Polyend Tracker Instruction Manual

Tracker
Polyend Tracker
Version: 1.2.0
Instructions of use for Polyend Tracker - Standalone Audio Workstation
Index:
Quick start / Tips & tricks
Introduction
Interface
Back panel
Audio architecture
Dedicated controls
Using the pads as a custom controller
Loading & saving projects
Importing & exporting projects
Sampler
Recording Audio
Sample playback
Sample editor
Sample Loader - Preparing Instruments
Instrument parameters and automation
From step to pattern
What is a step?
Pattern views
Pattern editing
Step & Fill tools
Other Pattern tools
Real-time pattern recording
Song mode
Master section
Performance mode

Punch-in effects
Pattern tracks remixing
Audio rendering
Tracker configuration
Firmware updates
In case of trouble
Warranty & Safety
Appendix
The FX step effects list
Performance mode FX list:
List of musical scales filters available for the pads
What's in the box?
Quick start / Tips & tricks
Basics:
Play Pattern: press Play.
Play Song: Song + Play (from the Pattern view).
Main volume: Master + jog-wheel.
To edit pattern press Rec (red frame), press it again to disable edit mode (green frame).
Important features and information:
The Tracker runs on 5V/1A and can be poweredfrom a power bank.
Firmware update: go to Config > Firmware > chose file from SD card > Confirm.
Switching pattern view: hold Pattern key + one or two of the Note/Ins/Fx colored keys.
Off/Fade/Cut step: turn the jog-wheel all the way left.
Changing (transposing) many parameters at once: select steps > choose the parameter
(Note/Instrument/Fx1/Fx2) > use the jog-wheel.
Overwrite all steps with a single value: select steps > choose the parameter > use grid
pads.
Copy/Paste/Del works in: Pattern – for all the selected steps; Song – for slots/tracks,
Sample Loader – samples/instruments.

All changes in your projectare being autosaved.
From Sample to Instrument:
Capture audio using Sample Recorder > set source > set gain > record > crop > save &
load as an instrument.
Select audio files > use Sample Loader key to open SD card browser > add samples to
project instruments by copying them from the left to the right side. Set their attributes
using the Instrument Properties module.
Turn samples into wavetable/granular synthesizers or chop them in the Sample
Playback module,
Use the Sample Editor module to access instrument overview and apply renderable
lossy audio effects.
From Step to Pattern:
A step is a Note, an Instrument and two Fxs displayed as lines of colored characters,
Use Pattern module to enter sequencer screen > choose pattern number and its length.
Input/edit any step parameters > enter Edit mode with a press of the Rec key.
Input values step by step > using grid pads, jog-wheel and arrows.
Live-record pattern (Rec + Play).
To switch between step values use four color keys.
Use the Fill tool to populate tracks with steps automatically.
Step function adjusts the interval for the incremental value input.
From Pattern to Song:
Press Song key > add/del Slots with patterns for arrangement > press Play Song.
Render song to audio > Go to File > Export > choose what will be rendered.
From Pattern to Performance:
Use Perform key to tweak tracks, patterns or songs in a “live – on the fly” way.
Customise and use up to 12 Punch-in effects at the same time: turn on Edit mode >
select effects with their values per grid pad row (first is off by default, remaining three
are configurable) > using the 1 to 8 screen buttons point the tracks which will be
affected > use effect corresponding pad rows with set values to perform.
Mix selected tracks from different patterns: hold the screen button + up/down arrow
keys > remix tracks from different patterns.
Shift + 1-8 screen button shortcut mutes each of 1-8 track in the Pattern screen. The
same is possible in the Master section with add of track Solo + visual track volume

feedback.
Important shortcuts:
Tempo: Song + jog-wheel.
Play Song: Shift + Play.
Record Pattern live: Rec + Play.
Go to the top step of the pattern: Shift + Insert (Home) in Edit mode (Rec is on).
Select more than one step on one or more tracks > Shift + arrows (works for clips in
Song mode too).
Select all steps in the track: when on the top of the sequence: Shift + Up arrow (once
again to select all steps in all tracks).
Use Home (Shift + Insert) key shortcut in the Song mode to immediately jump to the
top of your composition.
Copy/Paste entire Pattern: while in edit mode (Rec is on) hold Pattern key (right to the
color keys) + press Copy > go to new Pattern > hold Pattern key + Paste (Shift+Copy).
https://www.youtube.com/embed/GcgdScLbYKQ?feature=oembed
Introduction

