Another version of glitchDS is ready! Go get it in the download section. Remember: glitchDS must be installed on the root of your card. This version introduces some new features:
1) Volume control of each sound. Volume parameters are saved along with your snapshot.
2) I added a “pad play” page — which is of questionable value — but it was easy to add. If there are too many sounds playing at once, glitchDS might ignore your incessant tapping. However, if you stop the sequencer, you should be able to play these like drums.
3) Quickly save new versions of snapshots: This is easiest to explain with an example. If you select a snapshot named “Bevis” and hit the Right directional button, a new snapshot named Bevis.1 will be saved with your current settings. If you select Bevis.1 and hit [Right], a new snapshot, “Bevis.2″ will be saved. nitro2k01 suggested this new feature and even programmed it for me! Thanks nitro2k01!
4) On the Trigger and Frequency Modulation pages, when you select a swatch, the filename will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
5) Loading snapshots works the same as before if the sequencer is stopped. If the sequencer is running, loading a snapshot “queues” it for loading. The snapshot will load after the sequencer is completed with its current cycle. Usually this transition is smooth, but sometimes it produces small digital “artifacts” if the sequences are significantly different.
Upgrade instructions — As usual, if you already have glitchDS installed, download version 1.3 and copy the rom files (glitchDS.nds and glitchDS.sc.nds) over your existing roms. For complete install instructions, read the documentation. Your version 1.2 snapshots will load properly in version 1.3.
Enjoy! - Bret
Great, I’ll test this before going to work…
You mentioned that nitro did a bit of code, if you’re interested in having other people ‘playing’ with your code, feel free to email me :).
Great update to to the wonderful app.
A bug tracking info here…
I looked in “frequency modulation” a bit closely and it looks like the ‘noise’ occurs when the bar is set below about 23% (I mean 50% is the default, 100% is highest and 0% being no bar)
Also I guess modulation triggers 1 step before the bar setting.
This “frequency modulation” effects can generate very wide range of sound. It’s very effective when setting up frequencies step by step rather than just freely run the stylus to draw random wild curve quickly.
If the noise problem is difficult to track down, how about setting up lowest setting to current about 25% so by offsetting the graph eliminating the problem?
…it could be very nice if some visible grid was superimposed on sequencer screen…
Thanks for the effort again!
Hello Haj,
You’re welcome! You’re correct about the ‘noise’. I think what’s happening is that the low frequencies are _very_ low, which cause the sample to sound buzzy and strange. I may try to upgrade the frequency modulation page to allow for more accuracy, but I like the strange sounds that the low frequencies cause and don’t want to remove them completely.
I’ll see what I can do about the grid. That’s a common request.
- Bret
wow thanks you so much! this is great! now if only there were step decay controls…
Thanks a lot for making this program. Your effort shines through.
Hey, been trying to get this to work with my CycloDS evo, no joy. Is there something I’m doing wrong, or just no support for the card?
I’m desperate to use this app, it’s the big reason I bought the card
Hi Ben,
I just helped out someone who had a cycloDS cart, Firmware v.1.31, and he was able to get it working properly. Make sure that you have put glitchDS on the ROOT of your cart. The directories must be set up perfectly for it to work. If it still doesn’t work, let me know and I’ll see if I can help out.
- Bret
Any chance you might release the source code for 3rd party improvements?
Hi JB,
Other people have suggested that I make glitchDS “open source” before and it’s a tough decision, but I’m keeping the source to myself for now for two reasons.
#1. I’m paranoid.
#2. It’s easier for me to control the direction of the project. I can avoid pitfalls like group-think and feature creep (which I’m already a bit guilty of).
Hopefully you understand. I’ll consider all feature requests and continue to make updates.
I do have another project that I may complete called “openStrummerDS” which is like Jam Sessions but with loadable sounds. That project would be open source.
HI!
i have been using GlitchDS for a while now and just downloaded the update.
will be testing in a few mins.
i would like to donate a sample pack that comes from my albums called The Binary Noiz Series by my project Astrogenic Hallucinauting.
please send me an address so i can send the file.
and THANKS for making such cool noiz toyz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
more noiz!!
SPIKE the Percussionist
I got it to work on my R5.
everytime I was trying to run the .NDS, it was give me a error: cant find the folder SOUNDS
I relad the latest update ( 1.19) and installed the 2 soft on the root and boom it works. http://www.dsn5.com/EN-N5/n5-en.htm
I really like your soft.
very noizy very good.
ok…
the new GlitchDS features are NEATO!
the mixing ability is great for a new spectrum of noiz with regards to creating a dynamic element of sorts for the voices.
a bug though…
all of my old organism/pattern designs load up fine but they don’t trigger the sounds.
then…
when i switch screens to load something else up the touch screen turns solid Green.
a Green screen of death?
forgot to mention…
running it on an R4DS cart.
