Noatikl (pronounced "noh – tickle") is a very powerful generative (MIDI) music creativity application. It is the evolution of the SSEYO Koan Generative Music System.
Noatikl generates its MIDI notes and MIDI controller events via the integrated Noatikl (MIDI) Music Engine (NME). This MIDI data can be used to drive 3rd party external MIDI software or hardware, such as synths, FX units and samplers, that you connect to Noatikl, or the integrated (but optional to use) Partikl Sound Engine (PSE), a powerful, advanced and modular synth + live FX network.
Don't forget to check out the 2 Minute Videos!
Noatikl is available for both Desktop (Windows/Mac macOS) and Mobile (iOS). Those using Desktop Audio software generally have a preferred workflow, using either a DAW with Plugins, or using and connecting a number of Standalone apps. So that you can use Noatikl Desktop in the way you prefer, there are 2 versions - Noatikl Desktop Standalone and the Noatikl Desktop Audio Plugins (VSTi/Aui). The Desktop versions (only) also have extensive built-in scripting features which allow them to be used as a customisable hyperinstruments.
This guide details the various Noatikl app interface elements and what they do, as well as other kinds of application specific things such as installation, connecting to external MIDI sources etc. When it comes to defining how the music and sounds are generated, however, we direct you instead to the NME Guide and PSE Guide which cover all relevant objects, parameters and settings available.
The NME utilises a range of generative / aleatoric / stochastic / algorithmic music techniques and parameters and creates MIDI notes and MIDI controller events through the interaction of 4 different kinds of NME Objects: Voice (with 6 Voice Types), Rule (Scale, Harmony, Rhythm & Next Note), Piece and File. There can be multiple instances of the first two objects in a "piece" and there are a large number of Voice Object parameters to affect and direct the composition.
Rather than being a traditional composer or instrumentalist, with the Noatikl app you are conductor, director, curator or gardener. You set up the rules and settings that let it generate a composition for you, in real time, in all its detail. Random events in combination with a powerful set of musical rules are used to create a stream of music that is ever-changing and continually fresh, but which is entirely in accordance to your personal artistic choices and musical direction. How you interpret what you hear is filtered through your own internal knowledge of music. This combination of chance and logic is what allows the music to stay fresh, interesting and unpredictable.
Noatikl Mobile for iOS is installed via the iTunes App Store as part of the download process.
Use this where:
Versions:
Noatikl Desktop Standalone runs as a tool on its own, but you can also use it to generate and send MIDI events to a MIDI output device or virtual MIDI port. You can use it in this manner with any Windows (e.g. Sonar, Reaper, Cubase etc.) or Mac (Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools etc.) MIDI sequencer (also referred to as a DAW or Digital Audio Workstation) or standalone software synth or sampler.
We have created tutorials and template projects to "get you started"for some of the popular sequencers. Download the file below, extract the contents to the appropriate place on your computer, and then follow the appropriate tutorial to see how the template project works:
Use this where:
Versions:
If you're just using Noatikl to render audio using Noatikl's built-in PSE modular synth, then there are no special requirements for configuring a Noatikl Audio Plug-in variant to work within your DAW. Noatikl will "just work".
However, if you want to process MIDI event data from a Noatikl Audio Plug-in variant, then you are likely to have some configuration work to do first.
The most fundamental challenge with the Audio Plug-in variants of Noatikl, is that Noatikl is quite unique in the music world; in that it generates MIDI data across more than one MIDI channel. Why does this make things difficult? Well, most MIDI Plug-ins are designed to deal with single channels of MIDI data, such as echo or delay FX; or even to generate simple sequences that target a single MIDI channel (such as standalone bass lines or drum riffs).
However, if you were to assign a Noatikl Audio Plug-in variant to a MIDI track in your sequencer, you would find that you could attach that MIDI track to render through only one soft synth (such as a VSTi synth). This is not good ... as what you really want to do is render each channel of data generated by Noatikl through a different synth! Some sequencers are not able to split output from MIDI Plug-ins attached to a MIDI track, on a per-MIDI channel basis, to target different synthesizers with data from different MIDI channels generated by Noatikl!
That said, many sequencers do work well with the Noatikl VSTi; Reaper, Sonar and Cubase being examples.
There is a huge range of plug-in formats, each of which behaves differently on different platforms. Noatikl is a MIDI-based generative music engine, and therefore is designed to emit (and respond to) MIDI events. However, each sequencer requires a slightly different variant of plug-in!
If you wish to use Noatikl as a plug-in MIDI event generator, then which plug-in variant to use, depends on what tool you are using, and which platform you are running on (e.g. Mac macOS or Windows).
Just to add to the challenge, not all hosts handle VSTi plug-ins correctly, and they all have their own ideosyncratic behaviours. So you'll probably need to experiment to find the Noatikl variant that works best with your favourite host. If in doubt, the standalone Noatikl version can usually be configured to work well with your sequencer; though the flexibility of the plug-in approach makes it well worth the effort in giving a plug-in variant of Noatikl a try too!
Noatikl Desktop Standalone for Mac macOS is installed via the Mac App Store as part of the download process.
Noatikl 3 Desktop Standalone / Desktop Audio Plugin for Windows are available for from the Intermorphic website as 30 day trial full versions, and are installed as below. See Enter the Product Key on how to unlock them after the trial period is up.
noatikl_win64_standalone_setup.zip
or noatikl_win64_plugin_setup.zip
noatikl_win64_standalone_setup.exe
or noatikl_win64_plugin_setup.exe
noatikl.exe
(standalone)noatikl_VSTi_win.dll
(VSTi plugin)
c:\Program Files\VstPlugIns
Important note: The Vst plugin is always installed to the \Program Files\VstPlugIns path shown above (and to the drive Windows is installed to), irrespective of the editable folder destination shown in the installer, e.g. “C:\Program Files\intermorphic\appname" where appname is the name of the Intermorphic app whose plugin you are installing. The editable destination affects *only* where the plugin uninstall files are put (e.g. unins000.dat and unins000.exe) so please leave it at the default setting.
The Audio Unit plugin does not require a Product Key, but instead a Mac App Store purchased and installed version of Noatikl 3.
Garage Band 10 users: See the following - How do I use Audio Unit plugins?
noatikl_AU_mac.component.zip
.noatikl_AU_mac.component
Hard Disk/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components
~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components
Use the following steps, which are also shown in one of the video tutorials:
Start > Programs > Intermorphic > Noatikl
Finder > Applications > Noatikl
Once launched, the load screen will display for a few seconds as Noatikl loads up and show status updates such as "Loading skin" "version number " and "Loading content". Once Noatikl has loaded the load screen will disappear.
Noatikl 3 Desktop Standalone & Desktop Audio Plugin (VSTi) for Windows are made available via our website as 30 day trial versions. To continue to use the Desktop Standalone version after the 30 day evaluation period requires that you purchase the Noatikl 3 Desktop Standalone licence from the Intermorphic webstore. The Desktop Audio Plugin is provided "As Is" and is free to use once you have purchased the Noatikl 3 Desktop Standalone licence. Following your purchase you will be sent an Order Confirmation email that contains your Order ID, Customer ID (the email you used for purchase) and Product Key, or in some cases just a Product Key.
Noatikl 3: The Product Key for the Noatikl Desktop Standalone version and Noatikl Desktop Audio Plugin are both the same. However, you must still enter your Product Key into each product to unlock it.
Noatikl 2: This had separate (different) Product Keys for the Standalone and Plugin versions, and each was sold separately. To use the Standalone version requires the Standalone Product Key and vice-versa.
To enter your Desktop Audio Plugin product key, launch the Plugin from your Windows Desktop Audio Workstation (DAW) or Sequencer that is a VST host (e.g. Sonar, Reaper, Ableton, Cubase etc) and then follow the instructions below.
As you are entering your Product Key into a plugin on a Windows PC, then you might need to ensure that you are running the host software (e.g. Reaper 3) "as Administrator" in order to get the product key to stick.
This is right at the top of this guide because knowing how to transfer your files to/from devices to PCs is also key to backing up your creative work. That is very important and thus needs to be easy to find!
Prior to iCloud-supporting Wotja 4, Noatikl 3 and Mixtikl 7, the Intermorphic Folder is where we used to recommend putting your own content that you wanted to be used by our apps so that it could be consistently referenced in files created by them. This was important for a workflow that required using content in different versions of the apps (mobile/desktop) and between different apps - and you wanted that content to play consistently.
Now that iCloud use is commonplace for Wotja 4+, Noatikl 3 and Mixtikl 7 we strongly recommened using the iCloud / iCloud Drive folder instead. However, for the desktop versions you can still use it as a fallback if you wish.