The Polyend Tracker is a unique take on a retro form factor, aimed at artists who break
patterns daily. Despite the retro look, it is equipped with powerful modern functionality, Fx,
and a handful of forward-thinking creative tricks. The Polyend Tracker is an innovative,
inspiring and immediate tool for making music. It functions as a sampler, a synthesizer, and
equips you with a powerful and creative sequencer. Tracker has a large screen, ergonomic
keyboard, and a big knob for fast and easy navigation. With Bidirectional MIDI control, it
plays nice with other gear. It is also standalone and portable – everything you need to
produce music anywhere you are.
Tracker features an 8-track sequencer. Each project you create can hold 255 patterns with
up to 128 steps each. Every step on each track has dedicated slots for inserting Notes,
Instruments, and 2 Effects. Use Song Mode to arrange different patterns together to create
a Song, Take advantage of the Perform Mode to mangle, remix, and apply global Fx
parameters to different tracks on different patterns. Finally render your sequences to audio
files internally, without the use of a computer.
Our new instrument was made to bring back the fun to a process of music composing and
sound design. Something we feel we all became very ignorant about with time and all the
new technologies around us, and something best about it at the same time. It is certainly a
machine that will bring a new fresh breath of enjoyment to your creative process.
Your new adventure starts here, enjoy.
Interface

The Polyend Tracker user interface is divided into five sections:
A – Display – 7″LCD TFT 800 x 480. A centre point of the instrument that displays all the
functions and operations in real-time. With brightness level control.
B – Screen keys – mechanical controls that correspond to whatʼs displayed on the screen
directly above them.
C – The Grid pads – 4 x 12 grid of multifunctional (not velocity-sensitive) silicone buttons. It
serves as a customizable pitch/tone input keyboard, scalable controller for quick value
entering, regular QWERTY keyboard for naming files and for many other functions explained
below. Comes with brightness level control. The pads can also visually display the
notes/instruments used in the pattern/track sequences (this can be toggled on in the Config
menu).
D – The Function keys – a dedicated group of quick-access keys that allows fast access to
different modules.
E – The Navigation keys & Jog-wheel – dedicated controls, transport, arrow keys for
navigation, Insert/Home,Copy/Paste, Delete/Backspace and Shift function keys for all the

basic and advanced operations.
Back panel
On the back panel, from left to right – find the following ports:
Out – main headphones/line stereo audio output port – use a 3.5mm stereo plug (adapter to
1/4” jack is included in the kit).
A cable inserted to this port will serve as the onboard FM radio antenna.
Line input port – use a 3.5mm stereo or mono plug.
Microphone input port – use a 3.5mm stereo or mono plug.
MIDI data output port – use the included TRS type-B 3.5mm jack to MIDI DIN adapter to
connect to MIDI Input of an external MIDI device.
MIDI data input port – use the included TRS type-B 3.5mm jack to MIDI DIN adapter to
connect to MIDI Out of an external MIDI device.
SD card slot – use the included16 GB micro SD card as a data storage.
The micro SD card needs to be inserted in the port in order to make the Polyend
Tracker operational.
The micro SD card must be formatted as MS-DOS Fat32. In order to format larger
capacity SD cards with Fat32 partition, you may use this tool.
Use the included micro SD card to USB type-A dongle adaptor to access the SD card
from a computer.
The included SD card is 16GB but SD cards with a bigger capacity can be used
(successfully tested up to 256GB).
Sample folders containing more than 100 files will be automatically split to subfolders.

