Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual
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Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual

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Operation Manual
Version 2.0.6 - 19/09/2021
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Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual

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Summary of Contents for Dirtywave M8

  • Page 1 Operation Manual Version 2.0.6 - 19/09/2021 Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 2 – Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. ISED Compliance Statement This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. Cet appareil numérique de la classe [B] est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada. CAN ICES-3 (B)/NMB-3(B) Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 3 User Contributed Documentation Disposable Planet, Gunnbr, Jonbro, Lazerbeat, Mare Corax, Peter Swimm, Roboctopus, rootnode Help and Feedback Everyone who has contributed with time and effort in beta testing and continual support via Patreon and Discord. Thank you! Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Live Mode Chain View Phrase View Instrument View Instrument Envelope View Table View Groove View Mixer View Effect Settings View Project View Theme View MIDI Mapping View MIDI Settings View Render View Effect Command Help View Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 5 Sampler Sample Editor FM Synth MIDI Out USB Features Appendix Troubleshooting Key Shortcuts Relative and Absolute FX Commands Sequencer FX Commands Mixer & Effects Commands Instrument FX Commands Macrosynth Models Common Groove Examples Hexadecimal Table Specifications Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 6: Introduction

    Introduction Thank you for exploring the M8. This ambitious little music maker is the end result of a MIDI tracker project that was started in 2013. Inspired by controlling external synthe- sizers with Little Sound DJ to bring simplicity and efficiency to modern music making.

  • Page 7: Operation Manual Conventions

    [SHIFT]+[UP or DOWN] • While holding down the shift key, press and release either the up or down direction keys. [DIRECTION] • Use any of the 4 directional keys: left, right, up, or down. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 8: Overview

    (500mA - Standard USB). Battery level and charging indicator status can be found at the top right of the display. The M8 is charging when the battery icon is animating. You can operate the M8 while it is charging, however please allow the M8 to fully charge for the first time before using it without external power.

  • Page 9: Audio Output And Volume Control

    Formatter tool: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter. This will ensure the card’s format is optimized for reading data quickly. The SD card that ships with the M8 has been tested to have a high enough read speed to handle most workloads. However, even the included card does have limits. If song playback is halted with a “CPU TOO BUSY”...

  • Page 10: Getting Started

    Getting Started Introduction The M8 is an 8 track sequencer and synthesizer. Each track can play one single note at a time using any one of up to 128 instruments in the song. Every instrument can be configured to be a synthesizer, a sample, or to control external equipment using MIDI.

  • Page 11: Navigation

    Navigation The M8’s user interface is divided into “Views” which can be navigated by holding [SHIFT] [DIRECTION] and using the keys. There is a helpful mini-map located on the bottom right of the display. Do not worry about the functionality of each of these views;...

  • Page 12: Global Key Shortcuts

    (song, chain, phrase, etc). Common Editing Shortcuts Quite a few of the views in the M8 use a grid layout. In these views there are common functions such as editing values, cut/copy/paste, and selection mode. It is important to familiarize yourself with the key shortcuts as this makes editing both fast and fun.

  • Page 13: Hexadecimal

    You can find the latest firmware, changelog, and instructions at https://github.com/Dirtywave/M8Firmware. If the firmware fails or the M8 is non-responsive after an update please refer to the sec- tion on troubleshooting. Additional Help and Resources Links and additional resources are available at https://dirtywave.com/support.

  • Page 14: Loading A Demo Song

    Loading a Demo Song The best way to explore the M8 for the first time is to check out some of the demos included on the SD card. By default the M8 shipped with “DEMO1” already loaded. You [PLAY] can press in the song view and navigate around the views to get comfortable with the layout and watch what is happening during playback.