Noatikl 2 and earlier; Mixtikl 6 and earlier:
Tip: In Mixtikl 7 / Noatikl 3, to use App Files or Other Content from an earlier version, simply first move it to the Intermorphic Folder (a *flat* folder).
The Desktop Noatikl and Mixtikl Apps look for Zip Files and Other Content, where used and referenced in an App File, in a specific folder. This allows such content to referenced/used in both mobile and desktop versions of those apps. We call this folder the "Intermorphic Folder". It is a *flat folder* (where tilde [~] or %HOMEPATH% in the pathname below is a shortcut for your user account name).
Mixtikl Note: The "User_Content" folder (Mixer > Mixer Cell > Content button, then ".." and scroll the list to see it at the bottom) is an alias for the "Intermorphic Folder", and is the fastest way to see the files located in it.
The "Intermorphic Folder" is found here:
~/Music/Intermorphic/
(Mac)%HOMEPATH%\Music\Intermorphic\
(Windows)/Intermorphic/
(Android)
~/Music/Intermorphic/IMTPALLoopEssentials1.zip
~/Music/Intermorphic/zips/IMTPALLoopEssentials1.zip
. Files are still saved to the Intermorphic Folder.Important: iCloud-supporting Intermorphic Apps can use iCloud synching/backup for "App Files" only. "Other Content" must still be backed up/transfered in/out via the "Intermorphic Folder" below. Refer also to the Backup section at the end.
See the relevant sections below for details on what can be copied, e.g. "App Files" and "Other Content", what IM Apps support iCloud and other useful information and links.
Noatikl 2.3+ and Mixtikl 6+ (mobile and desktop versions)
Mixtikl 6+ (mobile and desktop versions)
These are saved by the relevant app with a filename corresponding to that of the app.
When you use iCloud in an iCloud-supporting app these files are all saved to iCloud (see the iCloud FAQ).
These are additional files that can be used by an IM app, including being referenced in App Files, and files that can be exported/utilised by an IM App. They are not saved to iCloud and they must be backed up separately.
Files that are exported/utilised by the app are stored locally in the Intermorphic Folder (see below).
It is strongly recommended that files that are referenced by your App Files should be put in the Intermorphic Folder (see below).
Noatikl [NT2.5+]
Noatikl 3.1+ and Liptikl 2+ (macOS)
Our iCloud-supporting Desktop Apps for Mac allow App Files to be saved to and opened from the iCloud Drive folder (see the iCloud FAQ). The folder on Mac macOS is found here:
~/iCloud Drive/Noatikl/
(Mac)~/iCloud Drive/Liptikl/
(Mac)You may want to use your own SF2/DLS (“SF2”) in mixes or pieces (“Pieces”) that can play in both Mobile and Desktop IM Apps.
~/Music/Intermorphic/zips/mySF2Collection1.zip
. In any event, make sure you put the SF2 or zip file(s) there before you reference them in your Pieces!
Note: You select the SF2 you wish your Synth Network to use via the PSE Wavetable Unit. The Wavetable Unit SF2 list is alphabetically sorted first on folder names (if present in a zip, see "Zipping with Folders" below) and then on SF2 names.
We appreciate you may have lots of SF2 you might want to use, or even collections of them and you want to keep things tidy and structured on your PC or even in the Wavetable SF2 list.
You might wish to zip with folders if:
Say you have the following collection of SF2 files that you want to use in an App (and want to show up in the Wavetable Unit SF2 list like this, too):
mySF2Collection1/drones/drone1.sf2
mySF2Collection1/pads/pad1.sf2
mySF2Collection1/synths/synth1.sf2
To retain that structure you must zip the above directory *such that it keeps the entire folder paths*. You can give this zip any name, maybe something like “mySF2Collection1.zip”
In macOS you can create this zip by right clicking the "mySF2Collection1" folder and selecting “Compress 'mySF2Collection1'”. Alternatively, in Terminal, navigate to the folder above this folder and type:
zip -r mySF2Collection1.zip mySF2Collection1
You can check that the zip has the files you expect in it by typing in terminal:
unzip -t mySF2Collection1.zip
Now, put this zip file *at the top level* of the Intermorphic Folder, restart the App and then create and save Pieces that reference these SF2. If you then move those Pieces between Apps, they should still play just fine (provided you have copied that zip file in of course!).
Note: Using iCloud as your App File backup mechanism is very convenient. It also keeps them in sync across devices and so makes it easy to work with those files in the iOS version of that app.
Note: If you want to remove Noatikl so you can reinstall an older version, see the instructions here.
Start > Programs > Intermorphic > Noatikl >
Hard Disk/Applications
Noatikl
to the TrashHard Disk/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components
noatikl_AU_mac.component
to the TrashThe following short text tutorials are to get you started fast, doing some very basic things with minimum fuss. The principles are the same for both Noatikl Desktop and Noatikl Mobile (even if slightly different).
Noatikl is a very deep app and quick tutorials are no substitute for further investigation - they are just to get you started! To that end, in most steps we link to further information where you can go on to read and learn more about various screens and what they are for.
~/Music/Intermorphic/
and Windows: %HOMEPATH%\Music\Intermorphic
. If these files are not there you can download a zip of them from here and then just unzip that in the Intermorphic Folder or iCloud Drive folder.Either:
Noatikl Desktop comes in Standalone and AudioPlugin (VSTi / AUi) versions. It is a deep product and it does take time to master - but it is worth the effort. This section will go though the main areas of the desktop interface so that you can become familiar with what does what and we will go on from there.
Note: do also check out Noatikl Mobile, which has the majority of the power of Noatikl Desktop.
Ensure you have installed Noatikl Desktop and have it correctly setup for MIDI Out if you wish to use that. If you use Logic, also note the special instructions for Logic.
When you first load Noatikl Desktop you see the following screen which gives you some quick pointers on what to do next:
Noatikl Start screen
Noatikl comes with several demo pieces for you to try out. In the Desktop versions these are installed to the "Intermorphic Folder". Once you have finished with them you can delete them if you want. If you want to get them back again, just download a zip of the demo pieces and unzip that in the Intermorphic Folder.
To load and play them, from the menu select File > Open. Once the piece has loaded, just press the Noatikl Play button and enjoy!
Noatikl Desktop UI
The screenshot above was taken of Noatikl playing the "Demo - Cosmic" piece and it contains a number of generators (voices). This helps illustrate the different areas in the Desktop interface.
The top "Control" bar contains the Play/Stop button (press Play to hear Noatikl), as well as information on piece progress, and fast access to some key MIDI options (as these are very important for many Noatikl users).
The Play button starts you playing. You will only see this button for Noatikl standalone; for the plug-in variants of Noatikl, play/stop is controlled directly by your DAW's transport controls.
Note: you might first want to set-up a MIDI device through which to render your music. See MIDI Routing or MIDI Output for more info on this.
Note: if you have Sync? selected, then playback won't start making any sounds until the sequencer that you are listening to has the play button pressed on its own transport control. In this case, you must first press Play before Noatikl can respond to events from your sequencer's transport control.
The Stop button stops you playing. You will only see this button for Noatikl standalone; for the plug-in variants of Noatikl, play/stop is controlled directly by your DAW's transport controls.
Press the Play This File! checkbox to indicate which of your open documents is to be played in response to the Transport control in your DAW. Remember that Noatikl can have more than one document open at once, so this checkbox tells the DAW which of the open Noatikl files to play.
When the piece is playing, you will see various interesting properties get displayed in the Playback group:
This shows the current Piece tempo. If you are using one of the Noatikl Plug-in variants, then this value will be the value that is forced by the sequencer host in which Noatikl is running.
The elapsed time in Measures:Beats:Ticks format (MBT).Note that if you are using of of the Noatikl Plug-in variants, then this value might be up to a bar ahead of the value displayed by your sequencer's transport control; this is because Noatikl composes ahead according to a latency dictated by the behaviour of your host sequencer.
The approximate elapsed Noatikl Piece position, relative to the Piece Duration.
Whether or not you have "Partikl?" checked (which allows sounds and FX to be rendered via the PSE), you can optionally ask Noatikl to deliver MIDI event data from the Voices in your piece to a MIDI Output device.
If you are running within a sequencer which does not support MIDI routing from one VST to another then you must select any value other than "Sequencer MIDI Pipeline" (otherwise your MIDI events will not generate any sound in the sequencer).
If you are using some other VST Host which allows MIDI data to be routed from one VST into another one (e.g. Reaper), then you may select any of the available options; though you are most likely to want to select the "Sequencer MIDI Pipeline" option.
Mac: select an IAC port, and maybe use MidiPipe by SubtleSoft to render your audio data. Please refer to the Noatikl video tutorial - "creating your first piece on Mac" which will get you going in about 1 minute.
