NXT-606 LEGO sample based drum machine, MOC Options

[Peter Cocteau]

Hi,

I' ve just put online my LEGO drum machine's video. I' ve made this MOC in August 2008. Take a look to video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nm36FQog2w

You can download Free NXT-606 program now!!!!
This version allow to use NXT-606 software with 1 NXT and 2 Motors (Port A and B ).

My NXT-606:

NXT-606 drum machine is only made of LEGO (except 2 leds, 4 solders, 2 wires and a Jack output). it take about 3 months to build, test and program it.
It was very difficult to make real time operation machine because NXT processor make only one thing at once.

- 8bits sample based drum machine. (about 2 seconds memory)
-24 percussion and Fx sounds.
-Monophonic
-Sampling Rate: 2 to 16Khz.
-resolution: 8 bit
-Memory: 96 measures
-Control: 2 LEGO rotation sensors
-Hacked loudspeaker to mono output: Jack 6,35mm
-NXT-G programing.

NXT-606 program:

Main Page:
Show dynamic time line, tempo (bpm), battery level(%), and selected measure on top of screen.
Menu:
-Mode edit, Loop (x4,x8,.. measures), Song (all).
-Play/Stop
-Save/Copy (to 1..96)
-Selected measure. (1...96)
-Tempo (40...180 bpm)
-Swing or "Groove" 0 to 100% : it works very well !! random short times are added to each step to create "humanisation" and even steps are delayed to add swing.

Graphic Editor Page:
Show dynamic time line, tempo (bpm), battery level(%), and selected measure on top of screen.
Show 16 step sequencer: each squares give visual feedback of selected step, selected sound and velocity.
Menu:
-Selected Step (1...16)
-Sound (1...24)
-Velocity(0,25,50,75,100%)

Use:
Turn left control to select menu.
Turn right control to shift value.
Shortcut:
Left and right NXT button to select step.
Center NXT button to play/stop (except in save menu)


Bonus:
-One "Head led" lights the screen for an easy use in clubs.
-When selecting step, sound or velocity (and sequencer is stopped), NXT-606 plays sound files automatically.
-Real time operation. You can mix in loop mode (x4,x8,x12..measures) and go from one loop region to another.


Option to come ??
I've worked on few other options that do not actually appear:
- Synchronisation to any flashing Led (using LEGO light sensor). Many synths have a MIDI receive Led, an easy way to synchronise NXT-606 to any sequencer... or another NXT-606.
- Wah-Wah pedal effect control. Some Wah Wah FX are controlled by a led inside the pedal.. easy to control it with NXT.
-Real Drum player, using NXT motors for example.


How to install Free NXT-606 on your own NXT brick ??
System requirement: 1NXT (firmware1.05 or later ), 2 motors (to select menu and trim value)
1-download and unzip FreeNXT-606 2.zip
2-Open new project in NXT-G graphic editor and then open NXT memory manager window.
3-Erase all file in your NXT brick (system file too)... NXT-606 software is big !
4-You have to download each file to your NXT brick one by one: FreeNXT-606.rxe, all sounds and all pictures.
5-You can play !!!!!!
FreeNXT-606 manual:
-motor A: select menu
-motor B: trim value
-Shortcut: Left and right NXT buttons to navigate from step to step. Center button to stop/play or to save when "save" menu is selected.
-still few bugs to fix.


Any feedback appreciated.

Have Fun !!!
Peter.

Note: some sounds were missing in first FreeNXT-606 zip , but all sounds are in new FreeNXT-606 2.zip file.

Attached File(s)

 NXT606_2.jpg ( 28.17k ) Number of downloads: 32
 DARKgoldNXT.jpg ( 339.75k ) Number of downloads: 28
 Presentation1b.jpg ( 132.36k ) Number of downloads: 42
 FreeNXT_606_2.zip ( 75.99k ) Number of downloads: 48
 NXTscreenlight.jpg ( 209.86k ) Number of downloads: 19

 

[muntoo]

Wow, that is very coooooool!
It must have taken a long time to program. Can you share it with us? Try posting it in a .zip.
I'm interested in knowing:
-What file format is your saved file in?
-What algorithm did you use for the swing option?

Might I suggest having a side window in your video that shows a better quality image of the screen? You can achieve this by getting NXTScreen (one of the BricxCC Utilities). The standalone version isn't the latest, I think, so you may need to download BricxCC's test release, run the .exe, go to Tools->Find Brick. Then go to Tools->NXT Screen. In the window that opens up, right click on NXT, Check "Polling", set the refresh rate to 50ms, and then click "Capture AVI". Then you can edit your video and put this in.

[Peter Cocteau]

Wow, that is very coooooool!
It must have taken a long time to program. Can you share it with us? Try posting it in a .zip.

Might I suggest having a side window in your video that shows a better quality image of the screen? You can achieve this by getting NXTScreen (one of the BricxCC Utilities). The standalone version isn't the latest, I think, so you may need to download BricxCC's test release, run the .exe, go to Tools->Find Brick. Then go to Tools->NXT Screen. In the window that opens up, right click on NXT, Check "Polling", set the refresh rate to 50ms, and then click "Capture AVI". Then you can edit your video and put this in.

