2.1.0

OpenTracker 2.1.0: release notes

OpenTracker is an open-source, clean-room firmware for the original Polyend Tracker,
written from behavioural specifications. It contains no Polyend code, fonts, icons or
graphics, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Polyend.

2.0 brings the newer Tracker features to the original hardware: 16 tracks, synth
engines, stereo samples etc..

New in 2.1.0

About the synths: ACD, VAP, PERC and FAT are inspired by the Tracker Mini's engines but
are not identical. They are our own sound design on the Tracker parameters: Mini patches load
and play, and sound close to the Mini, not the same.

• FAT synth engine. The Tracker Mini's "fat" analog engine now plays on Synth 1-3: a
  stack of up to seven detuned saws for super-saw pads, leads, hoovers and thick basses.
  • Osc: Fatness (how many saws and how wide the detune), Brightness (tone before the
    filter), Timbre (saw to square), LFO Amt (vibrato), Noise and Reset (phase
    restart on each note).
  • Filter: LP MG 24, LP OB 24 and LP OB 12, with cutoff, resonance, envelope and LFO
    amounts; Amp and Filter envelopes, an LFO (6 waveforms, free / one-shot / note
    retrigger) and glide (4 modes).
  • Inspired by the Mini's FAT, not identical: same parameters and ranges, so Mini FAT
    patches load and play (all 57 factory FAT patches render cleanly), but the sound is our
    own design, close to the Mini's.
  • CPU: about the same as VAP per voice; four FAT voices with eight sample tracks use about
    62 % of the processor.
• Preset pack 1.1 (separate download, OpenTracker-Presets-1.1.zip): adds 8 FAT presets
  (OT Super Saw, Wide Pad, Hoover Lead, Trance Pluck, Thick Bass, Dark Strings, Square
  Stack, Detuned Keys) to the 36 ACD, VAP and PERC patches. Copy them to /Patches/FAT.
• New test song "OT Test 09 - FAT Only" in Projects/.
• WTFM is still "not available" (planned for 2.2).
• Instrument Automation 2/2: Up/Down were reversed in the LFO Shape list (Rev saw, Saw,
  Triangle, ...). Up now moves up the list, like Destination, Type and Speed.
• Pattern: the column view (Pattern + Note / Instr / FX) could not be left. Pressing
  Pattern alone now returns to the 4-track view, as the manual describes.
• Pattern: after Stop the cursor jumped back to the top. It now stays on the row where
  playback stopped, as on stock.

2.0.8-beta

1. pressing Pattern on its own now leaves the column view (Pattern + Note / Instr / FX) and returns to the 4-track view, and after Stop the cursor stays on the row where playback stopped.
2. move cursor to the last played line

2.0.7

OpenTracker 2.0.7: release notes

OpenTracker is an open-source, clean-room firmware for the original Polyend Tracker,
written from behavioural specifications. It contains no Polyend code, fonts, icons or
graphics, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Polyend.

2.0 brings the newer Tracker features to the original hardware: 16 tracks, synth
engines, stereo samples, Mini-compatible project files and USB Storage mode.

Big thanks to @syamajala @idagani , @quadpunk, Ismoketobaccoinabong, and Musojon74 for reporting bugs, testing, and helping me track down and fix all the issues. Really appreciate all your help and support! 🙏

New in 2.0.7

Fixes:

• A screen could freeze when it needed more than the display chip can hold (reported on
  one unit when switching from Master to Track Mixer). The firmware now checks what the chip
  reports: a page that does not fit is drawn with slightly less detail instead of freezing.
• Track Mixer volume, mute and solo now act on tracks that play a synth. Before, the
  fader of a track playing Synth 1-3 changed nothing (only its sample voice was scaled).
• Track Mixer meters now move for tracks that play a synth. Before, a track playing
  Synth 1-3 always showed an empty meter (only sample tracks were measured).
• Global Mixer 3/3 meters did not move. The two meters of Delay, Reverb, Dry Mix and
  Line In now show each channel's level (left and right), with the same scale as the Track
  Mixer meters.
• Pattern Instr column: pads previewed each instrument a semitone higher than the last
  (including Synth 1-3 on pads 17-19). A pad there now auditions the instrument at C
  (note 60), like stock.
• File: the Open Project and Import Mod lists stopped at 64 entries. They now hold up to
  200 (stock: 80).
• Sample Editor: pads now play the sample being edited. They played the instrument through
  the Sample Playback settings, so a crop or effect was only heard after it was applied. Pads
  now audition the selection with the current effect, like Preview, and stop when released.
• Sample Editor: after moving the Start marker, the audition was cut short at the end. The
  preview reused audio processed for the old selection. It now always plays the current
  selection from its Start marker.
• Sample Recorder: the waveform is white while recording, like the other sample views.
  It was drawn in red; the red "Recording" header stays.
• Naming keyboard: the name was unreadable on the Monochrome theme (light grey on the
  light name box). It is now black there; the other themes are unchanged.
• Instrument Automation 2/2: Up/Down were reversed in the Destination and Type lists.
  Up now moves up the list, as in the Speed list.
• Instrument Automation 2/2: the Volume LFO Speed list showed speeds it cannot use. The
  volume LFO runs from 24 steps down, so the list now starts at "24 steps", as on stock.
• Confirmation popups: Cancel / Confirm were drawn over "Play Mode". On Sample Playback
  (for example "Slices will be rewritten"), Sample Editor and Instrument Automation the page's
  own selector stayed in the bar under the popup's labels. It is now hidden while the popup
  is open.
• Undo messages now use the stock text: "No undo data :(" on the Song screen, "No undo
  data." and "No redo data." elsewhere. As on stock, Song Undo reverts pattern clears and
  pastes, not slots added or deleted in the song list.
• Vertical text was garbled with the second display font (Song track headers, Performance
  labels): narrow letters such as r, i and l lost their stems. Turned text is now sampled from
  the right pixel column.
• Fill: Left/Right now move between the fields. Before, they changed the value like
  Up/Down. Up/Down and the encoder still change the selected field.

Also new:

• Stereo sampling in the Sample Recorder. With the Line in source and Config > Line in
  channel set to Stereo, recordings are now stereo: the left and right inputs are kept, saved
  as a stereo WAV, and Save & Load gives a stereo instrument. The Source shows "Line in ST"
  ("Line in L" / "Line in R" for the mono settings), the level column shows two meters side by
  side, and the recording header shows "ST". The waveform shows two lanes, left on top and right
  below (as on the Tracker+), with one pair of Start/End markers for both. A stereo recording
  uses twice the memory, so the maximum recording time is halved: about 67 s instead of 134 s with an empty sample memory.
  The setup page shows the free time for the current mode. The radio and the microphone still
  record in mono. This is an OpenTracker extra; the Tracker Mini records mono.
  Stereo is the factory setting of Line in channel (as on stock), so after updating, Line in
  recordings are stereo unless you set Line in channel to Mono Left or Mono Right.
• Sample Editor: pads play the edit at their pitch. Each pad plays the selection (with the
  current effect) at its note, like the pads in the Sample Recorder: lower pads play it lower
  and slower, higher pads higher and faster. Preview and MIDI notes still play it at its own
  pitch.
• OpenTracker preset pack (separate download, OpenTracker-Presets-1.0.zip): 36 synth
  patches of our own (12 ACD, 16 VAP, 8 PERC kits), each with six named macros. Copy the
  files into /Patches/ACD, /Patches/VAP and /Patches/PERC on the card, then use
  Load Patch on a synth page.
• More free memory for future features (the synth patches moved to the external RAM).

