Downloads

OpenTracker 2.2.4

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

• PolyendTrackerOTv224.ptf: the firmware image.
• OpenTracker-2.2.4-Patches.zip: the preset pack (82 patches: ACD 12, FAT 8, VAP 16, WTFM 30, PERC 16, the same as in 2.2.3). Copy Patches/ to the root of the card and merge it with what is there.
• OpenTracker-2.2.4-Themes.zip: 12 example colour themes. Unzip it to the root of the card; the files land in /Themes.
• OpenTracker-2.2.4-Projects.zip: the test songs. Copy them to /Projects on the card.
• OpenTracker-2.2.4-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 PolyendTrackerOTv224.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.

New in 2.2.4

• Piano pad layout (contributed by syamajala): Config > General > Pad layout: Stock / Piano. Piano turns the pads into two keyboards an octave apart, as on grid controllers: white keys along a row, black keys in the row above. The bottom-left C is the C of the project's root note octave, so change the root note to play higher or lower. The pad lights draw the keyboard: the scale's root brightest, white keys lit, black keys dimmer, keys outside the scale barely lit (still playable). Stock is the default and works as before.
• Chords in step entry (contributed by syamajala): in the pattern editor, in edit mode and stopped, select two or more tracks and press pads together: the notes fill the selected tracks left to right on the selection's first step, and the cursor stays. One Undo removes the whole chord. With a single-step cursor, pads enter one note at a time as before.
• Synth pads play chords: holding several pads on a synth instrument plays them all, up to the slot's Polyphony, on the pattern editor and the Synth page. Before, each new pad released the previous one. (Reported by idagani.)
• Cleaner 44.1 kHz export (contributed by bungoleena): the conversion to 44.1 kHz uses a 32-tap sinc filter. The slight wobble of the old conversion is gone and high frequencies come out much cleaner. Rendering takes longer: about +28 % for Export Song and +40 % for a selection; song stems barely change (+3 %). The 44117 Hz export mode is unchanged.
• Sample Loader preview without gaps: 24-bit and 32-bit float stereo files no longer drop out while you preview them.
• Sample names with accents: names such as "Più forte" show as "Piu forte" instead of stray symbols. Characters the font doesn't have show as ?. The files keep their real names on the card.
• Busy screens no longer fault (contributed by syamajala): screens with many gradients or lots of text, such as the MIDI instrument CC page and the mixers, draw in full detail again.

Thanks to syamajala and bungoleena for their contributions, and to idagani for the report.

New in 2.2.3

Colour themes, streaming long samples from the card, a steady MIDI clock on the DIN jack, pitch bend from a MIDI keyboard, synth stereo Width and many fixes. The full list is in the 2.2.3 release notes.

Still open

A couple of reported Performance screen issues, among them how the global Pattern length behaves in Song mode, need more work and testing. They come in a later release.

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.

OpenTracker 3.0.0 preview

An early test build of OpenTracker 3, for testing only, not for real work. Back up your SD card first, or use a spare card.

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

Pick your image

OpenTracker 3 comes in four flavours: the same firmware with a different set of synths and effects. Only one image can be installed at a time.

• Classic PolyendTrackerOTa300.ptf: ACD, FAT, VAP, JU6, D-Type, CS-Type, A-Type + Tape. Analog-style synths: acid, poly pads, mono basses and leads.
• IDM PolyendTrackerOTi300.ptf: ACD, FAT, PERC, WTFM, FM4 + Chorus, Tape. FM, wavetable FM, drums and acid.
• Techno PolyendTrackerOTt300.ptf: ACD, FAT, JU6, D-Type, T-Type + Dirt, Echo, Tape. T-Type drums, acid, basses and stabs, drive / bitcrush and a tempo-synced echo.
• Retro PolyendTrackerOTr300.ptf: ACD, FAT, 8-Type, Hand-Type, B-Type, Arc-Type + LoFi, Echo, Tape. Chip-style synths: 8-bit computer and handheld voices, buzz tones, console FM and a chip DAC on the mix.

To switch, install another .ptf the same way: your projects and patches stay on the card. A project that uses a synth the image does not have opens fine, but that synth shows "not available" and stays silent until you install an image that has it.

Files

• The four .ptf images above.
• Patches-<flavour>-3.0.0.zip: the patches for the synths of that image. Copy Patches/ to the root of the card.
• The tester zip, when this release has one: the images, all their patches, a README with the full test list, and PRESETS.md, which says what each patch is and what its macros do.
• SHA256SUMS: checksums of every file. Check them with sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.

Install

1. Copy the image you picked to /Firmware on the SD card. Keep the file name as it is (24 characters).
2. Copy the Patches folder to the root of the card.
3. Config > Firmware update, select the image and confirm. If the screen stays dark after the update, press the power button once.
4. To go back, install the stock 1.9.2 image or OpenTracker 2.2.4 the same way.