  • Page 15: Views

    The song can contain up to 256 rows of chains. You may find it useful to use unused rows below the base song structure, “isolating” to experiment or create new arrange- ments without breaking the existing song (see row “06” in the graphic above). Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 16: Live Mode

    Copies the contents of the selected chain into a new chain number. (I.e. “clone”). [SHIFT]+[OPTION, then double tap EDIT] • Copies the contents of the selected chain and the contents of all phrases inside the chain into a new chain and phrases. (I.e. “deep clone”). Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 17: Chain View

    Playback behavior is determined by the first empty phrase column that the sequencer encounters in the chain. An empty phrase (“--”) is considered the end of the chain and the song will continue on to the next chain in the song view. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 18 In selection mode: copies the selection and exits selection mode. [SHIFT]+[EDIT] • Pastes the copy buffer that was copied in selection mode. [SHIFT]+[OPTION, then EDIT] • Copies the contents of the selected phrase into a new number. (I.e. “clone”). Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 19: Phrase View

    To see a helpful view for selecting and placing [EDIT]+[UP or DOWN] commands use which will launch the Effects Command Help view. An asterisk next to the phrase number (“PHRASE 00*“) indicates that the phrase is used elsewhere in the chain or song. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 20 • On the instrument column or on a command value column where the command is the table or groove command (TBL or GRV): copy the contents of the selected data into a new number. (I.e. “clone”). Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 21: Instrument View

    Synth, and MIDI Out. The default type is set to “NONE” which helps both you and the M8 know when a instrument slot is being used. Use “LOAD” or “SAVE” to load or save an instru- ment preset from the SD card.
  • Page 22 Edit selected value with the position of a finger on any value with a visual slider. [OPTION+TOUCHSCREEN] • Assign the touchscreen axis to the selected parameter on any value with a visual slider. See the section on the MIDI Mappings view. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 23: Instrument Envelope View

    All time-based values are in ticks and thus relative to the current song tempo. Refer to the help text at the bottom of the screen while editing a parameter for assistance. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 24 • ONCE - Play through the shape once and reset to the start value. Frequency (“FRQ”) is the rate at which the LFO cycles. The value is represented in steps (16th notes) or in ticks when the OSC is set to one of the tick “T” rate shapes. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 25 Each command column can run at different speeds by using the tick (“TIC”) command in an FX column. You can place TIC commands at the end of the table to affect all rows to save space. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 26 Pastes the copy buffer that was copied in selection mode. [SHIFT]+[OPTION, then EDIT] • On a command value column where the command is the table or groove command (TBL or GRV): copy the contents of the selected data into a new number. (I.e. “clone”). Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 27: Groove View

    A common swing setting is 07,05 or 08,04. The Groove Math(s) The M8 has a resolution of 24 ticks per quarter note (24PPQ). Since there are 4 six- teenth notes in a quarter note and each row in a phrase represents a sixteenth note in time, there are 6 ticks per row (24PPQ / 4 sixteenth notes = 6 ticks).
  • Page 28 Enters selection mode for moving, copying, or cutting a block of table data. [OPTION] • In selection mode: copy the selection and exits selection mode. [SHIFT]+[EDIT] • Pastes the copy buffer that was copied in selection mode. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 29: Mixer View

    3 send effects. “INPUT” refers to the analog input and “USB” refers to anything the USB host computer is sending to the M8. All of the tracks, inputs, and effects are mixed together and routed through the limiter, DJ filter, and finally though the main song volume.
  • Page 30 Set selected parameter to its default value. [OPTION+TOUCHSCREEN] • Assign the touchscreen axis to the selected parameter. MIDI Mappings view. [OPTION+MIDI CC] • Assign a MIDI CC to the selected parameter. See MIDI Map- pings view. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 31: Effect Settings View

    The effect settings view is accessible under the mixer view [SHIFT]+[DOWN]. The M8 has 3 send effects that are utilized by the instrument settings “CHO”, “DEL” “REV”, as well as on audio and USB input configured in the mixer view.
  • Page 32 Clears all mute and solos. Editing [EDIT]+[UP or DOWN] • Edits the selected value incrementing by large steps. [EDIT]+[LEFT or RIGHT] • Edits the selected value incrementing by small steps. [EDIT]+[OPTION] • Set selected parameter to its default value. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 33: Project View

    Render View. • BUNDLE - See the next page on Bundles. • CLEAR UNUSED - Frees/clears unused chains, phrases, instruments and tables not used in the song. • THEME - See the section on Theme View. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 34 Output volume, speaker volume, and theme col- ors are stored internally on the M8. Samples are not stored in the project file. Moving or deleting samples will result in samples failing to load with the song.

  • Page 35: Theme View

    24-bit display, so minor adjustments may not produce any change. The M8 firmware has a handful of default themes which are also located on the SD card. Try out a few by selecting “LOAD” at the bottom of the screen.

