Digital modules from Mutable Instruments (and related clones + offshoots) use audio-based data transfer for firmware updates.
Interesting way to give the consumer the ability to change the firmware without having to access the back of the module (there's a way to use a serial JTAG adapter as well).
As I understand it, transferring data as audio goes back quite ways, right?
I had a Commodore 64 that could use phillips tape. I'm drawing. blank, but IIRC there were musical instruments (maybe the roland juno 60?) in the 80s that were storing their data as audio, too.
Hey ericlewis - this is cool! Can I ask how you figured it out?!
Doing this for my PO-33 was on my bucket list.
I thought I might have to resort to voltage glitching to get a firmware dump, which is currently beyond my skills.
Unfortunately I think only a few of the PO's support this transfer method, and I don't think the 33 is one of them. They were never meant to be updated at all, as I understand it.
I was able to get part way some years ago by demodulating the bitstream with gnuradio and then making small changes (like replacing one note with the next higher one) and noting the differences. So that is one possible, but probably too inefficient way.
I never got close to finishing or publishing anything. Awesome to see this released and I'll have to play with it!
Looking at this I can only think one thing: "Just put USB-C in, the connector is ten cents and it's far more convenient than hipster shit like this, you pretentious fucks"
It's sending sound parameter information (e.g. filter cutoff at 12khz, resonance at 1.6, Q of 0.89) along with note information (e.g. start playing note A4 with velocity 80). You could absolutely use a MIDI CC channel to convey this information. The OP-32 chooses a different route and encodes this into an audio signal so that it can transmit it over the air using the speaker/mic instead of a wireless stack.
Digital modules from Mutable Instruments (and related clones + offshoots) use audio-based data transfer for firmware updates.
Interesting way to give the consumer the ability to change the firmware without having to access the back of the module (there's a way to use a serial JTAG adapter as well).
https://github.com/pichenettes/mutable-dev-environment?tab=r...
As I understand it, transferring data as audio goes back quite ways, right?
I had a Commodore 64 that could use phillips tape. I'm drawing. blank, but IIRC there were musical instruments (maybe the roland juno 60?) in the 80s that were storing their data as audio, too.
Here, this is a lot of fun.
http://www.whence.com/minimodem/
I mean, I'm thinking about upgrading from my tech license so I can start playing with digital modes on HF radio...
damn, this thread is making me feel old...
Kansas City Standard was delivered on cheap records through the mail
Hey ericlewis - this is cool! Can I ask how you figured it out?! Doing this for my PO-33 was on my bucket list. I thought I might have to resort to voltage glitching to get a firmware dump, which is currently beyond my skills.
Unfortunately I think only a few of the PO's support this transfer method, and I don't think the 33 is one of them. They were never meant to be updated at all, as I understand it.
Me too, have been trying to crack this for so long!
I was able to get part way some years ago by demodulating the bitstream with gnuradio and then making small changes (like replacing one note with the next higher one) and noting the differences. So that is one possible, but probably too inefficient way.
I never got close to finishing or publishing anything. Awesome to see this released and I'll have to play with it!
This reminded me of when people used to transfer games over the radio: https://www.racunalniski-muzej.si/en/40-years-later-a-game-f...
> A user you’ve blocked has previously contributed to this repository.
I see that claude’s been in here as well.
I didn't think I'd see something on the PD squad before I saw it on HN!
That's amazing. I wonder how accurate is the synth engine?
The synth engine is an implementation of https://soniccharge.com/microtonic Not sure what "accurate" means in your context though?
How closely it replicates microtonic's, would be my assumption
Looking at this I can only think one thing: "Just put USB-C in, the connector is ten cents and it's far more convenient than hipster shit like this, you pretentious fucks"
This was released in 2017 for one thing. Considering that enough people are still interested in it a decade later they probably did something right.
Pretentious hipster shit is their whole brand.
> The PO-32 is not receiving finished drum audio when you transfer a sound or a pattern. It receives structured data:
Wait, isn't this what MIDI is for?
Sure, but being able to share the 'data dump' at the end of a Youtube Video is so much more fun/likely to be used.
https://youtu.be/TLzAyouLQxw?si=mm6goX-cMyEZkwOI&t=102
It's sending sound parameter information (e.g. filter cutoff at 12khz, resonance at 1.6, Q of 0.89) along with note information (e.g. start playing note A4 with velocity 80). You could absolutely use a MIDI CC channel to convey this information. The OP-32 chooses a different route and encodes this into an audio signal so that it can transmit it over the air using the speaker/mic instead of a wireless stack.
I bet it sounds like a dial-up tone!
> Wait, isn't this what MIDI is for?
It is but I don’t think this Pocket Operator has MIDI without adding third party hardware.
All it means is that the PO-32 is not a sampler, it's a synthesizer, so it receives a "preset" for the synth rather than an audio sample.
Would have been easier to say it receives patches - I think most people would get this.
The word "patch" has a naming conflict between the disciplines of synthesizers and software.