4Pockets are about to release a Surface Builder update which includes a number of new additions. Surface Builder is currently available at the intro price of $8.99, increasing to $10.99 after the promotion. The offer ends July 2nd.
What’s new in version 1.02:
- Added a new Long Keys style to the keyboard object.
- The keyboard object can now be configured to output to multiple ports/channels.
- The keyboard object ‘centre offset’ and ‘range’ are now adjustable.
- Added a poly aftertouch option to the keyboard, great for Animoog and other synths that support it.
- Fixed an initial scaling error when the keyboard object first appears.
- Added a new LFO function to a button, allowing it to send automated CC data.
- The functions menu is now scrollable to avoid too many items being compressed into a small window.
- When adjusting the MIDI Setup, the note name is now displayed in the popup as well as the note number.
- Added a new ‘Sync Audio Clips to Beat’ option in Settings (global setting).
- Added a ‘Sync’ option in the Audio Properties so you can specify clip sync for selected clips (global setting overrides this).
- Double tap on the color swash in the object properties to display the visual color selector.
- Added an Export Surface option to the main menu (for those that can’t do drag and drop!).
- Added the note name in the Bulk MIDI dialog when sending notes.
- Fixed an issue preventing you from opening the Audio Properties on a queued clip using swipe down.
- Added a lock icon to the Object Properties to lock position and size (to avoid accidentally moving).
- Added a new ‘Lock All’ item to the Options menu that allows locking / unlocking of all objects.
- Added a new button option called ‘Play Audio (Queued)’ which plays after other clip finish.
- When changing between play clip functions, the attached audio file is no longer removed.
- The Stepper object is now correctly displaying the Continuous button in the Object Properties.
Surface Builder is a tool for creating control surfaces that send MIDI data to one or more audio components in order to simplify remote control tasks. You start by creating a surface of a given size, adding buttons, knobs, faders, etc. to the surface and configuring them to generate the required MIDI output. Surface Builder allows you to send note on/off, controller change and program change values as well as being able to emulate modulation wheel and pitch bend data. Buttons can also be configured to send bulk MIDI data using a single key press. You can build surfaces that span multiple scenes and link between them for large complex interfaces.
Incoming MIDI data can also be used to control or trigger elements of the interface, giving a bi-directional stream of MIDI data. Surface Builder can be added as a pure MIDI plugin which allows processing of MIDI only, or as an instrument plugin, allowing you to process audio passing through it. You can even load it as an intrument and configure a surface to start and stop audio clips either manually or remotely.
Surface Builder was designed to be used as an AUv3 plugin within your favourite DAW, but it can also be used in standalone to send MIDI directly to MIDI hardware using direct access to their MIDI ports.
Many different object types are supported including buttons, switches, lights, rotary knobs, faders, sliders, XY-Pad, keyboards, as well as text, image and box objects. Each object has many different styles and colours, so no two surfaces look the same.
Drag and drop an audio file onto a button and that button becomes a clip player. Attach rotary knobs to control the clips volume and pan. Throw on top of that a LP/HP filter knob and you are cooking on gas. Drop PNG transparent image icons on buttons to customise the look and feel.
A button can record and playback bulk MIDI commands, on both button press and release. So pressing a button could send the notes of a chord when pressed, and appropriate note offs on release.
A surface can consist of up to 6 scenes for really complex designs. Buttons and switches can be used to switch scenes and also to show and hide other objects to make better use of screen space. Once your surface is complete switch to presentation mode to hide all the toolbars. Each surface can be saved with compressed audio and images all in a single surface file.
Features include:
- AUv3 and standalone modes
- Bluetooth MIDI support
- Drag and Drop interface
- Send and Receive Note On/Off
- Supports all Control Change parameters
- Supports Program Change commands with bank support
- Multiple Audio Clip playback
- Record and playback bulk midi data
- Multi-Scene
- Multi-level undo/redo
- MIDI Monitor
- Presentation Mode
- iPhone and iPad compatible
Watch the preview video HERE.
For more information on Surface Builder, click here:
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