Monome 40h Multi-Purpose Hardware Controller (review)

The 40h, by Monome, is a re-configurable hardware controller for multimedia applications. The 40h measures 17 centimeters square and consists of an 8 × 8 grid of backlit silicon pads, encased in sturdy anodized aluminum (see Figure 1). The unit communicates serial, MIDI, and OpenSoundControl (OSC) messages over USB 2.0. There is no need for power adapters as the unit is powered over USB as well. There are no computer operating system-specific drivers to install with the 40h, which allows the unit to communicate clearly over Mac OS X, Windows XP, and Linux. To get the 40h communicating with your computer you will need to first download and install the FTDI virtual COM port driver. This driver will cause the 40h USB device to appear as an additional COM port on your system. Each of the 64 pads is fully configurable. The user is able to assign MIDI Continuous Controller (CC), MIDI Note, or OSC messages to each of the individual pads.

Besides having the ability to control your favorite commercial audio, MIDI-, and OSC-compatible software, the Monome community provides applications designed specifically for the 40h. Currently, the majority of these have been developed in the Max/MSP environment. These applications will also operate with the free Max/MSP Runtime version, so users who haven't purchased a full license for Max/MSP can still take advantage of the 40h patches. The community is also developing 40h-specific applications with Pure Data (pd), Chuck, Bidule, Reaktor, Ruby, and Processing.

After you have installed the FTDI virtual COM port driver you should visit the Monome Web site and download a folder named "base patches." This folder contains utility applications, developed in Max/MSP, which allow you to route serial, OSC, and MIDI messages to and from the 40h. These utility applications are needed if you are planning to use the 40h in tandem with the Max/MSP patches designed specifically for the 40h. If you are planning to use the 40h to control applications outside of the Max/MSP environment, you can also use the wonderfully handy applications called Moma (Windows) and MAPD (OS X). These two programs allow the user to graphically assign and specify the type of message (serial, OSC, MIDI) that each of the individual pads will communicate.

Figure 1.

Monome 40h hardware controller.

The 40h has no labels on the unit itself. At first, this may seem confusing or intimidating, but after spending a short time with the unit you will realize that this ambiguity is one of its major strengths. The lack of labels leaves the user with an open palette to choose from. Flexibility is of greatest importance with the 40h. You can easily assign the first two rows to send MIDI note messages, you could have the next two rows send MIDI CC messages, you could have the last two rows send OSC messages.

Also included in the "base patches" folder are a few of the audio/ MIDI applications designed by the community for specific use with 40h. MLR2 (see Figure 2) is a live sample-cutting platform. A single soundfile can be loaded into each row of the 40h interface. The soundfile durations are mapped across the chosen row of the 40h. Playback position, in relation to the specified tempo, is indicated by a lit pad. Pressing a pad within a row jumps playback to this position. The jumps are quantized according to a specified grain. Multiple rows or groups of sounds can play simultaneously. Like mute groups in a traditional sampler, the user can have certain sounds cancel another. A level, mute, and meter are available for each group. You can also record and playback sequences with the pattern recording module. With the live input module, you can capture clips in real time and have them immediately mapped to a row.

Figure 2.

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