Overview:
The 9 Box allows 1-4 players to control 2 9 box audio clips with LED feedback. The system works for 1-4 players and requires 6 AudioCubes. You could play half the system with 3 AudioCubes with 1-2 players. Best contact me before installing so I can give you an overview and save you time.
Template: (Copyright Mark J. Mosher, CC-BY-NC)
- Computer: Decent Mac or PC purchased within last 3 years should work fine.
COMPONENTS
I've listed the core components with an a note in parentheses on where to buy
the component. Please call contact Jeff at Seetwater or Bert at
Percussa directly to get educational discounts. Prices listed are
non-academic but academic pricing is available for all components.
- Software
-
Ableton Live 8 - $499 - (Sweetwater). You can install Live on 2 systems if you don't run concurrently *.
- MIDI Yoke virtual ports for Windows Users - Donate - (Shareware Download | Info)
-
- Peripherals
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Soundcard - $149 - (Sweetwater) | Most modern controllers do MIDI over USB. If you want a soundcard which also has USB http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i4/ $199.
- D-Link DUB-H7 USB Hub - $39 - (Sweetwater)
- 6 USB Cables
- Core Controllers:
- Percussa AudioCubes $175/per - 6 minimum. 8 Recommended (they ship in boxes of 4 (Percussa)
- Novation Launchpad - $149 - (Sweetwater)
- Optional
- Moog Etherwave Theremin - $389 (Sweetwater)
- 2 Dave Laptop tables from IKea - $19.99 a piece
- Grip It Shelf paper to cover table tops or tape to bottom of cuges to make them less likely to slide off table.
Note I don't benefit from the sale of components.
- Sweetwater Jeffery Green at Sweetwater Sound is
familiar with the 9 Box system and the core platform. So with just one
phone call you can get almost every component. Jeff can also extend
educational discounts for organizations that qualify. Please call or email Jeff so he get's credit for the sale. Note I don't benefit from sales - just want to reward Jeff for being so knowledgeable and helpful.
Jeffrey_Green@sweetwater.com, 800 222 4700 x 1272
- Buy AudioCubes
AudioCubes are made by a Percussa in Belgium. I've been working with the founder Bert Schiettecatte closely on my templates and he is intimate with work on my casual musical instrument projects. I recommend 8 AudioCubes if you want to run the 9 Box. AudioCubes ship in boxes of 4 so that's 2 orders. AudioCubes standard pricing is $175/cube. Use this form to start the order process and make sure to mention educational pricing of your organization is an educational institution - http://land.percussa.com/how-to-buy-audiocubes/.
1) Download and install Percussa's FREE MIDI Bridge App
2) For Windows users you'll need to install virtual MIDI ports. I recommend you download Midi Yoke. It's free, but I why donate to keep development going
3) Download 9 Box Kit with Templates for MIDIBridge and Ableton Live
- 2x9 Box Synth Arps 01.alp – A sample refill with two 9 boxes. It’s the same content that is in the Live template, but I provided so you could get a look at the structure of the refill. To make your own refills use this as a base and simply drop your own samples into the two 9 Boxes. This is royalty free content made by yours truly so you can use it in songs if you like. Learn more here. If you are not familiar with install live packs, read this page I put together for one of my other projects http://www.outpostexperiment.com/download.html.
- 9 Box AudioCubes Edition 01a.alp – This is a live pack with all the essential mapping for 6 AudioCubes and requires the latest version of Ableton Live.
- A printable Table Top Quick Start 01a. Learn more about this here.
- 9 Box Percussa MIDI Bridge 01a.acp – This is the patch for Percussa MIDI Bridge and that maps cube function to work with the Ableton Live template
- readme-license.html – This file contains notes on the CubeMappings, system requirements etc…
4) Print the Table-Top template and follow instructions.
Performance Mappings:
Here is how the AudioCubes map to the 9 Box's.
9 BOX FOR TONE + 9 BOX FOR LIGHT
Cube A (Sender) = Wireless for triggering cube to launch clips in tone cube
Cube 1 (Sensor) = FX: 1 = Filter, 2 = Delay Wet/Dry, 3 = Scratch, 4 = Vocoded Resonance effect
Cube 2 (Receiver) = TONE & LIGHT: 9 Box Target Tone Cube. Also receives all the automated light.
9 BOX FOR RYTHM + 9 BOX FOR LIGHT
Cube B (Sender) = Wireless for Triggering cube to launch clips in rhythm cube
Cube 3 (Receiver) = RHYTHM & LIGHT: 9 Box Target Tone Cube
Cube 4 (Sensor) = FX: 1 = Filter, 2 = Delay Wet/Dry, 3 = Beat Repeat, 4 = Bit Crushing
Cubes A&B are interchangeable.
Performance Method:
I'm working on some videos to explain the method. I put together a slideshow with notes from my prototype work. It servers as a nice pictorial overview of the method. Note that the audio cubes in these pictures have plastic tape on them indicating cube function. Normally, the cubes have not markings on them and you orient the AudioCubes based on the position of the USB port.
