hi ryanq
This is a great project, but with a lot of unofficial and undocumented challenges. I mean, decode the NSM communication protocol.. not sure if this is safe or easy. By safe I mean, reading would be ok for Nord I guess, but writing (download) is another story.
Last year, I worked on another program that required a lot of reverse engineering effort too,
nord-stage-forum-f3/ns3-program-viewer-t19939.html and contacted Nord/Clavia (
support@clavia.se) to know their official position. They were ok as long as the unofficial app does not produce any generated program files! I assume you should contact them too, to avoid any futur issue.
Now regarding your roadmap:
- One step download and load individual sounds to try them out quickly:
I really like this one
- Batch edit and organize programs
I like the NSM dual view to organize programs, not sure what better can be done.
- External Memory Mode — Download sounds to your iOS device, and as long as it’s plugged in, you can play available sounds
Not sure how you want to do that. By sounds you mean Nord sounds?? The sound engine is in the Piano, means you will need to download it first, or just by MIDI notes driving a player?
- Build program virtually on-screen and load them in later.
Nice one, with my app I have done half of the job, but viewer only to avoid issue with Nord
- Browse and share user created programs and sounds
This exists already, another nice app https://nordusersounds.com is doing that already very well.`
- Firmware update / management
Well what can I say, this is very difficult to sell, I would never use unofficial apps to update the firmware of my Nords...
- Tweak any keyboard setting from within the app
Similar to 4.
- iCloud backup and sync of my programs and settings.
Great
- Unused Sounds — log the last time I played a sound, and let me set a threshold for auto-removal and reclaim space
With MIDI PG you can track what is used to monitor what is played, but this works only if you app is connected all the time...
- Using the bottom bar for multi keyboard management and quick swapping.
not sure to understand well this one.
- Building set lists for a quick Mainstage-style sound manager.
Nice, could even be on the top of the list!
Like Rfilipe I'm curious to know the current progress of your project... This UI looks great, just a mockup for now or are some feature already working?
Good luck!