Hey!
I’ve noticed GlitchDS only reads .raw files. I can donate .wav loading code from NitroTracker. If your interested, drop me a mail.
Cheers!
Tob
Hey! Nice update ! Thanks again for your hard work !
I’m really feelin’ that pad update ! The pads are only responding on pointing, it would be nice if they could also work with a slide movement of the stylus !
openStrummerDS sounds like a nice idea! I bought Jam Sessions and although it is quite good, so much could have been better! It felt more like a demo than a commercial piece of software. I would like to see individual strings in the chord, a simple backing beat-box, pressure sensing from the touch screen (a la colors) etc. Happy to beta test again :o)
Anyway, back to glitchDS. So good. Just so good!
A bug (I think) is occasionally I get sounds repeating rom left to right (or vice versa). Not sure why it happens. If the sound is triggered just once it “echoes” again in the opposite channel. Closing an reopening the song seems to fix it I think.
values on mod screens. please!
A possibility to mute steps in the frequency modulation window of GlitchDS would be very useful, it would make the musical output much easier to control (maybe against the original intention of the program as it would become more of an ordinary stepsequencer, but still..)
Anyhow, thanks again for sharing these fine apps, really looking forward to the open strummer when it arrives..
Feel free to pm me if you need beta testers.
im with you on that mlk.. i would like to use glitch in a more intelligent, non-random way (which is actually very easy if you are already familar with game of life/cellular sequencers.. and even if not it doesnt take much experimenting to sort out method sequencing).
Hi Aaron and MLK,
I really like your idea. I’ll add a square underneath the modulation bars that can be selected/deselected for muting that step. I’ll roll that out for the next update. I may have another upgrade done within about a week. I’m also working on a new project, plus I need to get the midi-wifi thing working eventually. Thanks a ton for your feedback. I’m doing the best I can, balancing my day job and everything else.
Great fun app!!
I’m with MLK/DJD and Aaron regarding a more predictable way of sequencing. I guess the basic blocks are there, why not have a kind of tenori-on (yamaha) on the DS?
Bouncing, fallings blocks, several sequences with different lengths. Perhaps this should be part of another “product”. I’m new to the homebrew stuff, so I don’t know what can be done, but I’ll vote for more voices if possible, even if the polyphony is limited and a way ti give a triggering priority.
Would it be possible to have the upper screen display colored boxes when a trigger is issued? This will bring more visibility to what is occuring.
Thanks again for this little Gem.
Wow. Just started playing around with this yesterday…and it’s completely floored me.
I agree that (optional) colored blocks when triggers are issued would be a great idea.
Also…the gray sequence length bar at the bottom of the sequencer screen is nearly impossible to see in some light. No big deal really…but maybe it’d be easier to see if it was white?
Thanks again for such an awesome program. Messing around on this makes me seem like a much better musician than I am…
would it be easy to add a way to exit the program without rebooting the ds? that would make it easier to use with other software..
Hello everyone. Another small update is on the way. The new update will include more minor UI enhancements based on requests from the peanut gallery. Stay tuned.
In line with the previous post about being able to mute certain segments, in a way: is it possible to have a faint glow on the touch screen that corresponds to the current frame of TGOL on the top screen?
I ask because it would be immensely easier to create listenable music quickly if I didn’t have to tinker so much with precise placement and could, after watching a few cycles, know exactly how many times and in what succession a certain point is activated.
I hope that makes any sort of sense, but if it doesn’t, please ask me to clarify. I’ll be checking back.
hi, firstly, thanks for an amazing piece of software. i just want to give you some feedback. i’ve been using glitchv1.3 for a week nonstop. i cant stop. i love it.
positives.
1) it’s the best, most intuitive music interface ive come across on the DS. brilliant. ive come at this via nitrotracker and nanoloop, this is a million times more intuitive and beautiful. hell, its better than electroplankton as its so useable!
2) the ‘life’ sequencer and sample selection are great. i’ve spent a lot of time using reaktor. this is far better than the life sequencer that comes with newscool in reaktor5. being able to set a life sequencer setting in black and white and then turn choose where the samples hit in colour is a really good (and addictive!) way to program beats! great idea.
3) the pad play window is a great MPC style drum machine. the latency isnt even detectable. perfect!
4) saving snapshots worked perfectly. this could well be the most important feature of them all.
5) small text on each screen explaining what each thing is. renders a ‘read me’ redundant. sweet.
6) the top screen looks so amazing when the sequencer is playing.
well done. retro and futuristic all at the same time.
wishes:
1) snapshots would load ‘on the beat’ so the sequence would flow smoothly from bar to bar. This would make it the ultimate live portable drum machine. currently there semms to be a small wait when the new snap loads.
