monome's Teletype (and since, crow) excites us. Writing simple scripts away from a computer; executing tiny morsels of musical composition. Just Type is a suggestion for how these ideas can be extended & deeply integrated with elements of synthesis.
At it's most basic, Just Type is a set of invisible patch cords. But more than a cloaking device, it extends the base functionality of Just Friends into more complex territory. Every output can be driven with varying velocity, and the INTONE relationship can be altered away from the default harmonic structure.
Beyond these general-purpose modifications, Just Type brings two entirely new modalities. Synthesis allows explicit or automatic polyphonic control over each channel. Geode instead pursues rhythmic manipulation of striated repetitions, creating polymetric bursts with dynamic decay.
Enough! Just. Type.
Jump to the Teletype reference
Just Type has shipped on every new module made since late 2017. A substantial update was released in July 2020, opening up a host of new features, and fixing many shortcomings of the original formulation.
Get the latest release and you'll be all set to type!
Each command has a description of the names & syntax for usage. Both Teletype & crow syntax is displayed and will take the following form:
TT
JF.COMMAND value (set)
JF.COMMAND (get)
crow
ii.jf.command( value ) (set)
ii.jf.get( 'command' ) (get) calls ii.jf.event(e,value)
Each command has 1 or 2 forms listed. These can be of 2 types:
- 'setters' tell Just Friends to do something without expecting a response.
- 'getters' ask Just Friends to return a value.
Some commands are 'set' only, while others and 'get' only, but many have both functionalities. What's important is to recognize which option you need in your script.
Furthermore, getters work quite differently on Teletype vs crow. For Teletype, the getter will query the value and return it directly. On crow, the response to a ii.jf.get() call will come through the ii.jf.event( event, value ) function which you must add to your script. For an example, you can call ii.jf.help() and crow will show you what this event function should look like.
Some of these commands have not been implemented on Teletype and are marked with (proposed) to indicate they are not currently accessible.
These commands allow remote control over Just Friends. Imagine a set of invisible patch cables connected to the TRIGGERS and RUN jacks.
Create a TRIGGER event on the channel with the provided state.
channel
- 1 is IDENTITY, and 6 is 6N
- 0 creates a TRIGGER on all 6 channels (hardware normalization is ignored)
state
- 1 is high (5V). All non-zero values are treated as high
- 0 is low (0V)
Only sustain cares about the low triggers (the others modes will simply ignore this message).
Returns 1 if the channel is moving. If channel is 0, returns the count of all active channels.
Set the RUN state of Just Friends when no physical jack is present.
mode
- 1 activates RUN mode. All non-zero values are treated as high
- 0 deactivates RUN. If a physical jack is present, RUN stays high.
Returns the mode as previously set. Ignores the state of the hardware RUN jack.
Send a virtual voltage to the RUN input.
volts
- The voltage to be virtually sent to the RUN jack. Adds to the physical state
- On TT use
JF.RUN V xto set to x volts. - Range is -5 to +5
Requires JF.RMODE 1 / ii.jf.run_mode(1) to have been executed.
Returns the most recently received volts setting. Ignores the hardware RUN jack voltage.
This collection of commands extend the base capabilities of Just Friends, without totally changing the mode of interaction. They let you interact with the module in subtly different ways, and consider alternative approaches to creating compositional structure.
Shifts the transposition of Just Friends, regardless of speed setting. Shifting by V 1 / 1.0 doubles the frequency in sound, or doubles the rate in shape.
pitch
- Amount to shift base pitch by
- On Teletype, use
N xfor semitones, orV yfor octaves - On crow use
1.0for octaves, or1/12for semitones - Microtonal transpositions are allowed to (especially useful for tuning)
Returns the current transposition setting.