Windows – use a MIDI output device; use MIDI Yoke or Maple if you want to route data from Noatikl to your DAW!
In general, use the "Sequencer MIDI Pipeline" option.
You can tell Noatikl to listen-out for incoming MIDI data on the specified port. Noatikl can use incoming MIDI information for various purposes, including synchronisation and as a hyper-instrument through Listening Voices.
By default, the "Partikl?" checkbox is ticked. This means that Noatikl will play the MIDI events generated by the generative Voices, through the built-in PSE.
You can use the Sync feature to allow Noatikl (when playing through an external MIDI device or port) to synchronise with audio playback in your favourite Sequencer. Once this checkbox is selected, then playback won't start making any sounds until the Sequencer that you are listening to has the play button pressed on its own transport control.
Note: you will experience a degree of MIDI latency (i.e. all notes offset by a certain amount) and some small variation in the note playback timing (typically +/- 5 or 10ms). We are looking at ways to minimise this in later updates. If you record the Noatikl output to a MIDI file, then it is fairly easy to adjust for the latency and also quantise (if you want) the note timing.
Check the "Sync?" checkbox and set your Noatikl MIDI input device to listen-out to the MIDI port to which you have told your Sequencer to send MIDI sync information.
Press the Noatikl Play button.
Noatikl will then start and stop playing automatically in response to your pressing the play and stop buttons in the Sequencer.
For an example of setting this us see also this FAQ entry.
Press the play / stop buttons in your transport control.
Using Logic Pro on the Mac, you can use MidiPipe by SubtleSoft to provide the "cabling" between Noatikl and Logic. Please refer to the Noatikl video tutorial - "creating your first piece on Mac" which will get you going in 1 minute. Set-up couldn't be easier.
To use MIDI sync in Noatikl AU for Logic 8:
This is provided to protect against MIDI feedback, which can occur with some sequencers, notably Logic (which will by default present all data output to a port, as an input to all other ports).
The central "Generator Network" editor / panel is where you marry voices (note generators) to MIDI channels, PSE synth sounds and FX. It shows a view of all NME Voices, together with cells showing the associated MIDI channel and any PSE Synth, Track FX and Global FX settings. Refer to the NME Guide for information on Voice and Piece parameters and the PSE Guide for information on Synth and FX parameters and Networks.
This panel lets you:
If you drag from a Voice box to a MIDI channel box that will tell the system that the Voice will play through the defined MIDI channel. If a new voice is added to a piece, the voice won't be assigned to a specific MIDI channel; if you haven't yet hooked-up a Voice to a MIDI channel, Noatikl will decide on a free MIDI channel to hook-up the Voice to when it starts playing.
The Voice "Patch" parameter defines which MIDI Patch command to send for each MIDI channel - in general, you should only hook-up multiple Voices to the same MIDI channel if they all share the same Patch parameter.
MIDI Channel 10 is reserved for the Drum instrument. Every voice with a Drum Patch, should generally be attached to MIDI Channel 10.
If the "Partikl?" checkbox is checked, then MIDI events are routed for each channel through a PSE configuration defined by the associated Synth box, which by default will use the PSE's built-in MIDI Wavetable synth (using the Patch defined by the Voice's Patch parameter). If you want to use a custom sound, click the Synth button to invoke the Synth editor dialog.
The output from every Synth box can be passed through a custom PSE FX Network. If you want to use an FX, click the FX button to invoke the FX editor dialog!
The output from every PSE FX is added together and passed through a Global FX network. If you want to use a Global FX, click the "Glob FX" button to invoke the Global FX editor dialog. This dialog looks the same as for the Track FX dialog.
By default, the dialog shows no FX units. You can alter the network to use a custom set of sound FX units in various configurations; or select from a list of built-in preset FX.
The left view lets you select which type of NME Objects you want to edit the parameters for in the Parameter panel below.
Object Type View
This is probably the most important Object Type in Noatikl. A Voice is a Noatikl object that represents a generator of Music data. For example, a Voice can be used to play a fixed musical pattern. Or, a voice can be used to create notes according to various musical rules. A Voice can also be used to emit MIDI controller information that is used to control your favourite sequencer. You must have at least one Voice in your Noatikl composition but you may have many more if you want. The basic behaviour of a Voice is defined by its Voice Type property. You may tell Noatikl that individual Voices use specific Scale Rules (other any other of the supported Rules).
Scale Rule, Harmony Rule, Next Note Rule and Rhythm Rule. These rules provide the settings that govern what notes are composed, and when. Each Voice object can use it own rules, as well the Piece Rules object (below).
There is always exactly one Piece object in your Noatikl composition. The Piece object manages various high-level properties of your composition. These include things like what musical rules to follow by default (where not overridden by individual Voices), the Tempo to follow, and various other global properties.
You can store certain basic bookkeeping information related to your file, such as the title of the composition and the author. The File object doesn't define any data that affects what you hear in your composition.
The bottom "Parameters" view contains a table where you can view and edit all of the NME Objects and Parameters that make-up your Noatikl composition. It gives you access access to all the editors for the group of objects and parameters you select in the left panel. In the above picture, the Voices are listed together with their basic parameter values. Voices will flash here to show that they are playing a note.
You can add Voices (or other musical objects) within the table, so that each row represents a different Voice, and each column represents a different attribute of that Voice. Use the menu items to add, delete and copy voices and other objects.
Open Noatikl, and then From the Noatikl menu, select File -> New.
This presents you with the Template list (first image below) containing a large selection of Noatikl templates from which you may base your new Noatikl composition.
Select the 'Simple file' item from the list of templates. This will present you with an empty piece (second image below). Then just press Play.
Template List
Empty Piece
Note: If you are Noatikl for macOS, Noatikl 3.1+ for iOS and also use iCloud, then you might find it best to put your files in your Mac's the iCloud Drive folder. You can open and save to that folder and it means you can easily sync your Noatikl files between macOS and iOS devices that share the same iCloud account. See the iCloud FAQ.
Creates a new piece for editing; select the template that you want to use as the basis for your new piece, via the dialog that is presented to you. Which templates get listed, depends on which template packs you have got installed.
Browse for a Noatikl template file to merge into the currently open piece.
From the list of templates, browse for a template that you want to merge-in to your current piece; Noatikl does the "right thing", pulling in all voices and rules from that template (it does *not* replace any rules, but will bring-in rules that do not currently exist in your piece); copies-in all voices and renames each voice if required to keep them unique. Try merging in one or more drum templates!
Browse for a Noatikl or Partikl file to open.
Browse for a saved Noatikl piece to merge into the currently open piece.
This is a similar operation merging in a Templates (see New > Merge above), except this will let your browse for a Noatikl file that you want to merge-in to your current piece. Try taking any piece, merging-in any other piece, and amaze yourself at what you hear.
Close the currently open piece.
Save your document as a Noatikl file with its current name in its current folder location.
Note: Noatikl 2 supported both the .noatikl and .partikl file format. Noatikl 3 supports the .noatikl file format but can still open older .partikl format files.
Save your document as a Noatikl file with a new name or folder location.
Import a Noatikl document from the clipboard.
Import a Noatikl document from the clipboard and merge it into the currently open piece.
Export your Noatikl file to the clipboard.
Export your Noatikl file as an Email attachment.
Open from a list of your recently accessed Noatikl files (not available in the Mac standalone version).
Use the Edit menu items to copy and paste object parameters. The menu items available under Edit are as follows:
Where possible, Noatikl presents an Undo option.
Where possible, Noatikl presents an Redo option.
Adds-in a new default object of the currently viewed type.
Cuts the currently focused object.
Copies the currently focused object.
Copies the currenly focused parameter.
Pastes in the most recently copied or cut object or parameter.
Deletes the currently focused object.
Restores the currently focused parameter to its default value.
Restores all parameters in the currently focused column to their defaults.
Restores all parameters in the currently focused row to their defaults.
Use the Control menu items to play / stop tracks. The menu items available under Control are as follows:
Starts or stops the piece playing (you can also use the Ctrl+Spacebar shortcut).
Solos the selected voice.
Unmutes all voices.
Mutes all voices.
Use the Tools menu items to access integrated helper utilities. The menu items currently available under Tools are as follows:
Displays the Noatikl script window.
Launches a utility to capture (as fast they can be generated) a user configurable number of takes to sequentially numbered MIDI files. For MIDI file saving, see also Preferences.
MIDI File Cooker
Starts off/stops the "cooking" process (make sure you have a Noatikl file loaded, and have set the number of "Files to Create" and "Record MIDI files to folder" below).
Closes the dialog.
Use the slider to select a number from 1-100 (or double click the number field to enter a number).
Tells you how many MIDI files have just been recorded.
Tells you the total size of the MIDI files that have just been cooked.
