Author Archives: rt

Alesis Vortex: Firmware update 1.20 and Vyzex Patch Edit program available

Posted on 2013/11/07 by rt

Well, Alesis is listening to it’s users. They have just published a new firmware version for the Vortex. Version 1.20: Allows compatibility with the Vyzex Vortex patch editor software Allows the pitch-bend wheel to be reversed Allows any pad to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music equipment, Vortex | Tagged | 10 Comments

MP-2 + MRe: Hacking the Alesis Vortex and using a Wireless Midi Transmitter

Posted on 2013/04/12 by rt

A two-project merge! The Alesis Vortex needed a bit more… controls! So I decided to add a few sensors that would give me greater flexibility when playing. The Vortex is already quite capable, but my left hand was not “used” … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, Electronics, MP, MP-2, Music equipment, Vortex | 3 Comments

MRe-2: A demo

Posted on 2013/03/11 by rt

I have decided to try the MRe-2 in a real setting. So I hooked up my keyboard and recorded a demo. It was done using Ableton Live 9. The trick was to setup 2 midi loops (using clips). The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, FCB1010, MP, MR, MRe, Vortex | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Midi Wireless: The iRig Midi adapter and Audeonic’s MidiBridge

Posted on 2013/03/09 by rt

In a previous post, I explained how I successfully use a pair of XBee radios to exchange Midi information between a midi instrument and a computer. This post is about another wireless solutions for those who have an iPhone or … Continue reading →

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MRe-2: XBee Midi emitter

Posted on 2013/01/10 by rt

In the previous post, I  explained that I temporarily abandoned trying to use the RFM12B radio transceiver to exchange Midi information between two devices. This post explains how I successfully used the XBee radio transceiver to achieve sending information between … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, MP, Music equipment | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

MRe-1: A special version of the MP-1: A Midi Transmitter

Posted on 2013/01/07 by rt

A special version of the MP-1 was built to get MIDI data from the Vortex and send it wirelessly to a computer for further processing. I have decided to name it the Midi Remote Emitter 1 (MRe-1). In fact, the … Continue reading →

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Alesis Vortex: A better Manual: Functional Description and Midi Programming Guide

Posted on 2012/12/27 by rt

This Alesis Vortex User Guide is available as a PDF file. UPDATE 2013/11/7: Alesis posted a new firmware (1.20) and the Vyzex Patch Editing software on their site. I posted about the changes here. The new Firmware/Software combination kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Vortex | Tagged , , | 151 Comments

Alesis Vortex – First Review: What’s inside? (Tear Down)

Posted on 2012/12/20 by rt

I received an Alesis Vortex today: Of course, I will do a user review.  I also did a functional review. But first, a tear-down! (As usual, a click on the picture will enlarge it) I will try to be precise … Continue reading →

Posted in Music equipment, Vortex | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Jeenode: Interference

Posted on 2012/12/16 by rt

Because of the previous post, I decided to  test a bit more. To see if I could physically move the board to reduce interference. So I connected the Arduino with the attached RFM12B radio module. The one using the Sparkfun … Continue reading →

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RFM12B: Dealing with radio interference

Posted on 2012/12/16 by rt

This is a screenshot from the serial monitor of a Jeenode (Arduino compatible) connected to my computer. It runs a program that will listen to incoming radio messages through its RFM12B radio transceiver. In this window, you can clearly see too … Continue reading →

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