Trigger channel with velocity set by level
Like Trigger but with added volume control. Velocity is scaled with volts, so try V 5 / 5.0 for an output trigger of 5 volts. Channels remember their latest velocity setting and apply it regardless of whether the TRIGGER comes digitally or via CV.
chan
- channel to trigger
- 0 sets all channels to the same velocity
level
- amplitude of output in volts
- 0 is treated as a 'low' state, and doesn't change the saved velocity (same as
JF.TR chan 0)
Adjust the tuning ratios used by the INTONE control. The default for this is just the first 6 elements of the harmonic series. Instead you can retune this to your needs or desires. Think a guitar with open-G tuning – lends itself to an entirely different style of play.
Tuning is defined as a pitch ratio: numerator n / denominator d. 1/1 is IDENTITY, whereas 4/1 would be 4N's default setting. Read a little about just intonation for some ideas how you might utilise this feature.
channel
- select which channel's tuning to redefine (1 through 6)
numerator
- set the multiplier for the tuning ratio
denominator
- set the divisor for the tuning ratio
Reset to default tuning with JF.TUNE 0 0 0 / retune(0,0,0).
If you want to retain your custom tuning permanently (across power-cycles), send the special command JF.TUNE -1 0 0 / retune(-1,0,0) which will store the setup to memory. When you restart the module, it will automatically recall the custom tuning.
This is only useful when configuring an ii network with two Just Friends device. Note that all devices default to index 1.
- Power down your case
- Disconnect the Just Friends that will be index #1 from the i2c bus
- Make sure your second device is connected
- Power on the case
- Run the above address command with an index of 2:
JF.ADDR 2/ii.jf.address(2) - Test you can now talk to the second device:
JF2.TR 1 1/ii.jf[2].trigger(1,1) - Power down the case
- Reconnect the Just Friends from step 2.
- Power on the case
Now you can refer to your two devices like so:
ii.jf[1].trigger(1,1) -- device #1
ii.jf[2].trigger(1,1) -- device #2Teletype will use the JF2 prefix instead of JF (proposed):
JF.TR 1 1
JF2.TR 1 1
The physical panel settings are able to be queried too. With some outside-the-box thinking, you can use the Just Friends panel to manipulate parameters inside your script. This could augment the controls (eg. the CURVE value could change vtrigger level), or introduce additional dimensions (eg. FM could select different TUNE / retune ratios).
While the lower 3 jacks (RAMP, FM, CURVE) send only the knob position, TIME and INTONE send a combination of the knob with any received CV. These signals are also mapped to the same scaling as Just Type in Synthesis mode (see below). That means, a value of V 0 / 0.0 is equal to C3. As such you could rapidly query the TIME control and convert it to a control-voltage with Teletype or crow - allowing for Just Friends to control the base pitch of multiple oscillators.
Finally the parameters can be used entirely tangentially to Just Friends' functionality. RAMP could control the rate of a METRO, while sound/shape choose between major and minor arpeggios.
Returns the current shape (0) or sound (1) switch position
Returns the current MODE switch state
- 1 = transient
- 2 = sustain
- 3 = cycle
Returns the current state of the RAMP knob in volts (-5,5)
Returns the current state of the CURVE knob in volts (-5,5)
Returns the current state of the FM knob in volts (-5,5)
Returns the current state of the TIME knob + cv in volts (-5,5)
Returns the current state of the INTONE knob + cv in volts
- 0 = C3
- 1V/octave scaled
Until now, we've only been speaking of modifying or extending the base Just Friends behaviours. Conversely, it is also possible to change some fundamentals of the JF system, leaning more heavily on the Teletype / crow integration for configuration and control.
These alternate personalities are Synthesis, a polyphonic synthesizer; and Geode, a rhythm machine. JF.MODE 1 / ii.jf.mode(1) will take you to these modes depending on the sound/shape setting. Beware that whilst in Just Type's alternate modes, things will behave differently to normal & will remain there until power-cycling or exiting with JF.MODE 0 / ii.jf.mode(0).
Activates Synthesis or Geode modalities.
state
- 1 activates JT alternate modes. Any non-zero value is treated as 1.
- 0 returns to standard functionality
You'll likely want to put JF.MODE x / ii.jf.mode(x) in your Teletype / crow INIT script.
