Written from devices/monome/norns.vendor.fw-cyrene-cc99a6d.jsonEdit on GitHubJSON

Monome norns (script cyrene): OSC control from Claude, scripts and controllers

23 named commands to drive Monome norns over OSC — from Claude (MCP), live-coding environments or a MIDI controller.

  • sourcemaker's documentation
  • firmwarecyrene-cc99a6d
  • real unitnot yet checked

Not checked on a real Monome norns yet. Own one? Load a sound or send a control, and tell us whether it worked.

Maker
Monome
Version
script cyrene (21echoes/cyrene @ cc99a6d)
Source
maker's documentation
OSC prefix
/norns_cyrene
README.mdfrom the author's repository; not claimed yet, anyone can improve itEdit

From the README of 21echoes/cyrene at cc99a6d, licence GPL-3.0.

Cyrene

A drummer in a box for the Norns sound computer. Based on Mutable Instruments Grids by Émilie Gillet, Step by Anton Hörnquist (jah), and Playfair by tehn

Mutable Instruments Grids comes with 65,025 preset kick, snare, and hi-hat patterns (derived from the interpolation of 25 patterns). They are organized such that similar rhythms are positioned near each other in a two-dimentional grid, and the musician is able to select a position in that grid (and change that selection over time). In Cyrene, these rhythms are then fed into a sample based, monome grid-enabled step sequencer using the Ack engine, based originally on the Step script. There is also a euclidean trigger generator available for each track, based on Playfair by tehn.

UI & Controls

  • Change samples (and effects) via the params menu
  • E1 controls page
Landing page:
  • E2 controls volume
  • E3 controls tempo
  • K2 stops playback, K3 resumes playback
  • K2 while stopped resets pattern to the first beat
Swing page:
  • K2 and K3 cycle through the sections of the page
  • On the first row:
  • E2 controls swing "type" (see below), either percentage-based or tuplet-based
  • If using percentage-based swing, E3 controls the swing percentage
  • The second row is only available if using tuplet-based swing
  • E2 controls the tuplet basis
  • E3 controls the "feel" (see below)

So what are the swing "types" and "feels"? The two swing types are "percentage-based" and "tuplet-based".

Percentage-based swing is a common setting on most drum machines: the beat is divided evenly by default (in Cyrene, is called "0%"), and as you dial up the percentage, the beat is divided unevenly as per your percentage selection (in Cyrene, this is scaled to max out at 7/8ths of a beat at "100%"). This algorithm either runs as "8th note swing" (making 8th notes uneven but leaving quarter notes alone), or "16th note swing" (making 16th notes uneven but leaving 8th notes alone).

Tuplet-based swing in Cyrene is different. Rather than making two-note pairs at the 8th- or 16th-note level unevenly split, it re-divides the whole beat into N equal parts (a "tuplet"), then spreads out the triggers differently across those N equal parts according to different rules (called "feels"). For example, with a 7-tuplet "drunk" feel, each beat is subdivided as 2-2-2-1. With a 9-tuplet "clave" feel, every 2 beats is divided as 2-3-2-2 3-2-2-2 (or, more idiomatically for clave, 2-3-2 2-3-2 2-2). With 6 different tuples and 4 different feels, you have 24 different ways to spice up your rhythms in ways that you just can't get with most drum machines.

Pattern & Density page:
  • K2 and K3 cycle through the sections of the page
  • E2 & E3 control selected values (X/Y, Kick/Snare density, Hat density/Chaos)
More Densities page:
  • K2 and K3 cycle through the sections of the page
  • E2 & E3 control selected values (densities for tracks 4 thru 7)

Read the whole README on GitHub

Use it

Start the bridge with this driver; it forwards named OSC commands to the software:

osc-bridge run --device devices/monome/norns.vendor.fw-cyrene-cc99a6d.json

Then send OSC to 127.0.0.1:7777, for example:

osc-bridge osc-send /norns_cyrene/param/{id}

From Claude or any MCP client, the osc-bridge mcp server exposes this driver as norns_cyrene: ask “what can the Monome norns do?” and it reads this map with list_routes. See the MCP guide.

