ArtWonk 2.0.1336

ArtWonk is a graphic program that creates MIDI sound files.
ArtWonk is a MIDI and graphics program that produces MIDI music and paint graphics based on algorithmic rules that you interactively create by connecting modules (graphical objects that represent functions and processes) in real time, adjusting the parameters as you go, in an interactive drag and drop environment especially designed to be fast to learn, fast to use.
But ArtWonk did not achieve its ease of use by dumbing it down. Quite the contrary. With a starting palette of over 400 built in modules and functions, ArtWonk is one of the most powerful algorithmic composing programs available.
ArtWonk will drive MIDI synthesizers, soft synths and sound cards directly, effectively "playing" them in real time; it will also record directly to a standard MIDI file. Real time paint graphics can be created and manipulated on the fly; and both music and paint can be created together as a synesthetic whole.
ArtWonk is the successor to a long line of graphical, modular, and interactive algorithmic composing programs created by John Dunn that were inspired by the big analog modular synthesizers, going back to one of the first if its kind ever produced for MIDI, MusicBox, released to the public domain in 1986.
While you can easily create analog synthesizer style step sequencers with ArtWonk, it goes far beyond its sequencer roots, to give you algorithmic composing tools of all kinds.
ArtWonk is essentially a program language specialized for creating music and visuals, intended to be used by artists and musicians.
Instead it is a visual direct manipulation language that does not require you to take weeks to months to learn.
You simply select graphical modules from a pop up menu, drag and drop their connections and interactions, listening to the results in real time as you build and modify your piece.
Main features:
New Modules:
- BioData - Access the same bio sequence data as the BioSeq module, but only provides the basic data values, and is randomly addressed rather than stepped by a clock.
- ListBox Widget - provides several types of listbox data selection.
- IncDec Widget - increment/decrement a value; hold down for continuous action.
- Draw Widget - draw area with ability to draw lines and dots, and to read mouse cursor position and color; automatic graphing of array contents. This module duplicates some of ArtWonks graphics functions; it was added to enable MusicWonk to visualize fractals, and to provide a consistent data visualizing component across ArtWonk and MusicWonk.
- StrSubstr - Extracts a sub string at given position in target string
- Keyboard Widget - a resizable 2 octave keyboard, that can be combined for 4, 6, etc., octaves.
- AMultiRo - Read only multi (up to 106) output array sequencer
- FlatBtn - A flat button with separate On and Off captions and colors.
- Nudge - enables standard MIDI controllers to act as continuous controllers.
- SeqSnap - processes Snapshots for sequencer modules.
- ArySnap - processes Snapshots for arrays and array based widgets.
- FilePath - Returns a file path and name. Use for special path names, such as ArtWonkPatches or My Documents, or you can enter an arbitary text name.
- TxSave - Saves a text file of the text array in another text source module.
- ChngIncr - Increment output value upon input change
- TickCount - Increment output value, Free Run count by execution loop
- AryClock - Auto Sync clock that gets its Dur, %On, and Skip from arrays, enabeling it to work in sequencer loops where these parameters feed back to the clock, controlling it from stage to stage.
- FRAClock - Free Run clock that gets its Dru, %On and Skip from arrays.
- WMouseBtn - Get mouse button activity from Widget.
- Offset - Add an offset to a value; same as Add but only calculates at Reset, so acts as low overhead static module.
- WorkNote - Pop up notepad documentation for workspace
- AryPopUp - Access Array Properties PopUp, gives easy access to Widget array modules.
- CtlInRel - MIDI Control Input from relative +/- data entry, etc., continuous controllers.
- CtrlInChng - Output changes with each MIDI Control received.
- PolyInChng - Output changes with each MIDI Poly Key received.
- CtrlInAry - Multiple MIDI Ctrl Inputs placed in an Array.
- PolyInAry - Multiple MIDI Poly Key Inputs placed in an Array.
- CtrlInAryRel - Multiple MIDI Ctrl Inputs, Relative +/- from Start Value, placed in an Array.
- CtrlOutAry - Multiple MIDI Control Outputs from an array.
- PolyOutAry - Multiple MIDI Poly Key Outputs from an array.
- AryEnvGen - Multisegment envelope generator controlled by array values.
- MakeDirty - Force (or clear) File Dirty flag, causing Save File popup on exit, etc.
- MsClock - Clock timed in microseconds (1000 ms = 1 second).
- FlipFlopR - Set output to 1 or Reset to 0; also resets on System Reset.
- ResetOr - System Reset flag with Or input.
- Pass - NZ passes input to output, 0 sends 0 (Numeric only).
- Block - NZ blocks input from output (sends 0), 0 passes (Numeric only).
- Hold - 0 passes input to output, NZ holds output at current value.
- MorseClock - Clock produces rhythms based on Morse Code.
- TextClock - Clock produces rhythms based on text string.
- Timeline - Draw and address sequence of event objects.
- Pickover - fractal module for sound and/or graphic.
- Lorenz - fractal module for sound and/or graphic.
