The sequencer's 16 steps are organized as a 4*4 matrix, where notes can be set and removed with one button press. Parameters are set for each note rather than for the whole channel (which is still possible though by changing all notes at once from within the menu) to provide a maximum of flexibility within the limited number of channels.
Available parameters include pitch, arpeggio (4 note chords), volume envelope, pitch envelope/LFO, wave form selection, shuffle and panning.
There are 4 channels playing simultaneously. Each channel's playback speed can be set to 1/2, 1/4 or 1/8 of the global tempo to realize longer structures without using the song editor.
The Game Boy has four sound generators, represented by the four channels of nanoloop 1.6:
- R: rectangular wave with variable pulse width
- L: rectangular wave with variable pulse width
- S: custom 4-bit wave forms (8 waves per bank)
- N: shift register noise generator
Nanoloop 1.6 holds 8 4-bit waves per bank. Waves can be drawn directly or are mixed from 8 harmonics. Both methods allow to slowly transform waves and thus are suited for live usage. Wave forms are assigned to notes step-wise in the sequencer.
Nanoloop 1.6's flash memory is organized in 4 banks, each of which can hold 15 patterns per channel, 8 wave forms and one song structure. Saving / loading loops does not interrupt playback and can be used for live performance, mixing saved patterns in countless new combinations.
Unlike most other Game Boy cartridges, nanoloop uses flash memory instead of battery-buffered SRAM for user data storage. The high quality flash chip allows at least 100,000 write cycles per file slot and has a minimum data retention of 10 years.
In the song editor, saved patterns are arranged to a song structure of maximum 240 patterns length (about seven minutes @ 120 BPM). It is possible to invoke tempo changes within a song.
Nanoloop can be synced to external sources via link port. The external source can be another nanoloop connected via link cable, a MIDI-sync adaptor or an analog clock. The MIDI-sync adaptor is under development.
With the USB-MIDI-adaptor banks can be transferred to/from a PC.
(c) 1998-2011 Oliver Wittchow
"Game Boy" and "Game Boy Advance" are registered trade marks of Nintendo
Nintendo has not licensed, endorsed or approved of nanoloop.