Firmware version: 1.0 beta
Last updated: 05.08.2026
- Introduction
- Hardware Reference
- First Steps
- Recording
- Sampler
- Sequencer (Sketch)
- Arrange Mode
- Live / Play Mode
- SynthCopy
- Settings
- Technical Reference
Beatmaker's Sketchbook is a standalone hardware sampler and step sequencer. You record or load audio samples, arrange them in a grid-based sequencer, chain patterns into a full song, and perform live — all without a computer.
Typical workflow:
- Record samples from the internal microphone or line-in — or import files from the SD card.
- Edit them in the Sampler (trim, rename, set pitch).
- Compose in the Sequencer: place samples on a grid across 8 channels.
- Arrange sketches into a full song.
- Perform live with the Play mode: trigger samples, snippets, and scratch effects.
Everything is stored on an SD card. The device works with one song at a time.
| Button | Base action | FUNK + button | MENU + button |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUNK | Hold to activate the FUNK modifier | — | — |
| MENU | Open / close the black-key menu | — | Hold 5 s → return to Home |
| SWITCH | Context-specific action (zoom, display toggle, or browser) | — | — |
| PLAY | Start playback | Preview sample at cursor | — |
| STOP / PAUSE | Stop playback | — | — |
| RECORD | Start / stop recording | Cancel recording (before it starts) | — |
| INPUT | Cycle input source (MIC / LINE / RESAMPLE) | — | — |
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Cursor LEFT / RIGHT | Move horizontally; change bank |
| Cursor UP / DOWN | Move vertically; change value |
| SET (centre of cursor pad) | Confirm / enter |
| FUNK + SET | Undo / delete |
There are four rotary encoders, each of which can also be pushed like a button.
| Encoder | Typical role | MENU + push |
|---|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 | Volume / Gain / BPM | Switch to Sampler |
| ENCODER 2 | Panning | Switch to Sequencer |
| ENCODER 3 | Pitch | Switch to Arrange |
| ENCODER 4 | Probability | Switch to Live / Play |
Switching modes: While in any main mode, hold MENU and push an encoder to jump to a different mode.
The fader at the bottom of the front panel is a value input, not a crossfader. When the fader is active, the small fader LED below it lights up. Depending on the context it controls volume, trim points, velocity, pitch, panning, or scratch speed.
The keyboard spans two octaves and is organised into 3 banks. The bank indicator LEDs on the top right of the keyboard, below the STOP and RECORD buttons, show the active bank. Each bank holds 24 sample slots, giving 72 slots per song in total.
The keyboard also doubles as a text entry pad whenever a name has to be entered: white keys = letters, black keys = numbers and special characters.
| LED(s) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bank 1 / 2 / 3 LEDs | Active sample bank |
| Input LEDs (×3) | Active recording input — green = MIC, orange = LINE, red = RESAMPLE |
| Fader LED | Fader is active |
| Key LEDs | Vary by mode — lit = assigned; blinking = queued or playing |
Pressing MENU in most modes opens an overlay at the bottom of the screen. Up to ten three-letter options appear, each mapped to one of the black keys on the keyboard. The options available change depending on the current mode.
- Press MENU again to close the menu without selecting anything.
- Some operations lock the menu open until they are confirmed (for example, deleting a sample requires pressing the delete option a second time).
On power-up a logo is shown while the hardware initialises. The device checks for an SD card — an SD card must be inserted at all times. Without one, the device cannot proceed.
After initialisation the Song Selector is shown.
- Rotate ENCODER 1 or press UP / DOWN to scroll through existing songs.
- Press SET or push ENCODER 1 to load the highlighted song.
- To create a new song, select "Create a new song" at the bottom of the list, type the name (max 8 characters) using the Note Keys, and confirm with SET.
- There is no space character — press RIGHT to insert a space.
- Song names are limited to 8 characters.
- To cancel creating a new song press FUNK + SET.
The four main modes are always one shortcut away:
| Shortcut | Mode |
|---|---|
| MENU + ENCODER 1 | Sampler |
| MENU + ENCODER 2 | Sequencer (Sketch) |
| MENU + ENCODER 3 | Arrange |
| MENU + ENCODER 4 | Live / Play |
Holding MENU for 5 seconds always returns to the Home screen from any mode.
From the Home screen, the black-key menu provides access to additional areas:
| Black key | Label | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | SNG | Song Selector |
| 3rd | SCP | SynthCopy |
| 9th | CFG | Settings |
| 10th | SUP | Supporter screen |
The Recorder captures audio from three possible sources and saves it as a sample.
