XOR electronics Nerdseq User manual

NerdSEQ
Hybrid Tracker Sequencer, Synthesizer
and Toolbox
User Manual
Please be aware that this is an ever growing manual. Save the trees by not printing it out
NerdSEQ – a tracker based Eurorack sequencer Page 1
User Manual Revision V1.2 for Firmware V1.2 12 July 2022

Content
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................4
Technical Specification.........................................................................................................................
Firmware Features................................................................................................................................7
Basic Overview....................................................................................................................................9
Getting Started....................................................................................................................................10
Numbers, Values and Tracker basics..................................................................................................10
Buttons and Navigation......................................................................................................................13
General Screen information................................................................................................................1
Sequencer Screen................................................................................................................................18
Pattern Screen.....................................................................................................................................22
Pattern Screen (CV/Gate Track)....................................................................................................22
Pattern Screen (Audio Track)........................................................................................................37
Pattern Screen (Midi track)............................................................................................................44
Pattern Screen (Trigger 1 Track)..................................................................................................50
Pattern Screen (CV 1 track).........................................................................................................54
Patch Screen....................................................................................................................................... 4
Current Values Screen........................................................................................................................ 5
Table Screen....................................................................................................................................... 8
Automator screen................................................................................................................................73
Envelope screen..................................................................................................................................80
Project screen......................................................................................................................................82
Setup Screen.......................................................................................................................................85
Calibration.....................................................................................................................................8
Track Assign Screen...........................................................................................................................89
Track Setup Screen.............................................................................................................................90
Track Setup (CV/Gate Track)........................................................................................................90
Track Setup (Audio Track)............................................................................................................92
Track Setup (Midi Track)...............................................................................................................93
Track Setup (Trigger 1 Track).....................................................................................................94
Track Setup (CV1 Track).............................................................................................................95
CV1 Calibration...........................................................................................................................97
Sample / Wave / Synthesis..................................................................................................................98
Load Sample window.......................................................................................................................104
Nerd Screen / Menu..........................................................................................................................105
Recording / Live Input / Midi Input.................................................................................................109
Random Ranges Screen....................................................................................................................114
User Interface Screen........................................................................................................................115
Sega Gamepad Mapping Screen.......................................................................................................115
Expander Modules............................................................................................................................11
Midi Expanders............................................................................................................................11
NSA (Nerd Sound Adapter) Expanders.......................................................................................117
More Triggers 1 ..........................................................................................................................117
CV1 Expander............................................................................................................................118
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More Video-IO.............................................................................................................................121
NSA Firmware Update Screen.........................................................................................................12
Launchpad Integration......................................................................................................................127
Tips & Tricks, FAQ..........................................................................................................................130
Firmware update...............................................................................................................................131
Cheat Sheet.......................................................................................................................................132
Disclaimer.........................................................................................................................................133
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User Manual Revision V1.2 for Firmware V1.2 12 July 2022

Introduction
The NerdSEQ is a Tracker1 based sequencer, synthesizer and modulation generator for Eurorack
systems.
It consist of 6 Tracks for the CV/Trigger/Gate generation of 18 outputs (12 CV + 6 Trigger/Gate).
There are 2 audio tracks with 2 dedicated audio parts each for sampling/synthesis sequencing.
Furthermore the audio part can also act as a waveform oscillator or FM synthesizer. Different
modulation functions like LFO, Envelopes and more can be generated for internal and external
use. Dedicated clock/reset inputs and outputs are available for different clock types. 4 free
assignable CV inputs can be used for live manipulation or CV/Gate recording.
The sequencer itself is inspired by old module trackers like Fasttracker2(PC)2, OctaMED(Amiga)3,
LittleSoundDJ(Gameboy)4 and Little Piggy Tracker(Multiple Platforms)5….. These to name only a
few, there are many more inspirations.
It contains many very powerful functions for sequencing like an advanced live ability, pattern length
up to 64 steps, chaining, poly-rhythmic tracks, groove, glide, retrigger, flexible trigger/gate/step
lengths, patches, special effects, probability, tables and more. The audio tracks contain special
functionality for sample playing, pitching, sample effects, retrigger and many more, as well as a
synthesizer engine to create waveforms or act as a 4 Operator FM Synthesizer. Samples can be
loaded from a dedicated SD card available on the front panel. The sequencer is able to make loops
(as in many loops) and full songs (even multiple songs on one project, depending on complexity,
usage of patterns etc.) Patterns can be started and stopped independently from the tracks, which
allows flexible clip-style sequencing. Projects can be saved and loaded on/from the microSD card.
All editing is implemented in a very easy way (at least I tried to make it so). So every screen or edit
option can be accessed through one key or Shift + Key. No complex submenus from submenus or
menu diving is needed. I also try to prevent that as much as possible for future updates.
Additional expanders allow Midi recording and sequencing, the connection of a Sega Gamepad for
controlling, up to 64 more Trigger/Gate/CV outputs and modulators and screen cloning onto a
composite or HDMI screen.
1 https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moduletracker
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FastTracker_2
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OctaMED
4 http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/
5 http://littlegptracker.com/
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Front overview NerdSEQ (Grey/Silver Frontpanel):
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User Manual Revision V1.2 for Firmware V1.2 12 July 2022