Returns 1 if either Synthesis or Geode are active.
Synthesis is, as its name boringly suggests, a synthesizer. Further, it is a polyphonic synthesizer of six independent voices. Control is either explicitly per voice, or can be dynamically assigned in a traditional polysynth fashion.
Enter Synthesis with JF.MODE 1 / ii.jf.mode(1) and switching to sound.
The voices are centered around Just Friends' manifold generators, with pitch controlled digitally rather than with the panel controls. Each generator is shaped by RAMP & CURVE as per normal, then passed to a Vactrol Low-Pass Gate model to impart dynamics. The Vactrol model implements rudimentary envelope shaping of the velocity, controlled by TIME, for envelope speed, and INTONE, for attack-release shaping. These envelopes are controlled by the transient / sustain / cycle switch, and may be excited either digitally or via the hardware TRIGGERS.
Internally each voice contains a linked sinewave oscillator providing frequency modulation over the function generator. FM index (ie. amount), is controlled with the FM knob & CV input. The knob functions as normal with INTONE-style modulation CCW, and uniform modulation CW. FM CV input is a traditional CV-offset where positive voltage increases, and negative decreases modulation. The frequency relationship between the modulation & carrier oscillators is set via the RUN jack, though is matched at 1:1 with no cable attached. Positive voltages move toward 2:1 at 5V, while negative sweeps down to 1:2 at -5V giving many grumbles.
The VOX / play_voice and NOTE / play_note commands are designed to create complete notes in the General MIDI sense. They simultaneously set the pitch of a voice & begin / end an envelope cycle. Physical TRIGGERS on the other hand, will only trigger the envelope, using whatever pitch & velocity are currently set for that voice, encouraging combinations of digital & voltage control. Pitch can be set directly with PITCH / pitch to slew between tones without triggering notes.
Play a note on the specified channel at the defined pitch and level.
channel
- Assign to channel 1 through 6
- 0 sets all channels simultaneously.
pitch
- set the pitch in 1V/octave
V 0/0.0is C3
level
- set the volume as in
VTR/vtrigger V 5/5.0gives 5V peak to peak (ie. standard modular level)
Assigning notes with voice control is great if you want to sequence independent synthesizer lines on the different channels. By using the FM control in the counter-clockwise direction, you can give each voice its own character, as the higher-numbered voices will have greater frequency modulation applied.
Polyphonically allocated note sequencing. Works like VOX / play_voice but with channel selected automatically. In sustain, free voices will be prioritized. If all voices are currently sustaining, the oldest note will be stolen to play the new note.
pitch
- set the pitch in 1V/octave
V 0/0.0is C3
level
- set the volume as in
VTR/vtrigger V 5/5.0gives 5V peak to peak (ie. standard modular level)
VOX and NOTE are interactive, meaning you can create interesting splits of mono and poly voices.
Try turning the FM knob counter-clockwise and sequencing a fixed cycle of tones-- The timbre of the voices will cycle through 6 levels of FM depth. This can be great with 6 tones where the note order chooses timbre, but even more interesting if your sequence is 5 or 7 steps long, creating long phasing patterns for movement in a simple arpeggio.
Control the pitch of a chosen channel without triggering the envelope (like JF.VOX / play_voice()).
channel
- Assign to channel 1 through 6
- 0 sets all channels simultaneously.
pitch
- set the pitch in volts-per-octave
V 0/0.0is C3
This command is useful along with VOX & NOTE control to introduce pitch changes while a note is decaying (transient), or without retriggering the cyclic envelope (cycle). Additionally it can be very useful where you are TRIGGERing the channels with CV pulses, but want to choose scales or chords digitally.
Redefines C3 to align with the 'God' note. See: https://attunedvibrations.com/432hz/ or http://www.roelhollander.eu/en/tuning-frequency/goebbels-and-440/.
state
- 0 is A=440Hz
- 1 is A=432Hz
Returns 1 if god mode is active.
