midiTracker
midiTracker arranges MIDI notes in a nested manner. The UI is heavily inspired by LSDJ and other trackers from the past, present, and future. To make it portable and useful on all kinds of platforms, I’ve chosen Python for it with a minimalist curses / ASCII user interface.
Software, 2023
midiTracker is a small music tracker that is meant to be run from a CLI on many platforms. It sequences notes in a nested vertical layout. The UI is heavily inspired by LSDJ and other trackers from the past, present, and future. To make it portable and useful on all kinds of platforms, I’ve chosen Python for it with a minimalist curses / ASCII user interface.
If you want to get started and play with the software in its current early stage, wait no more and just grab the repository.
There is still a lot of environment configuration to be done, but if I can do it, anyone should be able to set it up. The source code, all files to to run midiTracker, as well as a little Wiki is available on GitHub.
SONG 00 ┌───────────────┐
Chn1Chn2Chn3Chn4RmplChn6Chn7Chn8 │ BPM: 120│
00 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │IAC-Treiber … 1│
01 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ │
02 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ │
03 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │Song Step: 00│
04 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │Chain Step: 01│
05 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │Phrase Step: 10│
06 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ │
07 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │Loop Length: 08│
08 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ │
09 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ │
10 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ Mod1 │
11 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ Mod2 │
12 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ │
13 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ │
14 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- │ │
15 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- └───────────────┘
For artists, beginners, or other curious folk, you can read the installation guide here if you want help getting started. I also tried to explain some basic info on how to use command-line git to clone a repository for a workflow where you do not need to leave your terminal.
Media
Photography
While it’s not “done” yet, I already battle-proofed midiTracker during my 2 hr gig at Blender Conference 2024, where it controlled most of my set with the software. Pictured here enclosed in its own little case. (October 2024)
A picture of me showcasing the miditracker in combination with an OP-Z synth. This picture was taken at a local modular synth meetup, hosted by Muelheim Modular in Cologne, Germany. (July 2023)
While I do not have access to one of the handheld Raspberry Pi devices around, others have installed and used miditracker on them. Thank you for sending me these pictures and one day I might find a second hand clockwork pi.
Videos
A loose collection of videos and recordings featuring midiTracker, in reverse chronological order. Videos are hosted outside of this website on youtube.
Watch Live021 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live020 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live019 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live018 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch LIVE017 [DVR] – Secondary MIDI, OP-Z on youtube. This showcases and explores two MIDI output devices, USB->MIDI-DIN and USB-C->OP-Z Synthesizer. Channel 8 sends chords as polyphonic MIDI to the OP-Z, and the output is routed back through Mutable Instruments Beads.
Watch Live016 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live015 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live014 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live013 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live012 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live011 [DVR] on youtube.
Watch Live010 [DVR] on youtube.
Pod001 MidiTracker Eurorack
First test of the 40hp Pod Setup I created to be played with the midiTracker, modified added to and mangled by Mutable instruments Beads.
Watch midiTracker Jam on youtube.
Watch 90 seconds with the midiTracker on youtube.
Watch First Test of the midiTracker on a RapsberryPi on youtube.