  • Page 36: Midi Mapping View

    Move cursor. [OPTION] • Exits view. Editing [EDIT]+[UP or DOWN] • Edits the selected value incrementing by large steps. [EDIT]+[LEFT or RIGHT] • Edits the selected value incrementing by small steps. [EDIT]+[OPTION] • Delete a mapping. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 37: Midi Settings View

    • CONTROL MAP CHANNEL - MIDI channel for incoming MIDI CCs for MIDI Map- ping. Refer to MIDI Mappings View. • SONG ROW CUE CHANNEL - MIDI channel for incoming MIDI notes for cueing song rows. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 38 Track MIDI Input The M8 can act like a sound module, where each of the 8 tracks can be independently controlled by an external sequencer or controller. Changing the instrument can be ac- complished by sending a MIDI program change message from the external controller or selecting the instrument number in the MIDI Settings view under the appropriate track number.

  • Page 39: Render View

    • Move cursor [OPTION] • Exits view [EDIT]+[UP or DOWN] • Edits the selected value incrementing by large steps [EDIT]+[LEFT or RIGHT] • Edits the selected value incrementing by small steps. [EDIT]+[OPTION] • Delete a mapping. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 40: Effect Command Help View

    [DIRECTION] The view allows you to select an FX command by using any key. A small description of the highlighted effect is displayed at the top. Insert the selected com- [EDIT] mand by releasing the key. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 41: Instruments

    • SIZE - Horizontal size of the waveform (number of samples). • MULT - Multiplies the waveform by adding more and more repeats of the selected shape. This can sound like a “hard sync” effect. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 42 • POST - The amplification is applied with soft-clipping after the filter stage. Mixer Parameters • DRY - Dry volume sent to the mixer channel. • CHO - Chorus send effect volume. • DEL - Delay send effect volume. • REV - Reverb send effect volume. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 43: Macrosynth

    • FILTER - Filter type - Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, and Bandstop. • CUTOFF - Filter cutoff frequency. • RES - Filter resonance amount. Amplification Parameters • AMP - Amplifies the waveform. Any value higher than the maximum level allowed is handled according to the “LIM” setting. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 44 • POST - The amplification is applied with soft-clipping after the filter stage. Mixer Parameters • DRY - Dry volume sent to the mixer channel. • CHO - Chorus send effect volume. • DEL - Delay send effect volume. • REV - Reverb send effect volume. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 45: Sampler

    • REV PP - Ping-pong looping reverse - Plays reverse and forward back and forth. • OSC - Oscillator forward mode - “Oscillator” modes ignore start position and do not start from the beginning when retriggered. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 46 • POST - The amplification is applied with soft-clipping after the filter stage. Mixer Parameters • DRY - Dry volume sent to the mixer channel. • CHO - Chorus send effect volume. • DEL - Delay send effect volume. • REV - Reverb send effect volume. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 47: Sample Editor

    Sample Editor Actions • SELECT - Selects a start and end range using the two values provided. Using [EDIT]+[UP or DOWN] [EDIT]+[LEFT or RIGHT] in large increments with displaying a zoomed in view for small increments. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 48 • CONVERT - MONO mixes stereo sample to a single channel, 16BIT / 8BIT reduces the bit rate, DOWNSAMPLE halves the current sample rate of the sample. • NAME - Give the sample a name before saving. • SAVE / OVERWRITE - Save or overwrite the current sample. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 49: Fm Synth

    • PIT - Adds to the note pitch in semitones for the current operator. • FBK - Controls the feedback from “00” to the currently set feedback. • MOD[1-4] - The modulation source values that are freely assigned to the operators via the “MOD” slots described above. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 50 • POST - The amplification is applied with soft-clipping after the filter stage. Mixer Parameters • DRY - Dry volume sent to the mixer channel. • CHO - Chorus send effect volume. • DEL - Delay send effect volume. • REV - Reverb send effect volume. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 51: Midi Out

    • CC[A-J] CC:VAL - Up to 10 custom MIDI CC numbers with optional default values can be assigned per MIDI instrument. If a default value is present, it will be sent with the note on command after program change messages. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 52: Usb Features

    Remote Host Display It is possible to stream the M8 display directly to a remote host computer via USB for screen capturing and editing with the comfort of a large display. Please see the full list of suggested host programs at https://dirtywave.com/support.

