VNC + client for iPad to control Max: a dream come true ?
I have just disovered the VNC stuff...
If I understand correctly this allows one to see and use the GUI interface from the computer remotely as if he was in front of his computer screen?
It becomes really interesting with this client for iPad.
It could be a substitute for a MacOS/Windows-compatible multitouch screen. But how reactive is it? Is the remote display smoothly updated?
Could it be the iPad's decisive asset ?
Very very cool.
Hopefully a lot more reactive than something like GoToMeeting's virtual desktop, which although very handy for online collaboration, has a ton of latency. Unusable for real-time interaction, it's not even close. But maybe it's a lot smoother, and maybe with a stripped-down patch/interface it could be OK.
Still, all these things are only going to get faster, so it's a heck of a start...
I use VNC client and VNC server at work (I work in IT) to log on to our users' computers on our network remotely. Being on a business network, our intranet network is pretty speedy. The refresh rate is fairly good, and the response time seems pretty quick, judging by the user's response (I tend to be talking to them on the phone at the time).
Given that VNC is installed on the client and host machines, you are able to connect to a client directly by TCP/IP using the direct IP address, or connect using an alias via DNS. Obviously, I can't speak for wireless or the apple VNC client, but if you have any questions about it, I can hopefully answer.
The Apple VNC client is speedy and works well. I use this on my iPhone to see the desktop of my mac. Controlling a max patch in this way is fast, with a latency of maybe 100-200 ms. Framerate is 2-5 fps I think, depending on the resolution and colour depth.
Rendering a dedicated interface on the iPad/iPhone through OpenGL will always be faster though, this is what some other apps do.
In that case the latency is only caused by the wireless network, as there is not much data to be sent.
Also, current VNC clients don't support multitouch.
I have the vague feeling that several of our readers would find 100-200 ms latency to be something approaching a geological time scale. Me? Less so - line~ objects everywhere, y'know.
I've used VNC to control Max from my iPhone before, as a quick and easy solution. It worked well enough, but I'd call it far from optimal (I basically only used it to send a start bang to the somewhat hidden computer that controlled an installation anyways). Sure, with an iPad it's a lot more comfortable, but there's still the latency. I -would- classify 100-200 ms as really annoying, if you really want to use it as a -controller-.
Dedicated apps that only send control data (e.g. OSC) and have their own interface, rather than displaying your entire computer screen are often much more useful in practice, unless you want to use the iPad not only to control Max, but also other applications at the same time, in which case VNC would be the obvious solution, of course.
But then, I'm a bit scared of using wireless devices as real-time controllers during a performance anyways. A cable connection just seems so much safer.
Yeah, 100-200 ms doesn't really classify as real time, especially in a musical context.
I too used it only in non-time critical applications and connected a line~ to smooth out the data.
It would be nice if the usb cable for iPad or iPhone could be used/hacked in some way to allow abritrary serial data to be sent through. Super speed, no latency. If you think about it, the cable is there, Apple just doesn't let us use it. Hurray for lock-in.
So true.