Nord modular G2 still worth it now that we have VCV?

apeirophobe · 2024-03-04T19:56:25.983Z

I do have Norns but I fail to see any similarities

license · 2024-03-04T20:29:42.417Z

apeirophobe:

Much more memory and sampling capabilities

apeirophobe:

Wifi connection for …

apeirophobe:

Editor as a web app and open source

Check, check, and check. To be fair, the “patching” (i.e. SuperCollider code) can’t be done from the web UI as far as I know. It’s possible to connect to the norns SuperCollider server from a desktop SC IDE, though, which isn’t a browser, but could probably be ported for one.

apeirophobe:

Hardware plugins: imagine the guts of some popular euro rack filters in a format that had no physical controls but could be plugged into a G3 hardware and have total recall from the editor/hardware UI.

Norns has parameter recall via its preset system. It is a bit limited on physical controls, but it’s also a USB host, so e.g. a MIDI controller could compensate. As far as guts of modules, there’s quite a bit built into SC already, but there’s also ports of e.g. Mutable Instruments modules. And everything with Norns is happening live on the Raspberry Pi, so there’s no separate editor necessary.

To be fair, I’m not aware of a visual patching interface a la G1/G2 for SuperCollider, and that’s where Organelle might be a better fit. Also Norns (and I think Organelle too) ended up being more like an open-source “app store” where there are many more script-users than script-writers. I believe monome’s original intent was more like the use case you’re describing, though. At least that’s how I thought of it.

It also opens up possibilities for live-coding Lua (and SC with some extra effort), which is almost like having a modular where you can rewire not just between modules but also within each module.

Burpy · 2024-03-04T21:01:22.685Z

apeirophobe:

Editor as a web app and open source

As someone made an alternative editor for the G2 allready (not maintained) this should be possible.

richie · 2024-03-04T21:31:47.937Z

they did say it would launch with expander modules with additional controls so here’s hoping its a contender.

Heath · 2024-03-04T22:18:20.750Z

Did anyone ever get the G2 editor to work on an M1 Mac? I know they can work on an intel with WINE…

LCVL · 2024-03-05T06:37:43.710Z

Heath:

I know they can work on an intel with WINE…

I don’t think so. That would be the G1.
But if you know a way to run the G2 editor on a modern Mac, please let me know.
AFAIK, the problem is the USB driver needed for the OS to recognise the device.

chapelierfou · 2024-03-05T07:02:53.783Z

Personally I bought a 100€ mini PC just for the G2, and I’m super happy I did. It could even fit in the G2 itself…

Burpy · 2024-03-05T16:57:25.119Z

Care to share a picture?

chapelierfou · 2024-03-05T17:15:49.008Z

Of the Mini PC inside the G2 ?
I said it could ! Not that I did it ! But I’ll consider it…

mnmlst · 2024-03-05T20:17:50.048Z

Which PC? I’ve been a Mac guy for decades, and not sure what I’d need to get. Sadly, my G2 is hibernating in the closest.

hyperstationjr · 2024-03-05T21:24:48.140Z

I’ve been thinking about the possibility of an older touchscreen PC or tablet just to run the G2 editor and patch via touch, but not sure if it would work with anything affordable.

DoS · 2024-03-05T21:59:17.734Z

LCVL:

But if you know a way to run the G2 editor on a modern Mac, please let me know.
AFAIK, the problem is the USB driver needed for the OS to recognise the device

I have no idea about Macs, but I use the editor with a Micro Modular under WINE on Linux by using the MIDI i/o on a Scarlett soundcard.

hyperstationjr · 2024-03-06T00:27:42.116Z

If there was some kind of visual patching environment for Norns, I’d be all over it again. I had it and liked it, but didn’t feel like I did much with it outside of the couple of apps/patches I found that worked for me, and they weren’t doing anything too out there that I couldn’t do in VCV rack.

I could see the potential, it was a great interface, but without being able to make my own patches, it wasn’t much good to me.

That’s sort of the magic of the G2 in particular, it had a lot of power in a very easy to use package.

The o it thing that came close was using Automatonism in PD, but even that was pretty limiting and not full-featured enough, and it only sounded ok.

chapelierfou · 2024-03-06T07:12:42.847Z

A bit more expensive that I wrote, sorry : MINISFORUM N40 - Celeron N4020 1.1 GHz 4 Go RAM 64 Go Noir | Rakuten

but I think you could go for this one + a usb hub : https://www.amazon.fr/MINIS-FORUM-Mini-Ventilateur-N4020/dp/B082VVHXK6/ref=asc_df_B082VVHXK6/?tag=googshopfr-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=411396303251&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8688109077170961027&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9108881&hvtargid=pla-862507130861&psc=1&mcid=a178272a677e31fe8a3006ded0ba1e55&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=93040506367&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=411396303251&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8688109077170961027&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9108881&hvtargid=pla-862507130861

chapelierfou · 2024-03-06T07:14:20.914Z

MicroModular/G1 have less issues than the G2s because they don’t use USB.

DoS · 2024-03-06T07:26:56.394Z

Ah, that would explain it. Thanks.

Burpy · 2024-03-06T09:41:41.863Z

Also interested in this approach. And curious if that will work fine. Now i use an old and small macbook Air.

LCVL · 2024-03-06T09:49:41.619Z

I just tested the original G2 editor (for PC) using Parallels/Windows 11, on a 2018 Intel Macbook Pro.

It works perfectly.

The installation process took a while (mostly spent downloading and installing Windows) but went surprisingly smooth.

Burpy · 2024-03-06T18:20:48.963Z

I had this running with Windows 10 before switching to a M1. I tried this with Windows 11 on the M1, but no luck. Someone has?

GovernorSilver · 2024-03-06T23:32:53.027Z

Hmm there’s a Hyundai Mini PC w/ Windows 10 in stock at a local shop. Not a bad a idea to maybe pick that up just to run G2 Editor.