n0nx0x beta

Discuss mods, hacks, tweaks, etc.

Moderators: altitude, adafruit_support_bill, adafruit, phono, hamburgers

Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
Locked
User avatar
antto
 
Posts: 1636
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:21 pm

n0nx0x beta

Post by antto »

EDIT: 28/03/2014 - n0nx0x beta is dead, n0nx0x2 is under developement already (v2.09 as of today)
--- original post ---

hi folks
it's about time for you to test this new firmware
n0nx0x
so what is it? n0nx0x is the "little brother" of N0NSeq - sequencer
uhm, it's a 303 sequencer interface - the missing part of the x0xb0x ;]
notice: it requires a new button layout
Image
Image
also note, it is in early stage of developement, and so far it's stuck to this point, i need a bigger CPU
so far it includes only PatternEdit and PatternPlay modes (both in internal- or din-sync)
it's based on the original 303 interface but it's not meant to be a 100% "clone"
some functions have been changed a little, and new stuff are added
bank leds are used for easier navigation (what the 303 lacks)

who is doing this and why?
it's me, with the great help/feedback/ideas of rv0 (darffader) who has a real 303 in his hands and gives answers to all of my damn questions all the time ;] this wouldn't be possible otherwise
big thanks to him! :mrgreen:
why? cuz we like it!
also big thanks to adafruit for making this opensource in the first place ;]

okay now, here is the HEX (beta1.00, see bottom of post)
don't forget that it uses this new button layout! there are no longer any CHAIN or DONE buttons ;]
WARNING: pattern memory format is different and this new firmware is incompatible with any of the existing firmwares, DO A BACKUP if what you have there is precious!
now here's how to get started:
first there are two functions currently working:
PATTERN EDIT = PatternEdit (internal sync)
USER B = PatternEdit (dinsync)
PATTERN (SYNCOUT) = PatternPlay (internal sync)
PATTERN (DINSYNC) = self explanatory..

first of all you won't be able to play anything yet, you gotta program a few patterns first

switch to PatternEdit mode
press RUN/STOP (or if with dinsync - trigger it)
this is where you Preview your patterns, this is also the only place where you can change/select a different pattern
so, select some pattern slot, it's gonna blink and it'll probably be empty
now press RUN/STOP again, to stop Preview mode
now you're in the Main menu, from here you can go into the other sub-menus
hold FUNC - this is where you can set the pattern length (bank LEDs will indicate the current pattern length)
to change the length - press STEP and watch the bank LEDs, release FUNC when done
note: you can also set a tripplet pattern there - while holding FUNC press the "tripplet" button (under SLIDE)

now press PITCH MODE
you can enter the notes here
note: bank LEDs indicate the possition in the pitch _list_ not any sort of timing
when you enter Notes - you overwrite the existing notes in the list, and you cannot enter the Down/Up/Accent/Slide (UDAS for short)
to enter UDAS you have to use the NEXT button, hold it down - you'll hear the note play and LEDs will show the UDAS - you can change these while holding NEXT
to exit the PITCH MODE menu - press FUNC (throws you back into the Main menu)
now press TIME MODE
here you can set the Time information for the pattern
there are 3 buttons used "G" "O" and "-"
G means Gate (or Note-ON)
O means Tie (extend the previous note)
- means Rest
on the panel, G is a filled circle, O is a hollow black circle and - is simply a dash
let's just keep it simple the first time, press all Gs
you will automaticaly exit TIME MODE menu once you reach the end of the pattern (bank LEDs indicate where you are currently)
once you've entered these - you can Preview the pattern
press RUN/STOP
Note: unlike the 303 here in Preview mode you can switch between patterns instantly - without waiting for the current pattern to end, also the pattern position is kept, you can use this to have fun ;]

okay i'll stop here, if anyone has questions and can't figure the rest of this out - ask
there are more things and even more things on the TODO list (but yet there is no more room)
just to mention what is currently available:
PatternPlay Mode: works almost like the 303, except that you can chain up to 8 patterns (the whole bank)
note: here you have 16 banks of 8 slots (unlike the 303)
note: you can also chain 7->2 which results in a chain of [7,8,1,2] - it wraps around
PatternEdit Mode: you can also clear a pattern, copy/paste pitch/time, disable tripplets without loosing the pattern, and you can also randomize or shift < > the order of pitch/time
good luck

EDIT:
beta1.01
beta1.02
EDIT : 26/07/2011: n0nx0x developement freezed. read more here
Last edited by antto on Fri Mar 28, 2014 7:21 am, edited 7 times in total.

