02.10
A test version of Nasir is now available for download
To use it, navigate to the Nasir directory on your computer using the commandline/terminal and type:
ruby -e "require 'Nasir'; MonitorX.new('xxx.rb').run_forever"
where xxx.rb is the name of the file you are going to be typing your ruby code in. There is an example called Live.rb in the download to get you started. Each time you then save the selected file the code in it will be reloaded and executed. At the moment, any generated MIDI is routed to your default MIDI port so you may need to install a midi feedback device and ensure this is correctly selected and routed to your midi-consumer of choice.
For documentation of the functions within Nasir please see the InstrumentExtended.rb file.
There are a couple of screencasts here and here, and more examples/documentation/tutorials etc will follow soon.
Have fun 
Thanks for the code! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get things running.
when I ran this for the first time:
ruby -e “require ‘Nasir’; MonitorX.new(’xxx.rb’).run_forever”
I got an error on the line require ‘Cellular’ in Nasir.rb…changing this line to say require ‘cellular’ fixed the problem. After this, the program ran with correct information output to the console, but I got no sound output.
I’m not very familiar with MIDI, so I believe my MIDI setup on this computer is the problem. I’ll try to solve it tomorrow, and will let you know how things go. Any suggestions on setting up MIDI in Ubuntu would be appreciated!
Thanks for pointing out the typo. I have a few other minor tweaks to add so I’ll try and get a new version uploaded over the weekend
I haven’t used MIDI too much in Ubuntu but I think you will need to connect the MIDI out Nasir is using to the input of your MIDI-consumer using JACK. Let me know how you get on
Ah, I should have thought to try JACK – I have experience with it. Will let you know how it goes. Out of curiosity, what kind of environment do YOU run Nasir in? (OS, MIDI software)
I am using Nasir in Windows connected up to Plogue Bidule, which is awesome for live use as you can control so many of its features with MIDI. I generate the MIDI notes in Nasir and then also use it to send program change messages to switch VST effects on and off, flip presets etc on the fly. I’ll do some screencasts over the next few weeks showing more of the potential Nasir has for live use.
Got it working very easily with JACK. If anyone else wants to do this in Linux(i use ubuntu), here is what all I needed to do to set up the MIDI side of things:
1. Install Timidity(I lost the page that I used for instructions, but there should be plenty around)
2. Install JACK(Jack Audio Connection Kit) – I used the instructions in this thread – http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=5038203
3. Start the Nasir script
4. Run qjackctl(this is the GUI for JACK, I’ll just refer to it as JACK to keep things simple)
Once JACK is open, click ‘Start’ to get the server going. The ‘Messages’ button will open a window with useful output, I usually leave it open when doing things. Click the ‘Connect’ button, and go to the ALSA tab.
There are 2 boxes on this tab – for me, both had Midi Through entries. The box on the left should also have an entry that says Client-###(### is a number). The box on the right should also have an entry that says Timidity. Click ‘Client###’ in the left box, and Timidity in the right box, then click ‘Connect’ in the bottom left. The sound should be streaming to your computer speakers now.
Tried this in Windows XP couldn’t get it working. Came up with “Couldn’t find a LiveMIDI Instrument for your platform’. Using Ruby 1.9.1
Tried with Linux and it worked fine linked it up to Hydrogen and I’m off