  • Page 53: Appendix

    3. Remove the tool and a dim red light should appear though the USB port and audio jacks. After another 10 seconds the red light will turn off. The M8 is now ready for you to retry the firmware update process.
  • Page 54 • The entire path length of the sample is under 128 characters. The microSD card is not working If the card you are using is the factory card that came with the M8, try reinserting it. If it still does not work contact support@dirtywave.com. If you are using your own card...

  • Page 55: Key Shortcuts

    Refer to the "MIDI MAPPING" configuration accessible via project screen. OPTION [MIDI Input CC] On instrument or mixer screen - Maps MIDI input to selected parameter. Refer to the "MIDI MAPPING" configuration accessible via project screen. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 56: Relative And Absolute Fx Commands

    In a table: Set the probability for everything to the left that “CHA” is on from 00 (never) to FF (always). DEL XX (Delay) Delays the entire row the command is on by a given number of ticks (XX). “DEL” in table has no effect. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 57 Refer to the help text at the bottom of the screen when editing the value. PSL XX (Pitch Slide) Enables portamento for the currently playing instrument. The value (XX) is in ticks. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 58 Table View for information on the tick value. TPO XX (Tempo) Set the song tempo in BPM. Refer to the help text at the bottom of the screen to trans- late the hex value to decimal. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 59: Mixer & Effects Commands

    XRS XX (Send Effect: Reverb Room Size) Sets the reverb room size. Changes the value located in the Send Effects settings view. XRD XX (Send Effect: Reverb Decay) Sets the reverb decay. Changes the value located in the Send Effects settings view. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 60 Sets the track volume. Changes the value located in the Mixer view. DJF XX (DJ Filter Frequency) Sets the DJ Filter cutoff. “80” is disabled. Lower than 80 is a lowpass filter. Above 80 is a highpass filter. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 61: Instrument Fx Commands

    LA[1-2] XX (LFO Trigger) Offset the LFO amount. LF[1-2] XX (LFO Frequency) Offsett the LFO frequency. LT[1-2] XX (LFO Retrigger) Retrigger the LFO. The value (XX) sets the desired phase offset (start position) of the LFO. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 62: Macrosynth Models

    SQUARE SUB / SAW SUB A single square or saw wave oscillator with width modulation controlled by TIMBRE and a sub oscillator that can be -1 or -2 octaves below the primary oscillator controlled by COLOR. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 63 Casio CZ or the Roland D series, but is extended here to cover different filter types and waveshapes. TIMBRE controls the cutoff frequency of the filter. COLOR continuously modifies the waveshape, from saw to square to triangle. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 64 - which would be necessary to simulate an actual string instrument. BLOWN Reed instrument model. TIMBRE controls the air pressure, COLOR the geometry of the instrument. Note that this model does not include a filter - which would have been necessary to simulate an actual instrument. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 65 16x16 grid, so that adjacent waveforms are similar sounding. The TIMBRE parameter scans the table in the X direction, and the COLOR parameter scans the table in the Y direction, with smooth interpolation across the two directions. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...
  • Page 66 (CLOUD) or short decaying “pings” (PARTICLE). The frequency of the grains is controlled by the main frequency control, but is randomized by an amount proportional to the COLOR control. TIMBRE controls the density and overlap of the grains. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 67: Common Groove Examples

    G R O O V E 0 0 2x Speed 3/4 Time Swing Last Step G R O O V E 0 0 G R O O V E 0 0 G R O O V E 0 0 Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 68: Hexadecimal Table

    173 -83 189 -67 142 -114 158 -98 174 -82 190 -66 206 -50 222 -34 238 -18 254 -2 143 -113 159 -97 175 -81 191 -65 207 -49 223 -33 239 -17 255 -1 Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

  • Page 69: Specifications

    • SDHC microSD slot for storage. FAT32 / exFAT compatible. • 1200mAh USB rechargeable battery with up to 4 hours of use. • High quality 2.8” IPS display with capacitive touch. • Dimensions: 96 x 133 mm. • Weight: 218 grams. Dirtywave M8 Operation Manual...

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