Technical Specification
Power consumption:
- ~190mA (3.2”display) on the +12Volt Rail (~150mA with the 3.5” display)
- ~32mA on the -12 Volt Rail
- +5 Volt Rail is not connected
Hardware:
- Grey / Silver, Black or combined Grey/Black Frontpanel
- Colour Graphics IPS display with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels
- 10 full size and 6 half size buttons
- 28 mini-Jack (mono), 4 CV Inputs (range 0..10 Volt) , Clock+Reset Inputs(5 Volt), 12 CV
outputs (Range -5 Volt /+5 Volt or 0 Volt / +10 Volt), 6 Trigger/Gate Outputs (5 Volt),
2 Audio outputs (-5 Volt/+5 Volt, AC coupled), Clock + Reset Output (5 Volt)
- 2 toggle switches to change the offset of the CV voltages
- 2 LEDs to indicate clocks
- microSD connector accessible on frontpanel
- 10 pin boxed bus connector (power)
- Expander connector (12 pin boxed) for IO-Expander (Midi In/Out + Sega Gamepad
connector) (Expander must be ordered seperately)
- Expander connector (14 pin boxed) for special NerdSEQ extensions like output Expanders
to allow up to 64 more outputs, the NSA (Nerd Sound Adapter) which are dedicated
cartridges including full synthesizers. Those are totally integrated in the NerdSEQ
sequencer.
Tracker:
- 6 CV/Trigger/Gate tracks for 12 CV and 6 Trigger/Gate outputs (with expander up to 64
additional outputs)
- 2x2 sample tracks for 2 sample/oscillator/synthesizer outputs (mono)
- 254 Sequencer rows
- 175 Patterns with each 64 (and less) Steps
- 176 Patches
- 32 Tables with 16 (and less) steps
- 8 Automation slots
- 12 Sample slots
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User Manual Revision V1.2 for Firmware V1.2 12 July 2022

- 190kB Sample memory (4 seconds with 44.1 kHz/8 Bit/Mono or more with lower
samplerate)
- Audio support for samples, waveforms, synthesis
- Sample support for RAW 8 bit mono and WAV 8/16 bit, Mono/Stereo
- Projects as many as the SD card can hold
- With expanders drum-matrix with euclidean editing, envelopes, LFO’s...
Firmware Features
- 8 Tracker tracks can be controlled independently, synchronised and not synchronised
- CV outputs can generate 1V/Oct, 1.2V/Oct and Volt/Hz octave ranges
- ‘Endless’ Pattern chaining
- Euclidean input for Rhythm composing
- Probability (0..100% with 1% resolution) for a sequencer row or for dedicated functions: CV,
Mod, Trigger/Gate, Tables, Samples and FX (which can contain every feature)
- Patterns with Note Scaled input, Patch selection, Trigger/Gate w retrigger, delayed triggers
etc, CV Modulation manipulation, Groove, Fine pitch, Glide, Glide quantisation, Table
selection
- Multiple direct FX possibilities per pattern per step
- Groove per step per pattern to create different step lengths, shuffle and weird rhythmic with
the possibility to create poly-rhythmic tracks
- Patches with all wanted functions directly accessible
- Tables (sequencer in the sequencer) for Transpose, scaling and all possible functions,
different speed/note scales and sources, synchronised and not synchronised to the main
sequencer clock, randomisation functions
- Automation slots to assign different automations (like LFO, Envelopes, Noise,
Randomness..etc) freely connect to internal and external parameters via a modulation
matrix
- 8 ADSR Envelopes with rich setup, source and destination functionality
- Project management
- Sample management
- Clock Source can be Internal, 1/16 via Clock input, 24ppqn, Midi Clock, DinSync
- Clock Outputs can be 1/16, DIN-Sync , Midi Clock
- Track dividers / multipliers (/32,/16,/8, /7,/6,/5,/4,/3,/2, *2,*3,*4,*5,*6,*7,*8)
- All Modular tracks can be manipulated from other Modular tracks
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User Manual Revision V1.2 for Firmware V1.2 12 July 2022