2.0.7-beta

• A screen could freeze when it needed more than the display chip can hold (reported on
  one unit when switching from Master to Track Mixer). The firmware now checks what the chip
  reports: a page that does not fit is drawn with slightly less detail instead of freezing.
• Track Mixer meters now move for tracks that play a synth. Before, a track playing
  Synth 1-3 always showed an empty meter (only sample tracks were measured).
• Global Mixer 3/3 meters did not move. The two meters of Delay, Reverb, Dry Mix and
  Line In now show each channel's level (left and right), with the same scale as the Track
  Mixer meters.
• Pattern Instr column: pads previewed each instrument a semitone higher than the last
  (including Synth 1-3 on pads 17-19). A pad there now auditions the instrument at C
  (note 60), like stock.
• File: the Open Project and Import Mod lists stopped at 64 entries. They now hold up to
  200 (stock: 80).
• Sample Editor: pads now play the sample being edited. They played the instrument through
  the Sample Playback settings, so a crop or effect was only heard after it was applied. Pads
  now audition the selection with the current effect, like Preview, and stop when released.
• Fill: Left/Right now move between the fields. Before, they changed the value like
  Up/Down. Up/Down and the encoder still change the selected field.

Also new:

• OpenTracker preset pack (separate download, OpenTracker-Presets-1.0.zip): 36 synth
  patches of our own (12 ACD, 16 VAP, 8 PERC kits), each with six named macros. Copy the
  files into /Patches/ACD, /Patches/VAP and /Patches/PERC on the card, then use
  Load Patch on a synth page.

2.0.6

OpenTracker 2.0.6: release notes

This is last one for Today :)

OpenTracker is an open-source, clean-room firmware for the original Polyend Tracker,
written from behavioural specifications. It contains no Polyend code, fonts, icons or
graphics, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Polyend.

2.0 brings the newer Tracker features to the original hardware: 16 tracks, synth
engines, stereo samples, Mini-compatible project files and USB Storage mode.

New in 2.0.6

also in OpenTracker 1.9.8:

• Screen looked darker than stock; dividers and empty-step dashes were hard to see. The
  display chip drew every box and line edge half a pixel off, so thin lines came out at about
  a quarter of their colour. Edges are now drawn exactly on the pixels, as on stock.
• Sample Loader: Preview was silent for long files on the SD Card list. The whole file
  was loaded before it played, so a long file (or one bigger than the free sample memory)
  stayed silent. Preview now streams the file like stock: the sound starts at once, and a
  file longer than the free memory plays the part that fits. .pti instrument files now
  preview too.
• Sample Playback: Up/Down were reversed in the Play mode list. Up now moves to the
  mode above and Down to the mode below, as on stock.
• Pattern: selected notes were hard to read on the Monochrome and Anniversary themes.
  With Shift + arrows, the text inside the selection turned black. It now keeps its colour
  there; the Original theme is unchanged.
• Pattern: pad lights for Beat Slice instruments now show the slices, as for Slice.
• Fill: Left/Right now move between the fields. Before, they changed the value like
  Up/Down. Up/Down and the encoder still change the selected field.

2.0.5

OpenTracker 2.0.5: release notes

OpenTracker is an open-source, clean-room firmware for the original Polyend Tracker,
written from behavioural specifications. It contains no Polyend code, fonts, icons or
graphics, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Polyend.

2.0 brings the newer Tracker features to the original hardware: 16 tracks, synth
engines, stereo samples, Mini-compatible project files and USB Storage mode. These notes cover
the whole 2.x line (2.0.2 to 2.0.5).

