o r b i

orbi is a midi utility that allows for melody creation in an alternative and creative way when compared to most other regular midi utilities. It does not produce sound. Use it with external hardware synths, drum machines or other midi instruments and software like a DAW or software synth or drum machine. 

Select your midi device from the top left of the app and select a corresponding midi channel coloured strip 1-16. You will see that a circle 'sequence' has already formed. Click play to start. The sequence will not update until you click on 'gen' for generate one time or auto for continuous generation. Each circle sequence is divided into 64 equal regions as a bar where notes are randomly assigned. Auto generation will play a sequence of notes randomly 2, 3 or 4 bars. The white dot playhead is animated as it collides with a new note.

There are six different scales and divisions. The scales are major, minor, major 7th, minor 7th, aeolian and lydian. Switching between scales while a sequence is playing may remove notes not applicable to the updated scale. Note circles will fade out when you do this. It can be handy for building up and breaking down melodies. The divisions start from 1/2 being the slowest up through to 1/64 which is extremely fast. It's best to play around with these to see what can be achieved! The fastest setting can produce shimmery drones that shift if you have the auto generate button 'on'.

orbi runs it's own clock and will sync with hardware and software after selecting the midi device input/output at the top of the app. Tempo buttons allow for incremental changes +/- 1 or 10 bpm.

Notes that are generated are assigned a specific colour and size. The smaller the coloured circle, the higher the note. Each scale has its own palette of colours as visual feedback when they load.

orbi aim's to provide quick inspiration for music and or fx creation. It can be pretty wild with percussive sounds and equally beautiful slowed down auto generating an icy pad sound drenched in reverb. brrr.

I hope you enjoy it and I'd love to hear what you make with it. Stay in touch!

Jas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaEZGRdpj_Q