In shape, Just Type inherits it's functionality from the standard mode. However, atop it sits a rhythmic engine for polymetric & -phasic patterns. Fundamentally this is a 'clocked' mode, whether internally so or via a continuous tick. The TIME & INTONE controls maintain their standard free-running influence, speeding up and slowing down envelopes, while the rhythms are controlled remotely.
Notes in Geode are a combination of a standard trigger along with a number of repeats & a rhymthic division. The former sets the number of envelope events to create, while the latter chooses the rhythmic relation of those repeats to the core timebase. The MODE switch selects how the amplitudes of repeated elements change over time. These changes are further modified by the RUN jack for fluid rhythmic variation under voltage control. These undulations are highly interactive with the TIME & INTONE controls, where the different MODE settings will handle overlapping repeats in drastically different ways. Start with TIME set very fast, then dial it back to hear how the repeats entangle.
Once these rhythmic streams are moving, their pattern can be corralled into a set of quantized steps. Using odd-subdivisions for notes, with even quantize, will enable patterns to break out of the evenly-spaced-repeats model. Try prime numbers (5/7/11) for divisions, but 4/8/16 for quantize to create traditional syncopated rhythms.
When set to transient, each repeat will have the full velocity (or a reduced one set by VTR / vtrigger()).
RUN voltages will introduce a rhythmic variation every n repeats. At 0V, every note is emphasized (hence sounding static). Increasing a little and every 2nd note is emphasized. Further and a cycle of 3 velocities is introduced, and so on up to a cycle of 10 notes. The velocities decrease in a 'sawtooth' pattern.
With negative voltages, the same cycles are introduced, however the pattern is reversed, dropping the volume at first, then rising up over n repeats.
Regular syncopated rhythms are great here. Try 8 repeats, triggered every 8 clocks and choose a rhythm with RUN.
In sustain repeats decay to silence over the duration of repeats.
By adding a RUN voltage the rate of decay can be modified. At 0V it takes exactly repeats to fade away. As RUN increases the repeats fade more quickly, however they will reflect back up when hitting the minimum. With around 1V the repeats will decay to near zero, then back to full volume by the last repeat, creating a triangle shape. Further increasing this level 'folds' into multiple waves per set of repeats.
Negative values slow the decay rate, making the fade out effect more and more subtle. At -5V the amplitudes are almost uniform.
Creative use of this behaviour can introduce a third temporal element to the Geode equation: TIME & INTONE set a base envelope rate, divisions sets the rhythm of notes, and RUN sets the amplitude cycle relative to repeats.
This mode is useful for creating pseudo-delay envelopes.
cycle introduces a complex, repeats sensitive amplitude cycling. The rhythm is generated similarly to transient, however the variation is applied continuously rather than in single steps of beats.
Applying RUN voltage emphasizes every 2nd then 3rd then 4th event, however all the in-between beats are available too. Subtle CV shifts allow for a variation of groove with nothing but volume manipulation.
Negative RUN levels emphasize every fraction of a beat, which is a hard thing to think about, let alone control. As the voltage becomes lower the rhythmic cycles change more rapidly, starting to feel random. This zone is great to explore if you want to introduce some unpredictability into a rhythmic pattern.
This mode is a source of endless subtle movement and works extra well with QT / quantize() active.
Geode needs a timebase from which to calculate the rates for the envelope sequences. This base can be set with a continuous stream of events (ie a clock) useful for when you need to synchronize the events to other elements. Alternatively a simple beats-per-minute value can be used if Just Friends is free running and doesn't need to play in time with others.
Clock Geode with a stream of divisions ticks per measure.
divisions
- Tells Just Type how many
tickmessages will be received per measure, where a measure is 4 beats. - 1 to 48 ticks per measure are allowed
- 4 means 1 tick per beat
- 0 acts a reset to synchronize to the start of the measure
Typically JF.TICK / tick() will be called in a METRO. For 60 bpm, you can send JF.TICK 4 once per second, or JF.TICK 8 twice per second etc. Once you are comfortable using it in a standard way, the divisions value can be modulated to create rhythmically related clock multiplications and divisions of the repeats.