2) in pad play mode:
the direction pad or XYAB buttons let you scroll to the next sample for each sound so you have more than 6 sounds at your fingertips.
3)ability to loop scroll the sounds and snapshots menus (ie to be able to go from the first sample/snap to the last one by pushing up once on the d-pad, not just from top to bottom)
4) freq mod craps out at low settings (as mentioned by others)
5) 8-bit, 22050 sample rate. is this a limitation of the DS or a personal lo-fi choice?
question:
do the grey rectangles on the side of the sequencer window do anything apart from clear the current pattern?
overall, its brilliant.
congratulations.
thanks
kris.
hi, firstly, thanks for an amazing piece of software. i just want to give you some feedback. i’ve been using glitchv1.3 for a week nonstop. i cant stop. i love it.
positives.
1) it’s the best, most intuitive music interface ive come across on the DS. brilliant. ive come at this via nitrotracker and nanoloop, this is a million times more intuitive and beautiful. hell, its better than electroplankton as its so useable!
2) the ‘life’ sequencer and sample selection are great. i’ve spent a lot of time using reaktor. this is far better than the life sequencer that comes with newscool in reaktor5. being able to set a life sequencer setting in black and white and then turn choose where the samples hit in colour is a really good (and addictive!) way to program beats! great idea.
3) the pad play window is a great MPC style drum machine. the latency isnt even detectable. perfect!
4) saving snapshots worked perfectly. this could well be the most important feature of them all.
5) small text on each screen explaining what each thing is. renders a ‘read me’ redundant. sweet.
6) the top screen looks so amazing when the sequencer is playing.
well done. retro and futuristic all at the same time.
wishes:
1) snapshots would load ‘on the beat’ so the sequence would flow smoothly from bar to bar. This would make it the ultimate live portable drum machine. currently there semms to be a small wait when the new snap loads.
2) in pad play mode:
the direction pad or XYAB buttons let you scroll to the next sample for each sound so you have more than 6 sounds at your fingertips.
3)ability to loop scroll the sounds and snapshots menus (ie to be able to go from the first sample/snap to the last one by pushing up once on the d-pad, not just from top to bottom)
4) freq mod craps out at low settings (as mentioned by others)
5) 8-bit, 22050 sample rate. is this a limitation of the DS or a personal lo-fi choice?
question:
do the grey rectangles on the side of the sequencer window do anything apart from clear the current pattern?
overall, its brilliant.
congratulations.
kris.
one more thing…
currently it seems that if a sample is triggered more than once on a particular step of the sequencer, it plays that sample more than once, in effect, layering the same sample and creating distortion.
it is possible to limit glitch DS to only playing one of each sample at a time?
oh, im keen to betatest if you need. i love this thing!
I saw a little bug in this version. If you load a wave and assign it in the trigger page, it will sound even if the volume slider is set to 0. That’s not a big problem but I wanted to let you know.
Back to glitch now.
Noize: I’ll check that out. Loading older snapshots doesn’t reset the sliders, which can be confusing.
Kris: Thanks for the feedback. Those blocks on the main page do more than just blank the pattern. To summarize, in the sequencer control page, hold Down while touching a quick slot to save your pattern to the slot. Touch the quick slot without holding A to load it.
here’s a video i made using the pad play bit of glitchds.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=w7WuvfkT9ok
glitchDS works on my DS card just fine. An earlier version wouldn’t save snapshots but now it does! It’s hard to put down now that I can load my own sounds!!
I’m curious as to the sequence length. I count 14 squares across, and I don’t know how many bars on the modulation page. Is it 16 steps? Why are there seemingly more mod bars than I can use?
I was playing with this for the first time this morning…really cool app.
However, I noticed a minor bug: on the frequency modulation page, if you use up/down to change all the values, it’s possible to go beyond the limits of what you can set using the touch screen…you can even go beyond the edge of the screen, and if you go too far, graphical corruption occurs.
A suggestion is to include an amplitude modulation screen, similar to the frequency modulation one, so you can set the volume for each step (including setting it to zero for muting a step). This could possibly replace the current volume settings screen, as the overall volume could then be set using up/down, or perhaps with an additional bar, to make it easier to do using the touch screen.
I’m completly addicted to your glitch machine!
are you planing to provide 44k stereo sound ?
if not, a nice feature I saw from looper advance (http://looper.mccormick.cx/tutorial.php) was the ability to set the pan to righ or left. that was giving the possibility to use right and left as channel 1 & 2 indenpendently. I use to set a SUB EQ on channel 1 and a high/mid eq on the Ch2 for higher pitched sound.
also, I was reading you are thinking to implement the midi. think about a simple midi sync (stop/start) nanoloop style. it willl follow the tempo of the masterclock.
also, the DS has a hardware delay. it could be very nice to have delay effect for each tracks.
in anyway, your soft is great. continue your hardWork.