New in 2.0.5

• Track Mixer meters did not move. On Track Mixer 2/3 the level meter next to each
  track's volume bar only reacted to signals near full scale, so normal track levels left it
  empty. It now shows the actual level, as on stock: about -72 dB at the bottom, 0 dB at 86 %
  of the bar. Also in OpenTracker 1.9.8.
• Performance screen could draw incompletely. With all 12 FX columns shown, the screen
  came close to the display chip's per-frame limit, and on the device it could go over it.
  The firmware then dropped part of the picture and redrew with less detail. The panels are
  now drawn in a few batches instead of column by column: the screen looks exactly the
  same, and each frame needs about 20% less of the display's memory. Contributed by a
  @syamajala . Also in OpenTracker 1.9.8.
• Beat Slice: sequenced notes now select the slice. Chops can be sequenced: the note
  picks the slice, C2 = slice 1, C#2 = slice 2 and so on (the pads enter these notes).
  Before, every note played the slice selected on screen. A Slice FX still overrides it.
• Beat Slice: pads audition the right slice. No more "random" or skipped slices when
  playing through the chops.
• Playhead in Sample Playback. It shows in every mode and while slicing.
• Song list while playing. Up/Down now browse the list during playback; the cursor only
  jumps when the song moves to a new slot.
• VAP synth sounds the same every time. With oscillator Reset Off, the oscillators now
  run freely, as on the Tracker Mini, instead of starting at random positions on each note.
  VAP output is 3 dB lower to keep headroom for chords, so VAP patches play about 3 dB
  quieter than in 2.0.3.
• Synths on MIDI tracks 9–16. The instrument popup on those tracks now lists Synth 1–3
  first, then MIDI 1–16. Pads 17–19 pick Synth 1–3.
• Headphone level (for measuring). The output level is unchanged. Develop mode has an
  "HP level" setting under Config > Firmware for comparing loudness with stock firmware.
• Master option lists: Up/Down were reversed. This affected Saturation, Delay
  PingPong/Sync/Rate and Limiter Sidechain. Up now moves up the list and Down moves down, as
  on stock.
• Delay PingPong and Sync lists show On above Off, as on stock.
• The Master sub-pages redesign
• Power off: while you hold the power button, the "Shutting down" popup now shows a
  progress bar for the 1.5 s hold. Releasing early still cancels.

New Contributors

• @syamajala made their first contribution in #3

Full Changelog: 2.0.3...2.0.5

2.0.3

OpenTracker 2.0.3: release notes

OpenTracker is an open-source, clean-room firmware for the original Polyend Tracker,
written from behavioural specifications. It contains no Polyend code, fonts, icons or
graphics, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Polyend.

2.0 brings the newer Tracker features to the original hardware: 16 tracks, synth
engines, stereo samples, Tracker+ project files and USB Storage mode. These notes cover
the whole 2.x line (2.0.0 to 2.0.3).

New in 2.0.3

Fixes from checks on a stock 1.9.2 unit (also in OpenTracker 1.9.6):

• Master option lists: Up/Down were reversed. This affected Saturation, Delay
  PingPong/Sync/Rate and Limiter Sidechain. Up now moves up the list and Down moves down, as
  on stock. The encoder was already right:
  • on lists, turning right moves down the list;
  • on value bars, turning right raises the value.
• Delay PingPong and Sync lists show On above Off, as on stock.
• The Master sub-pages now match stock screenshots:
  • Reverb: values show as whole numbers ("60", not "0.60").
  • Reverb and Delay: "Line in" values show in dB.
  • Delay: Rate is greyed while Sync is Off.
  • Limiter: the threshold shows as "-6.00 dB", and the Gain Reduce meter matches stock.
  • EQ: bands show "0.00 dB", with 0 dB at half height.
  • Track Mixer 2/3 and Global Mixer 3/3: header colours match stock. The 2.x Synth 1–3
    columns on Global Mixer 3/3 are unchanged.
• Power off: while you hold the power button, the "Shutting down" popup now shows a
  progress bar for the 1.5 s hold. Releasing early still cancels.
• Sample Recorder level meter was slow. It updated about 6 times per second and fell back
  very slowly. It now follows the input at the display frame rate (about 35+ updates per
  second). The time and waveform keep updating while you record.
• Sample Recorder arrow keys. Left/Right now move only between the values you can edit:
  • while setting up: Source, Freq (radio), Level, Gain, Monitor;
  • after recording: Start, End, Zoom.
• Sample Editor effect list. Up and Down were reversed; Up now goes to the previous
  effect.
• USB Storage: better diagnostics in the serial log, and two more standard replies that
  Linux asks for.

