v108b: The "O" Beta

This is a beta release of the upcoming v108.

"O" Pin Support

You can now use the "O" pin to one of several possible uses:

• DIN start/stop behavior
• Trigger based start/stop behavior
• Re-align the clock to quarter, half, or whole notes, or to measure or sequence boundries
• Advance to next memory

Bug Fixes:

• sometimes a C clock would be lost, causing the Buddy to skip and become off, this was broken in v106 and v107b
• sync to ¼ and DIN 48 didn't work in v107b

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Full manual here: https://github.com/mzero/pulsar-buddy/wiki/Manual-beta

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To load this release on a unit

1. Make sure Pulsar Buddy is powered normally via its 12V jack... it won't power from USB.Connect
2. Connect to your computer via USB.
3. Press the reset button on the Pulsar Buddy twice, quickly. This button is on the display board, in the bottom right, and labeled "Reset". Because it is under the acrylic window, you'll need to use something to get at it. Don't use something metal - I use a guitar pick.
4. In a few seconds, a USB disk called FEATHERBOOT will mount on your computer.
5. Simply drag the pulsar-buddy-v108b.uf2 file onto that drive. It will copy over, and the disk will automatically disconnect. Your computer will probably alert you about this, just close the alert and ignore it.
6. Done! In a second or so the Pulsar Buddy will reboot and you'll be upgraded.

MIDI Sync Beta

New features

• sync to MIDI over USB
  • handles both DAW style & HW style MIDI clock
  • handles transport, w/song position (SPP) support
  • handles picking up from mid-bar
• support for flipped display (on configuration screen)

Why Beta?

This release has a major overhaul of the clock code to support MIDI sync features, future DIN sync features, and future support for the "O" input. In general, I believe the sync is even more stable than before, and should sync even more quickly. The MIDI implementation has to deal with the "interesting" quirks of various DAWs and HW MIDI implementations. I only have so many in my studio... so I'd like to learn how it performs for others before I call it final.

Nonetheless, don't be scared of "beta" - It should just drop in and work as it always has. And if not, you can just reload v106 without losing anything.

About the BPM Display

Remember that the numeric display of BPM is a guide - what Pulsar Buddy tracks and outputs is always more accurate. Always trust your ears, and don't fret about the number in the display if it jitters or lags.

When tracking MIDI from DAWs, I've learned that they can do some pretty bizarre things... in part because of how MIDI is defined. If you "continue" from where you stopped in your DAW, and that place was somewhere mid-measure, say three 64th notes in.... The BPM is going to look crazy for two beats.... don't worry: That is what your DAW has to do to get MIDI to sync... and Pulsar Buddy is tracking it very tightly. Again - trust your ears.

To load this release on a unit

1. Make sure Pulsar Buddy is powered normally via its 12V jack... it won't power from USB.Connect
2. Connect to your computer via USB.
3. Press the reset button on the Pulsar Buddy twice, quickly. This button is on the display board, in the bottom right, and labeled "Reset". Because it is under the acrylic window, you'll need to use something to get at it. Don't use something metal - I use a guitar pick.
4. In a few seconds, a USB disk called FEATHERBOOT will mount on your computer.
5. Simply drag the pulsar-buddy-v107b.uf2 file onto that drive. It will copy over, and the disk will automatically disconnect. Your computer will probably alert you about this, just close the alert and ignore it.
6. Done! In a second or so the Pulsar Buddy will reboot and you'll be upgraded.

v106

New features

• settings page, accessible by long-press on the BPM field
• sync setting now migrated to settings page
• pulse width control for each output on settings page

Internal changes

• better support for flash chips
• use more of flash chip
• settings structure made bigger to support pulse width and upcoming features
• older settings migrated on first start up
• measure boundaries now triggered from the sequence timer (freeing up measure timer for future features)
• flash erase and test feature on config screen (warning: will wipe all your settings!)

To load this release on a unit

1. Make sure Pulsar Buddy is powered normally via its 12V jack... it won't power from USB.Connect
2. Connect to your computer via USB.
3. Press the reset button on the Pulsar Buddy twice, quickly. This button is on the display board, in the bottom right, and labeled "Reset". Because it is under the acrylic window, you'll need to use something to get at it. Don't use something metal - I use a credit card.
4. In a few seconds, a USB disk called FEATHERBOOT will mount on your computer.
5. Simply drag the pulsar-buddy-v106.uf2 file onto that drive. It will copy over, and the disk will automatically disconnect. Your computer will probably alert you about this, just close the alert and ignore it.
6. Done! In a second or so the Pulsar Buddy will reboot and you'll be upgraded.

v105 - support for flash chip on SMT board

This release adds support for the flash chip used in the SMT version of the board.

It adds no new functionality, and remains fully compatible with all existing units.

To load this release on a unit: Connect Pulsar Buddy to both a +12V power supply, and a USB cable to your computer. Press the reset button twice quickly (on the display board, lower right, under the acrylic shield - use a guitar pick!). The Pulsar Buddy will mount a drive on your computer. Now just drag the attached UF2 file onto that drive. It'll copy and dismount (ignore warning from your computer if it gives you one). Done!

v104 - added a hardware test mode for kit builders

This release adds no new performance functionality to the unit.

It adds only a hardware test mode that is useful for verifying the build. It changes the config screen slightly, adding a hw option on the Debug: line. This last option is a button. If you click it, the unit enters a mode where turning the knob turns on different output triggers, and the display shows the status of the trigger inputs.

To load this release on a unit: Connect Pulsar Buddy to both a +12V power supply, and a USB cable to your computer. Press the reset button twice quickly (on the display board, lower right, under the acrylic shield - use a guitar pick!). The Pulsar Buddy will mount a drive on your computer. Now just drag the attached UF2 file onto that drive. It'll copy and dismount (ignore warning from your computer if it gives you one). Done!