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OpenTracker 2.2.5

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@sandlbn sandlbn released this 04 Nov 14:43
· 11 commits to main since this release
v2.2.5
43bceaa

OpenTracker 2.2.5

The current stable release of the 2.x line: an open, community firmware for the original
Polyend Tracker. 2.x brings 16 tracks, three synth slots, stereo samples, Mini-format project
files and USB Storage mode to the original hardware.

OpenTracker is not affiliated with, endorsed by or supported by Polyend.

Files

  • PolyendTrackerOTv225.ptf: the firmware image.
  • OpenTracker-2.2.5-Patches.zip: the preset pack (82 patches: ACD 12, FAT 8, VAP 16, WTFM 30, PERC 16, the same as in 2.2.4). Copy Patches/ to the root of the card and merge it with what is there.
  • OpenTracker-2.2.5-Themes.zip: 12 example colour themes. Unzip it to the root of the card; the files land in /Themes.
  • OpenTracker-2.2.5-Projects.zip: the test songs. Copy them to /Projects on the card.
  • OpenTracker-2.2.5-Manual.pdf: the 2.x user manual for this release.
  • SHA256SUMS: checksums of every file. Check them with sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.

Install

  1. Back up your SD card.
  2. Copy PolyendTrackerOTv225.ptf to /Firmware on the card. Keep the file name as it is: the updater only takes names of exactly 24 characters.
  3. Go to Config > Firmware update, select the image and confirm. If the screen stays dark after the update, press the power button once.

Going back: keep the stock 1.9.2 image in /Firmware and install it the same way. From a running OpenTracker you can also write its file name into /Firmware/ot_restore.txt and power-cycle. Keep only the image you want, plus stock, in /Firmware: the rear reset button installs a .ptf from that folder.

The Performance screen changes

The Performance screen now works as on stock 1.9.2. If you used it in earlier 2.x releases:

  • Every track starts with its FX off. Press and release a track's screen button to turn its FX on. A pad then reaches only the tracks you picked.
  • A red label means FX on. Before, red meant off.
  • The filters start from the instrument's own cutoff, not from an open filter. Saved performances with a filter column can sound different: High-pass on an instrument with an open filter is now nearly silent, as on stock.

New in 2.2.5

  • Performance screen as on stock (GitHub issue #86): tracks 1-16 start with their FX off; a red filled label means on. Low-pass, High-pass and Band-pass add their value to the instrument's own cutoff, also when its filter is off or of another type.
  • Performance FX on synth notes (GitHub issue #23): on tracks whose FX are on, the filters move the synth's own cutoff, and Panning, Delay send and Reverb send add to the note's pan and sends. They follow the screen while a note sounds, also in its release.
  • Shorter Performance names (contributed by syamajala, PR #144): the FX that reach synth notes drop the "Sample" prefix: Panning, LP cutoff, HP cutoff, BP cutoff, Delay send and Reverb send. Sample position, Sample end and Sample playback keep it: they act on samples only.
  • Note names: Sharps / Flats / Auto (contributed by syamajala, PR #123): Config > General > Note names. Sharps (the default) shows C#5, Flats shows Db5, and Auto follows the project's root note and scale, so F major shows Bb and G major shows F#. Display only: projects and MIDI are unchanged.
  • Synth release tails follow the Track Mixer: a synth note's release follows the fader and mute of its track. Before, it played at full level, so tails of muted or lowered synth tracks are quieter in existing songs.
  • Sample Loader fixes: Add next on a folder does nothing, as its greyed label says. Add and Add next are greyed when the SD card list has no files to add. With Preview held, moving onto an empty instrument slot stops the sample.
  • Sample Playback, as on stock (GitHub issue #143): Delete puts Start back at the beginning, End at the end and Zoom back to 1. Loop points stay where they are.
  • Master held + Jog (GitHub issue #142): after you set the master volume this way from another screen, letting go of Master returns to that screen.
  • Mouse wheel on synth On / Off rows (simulator and desktop app): in Edit Patch the wheel turns On / Off rows and a macro's Off / On row the same way as other lists. Before, it ran backwards there.
  • More free memory for coming features (contributed by syamajala, PR #148): three buffers that are never used at the same time are shared, freeing about 5 KB.

Thanks to the testers for their reports.

New in 2.2.4

A piano pad layout, chords in step entry, synth pads that play chords, a cleaner 44.1 kHz export, Sample Loader previews without gaps and fixes for busy screens. The full list is in the 2.2.4 release notes.

The 2.x line

  • 16 tracks: tracks 13-16 work like MIDI tracks.
  • Three synth slots (S1-S3) with five engines of our own sound design: ACD, VAP, PERC, FAT and WTFM. FX columns A-F drive six macros; Volume drives macro 7. A shared pool of 4 voices by default (1-8 in Config).
  • Projects in the Mini's format: 16-track patterns, the three synth slots and .patch files. Older original-Tracker projects open as they are.
  • Stereo samples in one-shot, loop, slice and beat-slice modes.
  • USB Storage mode: the SD card shows up as a drive on a computer (about 1 MB/s).
  • Live resampling (contributed by syamajala): record the mix, one track or Line In into a new instrument while the pattern plays.
  • Exports at 44.1 kHz, a CPU meter, and a voice limiter that only ever cuts synth voices.

Known limitations

  • The synths follow the Mini's parameter sets, but the sound is our own design: close, not identical.
  • The synth voice pool defaults to 4 because of the processor's speed.
  • USB Storage mode: back up the card before first use. Linux systems without a desktop may need partprobe or a re-plug to see the card.
  • Projects saved by 2.x use 16-track patterns. Stock firmware reads only tracks 1-8 of those patterns.
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