Yes, it have taken a very very long time to program with NXT-G. NXT's processor make only one thing at once and it was difficult to make real time operation with good sound synchronisation.
So for each step, NXT plays sound and then look inputs for few milliseconds.
Swing is a very cool function... it' s good to make it groove ..

I don' t know how to zip my program cause there is lot of "sub-program", about 50 I think.

I haven't work on it for 2 years and it' s very difficult to come back in again.. and I remind few bugs to fix.

Video is not good but I have no time to make another one for now.

During developement I' ve tried few things that worked but take some memory, so I gave up this option:
-synchronisation to any flashing light (with light sensor), it is easy to make led flash on MIDI synth.. so I was abble to synchronised my NXT-606 to any sequencer.
-control Wah-Wah effect. Some Wah-Wah guitar effect are controlled by led so it was easy to control it from NXT output.

[linmix]

Fantastic! Really like the look you have given it and the programming is must have been quite a job.

[Peter Cocteau]

Hey guys !! I' ve just updated my first post and you can now download NXT-606 software !! just need an NXT and two motors to play with.

Muntoo, I didn't answer your questions...sorry.

-Files are saved in text format. Pattern files looks something like: 60 9 15 5 12 4...
60 for tempo(x2=120bpm), 9 for swing, 15 for 1st Step sound, 5 for 1st Step volume, 12 for 2nd Step sound and 4 for 2nd step volume........

-About Swing: Step 2,4,6,8 etc.. are delayed and some short random times are added to each step.

[Pina]

Is it possible to make 606/707/808/909-styled sequencer and interface to it?
What I mean is
- building patterns by switching a row of 16 (or 8) buttons (or switches) on and off,
and/or
- switching between patterns by pressing on dedicated buttons without losing the rhythm (next pattern starts when previous played to the end).
I am not familiar with NXT at all but perspective of building an unique drum machine is very intriguing.

[linmix]

Hey guys !! I' ve just updated my first post and you can now download NXT-606 software !! just need an NXT and two motors to play with.

Much appreciated!

[Alloy]

Hi Peter

Nice thing. But how can I load it to my brick? I have downgrade my brick to firmware 1.05. When I want to open it into my nxt-g an error comes!

Sorry, I am newbie, but have you any idea?

[Peter Cocteau]

Hi Peter

Nice thing. But how can I load it to my brick? I have downgrade my brick to firmware 1.05. When I want to open it into my nxt-g an error comes!

Sorry, I am newbie, but have you any idea?

Hi, I use 1.05 but didn' t notice NXT-G is 1.24 for now.. (I didn' t open open NXT-G for 2 years).. but I think my program should work with this last version firmware.
You can' t open Free NXT-606 file in NXT-G but you can download it to NXT from download window: Grey NXT icon on left of screen.

I forgot few sounds in "sound file" (24 sounds and not 14) but I will fix it soon.

[Peter Cocteau]

Is it possible to make 606/707/808/909-styled sequencer and interface to it?
What I mean is
- building patterns by switching a row of 16 (or 8) buttons (or switches) on and off,
and/or
- switching between patterns by pressing on dedicated buttons without losing the rhythm (next pattern starts when previous played to the end).
I am not familiar with NXT at all but perspective of building an unique drum machine is very intriguing.

Everything is possible with NXT
I haven' t build such interface cause of price: sensor multiplexer+ many touch sensors to buy.
But don''t forget: It was very very difficult to program.

[mattallen37]

Hi Peter

Nice thing. But how can I load it to my brick? I have downgrade my brick to firmware 1.05. When I want to open it into my nxt-g an error comes!

Sorry, I am newbie, but have you any idea?

You downgraded the firmware? I am curious to know why you did that.

Matt

[clifbar]

It seems to crash my NXT brick fairly regularly to the point where I have to remove the battery.

I'd love to see the code if you can put it in a ZIP file, though. Nice work.

[Peter Cocteau]

It seems to crash my NXT brick fairly regularly to the point where I have to remove the battery.

I'd love to see the code if you can put it in a ZIP file, though. Nice work.

Huh , I have to test again the free version..
Excepted crash, does it open and work ??

You may try the new zip file "FreeNXT-606 2" with all sounds it may help...

Tell me when you know more.



Hey guys !! any feedback appreciated.

[linmix]

Haven't tested it yet, but did blog it: http://robotikas.blogspot.com/2010/06/caja...ritmos-606.html

[Peter Cocteau]

Haven't tested it yet, but did blog it: http://robotikas.blogspot.com/2010/06/caja...ritmos-606.html

gracias

[alai]

gracias

Really nice job
Also post to a Chinese Lego Blog: http://legocn.net/2010/07/nxt606/

[Peter Cocteau]

The NEW video is online !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CilCI2kSXnA

[Xander Soldaat]

Peter,

Mindblowing! Really awesome job. It is hard to believe you managed to make all of this work in NXT-G. The program must cover several square meters when printed out.

- Xander

[I_Fixed_It_44]

Very Cool!

[dudmaster]

How come there are two NXT-606 projects of yours?