Press INPUT to cycle through the input sources. The three LEDs next to the INPUT button show the active source:
| LED | Input |
|---|---|
| Green | Internal microphone |
| Orange | Line-in |
| Red | Resample (records the device's own audio output) |
Two LEDs lit at the same time indicates a combined source (e.g. MIC + RESAMPLE).
| Control | Effect |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 | Microphone gain |
| ENCODER 2 | Line-in sensitivity |
A peak meter on the display shows the incoming level. When using the microphone, keep the speaker volume low to avoid feedback. Plugging in a headphone mutes the speakers automatically.
Press SWITCH to toggle the peak meter between the screen display and the input-selector LEDs.
- Select the input source with INPUT.
- Press RECORD to start — the peak meter stays visible.
- Press RECORD again to stop.
- If you started by accident, press FUNK + RECORD to cancel (only works before recording has actually started).
After stopping, the recording is immediately shown in the Sampler as the latest recording. It stays there until you save it to a slot or record something new (which overwrites it). Closing the menu without saving discards the recording.
Multi-sample recording automatically splits a long take into individual samples at silence gaps. This is useful for capturing multiple sounds in one pass — for example, a set of drum hits recorded one after another.
Configure the silence threshold and the minimum silence duration, then record normally. The device detects each gap, slices the recording, and saves consecutive samples to free slots.
The Sampler is where you view, trim, rename, and manage your samples. All editing and playback-preview in the Sampler works directly on the files stored on the SD card — no RAM is consumed while you browse or trim.
Once you switch to the Sequencer, Arrange, or Live / Play mode, the device loads every sample that is referenced in the current song into the internal 16 MB sample RAM so they can be played back with low latency. The amount of RAM already occupied is shown in the top-left corner of the Sequencer screen as a two-colour bar: the green portion represents free RAM and the red portion shows how much is already in use. If the bar turns fully red, new samples can no longer be loaded — keep an eye on it when working with many or long samples.
There are 3 banks × 24 slots = 72 sample slots per song. Press LEFT / RIGHT to change the active bank. The bank LEDs on the keyboard reflect the current bank.
Each of the 24 piano keys corresponds to one slot in the current bank. Press a key to select and preview that slot. Its waveform is shown on the display.
The library shows all .raw files in the /SAMPLES/ folder on the SD card.
- Press SWITCH on an empty slot to open the library browser.
- Navigate with UP / DOWN (files within a folder) and LEFT / RIGHT (enter / leave folders).
- Samples play automatically as you scroll for pre-listening — press PLAY to hear the current file again.
- Press SET to assign the selected file to the slot.
- Press SWITCH again to cancel.
Press MENU to open the black-key menu:
| Option | Action |
|---|---|
| SAV | Save / overwrite the current sample |
| SAS | Save a selection to a different (free) slot |
| DEL | Delete the sample — press again to confirm |
| CUT | Enter trim / cut mode |
| VOL | Enter volume mode — change the sample's gain |
| ENV | Enter envelope mode — set an attack / release volume shape (not available for the latest recording) |
| LOP | Enter loop-region mode — mark a part of the sample to be looped during playback (not available for the latest recording) |
| C4 | Set the base MIDI note (label updates to the current note) |
Open MENU → CUT to enter trim mode.
| Control | Effect |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 | Move the start marker |
| ENCODER 2 | Move the end marker |
| FUNK + ENCODER 1 | Fine-adjust the start marker (one amplitude step at a time) |
| FUNK + ENCODER 2 | Fine-adjust the end marker |
| Push ENCODER 1 | Hand the start marker to the fader; push again to set |
| Push ENCODER 2 | Hand the end marker to the fader; push again to set |
| LEFT / RIGHT | Shift the entire selected region (useful for equal-size loop slices) |
| PLAY | Preview the selected region |
Fine-adjust resets to zero each time you switch to it without holding FUNK.
Once the selection is right:
- MENU → SAV — overwrites the original sample with the trimmed region.
- MENU → SAS — saves the trimmed region to a free slot (free slots light up green).
If the sample has a loop region (see §5.7), cutting it may shift or remove that loop region — depending on where the cut markers sit relative to the loop. A cut also clears any attack/release envelope (§5.6), because its sample positions would no longer match.
VOL changes the overall volume (gain) of a sample. Unlike the per-note velocity used in the Sequencer or Live mode, this alters the audio itself and is written back to the file when you save.
Open MENU → VOL. The waveform is shown twice: the current sample in grey and the new, volume-adjusted version in white.
| Control | Effect |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 | Adjust the volume (10 %–500 %) |
| PLAY | Preview the sample at the new volume |
| STOP (PAUSE) | Stop the preview |
- When you increase the volume, the louder (taller) new waveform is drawn behind the original.