User avatar
antto
 
Posts: 1636
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:21 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by antto »

oh here, i'll just share a pattern for you
it's simple, set length to 8 steps
TimeMode: GGGGGGGG
PitchMode: a a a a# a c# c# a# a
udas: UAS DA DA A D UA D A

User avatar
rv0
 
Posts: 395
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:50 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by rv0 »

been playing with this since yesterday
its PERFECT! thanks antto

for more info how to program, refer to 303 manual :lol:


It's "similar" to 303 programming, but with the extra leds and features it's actually better..
Last edited by rv0 on Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
antto
 
Posts: 1636
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:21 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by antto »

darffader wrote:for more info how to program, refer to 303 manual :lol:
hahaha :lol:
we're also hanging around in the (otherwise empty) #x0xb0x channel at irc.freenode.net :arrow:

User avatar
dnigrin
 
Posts: 123
Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 5:24 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by dnigrin »

Excellent antto, thank you!!! (and to darffader too). Hopefully this will help to keep the new CPU discussion going too!

User avatar
phono
 
Posts: 1502
Joined: Wed May 02, 2007 4:01 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by phono »

darffader wrote:been playing with this since yesterday
its PERFECT! thanks antto

for more info how to program, refer to 303 manual :lol:


It's "similar" to 303 programming, but with the extra leds and features it's actually better..
thats bold words from mr diehard 303 seq himself :lol:

will give this a test at some point

User avatar
rv0
 
Posts: 395
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:50 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by rv0 »

phono wrote: thats bold words from mr diehard 303 seq himself :lol:
lol.. well as you can read i've spent quite a while with antto getting things right in there (and before getting into x0x, working together on other 303 software related projects), it would be weird if i dont like it :)

so... its exactly the same as the 303 seq now (just still lacking Track Mode and Tap entry, and some quirks in pattern edit) but includes very useful extra's like visual feedback with the 16 leds for setting length and time mode, copy, paste, random, shift time mode, shift pitch mode,..

setting pattern length is very cool on the 16 leds ;)

I'll be printing some nice adhesive shiny silver 303 style overlays for myself and anyone interested. I just need to figure a nicer way to layout the right side of the buttons.

3phase
 
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:06 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by 3phase »

no midi sync? why that?

User avatar
rv0
 
Posts: 395
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:50 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by rv0 »

3phase wrote:no midi sync? why that?
lack of space for the code.

with new cpu a lot more will be possible


you have to know, in the x0x internally, the midi gets converted to dinsync anyway.
so if you use external dinsync or midi sync, it will end up with the same result

User avatar
antto
 
Posts: 1636
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:21 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by antto »

you know, my x0xb0x is the very first piece of "gear" i have, i mean.. i don't have any other synths or drum machines, i don't have a fancy sound card, so i can't sync this to anything, getting dinsync to work was hard (had to recompile and send to rv0 lots of times till it got working)
tho.. i'll see if i can fix midisync

User avatar
antto
 
Posts: 1636
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:21 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by antto »

check first post, beta1.01
attempted to fix MIDISync, also, documentation provided (so far only version history)
i'd like to know if MIDISync works now

3phase
 
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:06 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by 3phase »

darffader wrote:
3phase wrote:no midi sync? why that?
lack of space for the code.

with new cpu a lot more will be possible


you have to know, in the x0x internally, the midi gets converted to dinsync anyway.
so if you use external dinsync or midi sync, it will end up with the same result

only if you have an external din sync interface... i think midi is important on a post 1990 machine

3phase
 
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:06 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by 3phase »

antto wrote:check first post, beta1.01
attempted to fix MIDISync, also, documentation provided (so far only version history)
i'd like to know if MIDISync works now

cool.. i have to remember how to change the os again.. i remember that it was somehow tricky..

can someone help me out? a speciaö driver was required?

User avatar
rv0
 
Posts: 395
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:50 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by rv0 »

3phase wrote: can someone help me out? a speciaö driver was required?
Get the virtual COM port drivers here: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm v. 2.06.02

Get the patched c0ntr0l app (its more stable) http://x0xsource.com/c0ntr0l_v1.0Eil.r10_Win32.zip

With the USB plug connected, put the x0x in bootload mode and turn it off (pull power cable out)
next you turn it on
go to device manager in windows
check your ports there, look at whatever COM port it says USB Serial Port and remember the number (in my case: COM3)
go to port settings:
- bps = 19200
- other: 8 / None / 1 / None
click advanced:
- change USB Transfer Sizes both to 2048
- latency timer = 4
- Timeouts = 2000

Open c0ntr0l, set your COM port there (again, COM3 in my case)
from the menu choose "UPDATE FIRMWARE"
choose the new firmware, wait for it to complete, next turn of the x0x and turn it on in any mode.. If it does strange things: "clear" the pattern like you would on 303.

if it doesnt work (its a kinda flaky procedure) reboot and retry.
I've been using VMWARE on Mac OSX to do it and it's hit and miss sometimes.
I hope this works for you.

User avatar
rv0
 
Posts: 395
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:50 pm

Re: n0nx0x beta

Post by rv0 »

3phase wrote:no midi sync? why that?

antto wrote:check first post, beta1.01
attempted to fix MIDISync, also, documentation provided (so far only version history)
i'd like to know if MIDISync works now
just tested
midi sync working fine with beta 1.01

Image

Locked
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.

Return to “x0xm0dz”