With both setups working via OSC, it was time to focus on another goal of the third project phase: the final software implementation. As stated before, the aim of this project is to further advance the sonic range of the electric guitar without impairing the guitar player’s natural playing. Although this statement mainly includes the natural playing style and associated hand movements of the player, its meaning could also be expanded to usability and how well the two setups can be integrated into the usual signal chain of the average guitar player.
The standard guitar signal chain is probably as follows:
Guitar into effect pedals into amp to microphone or interface
As both setups require a computer, implementing the setups into this signal chain will not be possible. However, a lot of guitarists nowadays will play straight into an interface + DAW or go from an amp into an interface + DAW. Hence, if the software of the project could be integrated into a DAW, it could be considered quite user-friendly for guitarists.
And here Camomile comes into play. Camomile is an audio plugin with Pure Data embedded, used to control patches inside a large set of digital audio workstations – as long as they support VST3 or Audio Unit formats. (1) It free, open-source and cross-platform and was developed by Pierre Guillot.
The plan is to convert the current Pure Data patches into VST plugins that can then be used in any DAW, making them more accessible and prone to be used by guitarists.
The left hand setup with its usage of third-party plugins seems not as suited at the moment, however, ways will be found to implement it as well. Nevertheless, for reasons of simplicity, it was decided to start with the right hand setup and try to make it work together with Camomile.
Luckily, Camomile comes with a WikiPage that explains how to generate plugins and also how to make new plugins. As far as I understood it, Camomile is sort of a platform that facilitates and enables communication between the Pure Data patch and DAW. In order to generate a VST plugin, one needs a folder that contains the Pure Data patch and sub-patches, the Camomile VST Plugin-File (instrument or effect), an info sketch in txt format and specific Pure Data sketches that facilitate communication between patch and DAW.
Within the text file, the parameters of the plugin, the in- and outputs and other factors need to be specified. For example, for the Wah-Wah effect patch, the following text was written:
- param -name Frequency -label Hz -min 280 -max 3000 -default 1500;
- param -name OSC -min 0 -max 1 -default 0 -nsteps 2;
- iolayout 2 2;
- code Bbbb;
- type effect;
- manufacturer Bjoern Bernreiter;
- compatibility 1.0.7;
The first parameter is the center frequency of the Wah-Wah and the second on is the ON/OFF switch for the OSC reception.
Additionally, one must add the specifically written param.get, param.set and param.change sketches to one’s own sketch in order to ensure communication between patch and DAW.
Without going too much into detail, it was possible to generate a Wah-Wah plugin that can be opened in the DAW Cubase. The center frequency can be controlled via OSC with data coming from the IMU sensor. Furthermore, the parameters center frequency and OSC ON/OFF can be automated manually and in Write-Mode within the DAW.
However, there is one problem: While the center frequency can be automated when moving the slider while in Write-Mode or drawing in automation curves, it cannot be automated from the OSC data alone. Similarly, the Wah-Wah affects the tone of a guitar when played live, however, it does not affect it anymore after recording the guitar. These two issues are, of course, linked but so far, no solution could be found. On the upside, while searching for a solution, the Camomile plugin and its workings were understood much better.
Nevertheless, I am confident that this problem will be solved in the near future.
