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OSC, or 'Open Sound Control' was developed to allow communication between applications over a network. The technology is most often used in the control of sound and MIDI applications, and a number of commercial applications understand the OSC format and can be controlled in this fashion. However, the simplest approach to OSC is to run an "OSC server" on a PC or Mac that converts the OSC commands into MIDI messages and passes them to MIDI applications such as Logic, Cubase or GarageBand.
The industry standard OSC server is Pure Data, which is available for both Windows and OSX, and is free and open-source software.
CREATING THE PURE DATA SCRIPT FILE
[NOTE that this link will only work when clicked on in the in-app version of the manual, and not in the convenience copy of the manual viewed in a browser at moocowmusic.com]
To use Pure Data, you will need a script file that instructs it how to route the incoming OSC messages into outgoing MIDI messages. To create this file, do the following:-
PURE DATA SETUP (MAC)
PURE DATA SETUP (PC)
CONNECTING TO PURE DATA FROM PIANIST PRO
You will need to find out the IP Address of the machine running Pure Data. On Windows, open a command prompt and type 'ipconfig'. On OSX, click on the wi-fi Airport icon at the top right of the screen and 'Open Network Preference', 'Advanced', 'TCP/IP tab', IPv4 Address.
You also need to decide on which port number to use (or just choose the default of 8000) and ensure that this port is open on your firewall and not in use by another program. Make sure that your iPad and Mac are connected to the same wi-fi network. Remember that if you change the port numbers here you must also change them in the Pure Data config file.
With OSC enabled, you will probably want to hear only the sound from the external instrument and not from Pianist Pro, in which case turn the Instrument volume down to zero in the Settings screen.
TROUBLESHOOTING
1) Ensure that your iPad can see your PC/Mac. Make sure both are on the same wifi network, are connected, and your iPad is pointing at the correct IP Address for your PC. Make sure both Pianist Pro and Pure Data are set to the same port number.
2) Ensure that Pure Data has your MIDI Driver selected.
OSCULATOR
We are occassionally asked whether the application 'OSCulator' can be used instead of Pure Data. OSCulator is an OSX-only application, originally written to allow people to operate simple MIDI CC Controls by waving a Nintendo WiiMote about, and used by a few iPhone OSC-via-MIDI applications as a server. Unlike DSMI, development seems to have stagnated and OSCulator is currently not up to the standard required by Pianist Pro, and so not supported. We will keep an eye on the platform and add support for it when possible.
IMPROVING LATENCY
Whilst MIDI via OSC has a very low latency, when sending large amounts of OSC data over wifi via a router some latency can occur, depending on your local network setup. To reduce latency (and also to allow you to use wifi MIDI when you do not have a router network - for example performing with just a laptop and iPad) you can create a 'Computer-to-Computer Network' (sometimes called an 'AdHoc Network').
[Modifying your network settings will require some knowedge of wireless networking, for which we cannot provide support]
On a Mac, you create a Computer-to-Computer Network by-
There are many tutorial videos on the Internet for setting up Ad Hoc networks on both Mac and PC, should you need further support.
More information on OSC is available here.
More information on Pure Data is available here.
[Tapping these links will close Pianist Pro and start Safari]
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The industry standard OSC server is Pure Data, which is available for both Windows and OSX, and is free and open-source software.
CREATING THE PURE DATA SCRIPT FILE
[NOTE that this link will only work when clicked on in the in-app version of the manual, and not in the convenience copy of the manual viewed in a browser at moocowmusic.com]
To use Pure Data, you will need a script file that instructs it how to route the incoming OSC messages into outgoing MIDI messages. To create this file, do the following:-
- Tap here to create the script file in the 'Shared Folder' of Pianist Pro.
- Connect your iPad to your PC or Mac and start up iTunes.
- In iTunes select your iPad in the 'DEVICES' in the left menu.
- Select the 'Apps' tab at the top.
- Scroll down until you reveal the 'File Sharing' section.
- Select 'Pianist Pro' in the 'Apps' list.
- Click the 'Save To...' button to save it to your computer.
- You can now delete 'PianistPro.pd' from your Shared Folder by selecting it and pressing Backspace on your keyboard.
- Note that further support on using the Shared Folder functionality of your iPad and iTunes is available in the iTunes help pages.
PURE DATA SETUP (MAC)
- Firstly you may need to setup your IAC MIDI Driver if you have not already done so. This will enable Pure Data to send MIDI messages to your DAW. Run 'Audio MIDI Setup.app' from Applications, select the menu 'Window / Show MIDI Window', double click on IAC Driver, check 'Device is Online'. You should now be able to select 'IAC Driver' as a MIDI input or output in other applications.
