Np2

Hi Craig, I am considering purchasing NP2 to use with my Procyon, Before I do so I was wondering if you would clear something up for me. Since the Procyon has three different LEDs, which LEDs respond to the programs on NP2 or NP1? Since NP1 and NP2 are not specifically made for the Procyon but a range of light and sound machines I am under the impresson only one LED would be illuminated. If that is the case, I was wondering if, after creating my own session on NP2 would I then be able to import that session into SynchroMuse to add the other two LEDs into the mix?
Thanks for your time, Chris

I'm not Craig; But I think I can answer this one...

NP2 controls the Procyon using AudioStrobe signals. There are only 2 "channels" of audiostrobe control, typically Red and Green. In the Procyon Editor, however, you can select which colours respond to the 2 AudioStrobe channels like Blue/Red or Green/Blue or even Red/Red. Whatever you like. You will be limited to 2 channels because of the AudioStrobe specification.

-Andy.

Andy has fully answered from the point of view of the Procyon.

By using the editor to change how AS is decoded, you effectively have a full range of colored glases to play with, including white. The editor doesn't actually allow you to set all three colors on on one side, so you set blue/green left and red/right. It's not quite the same a a single white LED, but by tweaking the level of the red, which tends to be overpowering, a half decent white can be achieved. Most AS sources don't do anything clever with the two tracks, many only use a single track (both channels), so the red and the blue/green will often be flashing in tandem anyway.

The really exciting part is the Procyon from the NP2 or MWS point of view.

As I was writing the Synchromuse 101 guide, I found myself wondering, "Why am I using Audacity?" The answer was, "Because that's how it was done before." Not a very good answer.

So, I have now successfully assembled a Synchromuse session, using only NP2 and the Procyon Editor. NP2 provides accurate iming of every node, so all the segment change timings are right there, and the Script Editor allows precision placement of audio clips. You still have to write the Procyon session, export the header file, etc.

If this is of interest, I'll get back onto it and write a proper how-to.

Stage 2, once I have the necessary data on PRW file structure, will be to write a little 'Wizard' style application that will read your NP2 or MWS session and create a matching PRW file. If I can get together a little more information, I may be able to have it write the header and attach it to the beginning of your NP2 generated WAV file. This, unfortunately can't be a freeby though - this little business of mine is going to have to think about making some money some time soon :)

So, anyway - NP2 and the Procyon are definitely a good thing together, even without automating the process.

Cheers,
Craig

Hi All,

CraigT, Sounds great I would pay a few bucks for that! Would the wizard convert the NP2 to three color from two automatically? Also am I correct to asume that the NP2 programs could be run through my computer into the Procyon using the AS setting on the Procyon?

Thanks,

Charles M

The way it would work, assuming I can get all the info I need to make it so, is this:

You would create a standard NP2 session with one, two or three audiostrobe tracks. The utility would convert the NP2 AS track data into a lights-only Procyon session. The utility would ask a few questions on how to translate the AS tracks into 3-colors, and would then create the Procyon session.

I haven't tested this yet, but it should be possible to play a NP2 session with a Synchromuse header embedded at the beginning directly to the dAS mode of the Procyon.

Standard NP2 sessions with AS display beautifully on the Procyon just as it is, in the AS mode - the Procyon AS decoder is very flexible and customisable. However SynchroMuse will always require the combination of an external music source with SM Header (such as NP2 session) and a Procyon session, and will operate in the dAS mode.

I hope I've understood your questions correctly.

Cheers,
Craig

Craig,

Sounds like you are really onto something here. Please keep us posted. I'd be happy to pay a bit for a NP2/Procyon Synchromuse interface.

Best cheers,
TomC

You can be assured that as soon as I can put it together, you'll be among the first to hear.

Thank-you to Robert Austin, of MindPlace, for so swiftly promising the required Procyon data. As soon as I get the NP2 info, we'll be underway :)

Cheers,
Craig

Good work Craig!

M.

Sounds awesome. Hopefully everything works out.

Craig,:eusa_clap:
You can add me to your list.
An already great company is getting even greater!
Awesome support guys... & gal!
:banana:

You can add me to your list.:cheers:

Carlos Barreto

That seems like a pretty clear expression of interest! Thanks, all! I'll get onto the AS-to-Synchromuse Wizard as soon as all the info is at hand.