What is new

• Four chip-style synths (Retro). Our own designs in the spirit of old sound chips. Pick them in the Synth page Model list after FAT. 12 patches each in Patches/8TYPE/, HANDTYPE/, BTYPE/ and ARCTYPE/.
• The CHIP section (Retro, Edit Patch on all four). Arp Mode (Oct, Maj, Min, Sus4, Dom7, Maj7, Min7, Dim, Aug, Pow5, Custom) plays a chord from one note by stepping the pitch very fast, at a fixed tick (50 to 120 Hz) or a note length of the song tempo; the note is not restarted, which is the old-computer chord sound. A stepped vibrato (Vib Rate / Depth / Delay) and Slide Start / Slide Time, which starts a note off pitch and slides it in.
• 8-Type synth (Retro). In the style of the 8-bit home computers of the early 1980s: three oscillators (Tri, Saw, Pulse with PWM, Noise and the combined waves) with Ring and Sync, a 12 dB multimode filter (16 resonance steps, Curve, Dirt), Grit for a small DAC. Leads at Poly 1, chords at Poly 3.
• Hand-Type synth (Retro). In the style of a 4-channel handheld console: one patch is one Channel: Pulse (four duties, a frequency Sweep, a second pulse), Wave (32 steps of 4 bits, built-in or your own) or Noise (15-bit or 7-bit), each with a stepped 4-bit envelope. Drums is a whole kit by note: play it at Poly 6.
• B-Type synth (Retro). In the style of the 8-bit computers with polynomial counters: the pitch comes from a Clock and a divider, with Tuning Free, Coarse (high notes go out of tune, on purpose) or Fine; Distortion picks the buzz (Pure, Poly4 to Poly5x9), and Hi-Pass gives thin, whistling tones. Play at Poly 1.
• Arc-Type synth (Retro). Four-operator FM in the style of the home consoles of the late 1980s: eight algorithms, feedback, envelopes that Loop (repeat, mirror or invert) for buzzing tracker sounds, a 9-bit DAC with a grainy Ladder setting and an Aux square or noise voice. Chords at Poly 4.
• LoFi (Retro). The whole mix through a small chip's output (Shift + Master; on Retro the order is LoFi, Echo, Tape): Bits 4 to 15, Rate 32 kHz down to 4 kHz, Ladder, Speaker (TV, Handheld, Monitor), Mono, Mix. It starts Off.
• T-Type drums (Techno). A new drum synth in the classic analog drum machine style. Pick it in the Synth page Model list and play it at Poly 1: one patch is one kit. Kick on C4, rim C#4, snare D4, clap D#4, hi-hats E4 (closed) to G4 (open), cowbell G#4, crash A4, ride A#4, toms from C3 to B3. Every drum has three Characters; the macros are Kick Decay, Hat Decay, Tune, Drive, Snappy and Accent. 12 kits.
• Dirt (Techno). Drive and bitcrush on the whole mix, on its own page next to the Master screen (Shift + Master): Type (Soft, Hard, Fold, Asym), Drive, Bits, Rate, Tone, Mix.
• Echo (Techno, Retro). A dub-style echo on the whole mix that follows the song tempo: Time 1/32 to 1/2 (dotted and triplet too), Feedback, Low Cut, Tone, Ping-Pong, Duck, Mix.
• A-Type synth (Classic). Two oscillators in the style of the semi-modular duophonic synths of the 1970s: saw or pulse with PWM, hard sync, ring modulator or noise, sample & hold, high-pass, a 24 dB or 12 dB low-pass, ADSR and AR envelopes, LFO and glide. Keyboard Duo and note Priority (Last, Low, High) at Poly 1. 12 patches.
• CS-Type synth (Classic). A polysynth in the style of the big two-layer polysynths of the late 1970s: every note plays two layers, each with its own oscillators, filters and envelopes; ring modulator, Brilliance and Resonance, Touch (macro 3) and Ribbon (macro 5). 12 patches.
• JU6 synth (Classic, Techno). A poly synth in the style of the classic early-1980s polysynths: saw and pulse with PWM, sub oscillator, noise, a 4-position high-pass, a resonant 24 dB low-pass, and a built-in stereo chorus (Off, I, II) saved in each patch. 12 patches.
• D-Type synth (Classic, Techno). A mono synth in the style of the classic three-oscillator synths of the 1970s: three oscillators, white or pink noise, mixer feedback for growl, a 24 dB low-pass that can self-oscillate, two contours, glide and a mod Wheel. Set Poly to 1. 12 patches.
• FM4 synth (IDM). Four-operator FM: 8 algorithms, feedback, an envelope per operator and an LFO.
• Tape (every image). A tape effect on the whole mix (Shift + Master): Drive, Wow, Flutter, Mix. It starts Off.
• Everything from 2.2.3: streaming from the card, colour themes, synth stereo and MIDI pitch bend.

Not in this build

• No image has every synth. A project that uses a missing synth opens, but that synth shows "not available" and stays silent. Don't use the preview on projects you need.
• CS-Type has no built-in chorus yet.
• After-touch from a MIDI keyboard does not reach Touch yet (use macro 3 or FX CC c).
• Games are removed in 3.x.

Please test

In short:

• Classic: A-Type Duo from two tracks, Low priority with a held bass, the sync sweep; CS-Type 4-note chords on two slots with the CPU meter on, Touch and every macro; JU6 chords and chorus, D-Type lines.
• IDM: your FM, WTFM and PERC projects; Chorus and Tape in a busy song.
• Techno: every T-Type kit with 16th hats, closed hat cutting an open hat, Volume FX ramps, two T-Type slots with the CPU meter on; Dirt, Echo with ping-pong during tempo changes, Echo Off with repeats; save, power-cycle and reopen.
• Retro: every patch with its macros both ways; the CHIP arp next to the step FX Arp, and a tempo-synced Arp Rate while the tempo changes; OT Kit Handheld at Poly 6 (a closed hat cuts the open one); OT Drop Kick on fast kicks; an 8-Type filter sweep; B-Type OT Coarse Lead in the top octave; OT Loop Buzz Pad at Poly 4 on two slots with the CPU meter on; LoFi over a whole song; save, power-cycle and reopen.
• Any image: stuck notes.

Report what you used, what you did, what you expected and what happened (a photo or a short video helps) on the issue tracker.