Copperlan

[novaflash]

i don't know if a news has been published about that :

http://www.copperlan.org/

a kind of midiyoke locally, a midi network too etc

it's free for end user.

[dave dove]

reckon it'll connect two or more ableton live machines?

dave

[VariKusBrainZ]

when trying to install I get
"installer integrity check has failed"
Ive redownloaded a few times but with same result

[VariKusBrainZ]

Does this even work without specific hardware ?

[CopperPhil]

Hello everybody

Yes indeed, CopperLan is now in RC1 version, meaning that R&D is finished and commercial product are on the way.

The CopperLan package is available from www.copperlan.com. It is free and does not need specific hardware. At this time, since we are missing released CopperLan specific application, this package just allows you to patch MIDI between multiple computers (XP32, Vista/Seven 32 & 64, Mac Intel). But I can tell you that some cool applications/hardware will arrive soon

Moreover, a SDK is also available to develop freeware applications. It is free (of course) and available after registering on the CopperLan Wiki. I've just started a tutorial on my french speaking CopperLan blog (http://copperlanphil.blogspot.com). An english version of this blog is following (http://copperlan.blogspot.com) but not yet synchronized with the content of the 1st one.

=> dave dove: the CopperLan package install virtual MIDI drivers, so it is possible to connect MIDI applications to the CopperLan network.

=> VariKusBrainZ: I'm wondering what's going wrong with your install... can you tell me more about your computer type, operating system...

So do not hesitate, I'm here to help you if you have problems with the package, SDK or for any question about CopperLan

[VariKusBrainZ]

=> VariKusBrainZ: I'm wondering what's going wrong with your install... can you tell me more about your computer type, operating system...
-)

Sorted now. When trying to download with Firefox/downthemall the downloaded file is always 880kb. Downloading without the download manager works fine.

Ta
Matt

[brok landers]

i'm very curious if the big ones like roland, korg and yamaha will pick this up, to replace the midi protocol once and for all... then we're talking... that would be a hughe step forward finally... midi resolution is a joke when it comes to realtime control... i understand all the guys that say that hardware is a different feel just soley because of that fact...
when this protocol is finally breaking through, then, and not before, i'll jump on the external hardware controller wagon finally... 5x higher resolution than midi. that's quite a word.

[CopperPhil]

Of course we are working with hardware and software manufacturers for a long time. We had long discussions on how to make things simple and powerful. We are independant, it is very important because no manufacturer is about to impose its protocol to others.
However CopperLan is much more that MIDI. MIDI is a protocol to be implemented by manufacturers. CopperLan is a turnkey full communication framework, running even on computers or custom hardwares, and providing programmers with high level interfaces.
A number of manufacturers are working today on commercial products, their feedback is really exciting The first musical product to be released is the Rhizome by Feeltune. A new broadcast console from Radio Systems Inc. is also announced. More low-end to high-end hardwares and softwares are expected for the NAMM Show 2011 and Frankfurt Musikmesse 2011. So yes, CopperLan is on the road

[to-pse]

Hi there,
from what i can see on your webpage, your are yet again another company that has implemented a proprietary protocol to tunnel midi over ip. Why didn't you guys choose the MMAs prefered open standard for tunneling MIDI over ip: RTP-MIDI http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~lazzaro/rtpmidi/

best regards,
Tobias

[CopperPhil]

Hello Tobias,

CopperLan is not doing tunneling MIDI over IP... Connecting MIDI end points through the network is just one particular application of CopperLan.

Our networking solution is not based on IP, it is a plug & play network, no config, using human-friendly names to identify things, allowing hardware devices to get connected through USB, Fireware, Ethernet or whatever, physical location is not important (you can connect a controller on computer A today and computer B tomorrow without changing anything in the CopperLan setup). CopperLan offers editing solution with remote discovery, automatic feedback (even if multiple controllers act on a single parameter target), full snapshot allowing to collect/restore settings for every application on the network from a single point. It provides every machine with a global clock reference allowing timestamping over the network. Command & control supports continous values in different data formats up to 128 bits, discrete values (selection in a list), text values, custom data transfer...; a musical event transport hi-res tone, dissociated gating and impulse... We have funny demos using small CV-CopperLan hardware making a Theremin, analog LFOs and an analog step sequencer controlling a CV-Gate analog synth... and a MIDI synth! (possible because MIDI is translated to/from CopperLan, not only transported)

Yes indeed, CopperLan is not an open protocol as RTP-MIDI... because it is not only a protocol, it is a complete turnkey solution. But "not open" does not means "locked" (CopperLan is scalable and we are working closely with people and companies [not yet] adopting CopperLan to ensure we match their specific requirements) nor expansive (we offer the computer middleware for free and a SDK for non-commercial products).

This blog (http://copperlan.blogspot.com), contains a quick view of CopperLan main features, it is the english version of my french speaking blog (not yet fully translated, http://copperlanphil.blogspot.com).

Let me know if you want more information [/url]

[mandolarian]

Wow! This is an ambitious and awesome project! Can't wait to CopperLan my mandolin. You support the basic carved-top protocols, right?

[CopperPhil]

Sure!

Seriously, we have defined a wide number of information types and variations for any kind of instrument, even an hypothetic wind instrument embedding accelerometers, percussion pads and strings Each information can potentially be used to control any parameter of any synth, filter, light control, pyrotechnics, anything... as far you have the right CopperLan interfaces/application.

[aMUSEd]

Would this enable me to use devices that no longer have midi drivers for Win 7? I'm thinking for example of my Roland V-Synth and Hartman Neuron Nuke controller - neither of which have Win 7 drivers but would be great if I could get them working (especially the Nuke).

[CopperPhil]

Well, if those devices are not recognized as standard MIDI devices, CopperLan will not help as is...

But someone knowing details on the dedicated USB communication protocol can develop a free application based on the CopperLan freeware SDK that handle the USB communication on one side and declare CopperLan stuff on the other side. If the USB communication results in one or more MIDI streams, they can be easily converted in CopperLan using the MIDI<->CopperLan convertion objects provided in the SDK. Then it is possible to bind those objects to other virtual or physical MIDI<->CopperLan ports, and finally get a virtual MIDI cable between your hardware and MIDI hardware/software (not necessarily located on the same computer).

BUT it will not restore connection between your hardware and dedicated application, except if this application talks to the hardware using MIDI instead of specific USB protocol.

[marce]

Sorry my ignorance, but for the musician using a computer for compose or record, what use / advantage do have this "Copperlan" thing? any practical examples?

Thanks