nanoloop FM manual
new in version 0.4update here
- analog sync (master only)
new in version 0.3
- bug fixed that caused stutter noise
new in version 0.2
- bugs fixed that caused crashes
- new sound types: high pass and half sine FM
- improved pulse width effect
- stronger click (r)
- second voice added to L channel
- illuminated sequencer grid
- slowly increasing range for randomization
- swing
- pingpong / random playback modes
New / changed functions in 0.4 are marked
red.
Buttons
Display
The LED display is divided in 3 areas:
The orange rows on top show data values: bars, icons, numbers
Red dots in the middle represent the structure to edit. It is navigated with a green cursor.
On the bottom there is the green menu for parameter / channel selection and transpose functions.
Structure
There are two different views:
- In patterm view, you edit the currently playing pattern.
- In file fiew, you save and load patterns and arrange a song.
X file view,
Y pattern view
Pattern View

In pattern view, there are 3 different modes:
Sequencer, parameter menu and global menu.
Y enters paremeter menu. In the menu,
Y toggles between parameter menu and global menu,
A returns to the sequencer.
There are no "instruments", all parameters are per-step. In menu mode, all steps are edited at once and the values of the pattern are displayed in the data area.
Sequencer
❖ move cursor to select step
A place note
B cut / paste note
A ❖ edit note
B ❖ edit note
Y parameter menu
Parameter Menu

Editing functions are the same as in sequencer but applied to the entire pattern.
◄► select parameter
▲▼ select channel
A ❖ edit entire pattern
B ❖ edit entire pattern
A/B + X/Y randomize parameter
(hold A/B and press X/Y to increase random range)
A sequencer
Y global menu
Global Menu
▲▼ select channel
A ❖ shift pattern
B ◄► change tempo
B ▲▼ pattern length
A + Y swing on/off
B + Y pingpong > random > normal
A+B pause > revert to 1st step > toggle 1/8 / 1/16 sync mode
X resume / start playback
Y parameter menu
(sync / MIDI functions not yet implemented)
Parameters
| pitch | LFO | volume | FM | effects, meta |
A ▲▼ | semitone n: freq | amount | volume | FM amount | stutter |
A ◄► | octave n: phaser | frequency | decay | FM freq | panning |
B ▲▼ | interval 1 | lfo mode | r: click fake reverb | high/low pass FM sine/halfsine | meta 4th / none |
B ◄► | interval 2 | lfo dest | attack | FM mode | meta 2nd |
|  |  |  |  |  |
Channels, Polyphony / Intervals
r | monophonic, intervals play as arpeggio |
l | two voices, 2nd interval = detune |
c | three voice chords |
n | noise sample & hold frequency + phaser delay |
LFO
LFO modes (
A ▲▼):
 | envelope down |
 | LFO |
 | envelope up |
LFO destintion (
A ◄►):
 | pitch |
 | FM |
Arpeggio
In r channel, chords are played as arpeggio. Intervals can be up to one octave (12). When set to 13, sound is muted and arpeggio is stopped, thus functioning as a short gate.
Detune
In L channel, the second voice plays at the first interval in semitones plus the second interval in 1/16 semitones. For detune/phasing effects, set the first interval to 0 and the second to 1 or 2.
Volume Envelope
In the
r channel,
B ▲▼ adjusts the initial click (for drum sounds), on the other channels, there is a long low-level release for a simple reverb-like effect.
FM modes
     | "filtered" square wave with low / high pass |
     | normal FM with sine / half sine |
Technically, the square is generated by sine wave modulation, too and FM amount controls the "filter cutoff". FM frequency corresponds to pulse width.
Meta
Meta step allows to play a step only every 2nd or every 4th time. It's a simple but powerful way to extend the pattern beyond the 16-step grid.
Sync
Nanoloop sends sync pulses to the sync port (the right one of the two upper small jack connectors). To sync it with another device, stop playback by hitting A+B twice in global menu so that instead of the tempo value, this icon is shown:
Now set the other device to slave mode, rewind it to the start of the sequence and set it to playback if necessary. To start nanoloop again, press X.
Sync Modes
By default, a clock pulse is sent every 2nd step (Pocket Operator and Volca compatible). To change this to every step, press A+B again before starting playback. The selected mode is shown on the right.
A+B |  | pause |
A+B |  | stop |
A+B |  | sync mode 1/16 (Monotribe, Game Boy nanoloop...) |
A+B |  | (default) sync mode 1/8 (Pocket Operators, Volcas...) |
X | (bpm) | start |
Slave mode is not yet implemented, it's therefore not possible to sync two nanoloop FM units. Slave modes and MIDI clock will follow in future updates.
File View
◄►select file slot
▲▼ select channel
A ▼ save current channel pattern to slot
A ▲ load current channel pattern from slot
A ◄► load current channel pattern from next slot
B ▲ load all channels from slot
B ◄► load all channels from next slot
AB ▼ delete file in slot
A+X clear channel
B+X clear all channels
X bank mode on/off
In bank mode:
A ◄► select bank
(song functions and file transfer functions not yet implemented)
Volume, Brighness
X + A/B brightness
Y + A/B volume