An idea I have to get off my chest! On the screen where you draw the 6-coloured squares for the sounds to be triggered at each point, it would be magnificant, nay, awesome, if every time one of the sounds was triggered, the little coloured square was animated to look like an LED “glow” or something (in its own colour, of course). Not only would it look cool, it would also help us to tweak our sequences by seeing what is triggered when. I appreciate this is a bigger nice-to-have than many of the other suggestions. However the idea of a little screen of square blobs pulsing/glowing/flashing in time to the music coming from the automata above is just too tempting to stay in my head :o)
hi, sorry for asking dumb questions already answered in the documentation. the shame…
now, an idea:
i think it would be very handy if there were 8 memory bank rectangles, like on the ’sequencer control’ screen, on the ‘trigger configuration’ screen as well. this would then let one snapshot save 8 different configs of both the sequencer and the trigger all at once, which would be ideal for live use.
to admin: You wrote “Loading older snapshots doesn’t reset the sliders, which can be confusing.”
I meant the bug is the in the page where you select the *.raw file. If the volume “slider” is down, after you select a *.raw and use it in the trigger page, the volume is the default one not the slider one. As I told not a big problem.
I second Kris’ idea of the trigger config memory bank.
thinking a bit more, quick save slots on the ‘frequency modulation’ page would allow you to save multiple melodies/basslines/weird beat modulations within a single snapshot. you would then have heaps of quickly accessible stored data, including different beats (from the sequencer/trigger quicksaves) and melodies/riffs (from the freq mod quicksaves). This would be more than enough to bust out a whole song live without having to change snapshots. this would be quite possibly the coolest thing ever.
this also gets rid of the problem with recalled snapshots not playing exactly on the beat, cause you could write tracks where all the required data was saved within a single snapshot.
just throwing ideas out there…thanks, kris.
ps. at this stage it is also important to recognise that glitchDS is already an incredibly powerful bit of software, and recognising the current limitations (and then working out how to make cool music within that framework) is probably more important than throwing up more feature requests. that said, i cant help imagining more possibilities and how great v1.4 will be.
Hello kris and Biff,
I have a follow up question about snapshots on the frequency modulation pages. OH, but before that, I’m considering changing the distortion page to be more like the frequency mod pages. How cool would that be?!
OK, back to the topic at hand. Would it make the most sense to have the quick slots on the frequency modulation page affect ALL 6 of the frequency sequencers? (My personal opinion is yes, since it would be painful to flip screens to constantly tune in the correct combination of frequency modulation settings.)
In other news, I’m failing horribly to get DSMI (DS midi) to work with glitchDS. I’ll keep working on it, but my time is pretty limited. I may post to the blog crying for help.
Thanks,
- Bret
yeah, absolutely, the quick saves would ideally save settings for all 6 samples. that way you could just modify one freq graph (say a bass line) and quick save again to have a change in just a bass riff, or edit several freq graphs and quick save to change to a new section of your song, for example.
mucking around with individual saves for each sample would be too fiddly and take all the fun out of it. for me, one of glitchDS’s biggest assets is the simplicity of the interface, while still being able to make complex music.
Hi,
Just wanted to say this is an awesome piece of software, I’m obsessed with it. I must confess though, I am somewhat cunfused as to how the sequencer control and the trigger config actually interact. As a suggestion, it would be nice to have the top screen as a signal router display (like in max/msp) rather than the dancing squares, but that may simply be my current lack of understanding of the program at the moment.
Keep up the good work!
Hello, i bought a ds and the r4 only becasue of repeater and glitch, however, both of them give me a hard time.
repeater takes minutes to load, while glitch doesn´t load after and i have to reformat the card and reinstall glitch after the crash casue it can´t be read anymore by the ds or my mac.
i installed to the root directory, of course.
i´m on r4 and r4 OS 1.18
any help greatly apprechiated.
yours, martin
hi rich,
The samples are triggered if the cell they occupy (noted on the trigger sequence page by the coloured squares) becomes white on that step of the sequencer (the black and white sequencer page). Simple!
Hi everyone,
I wanted to let you all know that I’m actively working on the next version of glitchDS which should go live over the weekend. I will also release a small update to repeaterDS over the fourth of July weekend.
Thanks,
- Bret
Thanks Kris,
I figured it might be along those lines once I got more into the program.
Hooray! A new version of glitchDS to celebrate the holiday weekend with! The sounds emitting from my DS will greatly trump the predictable spectacle that is fireworks.
Many thanks and a hats off to you sir.