v1.1.0

track3r-os v1.1.0: release notes

v1.1.0 adds a SID-style instrument, stereo samples, USB outputs of up to 10 channels, new Song pages and tools, and many fixes, among them issue #2. The full list is in the changelog; the earlier notes are v1.0.1.md and v1.0.0.md.

track3r-os is community firmware for the Polyend Tracker. It is unofficial and not affiliated with Polyend. Installing it replaces the firmware in your unit. It is licensed GPL-3.0-or-later. Third-party licences are in THIRD_PARTY.md.

Back up your SD card and keep the official firmware file before you install.

Read this first: going back

v1.1.0 images are padded to a whole 4 KiB flash sector: the SD bootloader leaves a short last sector as it was, so an image that does not end on a sector may crash at boot. v1.0.1 and v1.0.0 are such images. To go back to them through the Update screen (Config, INFO, F8), pick the file: the screen says NOT PADDED. TRACK3R-OS WILL PAD A COPY OF IT? Press F1 (PAD). The unit writes pad-<name>.ptf next to the file, checks it, and then offers to install it as usual. Your file is not changed. From a computer, o3console.py --pad does the same. The hidden reset button, with the older file alone in Firmware/, works as before (see the installing guide). Whether the Update screen takes an official Polyend file has not been checked; use the reset button for the way back to the official firmware.

What is new

• SID-style instrument, built in: saw, triangle, pulse with PWM, noise and combined waves, sync and ring, a stepped ADSR, and a filter with a 6581 or 8580 model switch.
• Stereo samples, opt-in per instrument (the STEREO row); up to four stereo voices at once.
• USB audio outputs of 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 channels, chosen per project on Mixer, STEMS.
• Song: STAGE and TIMELINE pages. TIMELINE has a note map and an ENERGY row; STAGE is no longer in the Song key cycle.
• Song: FORM and BRIDGE in the TOOLS dialog.
• Import of module files by their header, and of 15-sample Soundtracker MODs.
• Step effects 23, 24, 33 and 36 start their LFO.
• Config and Record: Left and Right edit the value under the cursor.
• Update pads an older image after asking. When a missing pad is the only fault, the Update screen offers to write a padded copy and install it; any other fault is still refused, and an existing copy is never replaced.
• Cheaper reversed voices (PLAYBACK, effect 26): six reversed voices cost +0.23 percentage points of the CPU on the unit, against +6.19.

A project that uses stereo samples is saved with a newer instrument version; any other project is saved as before. Projects saved by v1.0.1 open in v1.1.0.

What is fixed

• Overdrive and Bit depth now shape module instruments (TB-303, FM, Chip; issue #2).
• The update dialog reaches every file of Firmware/. The old limit of 12 files is gone.
• Update file names over 30 characters are refused (NAME TOO LONG: 30 MAX).
• A boot crash caused by the image's last flash sector. Images are padded, and the Update screen pads an older one after asking.
• Saving after a card remount no longer points a project at a missing WAV.
• The demo kit no longer overwrites a project's instruments.
• MOD import: the loop start of 15-sample files, and a MOD with no room for a pattern is refused before the NEW question.
• Labels and arms: Chip's and SID's Wave views, Config's APPLY? mark, TIMELINE draws at most 12 tracks.

Files

• track3r-os-v1.1.0.ptf, the update file (21 characters, within the 30 limit). For a first install from the official firmware you rename your copy on the card (see Install).
• SHA256SUMS, the checksum of the .ptf.

SHA-256 of the .ptf: 41e8360c0d8fc59cbf9a05d9b848203ea41de8dab0b1f676047954db280451f8

Check your download with sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.

The app modules are the same as for v1.0.0: the release apps-v1.0.0 on the Releases page. The module ABI did not change since v1.0.1 (only the SDK README text differs), so those .tmod files still work.

Install or update

• From track3r-os v1.0.1 or v1.0.0 (with working pads): copy track3r-os-v1.1.0.ptf into Firmware/ on the card, put the card in the unit, open Config, INFO and press F8 (UPDATE). A padded image is what the unit needs; a v1.0.1 or v1.0.0 unit has no padding check.
• From the official firmware, or when the pads are dead (v1.0.0 on a later unit):
  1. Copy everything on the SD card to your computer.
  2. Copy track3r-os-v1.1.0.ptf into Firmware/ and rename the copy to PolyendTracker_0.0.1.ptf. It must be the only .ptf there. Do not use the Polyend Tool app.
  3. Use the hidden reset button, as in Polyend's emergency flashing page.
  4. After the restart, open Config, INFO. BUILD ID should show v1.1.0.
• Going back to v1.0.1 or v1.0.0: on the Update screen, with PAD as in "Read this first", or by the reset button as in the second way above with the older file.