Uuse this button to see the folder where the recordings are saved.
Important note: when cooking a MIDI file, the tempo comes from the NME Piece Tempo parameters; not from any host sequencer.
This is the folder under which Noatikl saves and opens all files, including your custom Synth and FX networks, unless you are using iCloud.
Shows the folder where Noatikl saves MIDI recordings.
Mac: Noatikl 3 > Preferences...
Windows: Options > Preferences...
Plug-ins: Options > Preferences...
Use the relevant Preferences menu item to define the key settings that the way that Noatikl works. These include settings for MIDI CC Events, and also to allow automatic MIDI recording of a live playback (see also Tools), as follows:
Preferences Menu
MIDI Events
Automatic MIDI File Recording
Miscellaneous
Plug-in
Refer also to the Plug-in section.
The Noatikl 3 Desktop Plug-in for Mac (AUi) and Noatikl 3 Desktop Plug-in for Windows (VSTi) are both free for Non-Commercial Use for those who have purchased and installed the respective Desktop Standalone versions from the Mac App Store or Intermorphic Web Store.
Under Non-Commercial Use we allow making recordings for Commercial Use, but for the avoidance of doubt we do not include live generation of music for Commercial Use.
The Noatikl Plug-ins can be downloaded from our website and are provided "As is". Just like the Desktop Standalone versions they have a Music End Time of 32,000 seconds (nearly 9 hours, and the maximum value of the Piece Length parameter). The Plug-ins support up to 2 concurrent instance operation in a 3rd party licenced DAW.
Once installed, Plug-in activation is as follow:
See also the Noatikl Preferences menu which allows special modes of operation for the Plug-in(s).
The forgoing capabilities should be plenty for anyone wishing to make music with it in a non-commercial capacity. However, if you need to do more, it is possible to extend certain capabilities: see below.
The Noatikl 3 Desktop Plug-in V3.3.3+ allowed extension of the Music End Time, additional concurrent instances and playlist capability. This was principally intended to support a range of Commercial uses and was through the provision of a separately paid for and specially generated Extension Key (both varying according to specific requirements). This facility is now no longer being offered by Intermorphic as we are transitioning to Wotja, which already includes playlist capability, and we are recommending MIDI output to control external synths and environments.
If you want to send MIDI output from Noatikl to a MIDI port or device, you will need to redirect the "MIDI Output" from Noatikl using a technique appropriate to your version of Noatikl.
If you are using a DAW/Sequencer, you must also assign one or more MIDI tracks to listen-out to the port to which you are directing your Noatikl output! Note that for quick testing of this approach on Windows, you have the option of directly targeting your built-in Windows wavetable synth.
You'll find a lot of information on how to configure the various variants of Noatikl in the Noatikl FAQ.
Reaper is very easy to use with the Noatikl VSTi or Noatikl Audio Unit!
Follow these instructions to get something playing in under two minutes!
To use Noatikl AU with Logic is very easy; simply download the template project zip and follow the video tutorial.
Sonar works well with the Noatikl VSTi (albeit with some possible keyboard issues in older versions of Sonar)! There can also be some timing problems inherent in using the Noatikl VSTi with Sonar; see here for more details about how to work-around these issues.
The steps for using Noatikl VSTi under Sonar Home Studio (which is similar to Sonar Studio/Producer) are as follows (see also the video tutorial). These steps might also work (in slightly different form) with earlier versions of Sonar; let us know if you find out.
When you've first copied the Noatikl VSTi to your computer, be sure to scan for the VSTi. On my machine, this involves the following steps:
Cubase Windows works well with the Noatikl VSTi. The steps for using it with Cubase are as follows (see also the video tutorial). These steps might also work (in slightly different form) with other Steinberg authoring tools; let us know if you find out.
When you've first copied the Noatikl VSTi to your computer, be sure to scan for the VSTi.
The steps for using Noatikl VSTi under Ableton Live are as follows; these steps apply to both the Windows and Mac versions of Ableton Live.
When you've first copied the Noatikl VSTi to your computer, be sure to scan for the VSTi from Ableton. Once done, you should see noatikl_VSTi_win (Windows) or noatikl_VSTi_mac (Mac) in Ableton's list of "Plug-In Devices".
There is a separate section just for Logic and Noatikl Standalone. This because to run Noatikl under the direct control of Logic's own transport controls, and also route MIDI event data from Noatikl such that Logic can pick-up that data, requires that a little bit of preparation work is done first.
Logic sums all incoming midi data to the current active track in the arrange window because this is normally what you might want. However, it isn't what you want with Noatikl and the Logic manual isn't clear as to how to change this.
Using Noatikl Desktop Standalone application with Logic Pro:
This now works correctly i.e. setting Noatikl to transmit on c1 directs the data to the first instrument in Logic, transmitting on c2 goes to the second etc.
You are now ready to make amazing music with Noatikl and Logic on your Mac.
Noatikl V1.5+ listens to incoming MIDI data to allow you to create dynamic hyperinstruments.
In order to use this feature in the standalone version of Noatikl, Logic users need to take certain steps to eliminate the risk of MIDI feedback.
Due to the way Logic implements it's own MIDI through system, it is essential for Noatikl to use different MIDI ports for MIDI in and MIDI out. Port sharing will cause MIDI feedback, lockups and the risk of system crashes.
Open Audio/MIDI setup in the Applications/Utilities folder. Select the MIDI tab.
Double click on the IAC icon and select Ports Click on the Add port button underneath the ports window. Accept the default setting by clicking Apply.
In Noatikl select IAC bus 1 as the MIDI output bus and IAC bus 2 as the MIDI input bus
Launch Logic.
Open the Environment window (Command 8) and select the Clicks and Ports layer.
Click on New -> Monitor to create a new Monitor object. Draw a cable from the Midi input object from IAC Bus 2 and connect it to this monitor. Do not connect the output of this monitor to any other object in the environment.
In the arrange page, select "Settings -> Synchronisation". Click on the MIDI tab. Set the MIDI clock destination tab to be IAC Bus 2 and you are good to go.
See also: Noatikl video tutorial - "creating your first piece on Mac" which will get you going with MidiPipe by SubtleSoft in 1 minute.
To create a second MidiPipe port, drag another MIDI in and MIDI out into your current pipe.
Select the second MIDI input and click on the blue menu display tab to show all the MIDI inputs. Click on Edit virtual Inputs
Click on New Virtual Input to add the second input, repeat this in the Virtual Outputs view to create a new virtual output. Click Done.
Highlight the first Midi output in the pipe. Ensure the box marked Pass Through is unchecked (this box is checked by default).
Save your Pipe.
In Noatikl select MidiPipe input 1 as the output and MidiPipe Output 2 as the input.
Launch Logic.
Open the Environment window (Command 8) and select the Clicks and Ports layer.
Click on New -> Monitor to create a new Monitor object. Draw a cable from the MIDI input object from MidiPipe Output 2 and connect it to this monitor. Do not connect the output of this monitor to any other object in the environment.
In the arrange page, select Settings -> Synchronisation. Click on the MIDI tab. Set the midi clock destination tab to be MidiPipe Input 2
Noatikl 3 Mobile Load screen
Noatikl Mobile for iOS (available at the Apple App Store) has all the power of Noatikl Desktop (including support for PSE Soundfont (SF2) Wavetables) except that it does not support Scripting, Listening Voices or MIDI transport controls.
That said, it has a useful "Blend" mode for X-Y blending of elements with a "drift" facility as well as support for Inter-App Audio / Audiobus and CoreMIDI / Virtual MIDI. As with Noatikl Desktop, Noatikl Mobile takes a bit of time to master - but it is worth the effort.
This Noatikl Mobile section goes though the main areas of the mobile interface so that you can become familiar with what does what and we will go on from there. The parameters are all detailed in the preceding Noatikl desktop sections.
There are four main "Views" selectable via the bottom tab bar (see Views below). The first two views are where you design and blend pieces and are unsurprisingly called the Design and Blend views. The other two views are the Voices and Piece views, but more on those later. OK, let's get started, and to do that, we load Noatikl and from the Files screen open and play one of the included demo pieces!
The Files screen is where you can create a new noatikl file, open one you have previously saved or delete/duplicate files.
Note: If you are using both Noatikl 3.1+ for macOS and Noatikl 3.1+ for iOS then you may also want to use iCloud rather than local storage (i.e. saving your files to your iOS device). If you use iCloud your files will also appear in your Mac's iCloud Drive folder, meaning you can easily sync your Noatikl files between macOS and iOS devices that share the same iCloud account. See the iCloud FAQ.
New: Select New to create a new file.
Action:
Settings: Select for Settings used in Noatikl, including a link to Info.
Edit:
New: Select "Create New" to create a new file.