Set timebase for Geode with a static bpm.
bpm
- Number of beats per minute where a measure is 4 beats.
- Must be between 49 and 255 bpm.
- 0 acts a reset to synchronize to the start of the measure
Returns the current Geode tempo in beats per minute.
Create a stream of rhythmic envelopes on the named channel. The stream will continue for the count of repeats at a rhythm defined by divs.
channel
- select the channel to assign this rhythmic stream
- 0 sets all channels
divs
- Divides the measure into this many segments
- 4 creates quarter notes
- 15 creates 15 equally spaced notes per bar (weird!)
repeats
- Number of times to retrigger the envelope
- -1 repeats indefinitely
- 0 will still create the initial trigger but no repeats
- 1 will make 2 events total (the initial trigger, and 1 repeat)
Works as JF.VOX / play_voice() but with dynamic allocation of channel. Assigns the rhythmic stream to the next channel.
divs
- Divides the measure into this many segments
- 4 creates quarter notes
- 15 creates 15 equally spaced notes per bar (weird!)
repeats
- Number of times to retrigger the envelope
- -1 repeats indefinitely
- 0 will still create the initial trigger but no repeats
- 1 will make 2 events total (the initial trigger, and 1 repeat)
Quantize Geode events to divisions of a measure.
When non-zero, all events are queued & delayed until the next quantize event occurs. Using values that don't align with the division of rhythmic streams will cause irregular patterns to unfold.
division
- delay all events until this division of the timebase
- 0 deactivates quantization
- 1 to 32 sets the subdivision & activates quantization
If you need your rhythms to stay on a regular grid, activate that grid with Quantization. By setting a regular quantization (try 8 or 16) you can experiment with irregular divisions when triggering VOX or NOTE (try 7, 11, 13, 15) and those repeats will be locked into the quantized grid. Couple this with dynamic control over RUN and you have a very powerful groove generator with a few high level controls. Instant percussion inspiration!
While it uses a different implementation, this functionality can create Euclidean rhythms, though 'rotating' the rhythms requires delaying the VOX or NOTE calls.
Returns the number of divisions quantize is currently set to.
JF.TR channel state Set trigger channel to state
JF.RMODE mode Set RUN state to mode
JF.RUN volts Set RUN voltage to volts
JF.SHIFT volts Transpose frequency / speed by volts (v/8)
JF.VTR channel level Trigger channel with velocity set by level
JF.TUNE channel numerator denominator Alter the INTONE relationship to IDENTITY
JF.MODE state Activates Synthesis or Geode
Synthesis
JF.NOTE pitch level Play a note, dynamically allocated to a voice
JF.VOX channel pitch level Play a note on a specific voice
JF.GOD state If state, retune to A=432Hz (default A=440Hz)
Geode
JF.NOTE divs repeats Play a sequence, dynamically allocated to a channel
JF.VOX channel divs repeats Play a sequence on a specific channel
JF.TICK divs Clock Geode with a stream of ticks at divs per measure
JF.TICK bpm Set timebase for Geode with a static bpm
JF.QT divs Quantize Geode events to divs of the timebase
Proposed commands, yet to be implemented as of Teletype 3.2
JF.ADDR index Set all connected Just Friends to ii address index
JF.PITCH channel pitch Same as JF.VOX but doesn't trigger the envelope
Proposed getters, yet to be implemented as of Teletype 3.2
JF.TR channel Returns true if the channel is in motion
JF.RMODE Returns the state of run_mode (ignores the jack)
JF.RUN Returns the current RUN value (ignores the jack)
JF.SHIFT Returns the current transpose setting