2.0.1

OpenTracker 2.x is based on OpenTracker 1.9.4 (a faithful reimplementation of stock
firmware 1.9.2) with additional options from the newer Tracker:

• Tracker projects: 16-track patterns, three synth slots and .patch files.
  Older projects open with tracks 13–16 empty.
• 16 tracks: tracks 13–16 are MIDI / synth tracks, like 9–12.
• Synth engines on instruments S1–S3: ACD, VAP and PERC. These are our own engines that
  follow the The new parameters. Macros, a patch library is insluded
• Stereo samples.
• USB Storage mode: the SD card appears as a USB drive (Config > USB > USB Storage).
• CPU meter, faster loading and a smoother display.

1.9.8

OpenTracker 1.9.8: release notes

OpenTracker is an open-source, clean-room reimplementation of the firmware for the
original Polyend Tracker. It contains no Polyend code, fonts, icons or graphics, and is
not affiliated with or endorsed by Polyend.

1.9.8 is a bug-fix update. It works like stock 1.9.2 and uses the same project
files.

Fixed in 1.9.8

• Track Mixer meters did not move. On Track Mixer 2/3 the level meter next to each
  track's volume bar only reacted to signals near full scale, so normal track levels left it
  empty. It now shows the actual level, as on stock: about -72 dB at the bottom, 0 dB at 86 %
  of the bar.

• Performance screen could draw incompletely. With all 12 FX columns shown, the screen
  came close to the display chip's per-frame limit, and on the device it could go over it.
  The firmware then dropped part of the picture and redrew with less detail. The panels are
  now drawn in a few batches instead of column by column: the screen looks exactly the
  same, and each frame needs about 20% less of the display's memory. Contributed by a
  community user.

• Beat Slice:

  • the note picks the slice: C2 = slice 1, C#2 = slice 2 and so on (the pads enter these
    notes); a Slice FX still overrides it;
  • pads audition their own slice.

• Sample Playback: a playhead shows where the sample is playing.

• Song list: Up/Down scroll it during playback.

• Master lists: Up/Down direction fixed; the Master sub-pages match stock.

• Shutdown: progress bar while holding the power button.

• Sample Recorder:

  • the meter follows the input at the display frame rate;
  • arrow keys move between editable values.

• Sample Editor: in the effect list, Up selects the previous effect.

1.9.6

OpenTracker 1.9.6: release notes

OpenTracker is an open-source, clean-room reimplementation of the firmware for the
original Polyend Tracker. It contains no Polyend code, fonts, icons or graphics, and is
not affiliated with or endorsed by Polyend.

1.9.6 is a bug-fix update. It works like stock 1.9.2 and uses the same project
files. The fixes come from checks on a stock 1.9.2 unit.

Fixed in 1.9.6

• Master option lists: Up/Down were reversed. This affected Saturation, Delay
  PingPong/Sync/Rate and Limiter Sidechain. Up now moves up the list and Down moves down, as
  on stock. The encoder was already right:
  • on lists, turning right moves down the list;
  • on value bars, turning right raises the value.
• Delay PingPong and Sync lists show On above Off, as on stock.
• The Master sub-pages now match stock screenshots:
  • Reverb: values show as whole numbers ("60", not "0.60").
  • Reverb and Delay: "Line in" values show in dB.
  • Delay: Rate is greyed while Sync is Off.
  • Limiter: the threshold shows as "-6.00 dB", and the Gain Reduce meter matches stock.
  • EQ: bands show "0.00 dB", with 0 dB at half height.
  • Track Mixer 2/3 and Global Mixer 3/3: header colours match stock.
• Power off: while you hold the power button, the "Shutting down" popup now shows a
  progress bar for the 1.5 s hold. Releasing early still cancels.
• Sample Recorder:
  • the level meter now follows the input at the display frame rate;
  • Left/Right move only between editable values.
• Sample Editor: in the effect list, Up selects the previous effect.