Saved File: Tap on one of the Saved File document thumbnails to open a previously created file. The thumbnail is a representation of the generator network in your piece. A file's thumbnail will briefly jiggle when you close the file and return to the Files screen, making it easy to see what file you have just played or edited.
File Name: Tap on the File Name for a pop up dialog to rename the file.
The Templates screen is where you select and open templates that you want to base a new piece on (when accessed via Files screen) or add to the current piece (when accessed via Design/Blend views).
Templates Screen
On the left of the top panel is a button that takes you back to the screen you came from. Depending on how you accessed this screen, on the right is shown one of the following:
On the left is the Pak (a kind of grouping) and on the right the template. Tap a template to preview it. Tap it again to stop the preview.
Always shown at the top for easy accesss, this is list of pieces you have already created and saved.
There are two simple templates that you can choose as plain starters.
These let you start a new piece with a particular voice type.
Noatikl Mobile includes all the templates that are in Noatikl, grouped by Tiklpak. There are a lot of templates, so just scroll down the screen as you would any list in iOS.
The Design view is where you will do your piece construction and set up.
Design View
The top panel contains the "Files" button on the left and the "Action" button on the right which is used to export the Noatikl file to clipboard (e.g. for use in Wotja) or to send it as an Email attachment.
If you press this button you will see the Files Button Popup with the following options:
Saves your changes, closes the file and takes you back to the Files screen.
Saves changes to the file and lets you continue editing the file.
Creates a new file (which you can rename) based on the current state of the open file, but leaves you in the current open file - meaning if you then exit the file you will see this pop up dialog again letting you choose what to do with the file. Note: This is NOT the same as Save As.
Lets you discard any changes you have made to the file since opening it.
Closes the dialog.
Below this is the small Piece status panel and this shows the piece name, elapsed time in Measures:Beats:Ticks format (MBT), elapsed piece position (%) relative to the piece duration and the piece tempo.
The output from every FX is added together and passed through a PSE Global FX Network. If you want to use a Global FX, click the "Glob FX" button to invoke the Global FX editor dialog. This dialog looks the same as for the Track FX dialog.
By default, the dialog shows no FX units. You can alter the network to use a custom set of sound FX units in various configurations; or select from a list of built-in preset FX.
The central "Generator Network" editor / panel is where you marry voices (note generators) to MIDI channels, PSE synth sounds and FX. It shows a view of all Noatikl NME Voices, together with cells showing the associated MIDI channel and any PSE Synth, Track FX and Global FX settings.
Tap/hold on a voice and you can drag it up/down to change the voice order. If you drag from a Voice button to a MIDI channel box that will tell the system that the Voice will play through the defined MIDI channel. If a new voice is added to a piece, the voice won't be assigned to a specific MIDI channel; if you haven't yet hooked-up a Voice to a MIDI channel, Noatikl will decide on a free MIDI channel to hook-up the Voice to when it starts playing.
The Voice "NME Patch" parameter (see Voices View) defines which MIDI Patch command to send for each MIDI channel - in general, you should only hook-up multiple Voices to the same MIDI channel if they all share the same Patch parameter.
MIDI Channel 10 is reserved for the Drum instrument. Every voice with a Drum Patch, should generally be attached to MIDI Channel 10.
If the "Partikl" toggle is checked in the Settings screen, then MIDI events are routed for each channel through a PSE Synth configuration defined by the associated Synth box, which by default will use PSE's built-in MIDI Wavetable synth (using the Patch defined by the Voice's Patch parameter). If you want to use a custom sound, click the Synth button to invoke the Synth editor dialog.
The output from every Synth box can be passed through a custom FX Network. If you want to use an FX, click the FX button to invoke the FX editor dialog.
Tap on a voice to get a standard iOS pop-up menu (Edit | Mute / Hear | Solo / All | Delete | Copy / Paste). To Paste a voice (once copied) you must tap an existing voice and then select Paste.
The toolbar contains the Play/Stop control, as well as a button to add templates, buttons for mute and solo screens, and a help/more button.
At the bottom of the screen are 4 tabs that allow you to display the 4 main views, Design, Blend, Voices and Piece.
The Blend view is where you will do your piece blending (easily change volume and pan settings) and also have fun with the drifting capability (where voices can auto blend)!
Blend View
The top panel contains the "Files" button on the left and the "Drift" button on the right. The 4 Drift options are: Manual (blend), Drift, Flock, Drift & Flock.
As Design screen.
The central area shows the piece voices and you drag them left/right to change their pan position, or up down to change their volume. Tap on a voice to get a pop-up menu (Edit | Mute / Hear | Solo / All | Delete | Copy / Paste | Pin). Selecting Pin will allow you to anchor that voice so that it will not drift.
As Design view
As Design view.
The Voices view is where you edit all the parameter values for each of the voices in the piece. Simply select the Parameter Group on the left hand side, and then edit the parameters on the right!
Voices View
On the left of the top panel is a "Files" button and on the right is Undo/Redo.
Tap left or right of this to quickly move between NME Voices.
Tap one of the groups to display, on the left, the parameters for that group. Refer to the NME Guide for information on Voice parameters.
The Piece view is where you edit all the NME Piece parameter values for the piece itself. Simply select the Parameter Group on the left hand side, and then edit the parameters on the right. Refer to the NME Guide for information on parameters.
Piece View
On the left of the top panel is a "Files" button and on the right is Undo/Redo.
Tap one of the groups to display, on the left, the parameters for that group. Refer to the NME Guide for information on Piece parameters.
The Piece parameters can make a big difference how your piece sounds, especially the tempo and root. When exporting a piece for use in Mixtikl, remember that it is best to use a maximum piece length (32,000 seconds).
If you are going to be making your piece available for others to use, you may well wish to include your own copyright statement for the piece. Each voice can also have its own copyright statement.
This screen is where you configure how you want Noatkl to play its sounds and how to control other apps via Audiobus and Core MIDI.
Settings Screen
On the left of the top panel is a button that takes you back to where you have come from.
The first item on this screen, the Information button takes you to the Information screen which shows the version number and has a number of useful links including to this User Guide.
Note: Inter-App Audio and Audiobus are on by default. To use either of these you need to route Noatikl via an Inter-App Audio or AudioBus enabled app.
Partikl (PSE) Synth for Sounds & FX: On by default. Enables PSE sounds, which all voices use as this is the sound generator for Noatikl. Turn this to off when you want to play through an external synth(s) and you do not want to hear the PSE sounds as well.
NOTE: When this is set to OFF you will not hear anything from Noatikl unless you have a MIDI device connected (and you will hear sounds through that instead).
Audio Rate: 44 kHz by default. 44 kHz gives the highest quality sound output from the modular synth (should you be using that). Depending on how complex your piece is in terms of sounds and FX, however, older devices might struggle at this output rate. In which case, you can try reducing how hard Noatikl works the processor by reducing the output rate to 22 kHz.
Note: MIDI Input is only used by Listening Voices.
Tap the MIDI Input button to go to the MIDI Input Devices screen where you will see toggles for all MIDI Input Devices detected by Noatikl.
This is used for detecting MIDI sent via a network (e.g. from a Mac over WiFi).
These allow Noatikl to detect MIDI it sends out over Virtual MIDI (see below). As it is a kind of MIDI feedback it is for specialist use and unlikely you will need to use it.
All 3rd party MIDI emitting Apps or MIDI devices Noatikl detects will be shown here; toggle on the ones you want Noatikl to recieve MIDI input from.
Enable MIDI Input Toggle
Shown at the bottom of the screen, don't forget to turn this on (it is on by default) if you want Noatikl to detect incoming MIDI!
Core MIDI: Off by default. When enabled, tells Noatikl to send-out MIDI events via Core MIDI. Apps that are Core MIDI enabled can take advantage of this.
Virtual MIDI: Off by default. When enabled, causes Noatikl to present a number of Virtual MIDI ports - one Omni (all channels) and 16 per-channel virtual MIDI ports - and Noatikl sends MIDI events as Virtual MIDI ports over Core MIDI.
MIDI Clock: Off by default. When enabled, tells Noatikl to send-out MIDI Clock events over Core MIDI / Omni channel.
Latency: 100ms by default. Sets Latency (milliseconds) to apply to MIDI events sent-out to Core MIDI / Virtual MIDI by Noatikl. Use to help remove jitter if using e.g. Network MIDI.
Tuning: Off by default. Useful option for tuning external analog synths - causes all notes sent-out by Noatikl to be "forced" to the specified pitch.
Show Noatikl 2 Content
This toggle allows you to hide the older Noatikl 2 templates, making it easier to see what is new for Noatikl 3.
This view is where you select and (real-time) edit the Rules used in your voice or piece - be they Scale, Harmony, Next Note or Rhythm rules.
