4Pockets are about to release a Surface Builder update which includes a number of new additions. Surface Builder is currently available for only $9.99.
What’s new in version 1.04:
- Added a new scenes tabbar that can be enabled in settings. Double tap the tabs to rename.
- The scenes toolbar button is now available even if not in edit mode. Selecting a scene now closes the toolbar.
- Added support for 7 and 14bit NRPN messages.
- Added support for sending 14Bit CC messages.
- Increased the output resolution of the Knobs/Faders/XYPad in 14bit mode.
- When 14bit is selected these UI elements allow 10x the resolution.
- Double tapping on a Stepper object now prompts for a direct input value.
- You can now set the default double tap value for Knobs and Faders (that are not attached to internal functions).
- Swipe LEFT and RIGHT on Stepper objects to increment/decrement by larger increments.
- Fixed an issue with button mutual exclusion when assigned to groups.
- You can now specify the values sent for the on/off states of a button or switch.
- Modified the LFO function to allow NRPN support.
- Fixed an issue which caused the repeat button in the audio properties to display an incorrect error when working with queued audio.
- Fixed the display of various MIDI monitor NRPN messages.
- The XY-Pad now retains its position during a save/load cycle rather than centering.
- Upgraded any pitch bend knob objects to hi-resolution on load.
- Added an option to Settings to disable NRPN processing on input allowing CC98,99,6 and 38 to be used as normal. Outgoing NRPN is not effected.
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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