Update to the latest version here.
Nanoloop is a stepsequencer which means that a pattern of 16 1/16 notes plays in a loop while you can edit these notes in various respects like volume, pitch etc. There are four channels, playing simultaneously. Each channel's patterns can be saved to file slots in flash memory and are then available for new combinations. Finally, you can arrange saved patterns to a song structure.
The 16-step pattern is arranged as a matrix of 4 x 4 squares:
Current channel is displayed in the upper left, current edit parameter in the upper right. Within the matrix, the cursor can be moved around with the d-pad. Press the buttons to set and remove notes, hold buttons and use d-pad to edit notes:
| B | place / remove note |
| A | cut / paste note |
| A or B + dpad | edit note |
| SELECT | menu |
SELECT brings up the menu where you can select channel and edit parameter.
From within the menu, the whole pattern's notes can be edited at once in the same manner as individual notes in the sequencer (except for meta step).
| ◀/▶ | select parameter |
| ▲/▼ | select channel |
| B | return to sequencer |
| A or B + dpad | edit notes |
| SELECT | file mode |
| A + B + ▲ / ► | randomise parameter |
There are three tonal channels and one for noise:
| R | rectangular wave 1 |
| L | rectangular wave 2 |
| C | custom wave |
| N | noise |
Pitch
| B + ▲/▼ | semitone |
| B + ◀/▶ | octave | A + ▲/▼ | R: arpeggio chord C: 5th interval N: 8/16-bit mode (tonal/noise) |
| A + ◀/▶ | R: arpeggio tempo |
noise
In the noise channel, this parameter corresponds to the noise "color" with inverted directions so that the lower left position provides the highest frequencies. Up/down adjusts the octave, left/right divides the frequency. In the more tonal 8bit mode (A+up), the resulting row of subharmonics forms a minor chord.
Volume / Envelope
| B + ▲/▼ | initial volume |
| B + ◀/▶ | length |
| A + ◀/▶/▲ | D / A / G mode |
There are 3 envelope modes.
Decay mode (default): Volume decreases to zero.
Attack mode: Volume increases to maximum, tone plays endlessly.
Gate mode: A short note with constant volume.
The C channel has no attack mode and only 3 volume levels.
LFO
| B + ▲/▼ | amplitude |
| B + ◀/▶ | frequency |
| A + ◀/▶ | continuous / one shot mode |
wave / panning / EQ / delay
| B + ▲/▼ | pulse width |
| B + ◀/▶ | R;L;N: panning C: EQ low / none / high |
| A + ▲/▼ | delay |
Apply a delay of 5 to every 2nd row to get a swing effect.
meta step
in sequencer
| B + ▼ | play note every time |
| B + ▲ | every 4th time |
| B + ◀/▶ | every 2nd time |
in menu
| B + ▲/▼/◀/▶ | shift pattern |
| A + ▲/▼ | 1/x tempo |
| A + ◀/▶ | tempo |
| A + B | sync receive |
| A + B + ◀/▶ | pattern length |
| START | sync send |
| B+START (in receive mode) | 1/16 (.) or 1/8 mode (:) |
meta step, pattern length, 1/x tempo
- Tempo division has no effect when pattern lenght < 16
- Meta step has no effect when pattern length < 16 or tempo division is active
With different lengths, patterns may run out of sync, except for 16 which is the same for all channels. To get all channels of the same length in sync, endable slave mode and start again.
sync modes
External devices can be synced as master or slave via the mini jack port on the cart. Nanoloop can send sync pulses every step (1/16 note, default) or every other step (1/8 note). It can only receive 1/16 sync though, when slave to 1/8 sync, it will play at half tempo.
1/24 DIN sync and MIDI clock may be added in future updates.
When no sync signal is received for about one second the sequencer reverts to first step.
Sync via the Game Boy's link port is not supported.
There is a row of 16 file slots for each channel. When a pattern has been saved, the number of the slot is shown. The last used slot is marked in darker color.
The first slot - is not writeable but can be used to load an empty pattern.
| B + ▼ | save current channel's pattern to selected slot |
| A + B + ▼ | delete selected slot |
| B + ▲ | load pattern from selected slot |
| A + ▲ | load patterns for all channels from selected column |
| B + ◀/▶ | move to next slot and load |
| A + ◀/▶ | move to next column and load all |
| START | song mode |
| START+SELECT | bank mode |
| SELECT | return to sequencer menu |
There are 8 banks. Each bank holds 15 patterns per channel and a song structure.
| ◀/▶ | select bank |
| A + B + ▲ | send bank via data port |
| A + B + ▼ | receive bank via data port (deletes current bank and stalls until new bank has been received) |
| START | return to file mode |
| SELECT | return to sequencer menu |
| B + ▲/▼ | set pattern |
| A ▲ | load column |
| A | play / stop song |
| START | return to file mode |
| SELECT | return to sequencer menu |
The song is saved when leaving the song screen.
The first (r) channel's pattern length / tempo division defines when to proceed to the next song step.
It is possible to transfer banks between two nanoloop units with the bank send and receive functions.
Data are sent as audio pulses, much like FAX or MODEM. It is also possible to record the audio on a PC and transmit data back to nanoloop by playing back the recording.
A convenient tool to convert audio to data files, manage files and encode them as audio again can be found here: nanoloop 1.8 file transfer via audio
All data / sync functions use the data port on the cart, the Game Boy's link port is not supported.
(c) Oliver Wittchow
"Game Boy" and "Game Boy Advance" are registered trade marks of Nintendo
Nintendo has not licensed, endorsed or approved of nanoloop.