- When you decrease it, the quieter (shorter) new waveform is drawn in front of the original.
- The headline shows the current volume as a percentage.
- Any loop region (§5.7) and envelope (§5.6) stay visible while you work, and the preview plays them together with the new volume. You can turn ENCODER 1 while previewing to hear the change live.
VOL is also available for the latest recording.
Saving: Press MENU → SAV to apply the volume to the sample. Because the change only scales the audio and does not move any sample positions, the loop region and envelope settings are kept.
An envelope shapes a sample's volume over time: an attack fades the start in and a release fades the end out, following a natural capacitor-style curve. The envelope is stored as metadata with the sample — the audio itself is not modified — and is applied everywhere the sample is played: in the Sampler preview, the Sequencer, and Live / Play mode. (Not available for the latest recording.)
Open MENU → ENV. The waveform is drawn with a red attack curve rising from the start and a blue release curve falling towards the end.
| Control | Effect |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 | Attack end — how far into the sample the fade-in reaches full volume |
| ENCODER 2 | Attack curvature |
| ENCODER 3 | Release start — where the fade-out begins (starts at the very end; turn down to extend it towards the start) |
| ENCODER 4 | Release curvature |
| PLAY | Preview the sample with the envelope (and loop region, if set) |
| STOP (PAUSE) | Stop the preview — the release tail is played on the way out |
Curvature: With a curvature of 0 the fade is linear. Turning a curvature up gives a fast-then-flat (logarithmic) shape; turning it down into negative values gives the mirrored slow-then-steep (exponential) shape.
The attack always ends before the release begins — if you push one curve into the other, the second is moved along so the two never overlap. Changes are heard immediately while previewing.
Loop interaction: If the sample has a loop region (§5.7), the attack is played only on the first pass through the loop, and the release is played on the tail after you stop — so a held/looped note keeps its steady loop without re-triggering the fade-in.
Saving: Press MENU → SAV to store the envelope. Only the metadata is written. Note that a destructive CUT clears the envelope, because its sample positions would no longer match.
A loop region marks a part inside a sample that can be repeated during playback — for example a sustained note that should hold for as long as a key is pressed. The loop is used in the Live / Play mode (see §8.4). The region is stored as metadata with the sample; the audio itself is not modified.
Open MENU → LOP to enter loop mode. The waveform is shown with a start and an end marker, just like CUT.
| Control | Effect |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 | Move the loop start marker |
| ENCODER 2 | Move the loop end marker |
| Push ENCODER 1 | Hand the loop-start marker to the fader; push again to release |
| Push ENCODER 2 | Hand the loop-end marker to the fader; push again to release |
| PLAY | Preview the loop (plays the intro, then repeats the loop region) |
| STOP (PAUSE) | Leave the loop — finishes the current pass and plays the tail |
Previewing the loop: Press PLAY to start from the beginning of the sample. When playback reaches the loop start it repeats the region between the two markers continuously. Press STOP to leave the loop: if playback is already inside the loop it finishes the current pass and then plays the remainder to the end of the sample; if you stop before the loop region is reached, playback stops immediately. You can move the markers while previewing to fine-tune the region by ear — the change takes effect right away.
The loop region is drawn in light grey on the waveform, and the headline shows (loop) while a loop is set. If you move the markers to span the whole sample (start at the very beginning, end at the very end), the sample is treated as not looped and the (loop) marker disappears.
Saving: Press MENU → SAV to store the loop region. Only the loop metadata is written — the sample is not re-saved. Loop start and end are automatically snapped to a zero crossing of the waveform to avoid clicks.
The base note tells the device which musical pitch this sample represents. It defaults to C4. Setting it correctly ensures chromatic pitch-shifting works accurately.
Open MENU → C4 (the label shows the current note), then press the piano key that matches the sample's root pitch. Use LEFT / RIGHT to change octaves. Press SET to confirm.
The Sequencer is the main composition tool. It is a grid of 8 channels (rows) × an almost unlimited number of steps (columns). The grid can be divided into sheets — equivalent to patterns on other devices.
- Channels: 8 horizontal lanes. Each lane can hold any combination of samples — channels are not bound to a fixed instrument.
- Steps: Each column is one beat subdivision. Grid resolution is adjustable with Zoom.
- Sheets: Vertical dividers split the grid into named sections that feed into the Arrange mode.
- Snippets: Named sub-selections that can be triggered independently in the Live / Play mode.
