. 

If you’re using a multitemporal app like LayR this is less important because one app will produce all the sounds for all The NDLR parts (Pad, Drone, & 2 Motifs).

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about using The NDLR with an iPad.  Ever since we got MIDI over USB working I have been using an iPad for testing and several different configurations. Here’s what I’ve learned... 

Part 1 - Getting them Connected...

The iPad adapter is super important.  The one shown below is the one I use.  These sell on the Internet for about $15. There are others that are simply a lightning plug on one side and USB on the other. Both are generally called a “camera connection kit”, super easy to find on the Internet. 

The adapter below does two functions at once. First it enables the iPad to be a USB host controller, a place to plug The NDLR into. Second, it provides a lightening port, a place to plug-in a power adapter so you don’t drain your iPad battery while providing power to The NDLR.

[img]blob:https://conductivelabs.com/61c22c41-6e2d-4499-8071-c338a0861fe7[/img]

We received a question from a Kickstarter contributor that others may also be curious about.

"Hello!
I know that I'm jumping the gun asking a technical question without my NDLR in my hands, but a quick question -
Back when the product was first announced, there was a mention of pads, drones, motifs, and bass parts. I realize that the bass parts probably evolved into what is now Motif 1 & 2. Will it still be possible to set up a bass part in either of the Motif areas, i.e. a lower octave based part?
From reading the manual (V.10) I think I am seeing how to go about it, but I just wanted to check in..."

Originally, The NDLR had a Bass part, and a Motif part. The only difference between the parts was that the Bass part had less controls. While we liked having the two parts separated on the control surface, we prefered having all of the features of Motif for both parts. Now both parts are on the right side knobs, with a dedicated button to toggle between the parts.

So, you can definitely make a bass part with one motif and a lead part with the other. Both parts are fully featured and very flexible.

Darryl

On his YouTube channel:

Just noticed the price cuts on the Behringer Deepmind line. The Deepmind 12D for instance went from $899 down to $599 ($300 off). Pretty sweet deal for a 12-voice analog synth with a rich effects section.

The Behringer Neutron is now available for pre-order in North America at the usual online music stores for $299. While I have lots of mono synths, I'm tempted due the the rich semi modular features which might complement the 0-Coast and Erebus.

I thought I'd share a couple of my first tests with THE NDLR.

The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) has released a Specification for use of TRS Connectors with MIDI Devices. Not sure why, but they picked the Korg implementation rather than the more popular Arturia implementation. In the end, its only 3 wires so whatever   They also spec 2.5mm jacks. 

https://www.midi.org/articles-old/trs-sp...d-released