Rule Editor View
This control lets you change the rule elements. Tap on the element to change its value. The composition engine accomodates all rule changes in real-time - which can be a lot of fun!
So that you can tell when a voice using the currently selected rule composes using it, it flashes the colour of the voice type used by that voice. This is primarily to remind you that other voices rely on that rule, so if you are going to change it then the way other voices compose may change, too. It can be useful to have the same rule used by all voices, but if you want to, then each voice can have its own rule!
Below the Rule Edit area is a scrollable list contains all of the defined rules. Tap a rule to select it so that you can edit it in the Rule Edit area above.
The toolbar contains the Add Rule button, as well as a the Edit Rule Name, Cut, Copy and Paste buttons and the Delete button. When you select the Add Rule button you are presented with a set of included default rules. For Scale rules these include Major, Minor, Dorian, Hypodorian, Hypolydian, Hypomixolydian, Hypophyrgian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Pentatonic, Phrygian.
This view is where you edit all the Pattern parameters. Patterns are a little tricky to use in the mobile version (because of limited string editing), so be aware.
Patterns View
Tap in the field to edit the NME Pattern or Sub-pattern. The NME Pattern Syntax can take a bit of getting used to and you will need to study it carefully if you want to use patterns.
The toolbar contains the Add Pattern button, as well as a the Up and Down buttons to move patterns up and down, the Delete pattern button and the Presets button. Select the Presets button display a list of preset included patterns to choose from.
IMPORTANT: The pattern you select in the presets list OVERWRITES your current selected pattern.
Patterns are a way that can be used to create hidden structure in a piece. Set up a voice to be of Voice Type Pattern, set its volume to be zero (e.g. in the Blend view), but do not mute it (or it will not count in terms of composition). Then, follow that Fixed Pattern voice with another voice. Set up the following voice with Chords Strategy set to Chordal Harmony and you will never hear the pattern but it will be used as an invisible skeleton around which to compose! If you want to hear the pattern, set Follows Strategy to Semitone Shift.
Noatikl Mobile has access to all of the parameters that are in Noatikl Desktop version and includes the same templates/content. Content authored in either will play just fine in the other, and vice versa. There are not many feature differences between the two, but the Interfaces are of course different (see below). A good point of reference is the Noatikl User Guide.
In terms of features, Noatikl Mobile can do everything Noatikl Desktop can do except:
Noatikl Mobile has a number of small additional advantages over Noatikl Desktop:
Beyond a pure feature comparison, many people find that desktop versions of apps allow greater productivity. There are too many differences to detail here but the Noatikl User Guide documents both the Noatikl Mobile UI and Noatikl Desktop UI.
Suffice to say, if you are planning on doing a lot of deep editing or composition then you might find it easier and quicker, therefore, to do things in Noatikl Desktop which has a multi-voice table view of parameters and requires much less drill down - a mouse is very very handy. Some UI areas are also just easier to use in the Desktop version, for example text editing / use of Patterns.
All said and done, Noatikl Desktop costs more so maybe you start with the Mobile version and then see how you get on!
To SAVE or EXPORT pieces/files you can either:
To RESTORE pieces/files:
If Noatikl isn't making any sound, first check that you have the Partikl checkbox ticked. If this is ticked, then Noatikl will automatically render all MIDI data that it generates through Noatikl's built-in Partikl sound system, and you should hear Noatikl playing (unless you've turned-down your computer's volume). If the checkbox isn't ticked, Noatikl will only send its MIDI data to whatever MIDI Output destination you have defined in Noatikl's top panel... which means that you've probably got a bit of MIDI configuration to do first in order to hear Noatikl play.
Note that Noatikl can play both through PSE and through a MIDI device, if that is how you have configured things - the choice is yours.
Don't forget to press play! Make sure your system volume is turned-up, and any speakers are turned on! Make sure you haven't muted all voices, or set their volumes or velocities all to zero. If you are using fixed-pattern voices, make sure they don't all have empty patterns.
Unless you are using AudioBus, make sure this toggle (under Settings > Audio Out) is set to off or you will not hear anything!
Only one component at a time can render through the Windows Software Synth. If your Noatikl MIDI Output component is specified to render through this and you hear silence, make sure there is not already something else trying to render through it.
If you selected an IAC driver bus as Noatikl's MIDI output device, make sure you have an active rendered out for that device e.g. MIDIPipe from Subtlesoft or one of your sequencer tracks with an attached synthesiser or sampler plug-in. Please refer to the Noatikl video tutorial - "creating your first piece on Mac" which will get you going with MidiPipe in about 1 minute.
You may hear silence when using Noatikl MIDI events with the Noatikl VSTi with Sonar.
If using the Noatikl VSTi and your hear silence, make sure you have added Noatikl VSTi to your project properly.
If Noatikl VSTi MIDI events create silence, make sure you are not running with the “Sequencer MIDI Pipeline” selected. Not all sequencers support this feature.
See: Where do I find Crash Logs? and send the text in them through via our Contact form, and don't forget to tell us what you were doing when you had the crash! Hopefully we will be able to fix the crash in the next update. Thank you!
Background
We try as hard as we can to make our apps stable. If this app does crash on you, then the chances are that for crashes in new apps (released after Jun 2014) we will (but not always) get reports from the HockeyApp integrated crash reporting system. Because of this, we have the best chance of fixing crashers and so our latest versions are likely to be the most stable. This is one reason we recommend that you always update your Intermorphic apps to the latest version, where your device/OS allows.
If you are using an earlier app then you can still send us a crash log so that we can investigate and try to fix the problem (for all users). The crash log files all start with the app name, and have an extension "crash". They are text files that we can read, and give us useful information in tracking-down a crash.
Even though we get the crash logs, it can also help us track things down if you send us any info about your particular crash, or indeed anything you think is not working right.
When using Mixtikl (mobile or desktop), you can export the content in individual cells where that content is generative (i.e. not audio loops), and then import it (as a new piece or added to an existing piece) for editing in Noatikl (mobile or desktop). There is one exception, and that is where the Mixtikl content uses a custom wavetable. In this case you will need to import it to a new piece and not merge into an existing one.
For Mixtikl Mobile > Noatikl Mobile
Note: When you export from a Mixtikl content cell the Track FX are NOT included (but Cell FX are).
Note: Doing this in Mixtikl Desktop > Noatikl Desktop is similar except that in Noatikl the "Import" facility is under Menu > File > Import.
For Noatikl Mobile > Mixtikl Mobile:
Note: Doing this in Noatikl Desktop > Mixtikl Desktop is similar except that in Noatikl the "Export" facility is under Menu > File > Export.
See the installing Noatikl page for how to install the various Noatikl variants on your system!
If you have deleted e.g. Noatikl 2.1.5 Desktop Audio Plugins from your Mac and installed the Noatikl 2.3.3. Plugins (which require macOS 10.7+) and then try to re-install the Noatikl 2.1.5 Plugins (as you have sensibly made a backup) then you may find you get the message "Intermorphic Noatikl can't be installed on this disk. A newer version of this software already exists on the disk."
Ultimately it is down to Apple's decision not to expose uninstall options in the menu somewhere!
Solution:
sudo rm /var/db/receipts/com.intermorphic.noatikl.plist /var/db/receipts/com.intermorphic.noatikl.bom
sudo rm /var/db/receipts/com.intermorphic.noatikl.plist /var/db/receipts/com.intermorphic.noatikl.plist
sudo rm /var/db/receipts/com.intermorphic.noatikl.plist /var/db/receipts/com.intermorphic.noatikl_plugins.bom
sudo rm /var/db/receipts/com.intermorphic.mixtikl.plist /var/db/receipts/com.intermorphic.mixtikl_plugins.plist
Note: the first time you enter the "sudo" command-line, you'll be prompted to enter your password.
Explanation: the "sudo" command tells the system to run the command that follows with an administrative level; otherwise, you wouldn't be able to remove the (hidden) receipt files that are blocking your re-installation of the older version.
In this sort of case, it almost certainly means that your Web Browser file cache is corrupted. You'll need to refresh/clear this cache, and try the download again.
This is the result of an oddity we've seen in some Macs. Please try the following simple steps.
See the video tutorials section for a lot of video tutorials on using Noatikl.
As we test in Reaper, we give the following instruction for that (and then the Mac variant, too). But, the principle is the same for other DAWs / sequencers and concerns enabling MIDI Clock and Sync events to be sent from your DAW / Sequencer to Noatikl and then enablng MIDI events to be sent from Noatikl back to your DAW / Sequencer.
Important in all cases: You need to use a different bus for each of the above activites, e.g. IAC Driver - Bus 1 for MIDI input and IAC Driver - Bus 2 for MIDI output.
