pch2csd - The Clavia Nord Modular G2 Patch Converter Project
The goal of this project is to (re)implement the Clavia Nord Modular G2 sound engine in Csound, a well-known sound and music computing system. Important wiki pages:
- The full list of supported Nord modules: Module implementation status.
- A guideline for porting Nord modules: Making a new module.
Installation
For the time being we recommend to install the tool from the GitHub repo directly. Python 3.5+ and pip are required.
pip install -U git+https://github.com/gleb812/pch2csd.git
Usage
Command line options:
$ pch2csd -h
usage: pch2csd [-h] [-d] [-p | -c | -v | -e] [arg]
convert Clavia Nord Modular G2 patches to the Csound code
positional arguments:
arg a pch2 file path or an UDO numerical ID
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-d, --debug print a stack trace in case of error
-p, --print parse the patch file and print its content
-c, --check-udo validate the UDO template file (overrides '-p')
-v, --version show program's version number and exit
-e show the elephant and exit
To generate a new Csound file just pass the .pch2
file path as the argument.
The new file will be generated in the same directory with the patch file. An
example:
pch2csd test_poly_mix2.pch2
Option -p
can be used to print modules and cables present in of the patch.
Module ID
is a unique number of a module in the patch, module Type
is a
numerical representation of the module's type (also used to look up for
templates in the resources/modules
). In the square brackets are the raw MIDI
module parameters. Area
is the part the module or cable is located; it can
be either VOICE
or FX
. In the cable table notation In2(id=1, out=0) -> Mix41B(id=2, in=0)
means, that the cable connects the 0th output of the module
In2
(ID
1) with the input 0 of the module Mix41b
(ID
2). Note that the
modules can connect either outputs (out-in
) to inputs or intputs to inputs
(in-in
).
$ pch2csd -p test_3osc.pch2
Patch file: test_3osc.pch2
Modules
Name ID Type Parameters Area
-------- ---- ------ ----------------------- ------
OscA 1 97 [64, 51, 1, 0, 2, 1, 0] VOICE
OscA 2 97 [64, 78, 1, 0, 2, 1, 0] VOICE
OscA 3 97 [64, 64, 1, 0, 2, 1, 0] VOICE
Mix41B 4 19 [100, 112, 91, 117, 1] VOICE
EnvD 6 55 [54, 0] VOICE
FltLP 5 87 [75, 34, 0, 1] VOICE
Out2 7 4 [2, 1, 0] VOICE
Keyboard 8 1 [] VOICE
FxIn 1 127 [0, 1, 1] FX
Clip 2 61 [0, 53, 1, 1] FX
Out2 3 4 [0, 1, 0] FX
Cables
From To Color Type Area
--------------------- -- ------------------ ------- ------ ------
OscA(id=1, out=0) -> Mix41B(id=4, in=1) red out-in VOICE
OscA(id=2, out=0) -> Mix41B(id=4, in=2) red out-in VOICE
OscA(id=3, out=0) -> Mix41B(id=4, in=3) red out-in VOICE
Mix41B(id=4, out=0) -> EnvD(id=6, in=2) red out-in VOICE
EnvD(id=6, out=1) -> FltLP(id=5, in=0) red out-in VOICE
EnvD(id=6, out=0) -> FltLP(id=5, in=1) blue out-in VOICE
FltLP(id=5, out=0) -> Out2(id=7, in=0) red out-in VOICE
Out2(id=7, in=0) -> Out2(id=7, in=1) red in-in VOICE
Keyboard(id=8, out=1) -> EnvD(id=6, in=0) yellow out-in VOICE
FxIn(id=1, out=0) -> Clip(id=2, in=0) red out-in FX
Clip(id=2, out=0) -> Out2(id=3, in=0) red out-in FX
Out2(id=3, in=0) -> Out2(id=3, in=1) red in-in FX
Option -c
allows you to check whether the UDO for the specified module has
been implemented or has errors in the implementation:
$ pch2csd -c 43
Checking UDO for the type ID 43
Found a module of this type: Constant
The UDO template seems to be correct
$ pch2csd -c 194
Checking UDO for the type ID 194
Found a module of this type: Mix21A
ERROR Unknown table 'CLAEXP'
$ pch2csd -c 100
Checking UDO for the type ID 100
Found a module of this type: Sw21
ERROR UdoTemplate(Sw21, 100.txt): no opcode 'args' annotations were found in the template
History
We started our project during Summer of 2015. The Project's main objective is to simulate legendary Clavia Nord Modular G2 synthesizer using Csound language. The Project was first presented at the The Third International Csound Conference (2-4 October, St. Petersburg, Russia).
How to contribute
Please, read the CONTRIBUTION.md file.
Why do you need it?
If you are a Nord Modular fan, this software allows you to have your favourite device ressurected for eternal life in the halls of Csound language. You also can improve the precision of models and use the whole world of Csound possibilities together with Clavia.
If you are a Csound person, this is a new branch of our journey. This is great to have some hardware digital synths running on Csound. Once the conversion project is done, you are able to use hundreds of interesting Clavia's G2 patches straigth on Csound.
If you discover the world of modular synthesis and algorithmic composition, the system provides a good way to describe the graphic patches of Clavia.
If you are a developer of alternative Clavia Nord Modular G2 Editor, you could merge your graphical editor software with the system to produce the sound.