The full steps are in the installing guide.

Known issues

• Swapping the SD card can crash the unit. Switch the unit off before you change the card.
• Very heavy projects can exceed the CPU budget; some Perform effects cost CPU while held (the five LFO rows most). See the CPU budget.
• A cancelled effect leaves the free sample memory lower until the next effect reuses the buffer.
• On macOS and Windows the USB outputs are not checked.
• A project saved with no instrument at all can open at 120 BPM instead of its own tempo (seen on the unit, under investigation; a project with instruments keeps its tempo).

Not yet verified

• The listening checks: stereo samples, BRIDGE, reversed voices, the SID sound and the module drive of issue #2.
• The feel of the arrow keys on Config and Record; FX 36 on wavetable and granular instruments by ear.
• USB audio outputs on macOS and Windows (reports welcome).
• Save after a physical card pull (the remount by disk share and disk eject passed).
• The F1 PAD and INSTALL steps of the Update screen pressed by hand. The same pad job passed on the unit through the console: v1.1.0 padded v1.0.1 in about 15 seconds, the copy booted, and the unit came back to v1.1.0.
• The pads on other later board revisions.
• The items listed as not yet verified in the v1.0.0 notes.

track3r-os v1.0.1

track3r-os v1.0.1: release notes

v1.0.1 fixes the pads on later Trackers. Everything else is v1.0.0. The full list of changes is in the changelog; the v1.0.0 notes are in v1.0.0.md.

track3r-os is community firmware for the Polyend Tracker. It is unofficial and not affiliated with Polyend. Installing it replaces the firmware in your unit. It is licensed GPL-3.0-or-later. Third-party licences are in THIRD_PARTY.md.

Back up your SD card and keep the official firmware file before you install.

What is fixed

• The pads did not answer on later Trackers (plastic back, boards Control 4.0 / Grid 2.0; issue #1). The unit started, the buttons and the screen worked, the status LED flashed 13 times at power-on and the pad grid stayed dark and dead. The pad board is now started later and more gently, and its chips are asked again until they answer. A user with an affected unit confirmed that the pads and note entry work. On first-batch units (metal back) nothing changes.

Files

• track3r-os-v1.0.1.ptf, the update file. For a first install from the official firmware you rename your copy on the card (see Install).
• SHA256SUMS, the checksum of the .ptf.

SHA-256 of the .ptf: bc1cf7b8ca02d5b5f9f8e4abffe2d5b9f6943fe6a3ba1ad94bd26a5ff775e2de

Check your download with sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.

The app modules are the same as for v1.0.0: the release apps-v1.0.0 on the Releases page.

Install or update

• From track3r-os v1.0.0: copy track3r-os-v1.0.1.ptf into Firmware/ on the card, put the card in the unit, open Config, INFO and press F8 (UPDATE). Or install it as below.
• From the official firmware, or when the pads are dead (v1.0.0 on a later unit):
  1. Copy everything on the SD card to your computer.
  2. Copy track3r-os-v1.0.1.ptf into Firmware/ and rename the copy to PolyendTracker_0.0.1.ptf. It must be the only .ptf there. Do not use the Polyend Tool app.
  3. Use the hidden reset button, as in Polyend's emergency flashing page.
  4. After the restart, open Config, INFO. BUILD ID should show v1.0.1.

The full steps and the way back to the official firmware are in the installing guide.

Known issues

The known issues of v1.0.0 stay, except the pads:

• Swapping the SD card can crash the unit. Switch the unit off before you change the card.
• Very heavy projects can exceed the CPU budget; some Perform effects cost CPU while held. See the CPU budget.
• The update list on the unit shows only the first 12 files of Firmware/. Keep 12 or fewer files there.

Not yet verified

• The pads on other later board revisions: one unit has been reported working.
• The items listed as not yet verified in the v1.0.0 notes.

track3r-os v1.0.0

track3r-os v1.0.0: release notes

What this is

track3r-os is community firmware for the Polyend Tracker. It is unofficial and not affiliated with Polyend. Installing it replaces the firmware in your unit. It is licensed GPL-3.0-or-later. Third-party licences are in THIRD_PARTY.md.