JF.MODE Returns 1 if Synthesis or Geode are active
JF.TICK Returns the current Geode tempo in beats per minute
JF.GOD Returns 1 if god mode is active
JF.QT Returns the number of divisions quantize is set to
JF.SPEED Returns the current shape (0) or sound (1) switch position
JF.TSC Returns the current MODE switch state (1/2/3)
JF.RAMP Returns the current state of the RAMP knob
JF.CURVE Returns the current state of the CURVE knob
JF.FM Returns the current state of the FM knob
JF.TIME Returns the current state of the TIME knob + cv
JF.INTONE Returns the current state of the INTONE knob + cv
ii.jf.trigger( channel, state ) -- Set trigger *channel* to *state*
ii.jf.run_mode( mode ) -- Set RUN state to *mode*
ii.jf.run( volts ) -- Set RUN voltage to *volts*
ii.jf.transpose( pitch ) -- Transpose frequency / speed by *pitch* (v/8)
ii.jf.vtrigger( channel, level ) -- Trigger *channel* with velocity set by *level*
ii.jf.retune( channel, numerator, denominator ) -- Alter the INTONE relationship to IDENTITY
ii.jf.mode( mode ) -- Activates *Synthesis* or *Geode*
ii.jf.address( index ) -- Set all connected Just Friends to ii address *index*Synthesis (sound)
ii.jf.play_note( pitch, level ) -- Play a note, dynamically allocated to a voice
ii.jf.play_voice( channel, pitch, level ) -- Play a note on a specific voice
ii.jf.pitch( channel, pitch ) -- Same as play_voice but doesn't trigger the envelope
ii.jf.god_mode( state ) -- If *state*, retune to A=432Hz (default A=440Hz)Geode (shape)
ii.jf.play_note( divs, repeats ) -- Play a sequence, dynamically allocated to a channel
ii.jf.play_voice( channel, divs, repeats ) -- Play a sequence on a specific *channel*
ii.jf.tick( divs ) -- Clock *Geode* with a stream of ticks at *divs* per measure
ii.jf.tick( bpm ) -- Set timebase for *Geode* with a static *bpm*
ii.jf.quantize( divisions ) -- Quantize *Geode* events to *divisions* of the timebaseii.jf.get( 'trigger', channel )` -- Returns true if the channel is in motion
ii.jf.get( 'run_mode' ) -- Returns the state of run_mode (ignores the jack)
ii.jf.get( 'run' ) -- Returns the current RUN value (ignores the jack)
ii.jf.get( 'transpose' ) -- Returns the current transpose setting
ii.jf.get( 'mode' ) -- Returns 1 if *Synthesis* or *Geode* are active
ii.jf.get( 'tick' ) -- Returns the current *Geode* tempo in beats per minute
ii.jf.get( 'god_mode' ) -- Returns 1 if god mode is active
ii.jf.get( 'quantize' ) -- Returns the number of *divisions* quantize is set to
ii.jf.get( 'speed' ) -- Returns the current *shape* (0) or *sound* (1) switch position
ii.jf.get( 'tsc' ) -- Returns the current *MODE* switch state (1/2/3)
ii.jf.get( 'ramp' ) -- Returns the current state of the *RAMP* knob
ii.jf.get( 'curve' ) -- Returns the current state of the *CURVE* knob
ii.jf.get( 'fm' ) -- Returns the current state of the *FM* knob
ii.jf.get( 'time' ) -- Returns the current state of the *TIME* knob + cv
ii.jf.get( 'intone' ) -- Returns the current state of the *INTONE* knob + cvReceive requested values (only the names you are querying need to be included in this list):
ii.jf.event = function( e, value )
if e.name == 'trigger' then
-- handle trigger response
-- e.arg: first argument, ie channel
-- e.device: index of device
elseif e.name == 'run_mode' then
elseif e.name == 'run' then
elseif e.name == 'transpose' then
elseif e.name == 'mode' then
elseif e.name == 'tick' then
elseif e.name == 'god_mode' then
elseif e.name == 'quantize' then
elseif e.name == 'speed' then
elseif e.name == 'tsc' then
elseif e.name == 'ramp' then
elseif e.name == 'curve' then
elseif e.name == 'fm' then
elseif e.name == 'time' then
elseif e.name == 'intone' then
end
end