- RAM bar: A small two-colour bar in the top-left corner of the Sequencer screen shows sample RAM usage at a glance. Green = free, red = in use. See §5 for details.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Cursor LEFT / RIGHT | Move the step cursor |
| Cursor UP / DOWN | Move the channel cursor |
| MENU + RIGHT | Jump to the next sheet |
| MENU + LEFT | Jump to the previous sheet |
| MENU + UP | Create a sheet divider at the cursor position |
| MENU + DOWN | Remove the sheet divider at the cursor position |
| FUNK + ENCODER 3 | Move cursor horizontally (fast) |
The name comes from music notation — a composition typically spans several physical sheets. In the Sequencer, the horizontal timeline can likewise be divided into any number of sections, each representing a distinct part of the song (intro, verse, chorus, etc.). If you are coming from other hardware or software, sheets are what most products call patterns.
A sheet divider placed at any step marks the boundary between two sheets. The first sheet always starts at step 0. Sheets are numbered from left to right, and the Arrange mode maps each sheet number to a white key on the keyboard — sheet 1 is the leftmost white key, sheet 2 is the next, and so on.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| MENU + UP | Place a sheet divider at the cursor position |
| MENU + DOWN | Remove the sheet divider at the cursor position |
| FUNK + ENCODER 4 | Extend or shorten the total grid length |
- Press a Note Key to place the sample assigned to that key (in the current bank) at the cursor position.
- Press FUNK + Note Key to preview a sample without placing it.
- Press FUNK + PLAY to preview the sample already at the cursor position.
- Press FUNK + SET to delete the entry at the cursor.
Loop samples: If a sample has a loop region defined in the Sampler (MENU → LOP, see §5.7), it is marked with a small black circle in its grid cell. When playback reaches such a cell, the sample starts and loops its region continuously until a Note Off cell is reached on the same channel (see §6.10). If another sample is placed later on the same channel instead, it stops the looping sample immediately (no tail). This works for both forward and reverse samples.
Each placed sample has four adjustable parameters. Turn the corresponding encoder to change the value, or push the encoder to take the current fader value instead.
| Encoder | Parameter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 | Velocity (volume) | 0–127 |
| ENCODER 2 | Panning | Left – Centre – Right |
| ENCODER 3 | Pitch | Chromatic, relative to the sample's base note |
| ENCODER 4 | Probability | 0–100 % — chance the sample plays on each pass |
Rotating ENCODER 1 on an empty grid cell changes the global BPM for the sketch.
Swing delays the playback of individual samples to add groove. Swing can only delay a sample — to play a sample slightly early, place it one step earlier and delay it with swing.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| SET + LEFT / RIGHT | Adjust the swing value for the sample at the cursor |
| SET + UP / DOWN | Assign the sample to a swing group |
Samples in the same swing group share a value — changing one member updates all others. Groups are colour-coded on the grid. A small vertical tick on a cell indicates swing is applied. The current swing value is shown below the grid.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| FUNK + UP | Zoom in (finer grid resolution) |
| FUNK + DOWN | Zoom out (coarser resolution) |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| FUNK + LEFT | Previous sample bank |
| FUNK + RIGHT | Next sample bank |
Press MENU to open the black-key menu:
| Option | Action |
|---|---|
| SEL | Start a selection. Move the cursor to expand it. PLAY plays only the selection. Use SNI to save the selection as a snippet. |
| MOV | Move: press MOV at the source cell, navigate to the destination, press MOV again. |
| DBL | Duplicate: press DBL at the source, navigate to the destination, press DBL again. Pressing DBL twice in the same place copies the cell immediately to the right (if empty). Works on selections too. |
| SNI | Save the current selection as a snippet — assign it to one of the white keys (free slots light up). Entering SNI mode while inside an existing snippet lets you preview or delete it. |
| SND | Insert a Parameter Change cell (adjusts volume, panning, or pitch of a sample that is already playing). Press once = parameter change; press again = Note Off (stops the playing sample). |
| INS | Insert a MIDI Out event. Set velocity with ENCODER 1, channel with ENCODER 2, note with ENCODER 3. Velocity = 0 sends a Note Off and is shown as a red X. |
| REV | Reverse the playback direction of the sample at the cursor. |
| MUT | Mute / unmute the current channel. Muted channels show a red indicator on the right side of the screen. |
| CLS | Clear the selection if one is active, otherwise delete only the single cell under the cursor (does nothing on an empty cell). |
A Parameter Change cell modifies the playback of a sample that is already active on a channel — without re-triggering it. This lets you automate volume, panning, or pitch transitions mid-pattern.
