Release Candidate Firmware V3.0 RC5

[XORadmin]

I am happy to provide you a new release candidate (as in: public beta) for the upcoming NerdSEQ firmware V3.0 as well as the upcoming Video Expander Firmware V3.0. 

This is an update for the NerdSEQ and another update if you also got a Video Expander (VEX). 

Please follow this update order:
1. Copy the NerdSEQ firmware (unpacked, 'nerdseq.hex') into the firmware folder of the NerdSEQ SD Card.
2. (optional) Copy the video expander firmware (unpacked, 'vex_3_0_rc1.vex') into the firmware folder of the NerdSEQ SD Card.
3. (optional) Unpack the 'shaders.zip' file onto the NerdSEQ SD Card root (Unpacking will create a folder on the NerdSEQ root called 'shaders'.) The shaders in that folder are a collection of fragment shaders taken from different (open) sources. Most of the shaders run as they are (all files that start with SHxx) but are not enhanced yet to be used with all the NerdSEQ modulations. 
4. Update the NerdSEQ firmware (follow the firmware update rules https://forum.xor.eu/showthread.php?tid=4 and if you get stuck there and it doesn't work, read the many threads and the manual about it and it will be fine!! Updating the NerdSEQ always works!)
5. (optional) With the new NerdSEQ firmware V3.0 running, update the Video Expander firmware. Go to Setup->Expander FW Update. Choose the firmware file: VEX_3_0_RC1.VEX and press OK. Choose Update Now and it will start the update. Once finished it will show the detected new video expander firmware.
The Video Expander must be enabled and fully working already to be able to do the update. That means also that both cables, the 12 pin (midi) and the 14 pin (NSA) ribbon cables must be connected with the NerdSEQ (and be sure you don't break the SD Card if the 12 pin cable has not been installed yet. The usual hotplug rules apply)!

For the video synthesis functionality please check the latest version of the manual on github:
https://github.com/XORElectronics/nerdSEQ_docs
The manual is not ready and not formated well but all the video functionality is described well in there and it is worth to check it out as many questions will be answered upfront! I will update the manual in the next days so it is ready together with the release.

Check out the new things for V3.0 here:

Dualchord
- added dualchord presets
- added dualchord preset import/export
- added notes to dualchord CV/MOD FX and patch
- fixed dualchord Note FX which was half a note wrong, added note off
- added missing dualchord LFO FX
- added dualchord FX command to set note mode and change presets
- fixed dualchord random FX functions
- fixed dualchord kill FX function
- fixed FX execution for dualchord patch
- added set dualchord preset command in mappings
- added Part Mode to dualchord setting FX
- fixed dualchord knob selection for velocity
- reduced amount of patches and increased amount of patch rows (fixes dualchord patch bug)

Video Expander / Video Synthesis
- added video synthesizer functionality with the use of glsl shaders
- added new video expander firmware update which uses the .VEX extension
- added Video destinations to mappings
- added shortcut to enter video project screen (PROJECT button twice) only if the VEX got Firmware 3.0
- added HDMI Mode and Group to the settings so all video modes can now be used
- added current value screen for video
- added automator destinations for video
- added patch and tables for video
- added dedicated envelopes and LFOs for the video synthesis
- updated video patterns/tracktype for a complete integration in the sequence

General
- fixed knob input from Multi-IO in first MODE A
- fixed patch execution for Patch notes and other functions
- added tables for all tracktypes
- added 6 possible executable columns for tables
- added table -> no note/retrigger  'transpose command' '***'
- added velocity overrule FX to midi which can be used to have in/decreasing volumes combined with tables (midi delay)
- added clock in auto-start on demand
- fixed clock settings from track setup menu
- Shift+F9 on keyboard switches to video project screen
- fixed set CV16 note from mapping
- updated ART commands to send CC, Portamento, Pitchbend etc, fixed transpose issue with ART notes
- fixed copy/paste between Modular FX
- added copy/paste between Trigger16 and I2C drummatrix
- added live globaltranspose update
- fixed record to audio track 8 from Midi
- fixed mapping overflow of automator values with an offset
- added scale direction setting in mappings
- fixed wrong text for midi mapping source commands (eg program change)

As usual, this is a release candidate. It is not intended for productive use as I can't guarantee that they are no unexpected side effects. Also saved projects will guaranteed work for the release version but are not backwards compatible to 2.03 or earlier. So be aware to backup your projects / SD Card first!!! (Which is something you should do anyways from time to time)

It is important that they are enough people testing this version and that I get enough feedback about it. 
With installing and testing you help getting the version ready for stable use. I aim for a release within 1-2 weeks!!  

Please report any issues with this version only in this thread and not in the bug reports!

Download the release candidate firmwares below.