MIDI controls

23 controls, each with its number, its range and the name to send

OSC commands

Command Arguments Name to send
Param id: string, value: float /norns_cyrene/param/{id}
Param {set} {id} set: string, id: string, value: float /norns_cyrene/param/{set}/{id}
Remote key n: int, z: int /norns_cyrene/remote/key
Remote enc n: int, delta: int /norns_cyrene/remote/enc
Remote brd code: int, z: int /norns_cyrene/remote/brd
Param arc shift key value: int /norns_cyrene/param/arc_shift_key
Param arc shift mode value: int /norns_cyrene/param/arc_shift_mode
Param cy crow out value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_crow_out
Param cy crow in value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_crow_in
Param cy midi out value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_midi_out
Param cyrene version value: string /norns_cyrene/param/cyrene_version
Param cy play value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_play
Param cy reset /norns_cyrene/param/cy_reset
Param cy pattern value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_pattern
Param cy pattern length value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_pattern_length
Param cy grid resolution value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_grid_resolution
Param cy shuffle basis value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_shuffle_basis
Param cy shuffle feel value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_shuffle_feel
Param cy swing amount value: float /norns_cyrene/param/cy_swing_amount
Param cy cut quant value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_cut_quant
Param cy grids pattern x value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_grids_pattern_x
Param cy grids pattern y value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_grids_pattern_y
Param cy pattern chaos value: int /norns_cyrene/param/cy_pattern_chaos

JSON

The same MIDI as norns.vendor.fw-2.9.4, which this firmware shares.

Limitations

Source: the Lua source of the norns script cyrene by 21echoes (21echoes/cyrene at cc99a6d), listed in norns.community. Shares the norns system OSC of monome/norns.vendor.fw-2.9.4 (port 10111, /param, /remote): give the norns' IP address as host override. Its own routes are the 18 parameter(s) whose id is written out in its source, read without running it, with range, options and default when written out too; set them while the script runs on the norns. 13 parameter call(s) could not be read without running the script (ids built at run time, values from variables) and are not mapped: reach them with the base driver's /param/{id}. Parameters added by libraries or engines outside the repository are not mapped either. A value goes in the parameter's units (an option's index from 1). MIDI is not mapped: the script's MIDI handling is its own and parameter MIDI mappings are learned by each user (PMAP). Untested on hardware.