Reset button – hidden reset button for emergency flashing procedure (explained in the
Firmware update section of this manual).
USB Type–C port – 5V 1A power input from any USB power source (included Polyend AC
adapter/USB port/power bank).
Provides bidirectional MIDI class-compliant communication.
Serves for MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) which allows browsing the files and folders
stored on the SD card from a computer level. In order to use it, activate the File
Transfer mode in the Config menu. On Windows 10 the card will mount as a new drive.
On macOS, you need to use the Android File Transfer application. Some hubs and
adapters may cause connection issues. Use straight connections only or quality
adapter kits if necessary.
Power switch – press once shortly to turn the unit on or press and hold for a momentto
switch it off.
Audio architecture
The schematics shown below will help you understand the workflow. The first diagram
demonstrates the Polyend Tracker’s audio signal flow with the list of steps that input sound
goes through in order to be heard through the output (the signal flow is the same for each of
its eight audio voices).
The implemented reverb algorithm code is created by Émilie Gillet of Mutable Instruments
and is used under MIT license.
The second diagram presents each instrument’s amplifying structure.

Dedicated controls
Polyend Tracker’s user interface offers different types of controls that can all be used
alternatively to navigate and operate the instrument.
Most of the values/data input in the Tracker is done by using the siliconegrid pads,
aluminum jog-wheel, the dedicated mechanicalfunction keys and the display corresponding
screen keys.
In most scenarios, these controllers can be used interchangeably – e.g. volume Fx1 value can
be precisely entered using the jog-wheel scrolling for the desired value but also entered with
a single press of the pad with the exact value.
The multifunctional grid pads can have various applications. They can serve as:
Customizable tonal keyboard (with scales) for pitched instrument playback.
Per pad instrument triggering.
Per pad slice triggering.

QWERTY keyboard.
Fast and convenient tool to enter the preprogrammed values (where the first pad is
always 0%, and the last one is 100%.)
Visual feedback > in the Pattern screen, pads can highlight the notes in the active line.
Choose between highlighting only the active track’s notes, or the entire pattern’s active
line using the Config menu options,
Important:
Shortcuts – while most of the Polyend Tracker functionalities are rather self-
explanatory (just look at the scheme and key names), there are some tricks and
shortcuts implemented to speed up the composition process which might not be so
obvious at first glance. Most sections are using shortcuts. Itʼs good to master them to
compose music in a fast and easy manner.
Shortcuts apply in similar ways in different sections of the Tracker and are mentioned
in these particular sections of the manual, but few are worth mentioning here at the
beginning:
Master key + jog-wheel> Master volume control,
Song key + jog-wheel> Song Tempo control,
Insert/Home key> always work as the onscreen Enter key corresponding to the
selected screen key,
Delete/Backspace key> always works as the onscreen Delete key corresponding
to the selected screen key.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/GcgdScLbYKQ?feature=oembed
Using the pads as a custom controller
In the Configmenu you can set grid pads:
Musical scale filter (see a list in the appendix),
Layouts,
Root note,
The 4 x 12 grid of low profile silicon pads allow you to easily strum fingers across pads. They
work great for playing both internal and external instruments live. With or without one of the
39 included musical scales filters applied. Not only the scale filter can be set but the pads
layout too (the relationship of notes on the pads) and the root note too.

The playable matrix of pads is laid out with the lowest note value being in the lower left pad
(pad 37), incrementing a semitone with each position to the right. If pad 37 were a C1, then
the next note on pad 38 would be a C#1, pad 39 would be a D1, and so on until pad 48 which
would be a B1.
How the adjacent pads change pitch depends on the chosen Layout from the Config menu.
Choose a pad, and the pad directly to the right will increase the pitch one semitone
regardless of the chosen Layout. For Layout 1, the pad directly above will increase the pitch 1
semitone. For Layout 2, the pad directly above will increase the pitch 2 semitones. For
Layout 4, (see the illustration) the pad directly above will increase the pitch 4 semitones.
Loading & saving projects

Use theFilekey to access all the operations performed onprojectfiles.
New project> create a new project.
Open> use arrow keys to select the desired project name. Use theOpen screen button or
Enter function key to load it. Use the Delete screen button on the selected projects to
remove them from the micro SD card.
Import mod files.
Save> save a project.
Save as> save another instance of a project,
Export >export song, song stems, chosen pattern, chosen pattern stems, export to .it file.
Important:
The work you do on a project is constantly autosaved. When a project is named and
ready, or even while working on a default “blank” project – everything that is being
done is being automatically saved. There is no need to remember to save all the time. It
is normally possible to recover current work even when Tracker was accidentally
switched off.
When copying project folders to the SD card, their folders need to be placed directly in
the Projects folder. Project subfolders won’t be displayed by the browser.