- Martin - fractal module for sound and/or graphic.
- Hilbert - fractal module for sound and/or graphic.
New Functions:
- LoadTileGrid(cols=10, rows=10, "path"="", "name"="", "ext"="", width=0, height= 0, bm=0, tpic=0) ~ Loads given tile grid with image files from directory, then copies it to the given bitmap. If width is <=0 then the current Frame width is used, if height is <= 0 then the height is automatically adjusted according to the aspect ratio of the first tile image. If "ext" is blank (default) all files types in directory will load; name specifies the first characters of the file name and is formatted as "name*" - leave blank (defalut) to load all filenames. Returns max number of tiles loaded into the tile grid.
- BoxWithin(left, top, width, height, tleft, ttop, twidth, theight) ~ true if box is within target box
- Squash(Value, Bits) ~ Force rounding error by truncating bits (0-23) from FP mantissa
- TxA ~ Return the text of string variable A-D
- TxA.("text") ~ Assign string "text" to text variable A-D
- TxIn(N) ~ Retrn text string at module In #N (1 based)
- TxOut(N, "text") ~ Send string "text" to Out #N (1 based)
- AppDir ~ Return text string of Application directory
- PatchDir ~ Return text string of Patch directory
- MacroDir ~ Return text string of Macro directory
- FunctionDir ~ Return text string of Function directory
- ArrayDir ~ Return text string of Array directory
- NamesDir ~ Return text string of Names directory
- + ~ concatenate when placed between strings
- FillArray(Ary,val=0,bump=0) ~ Fill array with Val, increments by +/- bump
- NewArray(Size=128) ~ Creates new global array of Size elements, returns array number
- ResizeAry(ary, elements) - resize array to n elements without loosing existing data, except for lost elements if contracting.
- OpenArray(Ary, start, length) ~ Insert empty elements into an array and resize it
- CloseArray(Ary, start, length) ~ Delete elements in an array and resize it
- MergeArray(Ary1, start, Ary2, start2=0, length=0) ~ Append Ary2 to end of Ary1, resizing Ary1
- CopyToLocal(Ary) ~ Copy given Ary to local array, to be saved with module
- CopyFromLocal(Ary) ~ Copy local array to given global array
- LoadNameArray("name", Ary) ~ Load previously saved array into Ary & resize it as needed
- SaveNameArray("name", Ary) ~ Save array to name-only in Array dir or to full path & name
Other Changes:
- Slider, HSlider, Meter, HMeter now can be set to arbitrary sizes.
- LedGrid - can have any numbe of different On/Off labels.
- TxtGrid - can be set to act as an exclusive-on option button.
- RGB2Col, Col2RGB - moved to Process menu, and added to MusicWonk
- EraseImage function now allows specification of erase color
- DocBox - Inactive option to ignore mouse clicks
- DocBox - Autosize option to enable or disable automatic resize to text lines
- Sequencer Property pop up - Added RAW file type to the file Save button, which saves arrays as a IEEE 32 bit floating point type, compatible with .raw type in most wave editors.
- Clocks now do not automatically reset on System Reset; a ResetOr module is provided to retrofit this functionality where needed.
- Most clock and step modules now have change and strobe inputs and outputs.
- Module creation pop up menu now gives module help when mouse is over module name in the menu.
- Several new example patches and macros.
- Player versions of MusicBox and ArtWonk added. Player shows only the Panel screen, and users cannot change position or properties of the widgets.
- Patches can now be password protected to prevent viewing modules in the authoring programs (ArtWonk & MusicWonk). The player programs can play the patch without needing the password. This allows content authors to protect their patches, but distribute the player version.
- You can create Help files for your Player patch. Simply create a .htm file with the same name and in the same directory as the .awp file. When the user selects Help or presses F1, your help file will display.
- Double click on Readout Widget to copy its text to the clipboard.
- No longer shuts clocks down when they are set too fast for the computer. Instead the clocks automatically skip overrun cycles to allow Windows to process other running programs. Global Option to set overrun threshold is no longer needed, and has been removed.
- MIDI Option menu has been added to the top menu line to make it a little faster to access. Also, you can change the CC# for the Expr input in the Voice and Tone modules, for each MIDI output Bank. This was added specifically to make it easier to set sub banks (which use CC#32) in softsynths such as Auturas Moog V, but you are free to use it however you like.
- Packages added - Packages are user created extensions to ArtWonk/MusicWonk. They are any combination of Patches, Macros and Functions plus Help documentation that automatically integrates into the Help menu when the Package is installed. Algorithmic Arts will make user contributed Packages available for free download, and Package authors are also free to distribute their Packages individually. If you are interested in creating a Package contact me (johndunn@algoart.com) for additional information.
- The transition from using explicit array numbers to system managed array handles that was begun in v1.5 has been completed, and all modules and functions that used the old direct numbering have become obsolete and have been removed and/or replaced by modules using the system managed handles. The old modules and functions will still work in patches that used them, but they have been removed from the menu to avoid conflict with the newer ones.
Version restrictions:
- 30 days trial.