I started looking at doing the how-to for the manual approach, and realised that on the one hand it is incredibly simple, but on the other there's a zillion variables.

What I'd like to do for a start, rather than trying to document every possibility, is just give a general idea of how to use NP2 to create a Synchomuse track and then try to answer any questions that arise.

You can decide what order to do things in.

If you want to do the light show first, then you can do the Procyon Editor thing and note all the segment timings there, then use those timings to place the nodes in NP2's Session Editor.

Or you can design the Audio in NP2 first, noting all the node timings to determine segment lengths for the Procyon lights session.

At some point you will need do all the steps in the Procyon Editor to produce the RAW header file. Unfortunately RAW is not a supported format in NP2, so you will need to open Audacity one more time - to import the RAW (in STEREO) and then export it as a WAV. Also note the length of the header, rounded up (the sample is about 0.26 seconds).

You then go into NP2 Scripts/New Scripts. Add track/Use soundfile to place the WAV version of the header at time 0. You can also import other content or script soundfiles, just sure there is no imported or track content that will make any sound before the Header has ended (i.e. 0.26 seconds in the case of the sample).

When you select the session to play, select the script that has the related header, set your Procyon to dAS, and away you go. You can also export the whole session to WAV and it will work fine. Hi-res compression with OGG or FLAC will probably work, extremely hi-res MP3 (384k +) might work. The header signal is 19.6kHz, so you need a good top end.

Hope this makes some sort of sense.

Cheers,
Craig

Just a little progress report...

Information is gradually arriving from all necessary sources.

Reading NP2 session files is rather more tricky than I had anticipated. I'm going to need to spend a bit of time working out if I can do it in a satisfactory manner.

In the meantime, I'm wondering if there would be similar interest in a Mind Workstation-to-Synchromuse wizard? Reading the MWS session files is a much more straight-forward matter.

Cheers,
Craig

Craig,

I could be wrong, but I think this wizard will attract a lot more people with an NP2 interface. For me, MWS is too complex (for my needs) and expensive. Just my $0.02 worth.

Cheers,
TomC

Hello,

I agree with Tom C. Also I already have NP2. Am currently experiencing some of their Sessions. Will soon be ready to dive in to creating some Sessions. Am extremely interested in experimenting with colors and the Ganz effect.

Charles C

Yet another update on the NP2/Synchromuse wizard...

Unfortunately I still don't have all the information I need, but the information I already have has made it clear that this project is more trouble than it's worth to me, so sadly, it has made it to the scrap heap.

I'm always interested in ideas for applications/utilities, so if there is anything you'd like me to have a look at, please feel free to let me know.

If you're interested in non-frequency specific brain training, I've written a little application that generates pulses and AS light flashes in vague mimicry of one well known and publicised device. I say vague because that device uses neurofeedback whereas mine does not (yet), so it's anyone's guess whether it's good for anything. If nothing else it can generate some pretty wild light shows. Email me if you'd like a copy.

Cheers,
Craig

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraigT

Yet another update on the NP2/Synchromuse wizard...

Unfortunately I still don't have all the information I need, but the information I already have has made it clear that this project is more trouble than it's worth to me, so sadly, it has made it to the scrap heap.

I'm always interested in ideas for applications/utilities, so if there is anything you'd like me to have a look at, please feel free to let me know.

If you're interested in non-frequency specific brain training, I've written a little application that generates pulses and AS light flashes in vague mimicry of one well known and publicised device. I say vague because that device uses neurofeedback whereas mine does not (yet), so it's anyone's guess whether it's good for anything. If nothing else it can generate some pretty wild light shows. Email me if you'd like a copy.

Cheers,
Craig

---

Craig,

Thanks for the update Craig. I kind of thought that this interface would be pretty difficult. Adam at Transparent Corp told me that he has tried to get Procyon RGB to talk to MWS and NP2 but he has been unable to do so (maybe due to the Procyon USB port protocol?).

I think that the real key is to figure out how to get the mws/np2 rgb talking together first. In my case, I will gladly upgrade from np2 to mws if the Procyon RGB was supported.

Cheers.
TomC