nanoloop FM manual
new in version 0.2update here
- 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
sound differences:
The square wave sound is generated with a new modulation scheme that has a slightly different "filter" characteristic: While the wave formerly had a more triangular shape, it's now a fully symmectric square which appears louder with increasing modulation / "cutoff". The pulse width effect works much better this way.
New / changed functions 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
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.
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