To insert a Parameter Change cell, place the cursor on the target step and channel, then press MENU → SND once. The cell is displayed with a distinct visual indicator. Set the target values with the encoders:
| Encoder | Parameter |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 | Velocity (volume) |
| ENCODER 2 | Stereo panning |
| ENCODER 3 | Pitch fine adjustment (not chromatically) |
Pressing SND again on the same cell converts it to a Note Off, which stops the sample currently playing on that channel. A Note Off cell is shown as a red square on the grid.
For a loop sample (see §6.4), the Note Off does not cut the sound abruptly: it lets the current loop pass finish and then plays the remaining tail to the end of the sample. For a normal sample, the Note Off triggers its release as before.
REV can also be applied to a Parameter Change cell — it will affect the playback direction when the cell is encountered during playback.
Tip: Push any encoder to snap its parameter to the current fader position. Use DBL to duplicate the exact parameter values from the current step to the next one (the step size follows the active zoom level). By placing Parameter Change cells step by step and moving the fader between each placement, you can create smooth transitions across a pattern with minimal effort.
A snippet is a saved selection of the sequencer grid — a rectangular region of steps and channels — that can be stored and triggered independently in the Live / Play mode (see section 8). Snippets let you build up a library of loops and fills that can be fired on demand during a performance without affecting the main arrangement.
To create a snippet:
- Press MENU → SEL to start a selection. Move the cursor to expand the highlighted region across the desired steps and channels.
- Press MENU → SNI to save the selection. The white keys light up to show free slots — press one to assign the snippet to that slot.
Up to 14 snippets can be stored per song. To delete a snippet, position the cursor anywhere inside its region, press MENU → SNI, and press the key corresponding to that snippet.
Saved snippets appear immediately in Live / Play mode (see section 8), where they can be triggered, looped, and synced with other snippets.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| PLAY | Start playback from the beginning of the sheet the cursor is in |
| PLAY (while playing) | Stop and cue back to the beginning of the current sheet. Loops the sheep when playing again. |
| STOP / PAUSE | Stop and cue to the very beginning of the sketch |
| FUNK + ENCODER 1 (while playing) | Adjust BPM live |
Press SWITCH to open the Piano Pitch overlay. The keyboard turns into a chromatic pitch selector for the cell under the cursor.
- SWITCH only activates if the cursor is on a sample or MIDI note cell — it has no effect on empty cells.
- Press a Note Key to set the pitch of that cell and preview the result. Use LEFT / RIGHT to change the bank (octave range).
- Press SWITCH again to exit Piano Pitch mode (the black-key menu reopens).
Placing a transposed copy: If the cursor is on an empty cell and an origin cell was already set in the current Piano Pitch session, pressing a Note Key copies the origin cell to the empty cell with the chosen pitch. This makes it quick to lay out a melody by moving the cursor and pressing the target pitch each time.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Note Key | Place sample at cursor |
| FUNK + Note Key | Preview sample |
| FUNK + PLAY | Preview sample at cursor |
| FUNK + SET | Delete entry at cursor |
| ENCODER 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | Velocity / Pan / Pitch / Probability |
| Push encoder | Take value from fader |
| SET + LEFT / RIGHT | Adjust swing value |
| SET + UP / DOWN | Change swing group |
| FUNK + UP / DOWN | Zoom in / out |
| FUNK + LEFT / RIGHT | Change sample bank |
| FUNK + ENCODER 3 | Move cursor fast |
| FUNK + ENCODER 4 | Change song / grid length |
| MENU + LEFT / RIGHT | Previous / next sheet |
| MENU + UP / DOWN | Add / remove sheet divider |
| ENCODER 1 (empty cell) | Set BPM |
| FUNK + ENCODER 1 (playing) | Adjust BPM |
| SWITCH | Enter / exit Piano Pitch mode |
The Arrange mode chains sheets from the Sequencer into a complete song. The grid plays left to right, top to bottom. Playback stops at the first empty cell, so multiple independent arrangements can coexist.
- Navigate with the Cursor keys.
- Press a white piano key to insert the corresponding sheet number at the cursor position.
- Press FUNK + SET to remove the sheet from the current cell.
- Press FUNK + UP to add one repetition to a cell (the cell plays that many additional times). The display shows +1, +2, … for each press.
- Press FUNK + DOWN to remove a repetition.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| PLAY | Start from the cursor position |
| PLAY (while playing) | Pause; pressing PLAY again resumes from the paused position |
| FUNK + PLAY | Loop the arrangement from the beginning |
| STOP / PAUSE | Stop; cursor resets to position 0 |
When recording individual channels into a DAW via USB audio, you can isolate one channel at a time:
- Press black keys 1–8 to solo the corresponding channel.
