nanoloop FM manual

new in version 0.2

update 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