Update RC2:
- fixed User Interface color issues

Update RC3:
- fixed Midi hanging notes if used with output offset
- fixed CV16 note output on NSA 2 with mappings
- fixed transpose naming in tables 
- added delete file function in the VEX file-browser
- added return to sequencer screen from Launchpad Modular pattern again
- fixed several minor table issues. default table speed is 6 like regular patterns now
- added velocity with midi note off
- added new Midi note destinations for the mappings which is a combined source that includes the note from the former row as well as the trigger/gate from the current row

Update RC4:
- Fixed midi note preview with note offset and scales

Update RC5:
- Fixed note input for midi channels with note offset for keyboard, midi, CV/Gate input


  nerdseq.hex (Size: 5,44 MB / Downloads: 94)
  vex_3_0_rc1.vex (Size: 1,33 MB / Downloads: 41)
  shaders.zip (Size: 286,29 KB / Downloads: 57)
  nerdseq.zip (Size: 1,71 MB / Downloads: 76)
  vex_3_0_rc1.zip (Size: 448,44 KB / Downloads: 41)

[favoriteghost]

Downloaded and had some fun with the release!  So cool!

The installation and update all went well.

While previewing the different shaders via the Video Project Screen, I found a bug where after you load a few of the shaders in a row, the Alpha, X, and Y settings quit working.  I will look into it more tomorrow.

Thanks for the release!

[recliq]

Hi Thomas,

first of all thank you for the countless updates and new features for this amazing sequenzer!

I installed the update for the nerdseq and the video expander without any problems (as usual).

First thing I noticed:
My custom theme was gone, so I went to reimport the saved preset. This worked fine but it only updated the colors of the internal screen.
The colors on the video expander output were not updated and I had to go into each color setting and edit it once (modify one color component and revert back) to get the same colors on the expander output.
After powercycle the theme is back to default.
Clicking "Save and Activate" seems to have no effect.
I also tried re-saving my project (which is autoloaded on start) with the updated theme but still reverts back to default on powercycle.

[XORadmin]

Downloaded and had some fun with the release!  So cool!

The installation and update all went well.

While previewing the different shaders via the Video Project Screen, I found a bug where after you load a few of the shaders in a row, the Alpha, X, and Y settings quit working.  I will look into it more tomorrow.

Thanks for the release!

Thanks! I don‘t think it’s a bug but all shaders named SH… don’t have any modulation points, also not X,Y or Alpha. All this functionality got to be in the shadercode and I didn’t update these.
I will update some of them in the future and I hope the community will do that as well and share also their own / other shaders. I plan to make a video on how to update shaders, find the sweet spots etc..

[recliq]

I also have a question:
Will the video expander on version 3 still work if i downgrade the nerdseq to 2.02a?

[XORadmin]

Hi Thomas,

first of all thank you for the countless updates and new features for this amazing sequenzer!

I installed the update for the nerdseq and the video expander without any problems (as usual).

First thing I noticed:
My custom theme was gone, so I went to reimport the saved preset. This worked fine but it only updated the colors of the internal screen.
The colors on the video expander output were not updated and I had to go into each color setting and edit it once (modify one color component and revert back) to get the same colors on the expander output.
After powercycle the theme is back to default.
Clicking "Save and Activate" seems to have no effect.
I also tried re-saving my project (which is autoloaded on start) with the updated theme but still reverts back to default on powercycle.

Oh. Do you talk about the theme only on the video expander or also on the NerdSEQ itself as well?

NerdSEQ V2.2A will work also with the VEX 3.0

[recliq]

Hi,

I'm talking about the theme on the video expander.
When importing a theme from SD card the colors on the nerdseq screen are updated to the imported theme colors but the colors on the video expander stay the default colors.
If I then start editing the colors in the theme configuration by eg. setting red from 21 to 22 the output on the video expander picks up the color.
So, I have to touch each color setting once, eg. by doing SHIFT + LEFT , SHIFT + RIGHT, to get the same colors on the video expander and the nerdseq screen.

After restart/powercycle all that is gone and both screens are back to default colors.

PS: I posted the theme some time ago here: https://forum.xor.eu/showthread.php?tid=...59#pid8959
That is still the file I tested with.

[XORadmin]

Update RC2:
- fixed different User Interface color issues

The files nerdseq.hex and nerdseq.zip in the first post are updated to RC2

[recliq]

Update RC2:
- fixed different User Interface color issues

The files nerdseq.hex and nerdseq.zip in the first post are updated to RC2

Hi Thomas,

I can confirm that the color are now correct on both screens after boot and the theme handling works as expected.
Will test more stuff tomorrow.

[Tekagrey]

I also successfully updated the nerdseq and video expander firmwares.  I also had the User Interface color issues with RC1, but things are functioning normally with the update to RC2.

Having fun playing around with the included shaders.  I will try to implement one of my own in the next few days when I get the time.

The video sequencing is such a cool addition. My first test: https://youtu.be/iYNZAznmkz0