Use the dongle USB SD card reader or use the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) to copy
existing samples to the SD card.
Importing & exporting projects
Polyend Tracker is able to import/export classic tracker project fileswith their basic
properties (samples/instruments, notes/patterns, song structure and volume info).
Open .mod/.it (many other classic tracker project file formats like.xm/.s3m can be opened
in theSchism Tracker or Milky Trackerand then converted and saved as .it and so imported
to Polyend Tracker).
Export .it files that are compatible with theRenoise,Schism Tracker or Milky Tracker.
Important:
Files which you want to import to the Polyend Tracker needs to be placed in the MOD
folder on the SD card so they can be accessed. Subfolders won’t be displayed by the
browser.
When exporting your project to .it file the used LFOs settings are transformed into
envelopes.
Note: The .mod file import is still under the development and its functionality will be
improved.
Sampler
The Polyend Tracker is primarily a sampler with a built-in sequencer. Single-shot and short
loop monophonic audio files are what it works with best. The overall per project memory is
133 seconds of mono samples. Main/headphones output is in stereo(set the internal L/R
channel panning for spatial effect).

Classic tracker workflow relied on the use of one-shot and short loop type samples. With
their limited sampling time memory was not really meant to work as sample loopers. Polyend
Tracker is not different, this is a conscious choice – its limitations are meant to force
creativity and let the user stay focused. Working inside such limitations is one of the things
that made the classic trackers so unique.
Recording Audio
https://www.youtube.com/embed/cKr9QLcTI_c?feature=oembed
Press the Sample Recorder key to open theaudio recordingsection. Choose the sampling
source: line input, FM radio or microphone input. Set the recording gain and toggle the
monitoring on. Use the onscreenRecordkeyto start recording, press stop when ready.
When a sample is recorded, it can be trimmed on both start and/points and cropped. Save it
to the SD card memory or directly to the project as one of the instruments using the Save &
Load function. Set/change the name of any audio file manually using the grid pads as a
QWERTY keyboard or using the auto-naming function.
A metronome can be activated in the Sample Recorder view too. Toggle it on in the Config >
turn off the record monitoring function > press Record screen button.
It’s possible to play pads or use sequencer over the MIDI output in the Sample Recorder
section in order to capture the audio of external MIDI instruments.
Tweak the recorded samples using theSample PlaybackandSample Editorsections.
Important:
Polyend Tracker browser recognizes uncompressed PCM WAV files only. It won’t
display AIF or any other audio file types.
The Tracker sampling rate and supported audio files are 44.1kHz with 16, 24 and float
32-bit resolution only.
All other WAV files with different properties are being automatically converted to
supported 44.1kHz 16bit mono PCM files.
Stereo files are converted to mono automatically.
The onboard FM radio is equipped with automatic fine-tuning.
The longest internally recorded audio file can be about 45 seconds long.
Any cable connected to the Output jack port becomes the FM radio antenna. A straight

cable works best.
Samples in the Polyend Tracker are automatically interpolated by the implemented
anti-aliasing function (can be toggled on/off in the Config menu).
Tracker’s audio engine is using an implemented de-clicking algorithm.
Notice that the volume of samples recorded from any external source or FM radio is
always on the exact same level as the original source (plus Gain). But their playback
volume depends on factors as the volume set in Instrument Parameters and the track
volume from Master section mixer.
Sample playback
https://www.youtube.com/embed/yj4iYy95gIk?feature=oembed
Sample Playbackkeygives access to all the classic sample-based playback options plus a
Slicer and Beat Slicer. There are also sample-basedGranularandWavetablesynthesis
instruments. Available options are:
1-shot (preview, set start point, set endpoint, zoom),
Forward/Backward/Pingpong Loop (preview, set start point, set loop start, set loop end,
set endpoint, zoom).
Slice – use to slice a sample by manually adding and adjusting slice points, or use the
auto slicing function which automatically detects dynamic amplitude changes and
slices audio file accordingly (separate slices portions can be adjusted later on). The
number of the slice can be accessed via per step Slice Fx (S).
Beat Slicer – use to play and record the sample slices per step. In this play mode notes
represent slice numbers (starting from C1 > slice 1).
Wavetable – using this play mode you can make a Wavetable synthesizer by using any
sample (or specially prepared interpolated wavetable audio files).
Granular – this is a particular approach to granular synthesis where each voice has one
grain, it is simple yet very musical. Just set the grain position, length and shape and
adjust the direction of the playback loop (Forward, Backward, Pingpong). Apply position
modulations using available LFO or envelopes.
Important:
In the Slice play modes press theShift button to apply equal slices and their desired
number.
To get a classic WT results though, use specially prepared wave files that give smooth
transition when changing its position (WTs that have 256 frames). There are several

