What is OSCTap

OSCTap is a small utility that makes it simpler to floating point data over the network using the OSC protocol.

The library automatically scans public float variables defined in the sketch:

• makes them available over OSC as server (sender/host)
• makes it easy to map local variables with remote variables as a client (receiver/client)

Usage

Check out the basic usage demo

Additionally see the Sender/Receiver.

Minimal Sender, continuosly sending a value:

import oscP5.*;
import tap.osc.OSCSender;

public float x = 0;
OSCSender s;

void setup(){
  size(400,400);
  s = new OSCSender(this);
}
void draw(){
  x = constrain((float)mouseX/width,0.0,1.0);
  s.send(true);
  background(x * 255);
}

Receiver:

import oscP5.*;
import tap.osc.OSCReceiver;

public float y = 0;
OSCReceiver r;

void setup(){
  size(400,400);
  r = new OSCReceiver(this);
}
void draw(){
  background(255);
  ellipse(width * .5, y * height, 10,10);
}

How does it work

Initial messaging works by broadcasting across all IPs. No need to worry about IPs at this stage, but this isn't efficient so it's only used when searching for hosts/sender instances accross the network.

Currently the focus is simply sending a float variable. Each message however contains three arguments, the 2nd argument being the actual value.

Based on Alois Yang's suggestion during the Gen-AV hackathon, we explored the idea of sharing data from Processing to other audio software using OSCulator to bridge OSC to MIDI

I realise the limitation of float values, but for now let's imagine as a creative constraint :) A bit of R&D into OSC/MIDI in between is next.

Dependencies

OSCTap relies on the oscP5 library. The releases page contains version of the library with or without oscP5 If you already have oscP5, use the release without oscP5 and be sure import oscP5 in sketches using OSCTap.

Caveats

This library is in a draft stage at the moment (read as 'buggy'/rough on the edges) Documentation and more examples will follow.