Other versions

The Monome norns is mapped in 356 versions. per Electra preset, per Electra preset, per Electra preset, norns system OSC, v2.9.4, script 32-harmony, script 3d, script 4-big-knobs, script 4CCFader, script abacus, script acid-test, script ack, script acrostic, script amen, script amenbreak, script animator, script arcify, script arcologies, script arp_index, script ash, script ashsynth, script asterion, script automs70, script avonlea, script awake, script awake-ashsynth, script awake-passersby, script awake-rings, script _awed, script b-b-b-b-beat, script bakeneko, script barcode, script barycenter, script beacon, script beets, script benjolis, script bistro, script bitebeet, script bitters, script bline, script blippoo, script blndr, script bloom, script blue, script boingg, script bounds, script bowering, script breakthrough, script buoys, script caliper, script carter's delay, script cc-canvas, script cccccccc, script changes, script cheat_codes_2, script choukanzu, script circles, script clarck, script clcks, script clipper, script clockabout, script colorwheel, script combiner, script combos, script compass, script concrete, script constellations, script corners, script cranes, script crow_talk, script cryptkeeper, script cybermidi, script d, script delar, script delayyyyyyyy, script delinquencer, script demoncore, script descartes, script dimension-expander, script downtown, script dreamsequence, script drift, script dronecaster, script drum_room, script duatone, script dunes, script Eastwind, script easygrain, script eels, script ekombi, script endless-stairs, script esper, script eterna, script euclidigons, script faeng, script fall, fates 2.9.3, script fiahod, script fibonacci, script fixed-filter-banking-crisis, script flora, script fm7, script folio, script footfoot, script forge, script foulplay, script foundry, script fugarc, script fugu, script gematria, script gemini, script get in the sea!, script giro, script glaciers, script glitchlets, script glitchlooper, script glut, script goldeneye, script grains, script graintopia, script granchild, script grd, script grendy, script greyhole, script grid-test, script gridofpoints, script gridofrings, script gridstep, script groovecats, script grurder, script hachi, script hands, script haven, script haze, script here-there, script hid_demo, script Hiswing, script hpns, script hs010, script icarus, script iiitoii, script impact, script ingenue, script initenere, script internorns, script interpret, script intervaltrainer, script islands, script isoseq, script jala, script jiffy, script just-play, script justharmonicon, script KoiBoi2, script kolor, script kreislauf, script kria_midi, script krill, script l_ll__l_, script lamellae, script lamination, script larc, script lemniscate, script leslie, script less-concepts, script lissadron, script loom, script lorenz, script lorenzos-drums, script loudnumbers_norns, script luck, script m18s, script magnetar, script magpie, script makebreakbeat, script mangl, script manifold, script marcovaldo, script massif, script MDPatch, script MDScaler, script meadowphysics, script metrix, script metronome, script midarto, script midi-monitor, script midi-review, script midididi, script midigrid, script midiplayer, script mlr, script mlre, script Mnmpatch, script molly_the_poly, script moln, script monitor, script monomaniac, script moonraker, script mosaic, script mouse, script mx.samples, script mx.synths, script n.kria, script nørgård, script n16o, script nameless-nightmare, script narf, script nb_drumcrow, script nb_mxsynths, script nb_plyprc, script nb_smpKit, script nc01-drone, script nc02-rs, script nc03-ds, script ndls, script nice-tapes, script nisp, script nmMelodyMagic, script nmQuadroDubber, script nmRain, script nmSmartyPants, script noize, script noizeop, script norman, script norns.online, script nornsfetch, script nydl, script o-o-o, script oblique, script oilcan, script onehanded, script ong, script oooooo, script orbital, script orca, script orgn, script orgnwrms, script ortf, script otis, script overtones, script overwintering, script p8, script paracosms, script paranibbles, script parrot, script passersby, script passthrough, script patchwork, script path-trace, script pedalboard, script phonotype, script phyllis, script pirate-radio, script pit-orchisstra, script pitfalls, script pitter-patter, script piwip, script pixels, script plasma, script plonky, script pools, script ppm_norns, script punchcard, script qfwfq, script quence, script r, script rachim, script raft, script raindrops, script randomizer_typhon, script rangl, script rebound, script reels, script repeater, script repl-looper, script ribbons, script rpls, script rpmate, script rudiments, script sam, script sampswap, script samsara, script samthree, script sath-lemon, script schicksalslied, script scholastic, script scryingstone, script seaflex, script seeker_ii, script sempra, script serialism, script shapes, script shfts, script shnthsalslied, script showers, script sidvagn, script silos, script sines, script skylines, script smash, script sonde, script spirals, script splicer, script splnkr, script stack, script step, script stjörnuíþrótt, script streams, script strides, script strum, script stwnsh, script SuperBrain, script supertonic, script sway, script sweet bees, script synthy, script takt, script tambla, script tapedeck, script taweeet, script tetra, script tetrabobo, script tetrabotis, script thebangs, script thirtythree, script thorns, script Tidbit, script timber, script time-rhythm, script timeparty, script tmi, script torii, script traffic, script triangles, script tulpamancer, script tuner, script tunnels, script turntable, script tviburar, script twine, script twins, script u, script ufo, script uhf, script vcr, script vinker, script warmreload, script waver, script window-crowparator, script wobblewobble, script wrms, script xD1, script Ygg, script yggdrasil, script zellen, script zxcvbn.

Frequently asked questions

Can an AI agent like Claude control the Monome norns?

Yes: SynthHub's hosted MCP server knows the Monome norns's MIDI map, and its browser relay lets the agent send it parameter changes or load a sound, each sound change confirmed by you.