Wavetable sample standards – adjust the Window parameter indicating the length of
the frame and use any kind. Note: you can use many Wavetable samples that are
available for software synthesizers (e.g. Xfer Records Serum and Arturia Pigments uses
2048 window, Ableton Live uses 1024 window). To automatically transform the shape of
Wavetable use available automation (LFO or Envelope)
Use the WT Smoother tool in the Sample Editor section in order to turn any sample into
a smoothly interpolated wavetable synthesis sound source.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/-7kk6_P1cE4?feature=oembed
https://www.youtube.com/embed/JuNJMHgBXkE?feature=oembed
https://www.youtube.com/embed/a1-EBYzuEHQ?feature=oembed
https://www.youtube.com/embed/DsCgf3tOpSo?feature=oembed
Sample editor
https://www.youtube.com/embed/qALA_ka_qGQ?feature=oembed
Use Sample Editor key to access a section that provides an overview of the selected
instrument sample. Set the sample start and endpoints using a precise zoom tool. Use the
preview function to hear changes. Crop their desired parts and cut out what’s not needed to
free up the sample batch memory. Keeping it tidy is a good habit considering the limited
memory
The effects can be applied to the entire sample/instrument or to their parts selected by the
start and endpoint markers only.
Apply one of the available audio effects and render them directly into the edited sample:
Normalizer – adjusts the gain by a constant amount of gain to an in order to bring the
amplitude to a target level (the norm),
Crop,
Reverse,
Amplifier – applicate a selected amount of gain to an audio recording,
Overdrive – adds distortion using gain and type values,
Delay – with ping-pong, sync, feedback and time parameters,
Bitcrusher – with adjustable bit rate,
Chorus – with settings of length and voices,
Flanger – with length, offset, depth and rate parameters available,
Equalizer – with access to Low & Mid dB and Frequency settings and High at 12kHz
settings,

Limiter – with adjustable threshold, attack and release parameters,
Compressor – with threshold, ratio, attack and release options,
WT Smoother – turn any sample to an interpolated wavetable by setting its window
number (from 1 to 256) and length (from 1 to 2048),
Fade In,
Fade Out.
Note: Sample Editing is destructive for the sample and changes the sample itself in your
project. All modifications can be undone at any time until the file is saved. The original
sample will remain intact on the SD card.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/jGQoIEmL3yI?feature=oembed
Sample Loader - Preparing Instruments
https://www.youtube.com/embed/wlkXSamoQuE?feature=oembed
The Sample Loaderkey opens the SD card browser. Preview samples here and use them to
prepare instruments which will be later used to create patterns and songs.
Create instruments by loading the samples to the project sample pool from the SD card.
Copy a sample from the browser on the left side of the screen to its right side by using the
Add or Add next (where the browser cursor will jump one position down after adding the
sample) screen buttons.
Samples copied to the internal memory becomes Instruments with their own number, name
and separate settings. Instruments canbe renamed with the use of a Rename screen button
or removed with the use of the Delete key.
Tweak instruments using theInstrument ParametersandSample Playback. Use the audio
files in the classic sampler or sample slicer (explained in the sections below), or use them as
a source for the wavetableandgranularsample-based synthesis engines.
Important:
A maximum number of 48 instruments is available.
To duplicate instrument use Copy/Paste in Sample Loader module.
Press and hold the yellow Instrument key to pop up an instrument browser window
from the Pattern screen level.
Press and hold the Preview screen button in order to preview long samples.
Hold down the Preview screen button while using Arrow keys or Jog-wheel to preview