- On your Mac, go to http://puredata.info and follow instructions to install Pure Data. Be sure to install the version labelled 'pd-extended'.
- Create the 'PianistPro.pd' Pure Data script file as described above.
- Double click on 'PianistPro.pd' to start up Pure Data.
- In Pure Data, go to the menu 'Preferences / MIDI Settings' and select 'IAC Driver bus 1' as 'Output Device 1'.
- Start up your DAW, and select 'Bus 1' as a MIDI input.
- For support on setting up Pure Data, please see- http://puredata.info
PURE DATA SETUP (PC)
- If you have not done so previously then you will need to install a 'MIDI Loopback Driver'. This is a small application that allows applications on Windows to send MIDI messages to other applications. There are many free MIDI Loopback Drivers available, such as 'MIDI Yoke' (http://www.midiox.com/), or 'LoopBe1' (http://www.nerds.de/en/loopbe1.html).
- On your PC, go to http://puredata.info and follow instructions to install Pure Data. In particular you should read the readme file when asked and follow the additional installation instructions there. Be sure to install the version labelled 'pd-extended'.
- Create the 'PianistPro.pd' Pure Data script file as described above.
- Double click on 'PianistPro.pd' to start up Pure Data.
- In Pure Data, go to the menu 'PD Media / MIDI Settings' and select 'MIDI Yoke 1' as 'Output Device 1' (assuming you installed MIDI Yoke as a Loopback Driver).
- For support on setting up Pure Data, please see- http://puredata.info
- For support on the Lookback Driver, please see the site that you obtained the driver from.
CONNECTING TO PURE DATA FROM PIANIST PRO
You will need to find out the IP Address of the machine running Pure Data. On Windows, open a command prompt and type 'ipconfig'. On OSX, click on the wi-fi Airport icon at the top right of the screen and 'Open Network Preference', 'Advanced', 'TCP/IP tab', IPv4 Address.
You also need to decide on which port number to use (or just choose the default of 8000) and ensure that this port is open on your firewall and not in use by another program. Make sure that your iPad and Mac are connected to the same wi-fi network. Remember that if you change the port numbers here you must also change them in the Pure Data config file.
With OSC enabled, you will probably want to hear only the sound from the external instrument and not from Pianist Pro, in which case turn the Instrument volume down to zero in the Settings screen.
TROUBLESHOOTING
1) Ensure that your iPad can see your PC/Mac. Make sure both are on the same wifi network, are connected, and your iPad is pointing at the correct IP Address for your PC. Make sure both Pianist Pro and Pure Data are set to the same port number.
2) Ensure that Pure Data has your MIDI Driver selected.
OSCULATOR
We are occassionally asked whether the application 'OSCulator' can be used instead of Pure Data. OSCulator is an OSX-only application, originally written to allow people to operate simple MIDI CC Controls by waving a Nintendo WiiMote about, and used by a few iPhone OSC-via-MIDI applications as a server. Unlike DSMI, development seems to have stagnated and OSCulator is currently not up to the standard required by Pianist Pro, and so not supported. We will keep an eye on the platform and add support for it when possible.
IMPROVING LATENCY
Whilst MIDI via OSC has a very low latency, when sending large amounts of OSC data over wifi via a router some latency can occur, depending on your local network setup. To reduce latency (and also to allow you to use wifi MIDI when you do not have a router network - for example performing with just a laptop and iPad) you can create a 'Computer-to-Computer Network' (sometimes called an 'AdHoc Network').
[Modifying your network settings will require some knowedge of wireless networking, for which we cannot provide support]
On a Mac, you create a Computer-to-Computer Network by-
- Click on the wifi symbol at the top right of the screen.
- Select 'Create Network'.
- Enter a name for your network.
- Tick 'Require Password'.
- Enter a password for the network.
- Press Okay.
- Now, on your iPad, under Settings / Wi-Fi you can join this network.
- Note that if you normally connect to the Internet via wifi then you will need to switch your Mac back to your normal network after you have finished your MIDI wifi session. And also you will most likely want to set your iPad back to your normal network too.
There are many tutorial videos on the Internet for setting up Ad Hoc networks on both Mac and PC, should you need further support.
More information on OSC is available here.
More information on Pure Data is available here.
[Tapping these links will close Pianist Pro and start Safari]
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