- Press the same key again to un-solo.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| White keys | Insert sheet at cursor |
| FUNK + SET | Remove sheet from cursor |
| FUNK + UP | Add one repetition |
| FUNK + DOWN | Remove one repetition |
| PLAY | Start from cursor |
| FUNK + PLAY | Start from beginning |
| STOP / PAUSE | Stop; reset to position 0 |
| Black keys 1–8 | Solo channel 1–8 |
Live mode provides 72 pads (3 banks × 24 keys) to trigger samples, snippets, and scratch effects during a performance.
Each key can be assigned one of four slot types:
| Type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sample | Plays a single sample with configurable velocity, panning, pitch, and playback behaviour |
| Snippet | Triggers a sequencer snippet (loop or one-shot) |
| Scratch / Mute · Unmute | Controls the volume (on/off) of the currently active scratch sample with the fader. Comes in two variants — Mute and Unmute — that act like the push-button version of a DJ crossfader on that sample. Only one scratchable sample can be active at a time; press FUNK + key to toggle a slot between the Mute and Unmute variant |
| Fader Adjust | Repositions the fader without changing any parameter — used in Vinyl Scratch mode to reset the fader to a new position |
Each key is filled with a color and a small icon that shows the slot type and configuration at a glance:
| Slot | Description |
|---|---|
 |
Empty — not assigned |
 |
Snippet — triggers a sequencer snippet |
 |
Sample — plays a sample with velocity, panning, and pitch |
 |
Sample – Tape Scratch — fader controls playback speed directly |
 |
Sample – Vinyl Scratch — fader controls acceleration like a vinyl record. When the fader reaches an edge, press an assigned Fader Adjust key to reposition it without affecting playback |
 |
Sample – DVS Scratch — timecode signal from line-in controls playback |
 |
Piano — sample plays chromatically across the keyboard (up to 8 voices) |
 |
Mute / Scratch — mutes the currently playing scratch sample; fader controls its playback speed |
 |
Unmute / Scratch — unmutes the currently playing scratch sample; fader controls its playback speed |
 |
Fader Adjust — press to move the fader to a new position without affecting any parameter; used to reset the fader in Vinyl Scratch mode |
- Press FUNK + Note Key to enter edit mode for that slot.
- If the slot is empty, use UP / DOWN to choose the slot type and press SET.
- For Sample and Snippet slot types, use the note keys to select the sample or snippet to assign, then press SET. Use LEFT / RIGHT to switch the sample bank when selecting a sample. (This step is skipped for Mute / Unmute / Fader Adjust slot types.)
- Configure parameters with the encoders (see below), then press SET to save.
- Press FUNK + SET to remove the assignment from a slot.
| Control | Parameter |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 (rotate) | Velocity |
| ENCODER 2 (rotate) | Panning |
| ENCODER 3 (rotate) | Pitch |
| ENCODER 4 (rotate) | Assigned MIDI note |
| ENCODER 1 (push) | Toggle scratch mode: off → tape → vinyl → DVS |
| ENCODER 2 (push) | Toggle playback direction (forward / reverse) |
| ENCODER 3 (push) | Playback mode: complete or while held — each with optional loop |
| ENCODER 4 (push) | Enter MIDI learn mode — send a MIDI note, then push again to assign |
Scratch modes:
- Tape — fader controls playback speed directly. Centre = stopped, right = forward, left = reverse.
- Vinyl — fader controls acceleration, like nudging a vinyl record. When the fader reaches an edge, press the assigned Fader Adjust key to reposition the fader without changing playback — then continue scratching from the new position.
- DVS — uses a 1 kHz timecode signal on the line-in (e.g. Serato timecode vinyl) to control playback.
Mute / Unmute and the scratch crossfader:
Only one scratchable sample can be active at a time. A scratchable sample is muted by default — you need a Mute / Scratch or Unmute / Scratch key in the same bank to hear it. These keys act like the push-button version of a DJ crossfader, applied to the currently playing scratch sample:
- Unmute / Scratch — press to unmute the scratch sample and bring it into the mix; the fader controls its playback speed.
- Mute / Scratch — press to cut the scratch sample from the mix.
To switch a slot between its Mute and Unmute variant, press FUNK + that key.
Loop samples with a loop region:
If a sample has a loop region defined in the Sampler (MENU → LOP, see §5.7) and the slot is set to while held + loop (ENCODER 3 push), it plays musically instead of looping the whole sample:
- Pressing the key starts the sample from the beginning.
- When playback reaches the loop region it repeats that region for as long as you hold the key.
- Releasing the key finishes the current loop pass and then plays the tail to the end of the sample.
