Nanoloop 2.3 User manual

nanoloop 2.3
user manual

Introduction
Nanoloop is a Stepsequencer which means that a pattern of 16 1/16
notes is played repeatedly while these notes can be edited in various
respects like volume, pitch etc. There are four channels, playin
simultaneously. Each channel's patterns can be saved to file slots in
flash memory and are then available for new combinations. Finally,
saved patterns can be arran ed in a son structure.
Startup
Start nanoloop with START or SELECT to run it in color or b/w mode.
Do not try other buttons, some 3-key combinations are reserved for
special functions such as memory reformat.
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The Sequencer
The 16-step pattern is shown as a matrix of 4 x 4 squares with the
currently playin step marked in sli htly darker color
.
The current channel is displayed in the upper left corner, the current edit
parameter in the upper ri ht corner.
Within this matrix, the cursor can be moved around with the d-pad. Use
the keys to set notes:
BSet note
ARemove note / paste removed note if step is empty
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To edit a note, keep B pressed and press the d-pad up / down (▲/▼) or
left / ri ht (◄/►). This chan es the value of the current edit parameter,
indicated by little dots and squares chan in their position.
On startup, the edit parameter is pitch and B + ▲/▼ chan es pitch
semitone-wise while B + ◄/► chan es the octave.
To select a different channel or parameter, call menu 1 with SELECT
Menu 1
In menu 1 you can select channel and edit parameter. Furthermore, all
notes in the sequencer can be edited simultaneously.
◄/► select parameter
▲/▼ select channel
Breturn to sequencer
A ◄/►/▲/▼ edit all notes at once
R ►/▲ randomize current parameter
SELECT switch to menu 2 (see pa e 8)
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Channels
There are three tonal channels and one for noise. The tonal channels
have two synthesis modes: filtered rectan ular waves with variable
pulse width and FM synthesis with variable modulator frequency.
The noise channel has a pseudorandom and a filter mode.
Only one channel is visible at a time.
R monophonic synthesizer
L monophonic synthesizer
S polyphonic synthesizer
N noise
Edit Parameters
The followin parameters are available for editin in the sequencer:
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Volume / Envelope
B + ▲/▼ volume
B + ◄/► len th
START set A-, A/D-mode
L B set len th to infinite
Pitch
B + ▲/▼ semitone
START set chord-mode
in normal mode:
B + ◄/► octave
in chord mode
B + ◄/► select note
B + R + ◄/► octave
B L R,L: set retri erin of envelope
S: set detune mode
On channel R and L, chords are played as arpe io. Chord notes in the
hi hest position are muted. S is polyphonic and plays actual chords.
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pitch- / filter - envelope / -lfo
B + ▲/▼ amplitude
B + ◄/► len th / frequency
START envelope- / lfo-mode
On channel R and L, this acts as pitch envelope / lfo, on channel S and
N it affects the filter cutoff (rect wave, noise) / modulation depth (fm).
synthesis
B + ▲/▼ filter cutoff / modulation depth
B + ◄/► pulse width / modulator frequency
START set low- / bandpass filter
B L set filtered wave / FM synthesis
N: set pseudorandom / filtered noise
pan / delay
B + ▲/▼ delay
B + ◄/► pan position
START play ori inal note plus delay or only delay
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Menu 2
Menu 2 provides links to sub-menus and some functions that affect the
entire channel. SELECT returns to Menu 1.
Bcall file menu
Bcall son editor
B ◄ pin -pon playback mode
START random playback mode
B ► normal playback mode
B ◄/► shift pattern backwards / forwards
A ◄/► shift pattern backwards / forwards, preservin delay
B ▲/▼ pattern len th
START copy pattern
A Bpaste pattern
B ◄/► lobal tempo in BPM
B ▲/▼ set channel tempo to fraction of lobal tempo
A B external sync
START internal sync
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File Menu
In the file menu, patterns can be saved to file slots in flash memory for
persistent stora e in 128 banks. In each bank there is a row of 15 slots
for each channel (slot 0 is not writeable). SELECT returns to menu 1.
File Operation
◄/► select file slot
▲/▼ select channel
for current channel:
B ▼ save current pattern to selected slot
B ▲ load pattern from selected slot
for all channels at once:
A ▼ save current patterns to selected slots
A ▲ load patterns from selected slots
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A B ▼ delete file in selected slot
A B ▲ load empty file to current channel
A B ► solo / umute current channel
A B ◄ mute current channel
START switch to upper menu
File slots have a darker back round color when filled with data.