Note: We also refer to the Mac's inbuilt IAC Audio MIDI Setup - for more on that see here.
If you want Noatikl to drive a MIDI output device with MIDI data, you will first need to specify the MIDI output device to which Noatikl sends its MIDI data.
If you are running within Cubase or other sequencers which do not support MIDI routing from one VST to another then, you must, select any value other than "Sequencer MIDI Pipeline" (otherwise you will just hear silence). If you are using Sonar, Reaper, or some other VSTi Host which allows MIDI data to be routed from one VSTi into another one, then you may select any of the available options though you are most likely to want to select the "Sequencer MIDI Pipeline" option.
Mac users using the Noatikl Audio Unit (AU) - you must route the output via an IAC port to a suitable synth device.
See the MIDI Routing and the MIDI Output pages in the Noatikl User Guide.
See also the installing Noatikl page for how further information on how to configure the various Noatikl variants on your system.
There are two ways for Noatikl to record MIDI files. Note that there is one (Type 1) MIDI file saved per 'playback'; but each instrument is recorded to an individual MIDI 'track' within that file.
Set up a pattern Voice in Noatikl on channel 1.
Set another Voice on channel 16. Set this Voice's Micro Controller 1 to send CC22 with the mode set to 1-LFO (min, max, min), beat frequency 2000.
Set Noatikl to sync to the IAC port for which you are generating MIDI clock from Logic.
Open the Logic environment. Cable a tempo fader between midi ports and sequencer input - set it to listen for CC22 on channel 16.
Set the piece tempo in Logic to <50 and hit play.
The Tempo of the ensuing Piece ranges between 50 and 172 BPM according to the cycle output of the controller LFO in noatikl.
Sit back and feel clever.
Note that the choice of midi channels and CC22 is entirely arbitrary. You can use any channel or CC you want. As long as the settings in Noatikl are matched to the settings in Logic, you are in business.
You can, of course, set up multiple "voices" in Noatikl simultaneously generating CC 22 on channel 16 to different rules and specifications to create really strange and unpredictable tempo effects. There is a lot more generative potential here than you can get from a simple tempo envelope.
This issue is most likely due to Noatikl running in 64bit mode. We have yet to isolate the problem but we are working on it!. This will most likely get you going:
As of Noatikl 3 export or playback of Music URLs is no longer supported. If you want to share your pieces you have 2 choices. In Noatikl 3 either:
Yes, from Noatikl 2.1.3 it can. See importing Koan files.
By default we hide the older Noatikl 2 templates simply as the new Noatikl 3 templates are so good! They are included, however, and it is easy to display them. Simply go to Settings (iOS), Noatikl > Preferences (macOS) or Noatikl > Options > Preferences (Windows) and check the box that says "Show Noatikl 2 Content". Once you have done that, the older templates will show up in the template list in a dark grey colour.
These are not included in Noatikl 3 as we now have a new set of gorgeous sound presets and templates (you can also export favourite presets from these, too). But we are making them available if you want them; see below.
Tip: You see the TG Preset list from the Network Editor screen and when you then select the "Open" [Desktop] or "Action" [Mobile] buttons. Once the file below is copied to the right place, you may need to restart the app for the Presets to be displayed.
Noatikl Desktop version: Download a zip of the TG presets and place that in the Intermorphic Folder or zips folder under that.
Noatikl iOS version: Download the file above and then refer to Apple's docs on iTunes Apps File Sharing to see how to copy them to your iOS device.
Noatikl Desktop version: These are installed to the "Intermorphic Folder". If you want to get them back again, just download a zip of the demo pieces and unzip that in the Intermorphic Folder.
Noatikl iOS version: Either re-install Noatikl iOS (making sure you FIRST BACKUP any pieces you have made that you want to keep) or download the above zip file to a PC and unzip that in the "Intermorphic Folder". Then, refer to Apple's docs on iTunes Apps File Sharing to see how to copy them to your iOS device.
General comment: For Mixtikl 7 / Noatikl 3 the Partikl Sound Engine (PSE) Sound Units (Wavetable, Tone, DSynth, Particle) now run in stereo. In Mixtikl 6 / Noatikl 2 and earlier these units ran in mono, even though the PSE FX Units worked in stereo. Running the Sound Units in stereo does place a higher load on the processor, however, it greatly improves the sounds that the PSE can generate so it was an essential change we had to make.
You can get performance issues if the processor in your device is trying to do more that it can handle, and there are a number of possible reasons for this when it comes to using Noatikl. You can also get some audio artifacts occur in the PSE from "note stealing" (see below). However, before we look at any of those, there are some general things to check / note first when it comes to conserving processor cycles so that the app can use the maximum processor power available.
See: Where do I find Crash Logs? and send the text in them through via our Contact Form, and don't forget to tell us what you were doing when you had the crash! Hopefully we will be able to fix the crash in the next update. Thank you!
Background
We try as hard as we can to make our apps stable. If this app does crash on you, then the chances are that for crashes in new apps (released after Jun 2014) we will get reports from the HockeyApp integrated crash reporting system. Because of this, we have the best chance of fixing crashers and so our latest versions are likely to be the most stable. This is one reason we recommend that you always update your Intermorphic apps to the latest version, where your device/OS allows.
If you are using an earlier app then you can still send us a crash log so that we can investigate and try to fix the problem (for all users). The crash log files all start with the app name, and have an extension "crash". They are text files that we can read, and give us useful information in tracking-down a crash.
Even though we get the crash logs, it can also help us track things down if you send us any info about your particular crash, or indeed anything you think is not working right.
Simply because Apple do not allow it. Scripting is required for Listening Voices to work, which is also why they are not supported in Noatikl Mobile.
Note: If you open with Noatikl Mobile a piece contain scripting information (i.e. that you created in Noatikl Desktop) then it just won't do anything. Althought it does not do anything in Noatikl Mobile, any scripting information already in a piece is still included in the piece when it is saved.
Firstly, Noatikl should not crash, and if it does, please do submit us your crash logs.
For capabilities of your device (which may be an older model) your piece is too complex, or using too many synth voices etc. In general the processing overhead is governed by the number of modular synth based parts being used (and synth polyphony), the number of FX being used, the sheer number of parts playing etc. Here are some things you can try:
Audiobus / Inter-App Audio support is now enabled by default and can be used at no charge.
Please refer to the Apple website for information on how to use Inter-App Audio with GarageBand.
Please refer to the Audiobus website for instructions on how to use Audiobus. To use Audiobus you will also beed to install the Audiobus app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. We make no charge to Audiobus suppport.
Note: If you have purchased a licence one of our tools via our website you will receive an email containing your Customer ID, Order ID and Product Key. If you are having problems getting the Product Key accepted the most likely reason is that either you have a space in front of or after the Product Key in the the Product Key field (there should be no space) or, in Noatikl 2 you are trying to enter a Standalone Product Key in the Plugin or vice-versa - see the note below.
Note for Noatikl 2 and earlier users: The Product Keys for the Desktop Standalone and Desktop Audio Plugin versions were different and sold separately. To use the Standalone version requires the Standalone Product Key and vice-versa.
From Noatikl 3 onwards the Standalone and Plugin Product Keys are the same. To continue to use the Desktop Standalone version after the 30 day evaluation period requires that you purchase the Noatikl 3 Desktop Standalone licence from the Intermorphic webstore. The Desktop Audio Plugin is provided "As Is" and is free to use once you have purchased the Noatikl 3 Desktop Standalone licence.
Check you have followed the Product Key section in the Noatikl User Guide.
Note: If you're running on Windows, and find Noatikl doesn't save its license key when you close the application, use the Windows option to run the host software (e.g. Reaper 3) "as Administrator". Enter and save your registration details. Restart the application normally: it should now be fine. If you've got trouble saving the license key for the Desktop Audio Plugin, you should run the host application.
If the above does not get you going, then please try the following steps:
You might wish to try loopMIDI.
Note: We are not responsible for external links, 3rd party software etc.
To see how to route external MIDI (e.g. generated by an app like Noatikl Desktop connected to e.g. loopMIDI [Windows] or MIDIPipe [macOS] or Audio MIDI Setup (IAC Driver) [macOS]) to Reaper (a Desktop DAW which may have Plugin Synths etc), hop over to the Cockos (Reaper) website and follow these instructions.
If you want to show the MIDI notes you've captured, have a look at this video.
Note: We are not responsible for external links, 3rd party software etc.
Our 64-bit Windows software will only install on 64-bit Windows; it will not install on a 32-bit operating system. So it is most likely that you are not actually running 64-Windows.
To check which version of Windows 10 you are using, use the Windows search box to look for "About Windows". This suggests "System Settings". Select that entry to go to the Settings screen.
At the bottom of the left hand panel in the Settings screen select "About". In the screen that displays you will see something like "System Type: 64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor".