Releasing the key before the loop region is reached stops the sample immediately. This works both forward and reverse. In Piano mode every note of a loop-region sample behaves this way, polyphonically. Samples without a loop region keep looping the whole sample while the key is held.
The loop region of a sample is shown in light grey on the waveform — both in the sample-select screen (when assigning a slot) and in the sample edit screen — so you can tell at a glance which samples carry a loop.
| Control | Parameter |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 (push) | Play complete or instant stop when the key is pressed again |
| ENCODER 2 (push) | Loop or play once |
| ENCODER 4 | Assigned MIDI note (same as sample) |
To synchronise a second snippet so it starts exactly when the first loops:
- Press and hold the first snippet's key.
- While holding, press and release the second snippet's key.
- Release the first snippet's key.
The second snippet's LED blinks until the first reaches its loop point — then both play in sync. To stop a playing snippet, press its key. The stop behaviour follows the instant stop parameter.
Each slot has a default MIDI note based on its keyboard position. To change it:
- Rotate ENCODER 4 in the slot's edit screen to choose a note manually.
- Push ENCODER 4 to enter MIDI learn mode, send a MIDI note from external gear, then push ENCODER 4 again to confirm.
If a MIDI note is already assigned to another slot, it is shown in red — saving it means that slot cannot be triggered externally.
Press SWITCH to assign a sample to Piano mode. The sample then plays chromatically across the full keyboard with up to 8-voice polyphony. It appears in red on the slot overview. Press FUNK + SET in Piano mode to clear the assignment.
The Piano sample also responds to an external MIDI keyboard on the MIDI Piano channel (default: channel 2, configurable in Settings).
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| PLAY / PAUSE | Start / pause the background arrangement |
| FUNK + PLAY | Loop the arrangement from the beginning |
| ENCODER 1 (rotate) | Adjust playback BPM (independent from the Sequencer's BPM setting) |
| ENCODER 1 (push) | Set BPM from the fader |
| FUNK + ENCODER 1 (push) | Reset BPM to the sequencer's song speed |
| LEFT / RIGHT | Change bank |
- Press RECORD.
- Press INPUT to select the RESAMPLE input (red LED).
- Press RECORD again to start recording.
- Switch back to Live mode with MENU + ENCODER 4 and perform.
- Press RECORD to stop. The recording is saved and immediately available in the Sampler.
Tip: Keep recordings short. The resampled audio is captured in mono, and working with very long samples in the Sampler becomes noticeably slow. This feature shines for short, spontaneous ideas: live-scratched effects, a quick chord stab, or a polyphonic phrase played in Piano Pitch mode — all captured in a single take and ready to slot back into your sketch.
SynthCopy automates the recording of an external synthesizer by stepping through a note range, sending each MIDI note, and recording the audio response — all in one continuous take. The entire session is saved as a single recording that appears as the latest recording in the Sampler. You then use the Sampler's CUT tool to slice it into individual notes and assign each slice to the sample slot of your choice.
Access SynthCopy from the Home screen → MENU → SCP.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| ENCODER 1 (rotate) | Set the MIDI output channel (1–16) |
| LEFT / RIGHT | Change bank (shifts the note range) |
| Piano keys | Preview / send individual MIDI notes manually |
The default recording range is C4–B4 (one octave). To set a custom range, press two different piano keys — the lower key becomes the start note and the higher key becomes the end note. Changing banks shifts the entire range up or down by one octave.
Tip: Piano key presses are sent live to the synthesizer via MIDI while setting up. If you do not hear the synthesizer respond when pressing a key, check that the MIDI cable is connected correctly and that the MIDI channel matches the synthesizer's receive channel. Also verify that the synthesizer's audio output is connected to the device's line-in.
Setting the note duration: The time between pressing and releasing a piano key is measured and used as the MIDI note-on / note-off duration for every note sent during the automated recording. Press and hold a piano key for the desired duration, then release it — the last measured press-to-release time is used for all subsequent automated note triggers. Do this before pressing RECORD to set the timing that matches the synthesizer's release tail.
- Connect the synthesizer's audio output to the device's line-in.
- Connect the device's MIDI out to the synthesizer's MIDI in.
- Configure the MIDI channel and note range with the controls above.
- Press RECORD to start the automated sequence.
- The device steps through each note, sending MIDI note-on messages and recording the audio response as one continuous track.
- Press STOP / PAUSE to interrupt at any point.
When finished, the recording appears as the latest recording in the Sampler. Open the Sampler, use MENU → CUT to trim and slice the recording into individual notes, then save each slice to a free sample slot with MENU → SAS.
Access Settings from the Home screen → MENU → CFG.
