What is JENS?

JENS analyzes audio signals in real-time and converts them into OSC for lighting systems and other Softwares, enabling audio-reactive performances and installations.

Key Features

Signal Flow

Audio Input  → FFT → DSP → Control → OSC/DMX Output
       │
       └→ Audio Monitoring → Output Device
DMX Input  ───────────────┘
MIDI Input ───────────────┘

Control = Parameter control via Patch Mappings

System Requirements

Installation

macOS

1. Download the .dmg file (arm64 for Apple Silicon, x64 for Intel, or Universal)
2. Open .dmg, drag JENS to Applications, eject
3. First launch: Right-click → Open, allow network + microphone access

Windows

1. Download the .msi installer (x64)
2. Run installer, follow wizard, allow firewall access

Quick Start

Get from installation to your first audio-reactive setup in 5 minutes.

1. Launch JENS from Applications (macOS) or Start Menu (Windows)
2. Add Audio Input: Settings → Audio → Add Connection → select your device
3. Add OSC Output: Settings → OSC → Add Connection → Host 127.0.0.1, Port 8000
4. Create Track: Click "Add Track" → select audio + OSC connections, set address (e.g. /audio/level), enable
5. Verify: Make sound — level meter moves, FFT shows bars, output value updates
6. Fine-tune: Adjust Gain (sensitivity), Response Curve (feel), Smoothing (flow), Gate (noise floor)
7. Save: File → Save Show → My First Show.jens

Architecture Overview

Signal Flow

Audio Input → Audio Connection → Track
                    ↓
    DSP: Gain → Filters → RMS → Smoothing → Curve+Gate/Limit → OSC Scaling
                    ↓
    Output (OSC Min–Max) → OSC

DMX Input  ─┐
MIDI Input ─┴→ Patch Mappings → Parameters (real-time control)

Core Components

DSP Chain

1. Gain — Amplify/attenuate sensitivity (clipped to ±1.0)
2. Low-Cut Filter — Remove unwanted low frequencies (Highpass)
3. High-Cut Filter — Remove unwanted high frequencies (Lowpass)
4. RMS Calculation — Convert waveform to smooth value (0–1)
5. Smoothing — Slow down changes (separate attack/release)
6. Response Curve + Gate/Limiter — Shape feel, define active range
7. OSC Min/Max Scaling — Map output to custom range

Connections

Connections define where data comes from and goes to. Configure once in Settings, reference in tracks/subs.

Tracks and Subs

Tracks capture audio, run DSP, and output control values.

Subs are manual sliders that output OSC. Use for master intensity, color mixing, effect triggers, or as DMX/MIDI → OSC bridges.

Organization

• Drag & drop to reorder (6-dot handle)
• Click chevron to collapse/expand

Patch Mapping

Patch mapping links external controllers (DMX, MIDI) to any JENS parameter.

How to Map

1. Press Tab to enter Patch Mode (highlights mappable parameters)
2. Click any parameter (gain, filter, slider value, etc.)
3. Configure input: DMX (connection + channel 1–512) or MIDI (connection + CC 0–127)
4. Use Learn Mode to auto-detect — just move the MIDI controller
5. Press Tab again or Esc to exit Patch Mode

Mappable Parameters

• Track: Gain, filters (low/high cut), gate, limiter, smoothing (attack/release), response curve, OSC range, enable
• Sub: Value (slider), OSC range (min/max)

Examples

• DMX Universe 1, Ch 10 → Track "Kick" Gain
• MIDI CC 1 → Track "Main" Smooth Fall
• DMX Ch 1–3 → Subs "Red", "Green", "Blue"

Creating Tracks

Quick Create

1. Click "Add Track"
2. Set name, audio connection, output connection, OSC address
3. Enable the track (toggle ON)

Parameters

Management

• Reorder: Drag 6-dot handle
• Collapse: Click chevron (shows name, enable, value only)
• Delete: Click trash icon

DSP Overview

Full Processing Chain

Audio Samples
  ↓
1. Gain (scale sensitivity, clip to ±1.0)
2. Low-Cut (Butterworth 2nd order Highpass, 12 dB/oct)
3. High-Cut (Butterworth 2nd order Lowpass, 12 dB/oct)
4. RMS Calculation (→ value 0.0–1.0)
5. Smoothing (exponential moving avg, separate attack/release)
6. Response Curve + Gate/Limiter
7. OSC Min/Max Scaling
  ↓
Output (float) → OSC

Why This Order?

1. Gain first — Boost weak signals before filtering
2. Filters second — Clean the boosted signal, isolate bands
3. RMS third — Convert to smooth positive value
4. Smoothing on X — Smooth before curve to prevent jitter
5. Curve + Gate/Limiter — Shape response and active range in one step
6. OSC scaling last — Map to receiver's expected range

Gate/Limiter Behavior

Gate and Limiter define the active range where the response curve operates:

X < Gate       → Y = 0  (signal ignored)
X in [Gate, Limiter] → Y = 0–1 (curve applied)
X > Limiter    → Y = 1  (signal maxed)

Response Curves

Creating Subs

1. Click "Add Sub"
2. Set name, OSC connection, OSC address, initial slider value
3. Optionally set custom OSC Min/Max range

Control Methods

External Control

Enter Patch Mode (Tab) → Click slider → Configure DMX/MIDI → Use Learn Mode to auto-detect.

Common Patterns

• Master Intensity: Sub at 1.0 → /master/intensity
• RGB Color: Three subs → /rgb/red, /rgb/green, /rgb/blue
• MIDI→OSC Bridge: MIDI Console fader → JENS sub → OSC to software / light desk

OSC

Open Sound Control: UDP-based network protocol for multimedia. Low-latency, flexible addressing, widely supported (TouchDesigner, ETC, Resolume, Max/MSP).

Creating a Connection

1. Settings → OSC → Add Connection
2. Name: Target software (e.g., "Resolume")
3. Host: 127.0.0.1 (same machine) or IP address

Address Format

Naming Strategies

• By Source: /drums/kick, /vocals/lead
• By Function: /lighting/intensity/master, /video/opacity
• By Channel: /channel/1/intensity, /zone/1/master

Testing

Use an OSC monitor (Protokol, OSC Data Monitor) to verify messages. Configure it to listen on the same port as your JENS connection.

Audio Monitoring

Audio Monitoring routes an audio input connection directly to an output device for monitoring — pure passthrough without any DSP processing. Be aware: "BUFFER_MAX_SAMPLES = 4096" this cause a delay up to 85ms.

Setup

1. Settings → Audio → Audio Monitoring section
2. Click "Add Output"
3. Source: Select the input connection to listen to
4. Output Device: Select the playback device (e.g., speakers, headphones)
5. Output Channels: Select which output channels receive audio (all channels if none selected)

Use Cases

• Monitor Mix: Listen to the audio being analyzed while building your show
• Soundcheck: Verify audio input is working correctly before going live
• Multi-Output: Route the same input to different output devices simultaneously

Behavior