Groovesizer

Category: TB2

  • Attack of the clones

    I ran into an issue with the Arduino Due clone boards I’ve been offering with the TB2 kits. It seemed the boards wouldn’t start properly when installed in the TB2 shield. After offering refunds and vowing to stop selling the clones, a customer alerted me to the fact that you simply need to press the reset button (circled in red below) on the board after plugging in the power for the TB2 to start properly.

    20150818_094935

     

    I have a number of the clone Dues left, so I’ve decided to sell on the remaining stock. Just take note of the work-around if you decide to go for a clone. If not, genuine boards are available from Mouser.

  • TB2 – Mono Mode & Portamento

    Version 131 of the TB2 Quartet firmware adds a monophonic mode with 3 different input types (highest note, lowest note, and last note priority). There’s a new unison mode with adjustable spread and number of voices from 2 to 4. Portamento has also been implemented. The parameters for these features can be saved o a per patch basis.

  • TB2 Attack! Out now!

    Yes, while the manual is still a work in progress, you can now download the Attack! drum machine firmware for TB2 here .

    Here’s a feature overview:

    Here are the vital statistics:
    – 6 voices
    – 12-bit, 22kHz, stereo playback
    – loads wav-files off SD card (NB: samples are truncated to the first 250ms only!)
    – individual control per voice over pan, pitch, sample start/end, volume, bit reduction
    – assign sample start, pitch, bit reduction and volume to velocity
    – save and load kits on SD card
    – 32 step sequence
    – 8 sequences per bank
    – save and load sequences on SD card
    – live recording/overdubbing
    – set 2 velocity levels per voice (normal and accent)
    – supports flams (individual delay and decay settings per voice)
    – automate sample start and pitch per voice
    – MIDI in/out/sync
    – bult-in grain effects

     

  • TB2 – John Wilund Alternative Firmware with Mono Mode

    I’ve received a modified version of the latest TB2 Quartet firmware from John Wilund. Most notably, John has implemented a monophonic mode. Try it out and let John know what you think in the forum, or via email at john[dot]wilund[at]gmail[dot]com

    Download: Groovesizer_TB2_128b

    Here are John’s notes.

    Added features are:

    The Monophonic Mode(s)
    all choosable from the Keyboard Settings menu! [Pt 4]
    The different monophonic keyboard modes are:
    LK – Low Key
    LKR – Low Key with Return
    HK – High Key
    HKR – High Key with Return
    LSK – Last Singel Key (A special mode for the TB2. I haven’t seen it anywhere! else!)
    LKH  – Last Key Hit
    LKHR – Last Key Hit with Return (the default monophonic mode)
    A Keyboard Octave shifting variable. Changeable with a knob [Pt 3] at the Keyboard Settings menu.
    Made the Bit-Cruncher-value, to show the bits-out (12-2), rather than the number of bits you should subtract,
    with the capability of the Arduino Due. Changeable with [Pt  3] found at the SHAPER & GAIN – menu.

  • Sound Childe – Kraftwerk ‘Das Model’ cover (TB2 synth)

  • TB2 ATTACK! Demo

    The ATTACK! drum machine firmware for the TB2 is coming along nicely. Here’s a look at the (incomplete) feature list.

    Output 12bit, 22.5kHz, stereo

    6 voices – load mono .wav files for each of the voices off SD card
    independent control for each voice over
    – pan
    – volume*
    – pitch*
    – sample start*
    – bit reduction*

    sequencer
    – 32-steps per sequence
    – 8 sequences per bank
    – 2 velocity levels** (standard & accent)
    – flams** (time & decay)
    – record automation for sample start & pitch**
    – swing

    * assignable to velocity
    ** independently adjustable for each voice

     

  • TB2 – LFO now syncs to BPM

    It’s been a long time coming, but as of firmware V128 the LFO can now be synced to the bpm. To do so, hold Shift-R/Enter when adjusting the LFO rate.

  • TB2 ATTACK! Teaser

    It’s very early days as you can tell by the version number, but I’m working on ATTACK! firmware for the TB2 that turns it into a six voice drum machine. Hope to have it done by the time I show my instruments at the Maker Faire in Taipei at the end of May, but these things take time.TB2_ATTACK!

  • TB2 Button Tutorial

    The latest TB2 tutorial looks at writing code for using the TB2’s buttons.

    TB2 004: BUTTONS

    With all of the interface stuff out of the way, we can get to more musical stuff in future tutorials. Look out for tutorials on MIDI and audio in the coming weeks.

  • TB2 – Feature Overview [VIDEO]