samples fast,
Replace an existing instrument by loading another sample to its position (all other
properties of the instrument remains the same).
The progress bar is showing the sample pool capacity in percents (displayed in white).
Red color displays the space needed to load a certain sample as an instrument. The
green color is showing when a replaced sample will free up some of the sample pool
time.
Use the originally attached in the kit dongle USB SD card reader or use the MTP (Media
Transfer Protocol) to copy existing samples to/from the SD card.
Shortcuts:
Left arrowin the left browser > takes to the very top of the browsed folder,
UseShift + arrows> for batch selection (more than one file at a time),
Use Copy/Paste > for duplicating the Instrument,
Use theInsert/Homekey as an Enter.
Instrument parameters and automation
https://www.youtube.com/embed/HdwiucFxDZs?feature=oembed
TheInstrument Parameterskey gives access to two screens (marked in the upper left
corner of the screen 1/2 and 2/2).
Screen1/2 – Instrument Parameters:
Volume (in dB + Gain),
Panning (from -50L to 50R),
Tune (from -24 to 24),
Fine-tune (from -100 to 100),
Filter type (disabled, low-pass, high-pass, band-pass),
Filter cutoff (from 0 to 100%),
Filter resonance (from 0 to 100%),
Effects – Overdrive, Reverb send & Delay send (from -inf to 0 dB).
Screen 2/2 – Instrument Automation:
Destination – the automation can be targeted to the following destinations:
Volume,
Panning,
Filter Cutoff,
Wavetable Position,

Granular Position,
Finetune,
Automation type:
Off,
Envelope with Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release and Amount settings,
LFO with Shape (Rev Saw, Saw, Triangle, Square, Random), Speed (from 24 to
1/64 steps for Volume value and from 128 to 1/64 steps for all the other
destinations) and Amount settings.
Important:
The LFO speed is always hard synced with the project tempo.
The number indicating the speed of LFO is corresponding to steps. For example Speed
= 16 means that one LFO cycle will last for 16 steps.
To change/choose an instrument from Instrument Parameters screen quickly – press
and hold the yellow Instrument key and a pop-up list of instruments will appear.
From step to pattern
Use thePattern modein order to create musical sequences by simply placing steps
consisting of Note/Instruments/Fx1/Fx2 + their values as events appearing in time.
This is the Tracker’s main screen, the one you will be spending most time working with and
probably the most important one – the step sequencer view with the classic tracker vertical
layout. Create project patterns here. Store up to 255 of them per project. Each pattern
consists of 8 audio/MIDI tracks which can be from 1 to 128 steps long.
Hold down the Pattern screen button to see the occupied/stored patterns/pads.
Each track is both audio and MIDI at the same time. Step properties determine if the internal
sample-based instrument or external MIDI instrument will get triggered (explained in the
section below).
Pattern view playback modes:
Press Play > play the pattern from the 1st step,
Press Shift + Play > play pattern from the currently highlighted step,
Press Song + Play > play the song arrangement.

Patterns can be changed in different manners:
By using the Pattern function key and:
Left/right arrows for a sequential change – patterns change after the currently
playing pattern phrase reaches its end (pattern number will blink red),
Up/down arrows and/or Jog wheel for an immediate pattern change.
By using the Pattern screen button and:
Left/right arrows for a sequential change – patterns change after the currently
playing pattern phrase reaches its end (pattern number will blink red),
Grid pads for an immediate pattern change,
Up/down arrows and/or Jog wheel for an immediate pattern change.
Pattern – screen buttons:
Pattern – choose the currently edited pattern from 1 to 255,
Length – set the length of the current pattern (each pattern can have different lengths),
Step – set the interval for entering the steps by incremental one by one step data input,
Fill – a tool that allows entering multiple steps with different values with just one click,
Preview – previews the selected step or steps within the selection,
Render selection – renders selection to a new audio sample,
Undo – reverts the last made changes,