I want to create data visualizations from my Oxygen 8 controller in Processing. I installed proMIDI into the Libraries folder. I a have to use my PowerBook G4 that runs Tiger (OS X 10.4.11) because Oxygen 8 doesn't work with my new MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard. In the Audio MIDI setup for the PowerBook I am able to get short sounds for each key that is pressed so the MIDI itself is being picked up by the computer. I am not too sure how to assign the detection of the MIDI controller in Processing using proMIDI. I am really new to this and any help is appreciated. Thank you.

So I am really new to Processing and I want to hook up my MIDIMAN controller to Processing. I have this code for making colored ellipses that fade. I want to connect this code to the keys on the MIDI but I can not figure out how to get Processing to recognize the controller. Is it difficult assigning certain keys on the controller to activate instances of objects? Here is my code that works with the mouse so far.

1. ArrayList ballslist;
   
2. void setup() {
3. size(800, 800);
4.   smooth();
5.   noStroke();
6.   ballslist = new ArrayList();
7. }
8. 
   
9. void draw() {
10. background(255);
11. smooth(); 
12.   for (int i = ballslist.size()-1; i >= 0; i--) {
    
13.  BallClass dball = (BallClass) ballslist.get(i);
    
14. dball.display(); 
    
15. if (dball.finished()) { 
    
16. ballslist.remove(i);
17.     }
18.   }
19. }
20. 
    
21. void mousePressed() {
22.  int ballred = mouseX;
23.  int ballgreen = 100; 
24.  int  ballblue = mouseY; 
25.  float ballalpha = 256; 
26. int ballwidth = int(random(20,80));
27. ballslist.add(new BallClass(mouseX, mouseY, ballwidth, ballred, ballgreen, ballblue, ballalpha));
    
28. }
29. class BallClass {
30.  float x;
    
31.  float y;
32.  color ballColor; 
33.  int Bred;
34.  int  Bgreen;
35.  int  Bblue;
36.  float   Balpha;
37.  int BallWidth;
38.   BallClass(float tempX, float tempY, int tempball, int tempR, int tempG, int tempB, float tempA) { 
39.     x = tempX;
40.     y = tempY;
41.     Bred = tempR;
42.     Bgreen = tempG;
43.     Bblue = tempB;
44.     Balpha = tempA;
45.     BallWidth = tempball; 
46. }
47. 
    
48. boolean finished() {
49.    Balpha -= .5;
    
50.     if (Balpha < 1) { 
51.       return true;
52.     } 
53.     else {
54.       return false;
55.     }
56.   }
57.   void display() {
58.     ballColor = color(Bred, Bgreen, Bblue, Balpha);
59.     fill(ballColor); 
60.     ellipse(x,y,BallWidth,BallWidth);
61.     fill(255, 255, 255); 
62. }
63. }
    
    
    
    

I wrote a super basic code for drawing circles with greyscale coloring. The keys that are used are the middle row of a qwerty keyboard so 'a', 's', 'd', 'f', 'g', 'h', 'j', 'k', 'l'. I am really new to Processing and was wondering how to create a time event that after the key is released the circle fades away within 5 seconds. Here is my code so far :

1. float x;
2. float y;
3. float b = 0; //start black
   
4. float g = 100; //start grey
   
5. float w = 200; //start white
   
6. float diam; //diameter
   
7. 
   
8. void setup () {
9. size(900,300);
10. background(255);
11. }
12. 
    
13. void draw() {
14. x = random(width);
15. y = random(height);
16. diam = 200;
17. }
18. void keyPressed() {
19. if (key == 'a') { //darkblack
20. stroke(0);
21. fill(b);
22. ellipseMode(CENTER);
23. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
24. }
    
25. 
    
26. if (key == 's') { //mediumblack
27. stroke(0);
28. fill(b + 50);
29. ellipseMode(CENTER);
30. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
31. }
    
32. 
    
33. if (key == 'd') { //lightblack
34. stroke(0);
35. fill(b + 90);
36. ellipseMode(CENTER);
37. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
38. }
    
39. 
    
40. if (key == 'f') { //darkgrey
41. stroke(0);
42. fill(g);
43. ellipseMode(CENTER);
44. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
45. }
    
46. 
    
47. if (key == 'g') { //mediumgrey
48. stroke(0);
49. fill(g + 50);
50. ellipseMode(CENTER);
51. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
52. }
53. if (key == 'h') { //lightgrey
54. stroke(0);
55. fill(g + 90);
56. ellipseMode(CENTER);
57. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
58. }
59. if (key == 'j') { //darkwhite
60. stroke(0);
61. fill(w);
62. ellipseMode(CENTER);
63. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
64. }
65. if (key == 'j') { //mediumwhite
66. stroke(0);
67. fill(w + 25);
68. ellipseMode(CENTER);
69. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
70. }
71. if (key == 'j') { //lightwhite
72. stroke(0);
73. fill(w + 50);
74. ellipseMode(CENTER);
75. ellipse(x,y,diam,diam);
76. }
77. }
    

Hey guys!
I'm really new to Processing and I have a degree dependent project that I have no idea how to even start. I want to use an Oxygen 8 MIDIMAN controller to create data visualizations. I want to use Aristotle's theory of tonal color which means low tones and pitches are white and higher tones and pitches are black, so staying within the grayscale for this particular aspect of the project.

I'm running on Mac OS 10.6 and the newest version of Processing

 I'd really appreciate any advice on even getting started because I'm really a fish out of water. Thanks for your help