Ground Control ?

I’ve been tasked to design a central control panel for all the instruments that are being built during the course. Naturally, I wanted to be platform and software-license independent, and I picked PureData as a base platform, for everyone to be able to install and use it on their computers. So it can be compiled into an app, and can be deployed rapidly on any computer in minutes and it’s as reliable as the Wi-Fi connection of the computer.

Every project utilizes OSC somehow, however even with a standardized protocol like OSC, in order to control all projects from one central control panel, all projects needed a common ground. This is where Ground Control comes in.

Essentially it is a collection of PD patches I’ve created, but they can work harmoniously together.

8 Channel Faders / Switches

Assuming some projects would have both variable inputs and on/off switches, I made this patch to control  8 faders, and 8 switches. Although it’s infinitely expandable, current photo shows only 8 objects.

Randomness

Considering many people are working on an instrument, and these instruments are extraordinary hybrid instruments, I thought the control mechanism could benefit from having some level of randomness in it. This patch can generate random numbers every X seconds, in a selected number range, and send this data do the instrument. An example usage would be to control odd electrical devices in a random order.

Sequencer

Making hybrid instruments is no fun, if computers are not being extra-helpful. I thought a step sequencer could dramatically improve some hybrid instruments by adding a time management mechanism. Using this cameras can be turned on and off for selective periods, specific speakers can be notated/coordinated or devices can be turned on/off in an orchestrated fashion.