Navigate with UP / DOWN. Change a value with LEFT / RIGHT. Press SET to exit — all changes are saved to the SD card automatically.
| Setting | Options | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIDI channel — Play | 1–16 | 1 | The MIDI channel Live / Play mode listens on for incoming triggers |
| MIDI channel — Piano | 1–16 | 2 | The channel the Piano sample and Synth listen on |
| Send MIDI Master Clock | On / Off | Off | Broadcast MIDI clock to connected devices |
| Send MIDI start/stop | On / Off | Off | Send MIDI start and stop signals with Sequencer / Arrange playback |
| Receive line-in via USB audio | On / Off | Off | Ignore the analog line-in and record from USB audio instead |
| Screen streaming via USB | On / Off | Off | Mirror the display to a browser in real time. Only visible when the firmware is compiled with streaming support. |
The SD card must be formatted as FAT32. Two directories are used at the root level:
| Directory | Contents |
|---|---|
/SAMPLES/ |
Sample library — any .raw file placed here is available for import |
/SONGS/ |
One subdirectory per song. To delete a song, delete its subdirectory. |
Sample format: 44,100 Hz, mono, 16-bit PCM raw (.raw). Files in other formats cannot be used.
- Download the latest pre-built
.hexfrom the/built/directory, or build from source using PlatformIO. - Install Teensy Loader on your Mac or PC.
- Open the
.hexfile in Teensy Loader. - Connect the device via USB. If it does not appear, open the case and press the small program button on the Teensy board.
- Teensy Loader uploads the firmware automatically.
Screen streaming mirrors the device display to a web browser in real time over USB — useful for screencasts, tutorials, and documentation.
- Enable Screen streaming via USB in Settings.
- Open
tools/screen-stream/index.htmlin a Chromium-based browser (Chrome or Edge). Or go to the Online Version. - Click Connect and select the device's USB serial port.
- The display content and hardware events (key presses, encoder turns, fader position) are reflected live in the browser.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| MENU + ENCODER 1 | Go to Sampler |
| MENU + ENCODER 2 | Go to Sequencer |
| MENU + ENCODER 3 | Go to Arrange |
| MENU + ENCODER 4 | Go to Live / Play |
| Hold MENU (5 s) | Return to Home screen |
| FUNK + SET | Undo / delete |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| INPUT | Cycle MIC / LINE / RESAMPLE |
| ENCODER 1 | Microphone gain |
| ENCODER 2 | Line-in level |
| RECORD | Start / stop recording |
| FUNK + RECORD | Cancel (before recording starts) |
| SWITCH | Toggle peak meter display |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| LEFT / RIGHT | Change bank |
| SWITCH (empty slot) | Open library browser |
| FUNK + SET | Delete sample |
| CUT → ENCODER 1 / 2 | Trim start / end |
| FUNK + ENCODER 1 / 2 | Fine-trim start / end |
| VOL → ENCODER 1 | Adjust volume |
| ENV → ENCODER 1–4 | Attack end / curve, release start / curve |
| LOP → ENCODER 1 / 2 | Loop start / end |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Note Key | Place sample |
| FUNK + Note Key | Preview sample |
| FUNK + SET | Delete at cursor |
| ENCODER 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | Velocity / Pan / Pitch / Probability |
| Push encoder | Take value from fader |
| SET + LEFT / RIGHT | Swing value |
| SET + UP / DOWN | Swing group |
| FUNK + UP / DOWN | Zoom in / out |
| FUNK + LEFT / RIGHT | Change sample bank |
| FUNK + ENCODER 3 | Fast cursor move |
| FUNK + ENCODER 4 | Song / grid length |
| MENU + LEFT / RIGHT | Previous / next sheet |
| MENU + UP / DOWN | Add / remove sheet divider |
| ENCODER 1 (empty cell) | Set BPM |
| FUNK + ENCODER 1 (playing) | Adjust BPM |
| SWITCH | Enter / exit Piano Pitch mode |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| White keys | Insert sheet at cursor |
| FUNK + SET | Remove sheet |
| FUNK + UP / DOWN | Add / remove repetition |
| PLAY | Start from cursor |
| FUNK + PLAY | Loop from beginning |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| FUNK + Note Key | Edit slot |
| FUNK + SET | Remove assignment |
| LEFT / RIGHT | Change bank |
| PLAY / PAUSE | Start / stop background arrangement |
| FUNK + PLAY | Loop from beginning |
| ENCODER 1 (rotate) | Adjust BPM |
| ENCODER 1 (push) | Set BPM from fader |
| FUNK + ENCODER 1 (push) | Reset BPM to song speed |
| SWITCH | Assign piano sample |