Tempo
The current bpm value is saved with each pattern and shown in the
lower ri ht corner. It is not loaded with B ▲ thou h to avoid unwanted
sudden tempo chan es. Instead, tempo is only loaded with B R ▲
(load pattern with tempo) and R ▲(load tempo only).
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Upper Menu
bank selection, copy & paste
B ◄/► increase/decrease bank no. by 16
B ▲/▼ increase/decrease bank no. by 1
A B ▲ copy current bank to buffer
A B ▼ overwrite current bank with buffer
It is possible to write the copied bank in the buffer to an other nanoloop
2.3 cart. Simply remove the cart (sounds will chan e), insert the other
one, select a bank and press A B ▼.
bank name (blank by default)
Next to the bank number, there is an 8-di it bank name
◄/► select di it
B ▲/▼ set letter
The name is saved when chan in bank or leavin the menu.
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data communication
A B ▼ receive bank to buffer
SELECT cancel
After data were received successfully, they are in the copy buffer and
can be saved to the current bank with A B.
A B ▲ encode bank as audio pulses
SELECT cancel
After the bank was encoded, audio playback can be started with B.
START interrupts playback, it can be re-started from the be innin with
B a ain.
A B ◄ receive software update
CAUTION:
The encoded audio is not music but very loud pulse noise. It is not
meant for listening but for (mis-) using audio media for data
storage. Please make sure the audio output is not connected to an
amplifier / speakers before playing the encoded data.
Please read the detailed instructions available on
www.nanoloop.com before using these functions.
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Song Editor
The current bank's saved patterns can be arran ed to a son . The son
structure is or anized in 15 pa es, if you move the cursor to the far ri ht
or left, the next / last pa e is displayed.
B ▲/▼ select pattern
B ◄/► copy current value to next/previous step
A ▲ load patterns on cursor position
Rselect current channel for tempo
START start / stop son playback
SELECT return to menu 2
When leavin the son editor, playback is stopped and the son is
saved. (the son is not saved when the device is turned off without
leavin the son editor)
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Additional Notes
Note Value Display
Notes can appear as bars and dots (default) or as letters. Press START
on the note icon in menu 1 to set pitch display to letter form.
Arpeggio for Melodies
The arpe io plays exactly four notes per step, but if the channel tempo
is set to 1/4 speed, it will be one note per step. So arpe io can be
used to play lon er melodies (4 bars) within one pattern. If envelope-
retri er is activated, the four notes are only played once instead of
bein looped (default) which may be helpful when usin arpe io for
melodies.
Hex Numbers
Except for BPM, numbers are shown in hexadecimal format which
means that each di it has 16 values instead of 10. For values 10-15,
the letters A-F are used.
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Flash Memory
Writin to flash memory requires to erase data first in a separate step
which cannot be performed durin audio playback. Nanoloop therefore
compresses data and reformats memory on each startup (durin this
process, a trian le is displayed on the intro screen). When a loop or
son is saved in the file menu, the old file is not overwritten but the new
version is appended. Durin reformattin , memory is cleared and only
the newest version of each file is kept.
Thus only a limited number of file accesses may be performed until
nanoloop needs to restart and reformat memory. However, this number
is very lar e, it is possible to save a few thousand loops or to copy
about 100 banks before the limit is reached. If memory is almost full, the
number of remainin possible file accesses is displayed and when
these are used up, savin is disabled until nanoloop is restarted. After
restart, the limit is set back to about 10,000.
So under normal circumstances one would hardly reach that limit. If you
actually save more than 10,000 loops in one day it may be time to take
a break anyway..
The more banks are filled, the lon er reformattin on startup will take.
With all slots in all banks used it takes about 20 seconds.
Data are always in a defined state, it is save to turn off the device
durin reformattin , no data will be lost.
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Further information and a discussion forum can be found at the
nanoloop website:
www.nanoloop.com
For questions and comments please send an email to
[email protected]
Postal:
ume software
Bahrenfelder Str. 53
22765 Hambur
Germany
(c) 1998-2008
Oliver Wittchow
Nintendo has not recommended, authorized, endorsed, approved of or
licensed Nanoloop.
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