- Multiple Playback types per track (forward, backward, pingpong, random, snake, spiral,
even, odd and more...)
- Advanced Ratcheting settings
- Trigger functions with different timings for ON/OFF, OFF/ON (delayed gate), Retriggering
- Gate length can be as short or long as needed (much shorter than step length possible)
- advanced Mark + Copy + Paste functions to copy marked parts within or between patterns
- Sample/Wave/Synth pitch in note scale
- Audio effects like Volume, Fine Pitch, Retrigger, Backwards, Bitcrush, Distortion, Offset,
Wavefolder, Audio Delay...
- Waveform oscillator generates multiple waveforms on the audio outputs.
- 4 Operator FM synthesis between waveforms with dedicated FM synth functions
- Flexible Live player to switch between different patterns (clips) on different tracks.
- Live mode to trigger, mute, solo patterns
- Live editing while playing including pattern creation, manipulation, recording, nearly all
functions accessible while playing
- pattern cloning
- patch cloning
- Free record routing for CV and Midi input
- free routing of CV inputs to different functions
- Midi sequencing and recording including 4x polyphonic Notes per track, Velocity, CC,
Pitchbend, Program Change, Channel and Polyphonic Aftertouch, NRPN and more
- Expander support to get up to 64 more outputs and/or extra functionality
- Video Expander to get the NerdSEQ screen onto a Monitor/TV/Beamer
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User Manual Revision V1.2 for Firmware V1.2 12 July 2022

asic Overview
The upper sketch shows a basic relation between the several function blocks of the NerdSEQ.
Note that several functions can manipulate each other as well which helps to create complex
sequences. In the most basic way, the sequencer selects a pattern to play on a track. This pattern
sequences the notes/triggers etc. into one of it’s destinations (eg CV/Gate outputs or Samples…).
On top of that these sequences can be for example further manipulated by the Automators or the
Tables. Some functions can also be routed to outputs without the use of any sequence. For
example, an envelope can be routed directly to a CV/MOD output. The envelope itself can then
again be triggered/gated by a sequence, a table, CV inputs or other sources.
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User Manual Revision V1.2 for Firmware V1.2 12 July 2022

Getting Started
To get started, insert the SD Card, connect the power cable properly. Take care that the red line is
connected to the -12Volt Rail on the Bus. Power on the System.
First there will be a splash screen followed by the current Firmware version number.
After that the system is checking if any NSA (Nerd Sound Adapter) are connected.
With connected NSA expanders it will show the type of the expanders and the Firmware version.
Channels that are not connected are shown as ‘Not Found’.
Be aware that the Midi expander is not going to be detected. It works in a different way than the
NSA expanders and will just be usable ‘out of the box’. The same for the Video Expander. You got
to enable it in the Setup (clone mode) and then it will show up as the 4th NSA.
Then the SD card is being checked if it is correctly initialised, reading the calibration settings. And
at last, it will show if a Gamepad is detected (through the IO-Expander).
The startup sequence is now ready and an empty sequencer screen will show up, waiting for you
to get started
Attention, if the Splash screen the text or the background light appears to be weird somehow, then
it is a good indication that there is something wrong with the power. (For example, not enough
power -> Voltages are too low / not enough current). Check your supply, disconnect some other
modules to be sure your supply has enough power. (And be sure the NerdSEQ is working properly)
Next there will be a guide through some basics, related to values which you find back in most
trackers. Then there will be some basic information about Trackers and after that information about
the navigation with the NerdSEQ.
Numbers, Values and Tracker basics
The history of trackers goes back to the late 80’s when some people developed a new way of
creating music by inserting music scores in a different way. It is mostly recognized by people as a
way to program music instead of composing, because of the input of the music data. This is actually
not really the case, once you know some of the basics it is composing all the way!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_tracker
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User Manual Revision V1.2 for Firmware V1.2 12 July 2022