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from the every-kickstarter-project-should-impress-like-this dept.
Jono Bacon reports via OpenSource.com
It runs Linux, uses JACK, and the plugin standard used is LV2
Some time ago, the MOD Duo jumped onto my radar. In a nutshell, it is a guitar stomp box that comes loaded with different effects and sounds. Instead of buying the multitude of guitar pedals that many musicians string together in complex, if somewhat beautiful ways, the MOD Duo negates all that. It is a single box and what's more, it is powered by open source.
Now, when I say it is powered by open source, I don't just mean it runs Linux, but we will get to that a little later.
[...] Inside the beefy-looking steel enclosure is a computer that is loaded with software for generating lots of different guitar effects and sounds. This includes delays, reverbs, choruses, flangers, and more. When you plug this thing into you computer, you can then use a web interface to build your own virtual pedalboard:
Just like a physical pedalboard, you drag the different virtual stomp boxes onto the floor and use cables to connect them together in different ways.
When you have created your sounds, the MOD Duo will save them and you can call them directly from the hardware unit. This means you don't need a computer to use the MOD Duo to play gigs; you only use the computer to configure your pedalboards.
The interface is not just used for creating sounds, though. You can also browse additional virtual pedals and download them, and create banks of patches.
[...] For many years you have been able to plug a USB sound card into a Linux computer, set up JACK, configure your plugins, and output the audio in different ways. Although possible, this was historically complicated to set up and use.
[...] The MOD Duo changed all this. First, everything is set up and good to go on the device itself. You literally don't need to know jack about JACK. Second, the plugins have completely refreshed and simplified interfaces that look and feel like guitar pedals. Third, the overall interface for stringing these different effects together is simple, natural, and a lot of fun. For the geeks they even go so far as to offer a MOD Arduino Shield for experimenting with different sensors and a MOD software development kit.
[...] Aside from all the technical merits of the MOD Duo from an open source perspective, I also love how the team is working in this very community-oriented way. Once again, the real power of open source is not code, it is the community fabric and methodology that underpins it.
(Score: 5, Informative) by janrinok on Tuesday November 01 2016, @08:09AM
I'll try to defend my choice of story here.
Firstly. many of the stories that we publish regarding progress or change in technical fields mention a product. Commercial gain is what drives much R&D. In this article there are 2 products; the stomp box and Jack, and the box itself is powered by an Arduino. I'm not overly interested in the stomp box (see my user page for my own musical interests) but quite a few of our community are also musicians and some of them will enjoy the read. However, TFA is also about open source software and Jack, which has been around for a few years now and appears to be going from strength to strength. Further expansion of the box is possible by the addition of an Arduino shield. If you disagree with my assessment of Jack, the use of open source, or an innovative use of an Arduino computer, then by all means fire away in the comments.
Secondly, the pedal can be extended by downloading "additional virtual pedals", at no additional cost. This might be commonplace, but it is the first that I had heard of it and I thought that it might add to the interest of TFS. Again, the whole point of this site is to initiate an informed discussion so I will watch the comments as the day progresses.
Finally, I made sure that the summary did not quote costs or additional technical details other than those necessary to show how open source (and Jack in particular) are used. I know that the manufacturer's website does mention such things, but that would be true whether we were discussing electric cars, high-spec blade computers or anything else - it is what manufacturers do. The summary is published as it is because it is a direct quotation from the source material - indicated by the blockquote indentation. We have to attribute to sources and refrain from changing the contents of quotations as either of these can lead to legal difficulties for SN. However, you can also see where superfluous information has been omitted by either the submitter or myself.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Arik on Tuesday November 01 2016, @09:23AM
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Tuesday November 01 2016, @10:03AM
I have a couple of digital effects processors, and a couple of modelling amps, and from what I've seen the downloading of new effects is new as well. There seems to be a decent amount of interest in open software in general and Linux specifically amongst musicians, as there are Linux versions of the control software for pretty much every electronic effect I have. In the case of the Fender modelling amp I have, the Linux software is nicer to use than the Windows version. Far more professional.
I'll definitely give this pedal a look.
(Score: 1) by Arik on Tuesday November 01 2016, @11:36PM
Nonetheless I feel like a fool not knowing that. Never saw a mention of it that I can recall. I considered the Mustang, wound up with a rebuilt Line6 that will do a lot more than I can really use even without being plugged into the computer, but best I know you gotta run windows and then run blobs to make that interface happen so I have never even thought about trying.
Truth is about 80% of the time when I want a guitar in my hands I seem to pull out my classical. Love the tone, love the feel, maybe if I get a piezo mounted on it I'd fire up the amp more often.
Or if I found a deal on an SST-CE. But now I'm rambling...
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Nerdfest on Wednesday November 02 2016, @12:30AM
It is free actually, and is hosted on BitBucket [bitbucket.org]. It's also included in the Ubuntu repos now I believe. Don't think it uses binaries, except that it will actually run firmware patches (which are binaries) on the amp, which is super nice for those of us that don't run Windows at all.
I have a GT-10, a GT-3, a Fender Champ X2, and a few devices with digital control, and the Plug software for the Mustang is the most open, and most usable of the bunch. I've *heard* that it may work on the X2 as well, but I haven't tried it yet.
All that said, the Mod Duo pedal here is tempting, although a little pricey.
(Score: 1) by Arik on Wednesday November 02 2016, @01:30AM
Man I was so ready to call bullshit on that.
"Compilation
If you want to compile PLUG yourself, download the latest source code (https://bitbucket.org/piorekf/plug/get/tip.tar.gz) and read on."
less README
"1. Compilation
To build program requires Qt4 and libusb-1.0. To build the code you need to
run the following commands in the source directory:
~ $ qmake plug.pro
~ $ make
If both commands finished without errors compilation is finished. Executables
name is "plug" so to run the program just type:
~ $ ./plug"
Very nice. Now I gotta start looking for a good deal on a Mustang.
Aw man, screw you! :P
:)
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Wednesday November 02 2016, @01:58AM
Sorry dude. Seems like a nice humanoid as well. I needed some help from him on something USB related and he helped greatly. The really weird thing is I think I used some other free, non music-related software of his at some point as well. Small world in the open-source community it seems.
Good luck with the amp. I have the Mustang I ... just picked it up when it first came out as a practice amp I just have tucked behind my couch. It sounds really good though, far better than I was expecting. I see used ones (in various sizes) come up for sale online fairly regularly.
I should check and see if the software works with my X2 now.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 01 2016, @06:12PM
"Finally, I made sure that the summary did not quote costs"
You did them a favour. $500?! Really?!
I had a spare raspberry after I upgraded my home theatre to pi 3 so I am currently building a raspberry pi powered USB-midi pedals (expression/volume pedals and switches), knobs and buttons affair which will not only be able to be used for effects but also serve as a generic midi device (which therefore can be trivially bound to control any effects on my computer).
My plan is to implement breath (pressure differential sensors) and bend controllers next so I can simulate wind instruments and play with a glove type controller.
From there, just for fun, I might try some piezo-based drum sensors.
I could extend it to include effects and audio processing (others have done this) but I use my computer and its 8 cores for such things via a dedicated Analogue->Digital box which will guarantee good sound quality and low latency. (not sure how this box will fair in this area)
This is all this device is in reality....and not exactly a very good implementation of it since it has VERY limited range of physical knobs and buttons.
I also did not even see an expression pedal or switch jack!? How is this "1000 stomp boxes in one" without that? You are immediately limited to midi devices only which are very limited.
I mean...seriously....where is the imagination?
(Score: 1) by DeVilla on Wednesday November 02 2016, @05:10AM
I liked the story. I'll be watching this project/product pretty close. I've been trying yo talk myself into buying a modeling amp recently as it is. I'm fond of the fender mustangs (I'd really love a twin, but I just can't justify a 150 watt amp) but the vyper pro is a really impressive amp.
The downside for me with the mod is that 2 button's do not offer much control. I suspect I could hook it up to my RP1 via midi to get more live control.
Before I'd buy a MOD I'd want to know how smoothly it switches patches. My RP1 was nice, but it has a sub-sec moment of silence when switching patches that ends up being a real pain to work around live. I have the same concern with the Mustang3 and vyper pro. (And then there is the question of tube simulation quality....)
I'd also want to tie in expression pedals. I play some songs that use both a wah & a volume pedal. I'm geek enough that's I'd do more if I could. Looks like the MOD only had an auto-wah, but that should be correctable.
Anyhow, I'm certainly curious and I'm glad you posted. I wish the site had a few more details. I also wish I could have found out earlier.