RichyHo's Multi-Format Rack Planner (Work in progress)

[Funky40]

Progress Update... Multiple inter-patchable formats per plan... More info on the blog...

http://horsmanprojects.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... e-112.html

wow, cool work.
never used a rackplanner myself, but this one might be for me.
.....but i would have to import all my DIY modules
a tutorial to do that would be very welcome Is there any allready ?

[drip.feed]

This thing is fantastic, isn't it?

[negativspace]

Yep.

[RichyHo]

A new, better quality video (best watched in 720p HD, full screen)...

[video][/video]

[Thonk Support]

love it

I think this is all a malevolent plan to get us all to buy systems of every format

[negativspace]

I think this is all a malevolent plan to get us all to buy systems of every format

This is exactly what I was thinking...

[Matos]

The screws are the best part!

[RichyHo]

The screws are the best part!

[a100user]

You know Rich this is now looking so good I'd be

1. really interested in where your going with this feature wise
2. when it'll be available?
3. will it work on my Mac?
4. How much? Yes I'm prepared to spend money on this app and I expect other would as well.


Sorry if my questions are a bit premature in your development cycle.

Cheers

David

[Thonk Support]

you should certainly accept donations if you don't want to sell it.

[a100user]

The screws are the best part!

Didn't notice them - look wonderful and shiny

[John Noble]

The screws are the best part!

Didn't notice them - look wonderful and shiny

They need to be hex head (stainless, if you please), though.

[BananaPlug]

....but i would have to import all my DIY modules hmmm.....
a tutorial to do that would be very welcome wink Is there any allready ?

I've got a complete rewrite of the RackPlanner Module Library in the works and as far as I know Richie's planner is based on that data format. We talked (tentatively) about having some kind of integration but both of us have had tasks to plow through before getting to that level of detail. Soon though.

[HueMonContact]

This is really cool! Excellent work!

[negativspace]

They need to be hex head (stainless, if you please), though.

If we're taking the custom thing all the way, why not have a list of 2 or 3 different screw options.

[RichyHo]

wow, cool work.

This thing is fantastic, isn't it?

Yep.

This is really cool! Excellent work!

Thanks!

I've got a complete rewrite of the RackPlanner Module Library in the works and as far as I know Richie's planner is based on that data format.

It is

You know Rich this is now looking so good I'd be

1. really interested in where your going with this feature wise
2. when it'll be available?
3. will it work on my Mac?
4. How much? Yes I'm prepared to spend money on this app and I expect other would as well.

Sorry if my questions are a bit premature in your development cycle.

Cheers, David

Hi David. Thanks - here's the answers to your questions...

Well, here's a non-exhaustive list of planned features (in addition to what it already does):

Keep track of modules that you own (including price paid, date bought, rating etc)
Keep track of your modules 'wish/GAS list'
Keep track of changes to your real rack over time (I love looking back at my 'ddmmyyyy - Current Setup.xml' files in dougcl's planner to see how my system's changed over time)
Power - Keep track of current draw, highlighting power-hungry modules and rearranging racks to spread load.
Depth - Set max depth per subrack and highlight modules that won't fit (think skiff).
Mouseover gaps to reveal their widths
Reshuffle - we all love a good shake-up (don't we?)
Allow modules to be dropped on the 'table' rather than racked (think incoming/outgoing modules)
Rotatable racks
Cut, copy and paste
Zoom to mouse
Custom screws (you guys!)
Patching - Interface to allow patch points of modules to be tagged and labelled - This is a biggie. Once a module's been tagged it'll allow patch cables to snap to the correct positions on the modules and also produce easy-to-follow verbal patch instructions you can step through. Think "MakeNoise Wogglebug Woggle Output -> E350 Morphing Terrarium 1V/OCT Input". allowing you to easily demonstrate/recreate any patch. Of course it would also store (and display) knob positions.
Hierarchical module folders. eg. Modules - Euro - Harvesman - Tyme Sefari.
Super sexy interface and rack graphics
Export any subrack to dougcl's planner
Import from an existing dougcl planner file
Work directly with the manufacturers to get great quality module pictures
Minimal patches - Limit number of modules used and make random patches. Remember the system knows which sockets ar inputs and which are outputs.

There are probably many more, but I think I have my work cut out with this little lot.

When will it be available? Hard to say - I would hope some time in August. Once I've got most of the features I want in place for a release and thoroughly bug tested I'll invite some testers to try it out. Keep your eye on this thread and my blog for regular progress updates.

Will it work on your Mac - It should! I'll test further and post my findings, but the Processing language it's written in should work on either platform (Mac or PC). That's the main reason I chose Processing.

How much? Probably around GBP 10 (roughly USD 16, EUR 13, AUD 16, CAD 16 at today's rates). I hope you think this is reasonable.

Cheers

[Thonk Support]

They need to be hex head (stainless, if you please), though.

If we're taking the custom thing all the way, why not have a list of 2 or 3 different screw options.

with randomised rotations with consistent reflections

with 3 fps performance

[negativspace]

And it needs rack-rash underneath when the screws disappear, since let's be honest - few of use use washers.

Edit: what about optional washers? (totally kidding)

[RichyHo]

And it needs rack-rash underneath when the screws disappear, since let's be honest - few of use use washers.

Edit: what about optional washers? (totally kidding)

Don't tempt me! No rack rash when you add a new module then once you move it it gets rashed-up. Did I say August?

[RichyHo]

...with randomised rotations with consistent reflections
...

Did you notice that in my earlier artwork....

http://synthesizerart.blogspot.co.uk/se ... results=37

[RichyHo]

Progress update... Module chooser development begins...

More info on the blog: http://horsmanprojects.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... e-114.html

[RichyHo]

Just found out that the planner was picked up by Synthtopia yesterday...

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2012/ ... k-planner/

[Thonk Support]

very nice.

this might already be in the list.. but one thing that I think the nord modular had with patch cords was a button that let you toggle between realistic 'curved' cords or completely straight 'as the crow flies' cords.

Toggling back and forth between them was useful for helping visually decipher very complex patches I found.

[RichyHo]

very nice.

this might already be in the list.. but one thing that I think the nord modular had with patch cords was a button that let you toggle between realistic 'curved' cords or completely straight 'as the crow flies' cords.

Toggling back and forth between them was useful for helping visually decipher very complex patches I found.

Nice idea (and simple to implement) as a toggle - Thanks. I'll add it to the list.

Hopefully patches will be easier to decipher anyway with my plan to allow you to step through each cable in a patch (with the others being made semi-transparent so you can see what's going on), getting a verbal description of each stage.

[Thonk Support]

now I think about it more, it was especially useful when you turned off the shading on the patch cords too, as losing the shading sometimes made it quite difficult to work out what was happening when several of the same colour overlapped very close together.