You may have heard about Pure Data (Pd), the open-source cousin to Max/MSP and a powerful tool for visual programming or “patching” music and multimedia. Pd has even appeared in the iPhone app RjDj and creating generative music for EA’s hit game Spore. But actually learning how to use the thing? Or learning some of the more advanced possible techniques in sound synthesis and processing? That’s another matter.

You’ve already started performing with Ableton Live using your Sony PSP. Now you want still more ways to control Live via your portable devices. Hmmm, garage door opener — no good. Pocket laser pointer — can only really point at the screen with that. I know: how about your cell phone?

LiveController | Jason R. Kramer

Yes, Jason Kramer has hooked up 15 user-assignable commands in Ableton Live, including play/stop, to the buttons on your cellphone, via scripts built for Sailing Clicker, the powerful PDA / cellphone scripting utility. Now, it’s been a while since I looked at Sailing Clicker, and that application’s support has grown by leaps and bounds, meaning everything from Wi-Fi connections to bluetooth to Windows Mobile PDAs and smartphones (including WM5) to cell phones from every major maker are now supported; check out the full device list. It costs US$23.95 for the Sailing license for Windows or Mac; Jason’s script is US$2.

And this isn’t just a novelty, either; the ability to have quick access to performance buttons without even the need for MIDI could be really helpful. Not to mention it could bring new meaning to DJs “phoning it in.”

For the Pro Tools and Logic Pro scripts, check out Jason’s software page.

Jason has wowed us here previously, by building a beautiful, elegant hardware controller for Ableton Live. Now grab that, your phone, and a PSP, and you’re set.

A powerful music workstation in a handheld? Regular readers know that subway/airplane-friendly portable music creation is a reality, and here’s another tool for you. miniMusic helped launch the handheld music creation craze, and their Palm/Treo software just got a big update.

BeatPad 1.1 is an update to miniMusic’s pattern sequencer. The “point-one” is actually a pretty major upgrade:

Built-in sounds: The Krikit soft synth is now built-in, so you can incorporate multi-timbral, polyphonic sound on supported Palm devices (including the Treos).

Pattern features: Pattern chaining and a library for organizing your patterns

MIDI export: Here’s the real killer feature — you can export beats as MIDI files, so you can use your Palm as a scratchpad, then load into Reason / Live / Logic / whatever when you get home. (That’s missing in most other handheld software I’ve seen.)

US$29.95 on its own, but miniMusic has also introduced its Pro Music Suite, with BeatPad, the NotePad notation app, and the SoundPad synth editor (for creating Krikit sounds for the other two apps). Plenty of other ssoftware from these guys, too, including a Kaoss Pad-like X/Y touchpad synth called AxisPad, coming soon. We’ll be watching. (Of course, I’m still PocketPC loyal; anyone know if there’s a Windows Mobile app that supports MIDI export?)

Cris (aka atariboy) sends us Theremin emulators for your PDA — it’s theremin to go. Cris writes:

Pete Moss ThereMini (US$10):
This guy has a Theremin emulator with MIDI out, no less! For PalmOS on his Palm software page.

Got a PocketPC? check out Clanger. (Free) You can even change the tremelo rate and decay time.

Cool stuff. Got an app you love for your Palm, PocketPC, or phone? Let us know. (Okay, my current favorite phone app is the “off” function, but how about you?)