Back up your SD card and keep the official firmware file before you install.

Files

• track3r-os-v1.0.0.ptf, the update file. Do not rename it.
• SHA256SUMS, the checksum of the .ptf.

SHA-256 of the .ptf: 379bad017e1829c23040b2387e5e100cf4324c7ce6bcf9126161f90876336986

Check your download with sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.

Install

1. Copy everything on the SD card to your computer.
2. Copy track3r-os-v1.0.0.ptf into Firmware/ on the card. Make it the only .ptf there.
3. Put the card in the unit and use the hidden reset button, as in Polyend's emergency flashing page.
4. After the restart, open Config, INFO. BUILD ID should show v1.0.0.

The official update menu does not list this file. A unit that already runs track3r-os can also update from its own Config, INFO page (F8). The full steps and risks are in the installing guide.

Going back to the official firmware

1. Move every .ptf out of Firmware/ on the card.
2. Copy the official PolyendTracker_<version>.ptf into Firmware/, as the only .ptf.
3. Flash it with the hidden reset button, as above.

The bootloader is separate, so a broken track3r-os does not remove the way back. Details are in the installing guide.

Highlights

The full list is in the changelog.

• Perform: PLAYBACK plays the next notes backward.
• Perform: SMP POS and SMP END set where notes start and stop in a sample.
• Perform: VOL, PAN, TUNE, FLT and POS LFO rows change the LFO speed.
• Perform: each track can have its own next pattern.
• DJ page: smoother scratch, TAPE STOP with a length, finer crossfader pads.
• Sample edit: FILTER and COMPRESSOR, and F8 cancels a running effect.
• Sample load: several files at once, with the target instrument on screen.
• Record: START ON LEVEL with THRESHOLD and PRE-ROLL, and TIME LEFT.
• Update from the unit: Config, INFO, F8 installs a .ptf from the card.
• The audio clock is exactly 44,100 Hz.

Known issues

• Swapping the SD card can crash the unit. It was seen once with a project of samples loaded. Switch the unit off before you change the card.
• Very heavy projects can exceed the CPU budget. A 12-track test project ran at 113 % mean CPU and sound dropped out. The keys still answer and Stop works. See the CPU budget.
• Some Perform effects cost CPU while held. On a project near the budget, holding PLAYBACK or the LFO rows on many tracks can make the sound drop out. Release the pad.
• The update list on the unit shows only the first 12 files of Firmware/. Keep 12 or fewer files there.

Not yet verified

• Install from the official firmware with this release file.
• The final INSTALL step of the update from the unit.
• Going back to the official firmware with this release.
• Whether the official firmware opens projects saved by track3r-os.
• The USB disk on Windows and macOS.
• Some Perform checks. The open ones are in docs/qa/catalogue/perform.md.

Demo video

A demo recorded on a development build before this release. The version shown on screen is that build's.

release_demo_720p_under10MB.mp4

Report problems

Open an issue at https://github.com/trak3r-os/track3r-os/issues. Include the version from Config, INFO and the SHA-256 of the file you installed. If the unit does not start after an update, go back to the official firmware first.

fixtures-1

Demo content for SD card

track3r-os v1.0.0 apps

track3r-os v1.0.0 apps

The 11 app modules of track3r-os v1.0.0, as one archive: Chords, Humanize, Loudness VU, MIDI Monitor, Morph, Mutate, Rhythm Gen, Scope Spectrum, SMF Export, Tap Calc and Tuner. They are unofficial, like the firmware, and are not affiliated with Polyend.

Files

• track3r-os-v1.0.0-apps.zip, the app modules.
• SHA256SUMS, the checksum of the zip.

SHA-256 of the zip: 9ab716cd8d2479ba27adcb25025bd96c497996a9651403967e231a723784ba30

Check your download with sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.

Install

Unpack the zip into the root of the SD card. The files land in modules/apps/. They were built from the track3r-os v1.0.0 code and work with firmware v1.0.0.

How to open and use the apps: Modules and apps.

Known issues

• Tuner: it reads NO SIGNAL on a sustained clean tone from the master.
• Scope: the SPECTRUM view can stop with "APP STOPPED: too slow" when it starts under load, until the unit restarts.
• Rhythm Gen: opened from MODULES it writes nothing. Open it from TOOLS on the Pattern screen.

Licence

The modules are licensed under the MIT licence. The text is in the zip.