If you are running 32-bit Windows and want to run our software you will need to download in install the last-released version of the related 32-bit software. These builds (where available) can be found in the relevant Archive section of the app page: Liptikl 1.2.12 32-bit; Noatikl 2.8.8 32-bit, Mixtikl 6.3.8 32-bit. Not that they will run in 30 day trial mode until you apply your Product License key.
Apple’s tool chains no longer allow us to build 32 bit versions, and we’ve had to adapt with them.
You would be still able to use the archived 32-bit version which you could download/try out if you were interested. The last ever release of that was Noatikl 2.1.5.
See: Installing Noatikl 3 Desktop Software Downloaded from IM Website
c:\Program Files\VstPlugIns
Important note: The Vst plugin is always installed to the \Program Files\VstPlugIns path shown above (and to the drive Windows is installed to), irrespective of the editable folder destination shown in the installer, e.g. “C:\Program Files\intermorphic\appname" where appname is the name of the Intermorphic app whose plugin you are installing. The editable destination affects *only* where the plugin uninstall files are put (e.g. unins000.dat and unins000.exe) so please leave it at the default setting.
Note: If you have purchased a licence one of our tools via our website you will receive an email containing your Customer ID, Order ID and Product Key.
If you are having problems getting the Product Key accepted the most likely reasons are:
Note for Noatikl 2 and earlier users: The Product Keys for the Desktop Standalone and Desktop Audio Plugin versions were different and sold separately. To use the Standalone version requires the Standalone Product Key and vice-versa.
From Noatikl 3 onwards the Standalone and Plugin Product Keys are the same. To continue to use the Desktop Standalone version after the 30 day evaluation period requires that you purchase the Noatikl 3 Desktop Standalone licence from the Intermorphic webstore. The Desktop Audio Plugin is provided "As Is" and is free to use once you have purchased the Noatikl 3 Desktop Standalone licence.
Check you have followed the Product Key section in the Noatikl User Guide.
Note: If you're running on Windows, and find Noatikl doesn't save its license key when you close the application, use the Windows option to run the host software (e.g. Reaper 3) "as Administrator". Enter and save your registration details. Restart the application normally: it should now be fine. If you've got trouble saving the license key for the Desktop Audio Plugin, you should run the host application.
If the above does not get you going, then please try the following steps:
Almost certainly, the issue is that you've not told your sequencer(s) to scan the appropriate folder for the Noatikl VSTi. The folder in question is (depending on your system):
Sonar 6 currently (as of Sonar 6.2) has buggy handling of keyboard events for VSTis and the Noatikl plug-ins are affected by this to some extent under Sonar 6.
The symptoms are that when using the Noatikl VSTi in Sonar 6.... various keys don't respond until you release them; and then also appear in UPPER CASE rather than lower case. These keys include the following: abcdefghiklmnopqstuvxz ...
We have logged this as a bug with Cakewalk. If it annoys you (and we're sure it will!), then do please feel free to ask Cakewalk when they'll get around to fixing the problem.
We think the reason is that historically not many plug-ins have great support for keyboard handling. We've worked hard to put great keyboard handling in Noatikl; and some operations such as naming Voices etc. of course rely on typing on your keyboard.
Note that in Sonar 6, the VST host window includes a new button on the top right of its toolbar, which says on the tooltip "Give all keystrokes to Plug-in". However, enabling this seems to make no difference at all to the plug-in behaviour...
If you have problems where, for example, you want to name a Voice with lower case 'a' characters, but keeping seeing 'A' instead, then consider using the standalone version of Noatikl to change the name before re-opening in Noatikl VSTi under Sonar.
Sonar's VSTi host adaptor implementation has (historically) a pretty sloppy interpretation of MIDI event times generated by VSTi plug-ins such as Noatikl. Current versions of Sonar may have addressed this, of course.
If you are experiencing this problem, consider sending MIDI data from Noatikl VSTi to Sonar via a MIDI Yoke port, rather than sending them directly through the MIDI sequencer pipeline. Believe it or not, this gives far better timing accuracy when you hear Noatikl's music render by your Sonar-hosted software synths.
No: You should use the VSTi plug-in.
You need to attach the Noatikl AU to an instrument track, and NOT an audio track. If you try adding to an audio track, the Noatikl AU won't be listed!
Noatikl 2 was released for iOS 8 and Noatikl 3 was released for iOS 10. Each ran just fine on the iOS version they were released for. It just so happened that Noatikl 2 also ran fine on iOS 9. It may only happen once in a while, but changing the OS version of your device always has the potential to result in issues such as this. Because developing and maintaining complex niche software like Noatikl is so hard and time consuming we operate a Fullgrade model for upgrades - see our FAQ on this.
Background: It seems that what happened was that something in an underlying 3rd party library used in Noatikl 2 meant that text does not display correctly once the device is updated to run iOS 10. At the point we became aware of it we were already in the Noatikl 3 for iOS 10 product cycle and simply could not go back.
The solution was simple; Either A) see if you can downgrade your device back to iOS 9, maybe from a TimeMachine backup; B) upgrade to Noatikl 3 for iOS 10 (it was ~$10 but that is no longer available) or C) as Noatikl has now been superceded by Wotja which can load Noatikl files, purchase and use that instead.
We are really sorry if you got caught out my this, as we did, but again, this is why we operate a Fullgrade model for upgrades - see our FAQ on this.
If you are happy with the features and interface of Noatikl 2, then you won't need Noatikl 3.
You would only need to get Noatikl 3 if you want to use any of the new features in Noatikl 3, play a mix made in Noatikl 3 or to continue using Noatikl if your OS version will no longer run an earlier version.
Noatikl 3 for iOS, macOS and Windows is a new app so does not interfere with an installation of the no longer available Noatikl 2. It works with pieces you have made all previous versions of Noatikl.
As of Noatikl 2.7.20 for iOS (a free update) Noatikl became a purchaseable full product with no IAP Store. If you previously purchased an IAP and have 2.7.20+ you will find it fully unlocked with no need for IAP!
Historical: Users of Noatikl 2.7.6 for iOS wishing to view the instructions for using the older Noatikl IAP store and for restoring IAP purchases can find them in the archived Noatikl 2.7.6 PDF Guide.
To see the folder in Noatikl Desktop Standalone software (not the Audio Plugins):
The folders are here:
~/Library/Containers/com.intermorphic.noatikl/Data/Library/Noatikl/intermorphic/templates
~/Library/Noatikl/You can get to this folder by opening Finder, selecting Go -> Go to Folder... and pasting in the above path.
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\intermorphic\noatikl\templates
\ProgramData\intermorphic\noatikl\templates
Firstly, don't panic! - you will not lose out.
As of Aug 1st 2014 we removed Noatikl Free for Mac from the Mac App Store. The simple reason for this is that we needed to cut down the number of different variants we have to maintain so as to have more time to work on features. And, of the people who purchase Noatikl for Mac, the vast majority seemed to get the Full version which made it clear that was the variant to retain.
If you were one of the very few customers who did purchase the IAP in Noatikl Free for Mac then please get in touch with us providing proof of that purchase and we will gladly give you a promo code for Noatikl for Mac. Your installed version of Noatikl Free for Mac will of course continue to work, but that version will no longer get any updates - these will now all come through Noatikl for Mac.
IMPORTANT: If you do decide to delete Noatikl Free for Mac then back up your Noatikl files first. See the Copy In/Out section for Desktop Noatikl and specifically the instructions related to Noatikl 2.3 or earlier.
NB: From now on if people want to try a free version of Noatikl, then they can try the iOS version or try it via a Desktop Plugin.
You might also want to do this if iOS or macOS updates to a new version and you do not or are unwilling to do that, you have removed Noatikl and the new version of Noatikl is no longer available for your version of iOS / macOS (we use Apple tools to build our apps, and Apple updates to these tools change which versions of iOS / macOS we can build for).
iOS/OSX: In general, you should be able to download the latest version of a purchased app from the "Purchased section" of the relevant App Store as long as we have not removed that app from sale (we will do this for older versions after a changeover period, so as not to confuse people about which version to get).
Alternatively, you might try restoring the software from a TimeMachine backup.
See the Apple information: Download past purchases.
Note: You may also wish to refer to App Store related information: Mac App Store; iTunes App Store.
Other resources: See Apple's instructions on how to do this or (revelant to iOS only) an AppleInsider article.
Intermorphic is Tim Cole & Pete Cole - yes, just two brothers - and we have now been working together in generative music since 1990. However, without the incredible support and interest from so many over the years then we would not be where we are today with our current Apps, Engines and Content. Our thankyou list below is an ever expanding one, in no particular order, and does not include everyone (sorry to those we have missed!). We offer our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to: