posted 21 May 2014 06:10            

quote:

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Originally posted by phillipm:
I finally got an iPad. Haven't yet been able to connect it to my pacarana using Kyma Control. I suppose I need to get Delora's Kyma Connect app for more flexibility and functionality... in connections? Am I correct in assuming that this is a Mac application whose sole job is to offer various ways to connect to the pacarana. Is it still the best option these days?

Meanwhile. Typing Kyma into that App Store search box yields (in addition to Kyma Control) something from Harmony Systems called vKiP for Kyma. No Reviews have been posted. Any thoughts on the utility of this software. Short blurb say, "When using WiFi OSC, no other computer programs, drivers, or utilities are needed."

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Hi Philip,

We (Harmony Systems, Inc.) are the developers for KymaConnect, vKiP, and a number of other Kyma-related products. You can find detailed info on our website (www.delora.com), and I would be very happy to answer all your questions via email (service@delora.com). All of our desktop applications are for OSX only. Our mobile apps are for iOS.

You do not have to have our KymaConnect product to use Symbolic Sound's KymaControl app, provided your Mac, iPad, and Paca(ana) are all connected to the same network. In a typical home/studio type of Wi-Fi network the iPad connects using Wi-Fi, the computer via Ethernet (to the router) or Wi-Fi, and the Paca(rana) using its Ethernet connection to the router. This last part is crucial. The Paca(rana) must be connected to the Wi-Fi router, otherwise you cannot use KymaControl (or any other OSC device). If this describes your network set up then KymaControl should just work without any additional software running on your computer.

Sadly some Wi-Fi routers do not properly handle Bonjour, and that can prevent KymaControl from being able to "find" the Paca(rana). Sometimes this can be fixed by adjusting the router's settings, and sometimes it can be fixed with a firmware upgrade. In some situations the router suffers a "soft crash" that causes Bonjour issues so power cycling the router helps. Unfortunately there are routers that cannot properly work with Bonjour and if you have one of those then it may need to be replaced (or you may be able to use KymaConnect instead). Commercial routers (especially those provided by cable and phone companies) seem to be more prone to these problems than most consumer models. Apple's Airport family works very well.

KymaConnect does offers many features to greatly simplify and enhance your Kyma set up even if you do not need it for the networking features. These include more powerful, yet simplified, MIDI connection to the Paca(rana), and eliminating the need for two physical MIDI interfaces (one for the computer and one for the Paca(rana)). KymaConnect also provides some networking features that provide more flexibility in how you use Kyma with devices like iPads. So we feel it is a useful addition to any Kyma studio :-)

If you have a Mac and you do not or cannot easily connect your Paca(rana) to the Wi-Fi router (or maybe do not even have a Wi-Fi network!) then KymaConnect can be a life saver. It offers a way to use the Mac’s internal AirPort Wi-Fi to set up a connection to the iPad, while at the same time the Paca(rana) connects directly to the Mac’s Ethernet port.

vKiP was the first iPad “Kyma control surface”. A sister app, vKi, provides similar features for the iPhone and iPod Touch. vKiP uses the MotorMix control surface protocol that Kyma has supported for a very long time. So it works equally well with Paca(rana) and Capybara Kyma set ups. Its a different type of control surface than KymaControl. It provides a fixed group of buttons, faders, and rotaries that are automatically assigned to control elements on Kyma’s VCS. KymaControl and vKiP each has its advantages, and they complement each other.

One useful difference is that vKiP can connect using either a Wi-Fi OSC connection or a physical MIDI connection (using an iPad compatible MIDI interface). Physical MIDI is useful in situation where Wi-Fi is just not practical.

So that’s the “brief” overview. If you’d like to continue discussions about this in a more private setting please contact me at service@delora.com.

Doug

posted 21 May 2014 23:05            

I think this is how I will need to do it. Router is on a different floor. Either that or go out and buy a dedicated router for the pacarana.

Thanks for your detailed reply.

posted 24 May 2014 12:47            

I found creating an ad hoc network directly from the airport card on your Mac is a faster connection than using a router so you may want to try that first Fwiw I use Delora's Kyma connect and it has been very stable (a lifesaver is a very apt statement on Douglas 's part)

Cheers
Rafe