e-licktronic Forum

This thread is about the Oortone 2024 alternative firmware for Nava. This development relies heavily on the previous alternative firmware from Neuromancer and is built upon that code.

Information on new releases will be posted here with the newest release at the top. The firmware is available for download in Midi System Exclusive format at Github.com. The source code is available also but that’s only not needed if you are interested in developing. Otherwise follow the links to the latest release below.
Source code: https://github.com/Oortone/Nava-Oortone-Firmware
Happy programming!

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Nava Oortone Beta release 0.90 (February 2024)
Release name: 0tone_0.90b
Link to release: https://github.com/Oortone/Nava-Oortone ... e/releases

This is the first proper release. There was a pre beta available for a while but that has been removed. The biggest focus in this alternative firmware version is consistent behaviour when changing and chaining patterns and the ability to freely program pattern chains without having to hit Enter all the time, a feature already partly introduced in the Neuromancer version but now extended to the whole bank. The strain on the EEprom is also reduced considerably since save is only needed prior to changing banks, entering Track Mode or turning off.

The most important differences compared to the 2021Neuromancer Nava firmware are:

• Patterns are kept in RAM on a per bank basis. You only need to press Enter to save prior to switching banks or entering Track modes. Otherwise you can jump between patterns without the need to save. Switch bank without hitting enter to revert to the previously saved bank.

• Pattern chains (groups) can be freely programmed without the need to press Enter. This goes for both step and tap mode.

• Groups can not be saved in patterns. The whole group concept is completely different. You can chain patterns into groups playing patterns live interactively but groups can not be saved. I have posted the motivation for this at time mark: Jan 19th, '24, 11:56 below.

• Use Shift+Clear in Step and Tap Write to clear a pattern.

• In Track Write the Track End can be removed using Shift+Last Step.

• In Expander Mode there’s only one receiving midi number per sound. The erroneous duplicate triggering notes in earlier versions are removed. Note numbers can be found further down at time Feb 4th, '24, 23:43. Also note numbers for midi pattern change can be found there.

• Metronome now works in all modes.

• Strange behaviour in Mute Mode fixed.

• Bugs in External Instruments fixed, hanging notes and some more peculiarities.

Known problems in 0.90 beta:

• The stop button has no Continue function. This is intentional and hopefully a better designed continue function will be added in the next release.

• Patterns shorter than three steps will not work in Track Modes. This is due to a redesigned internal pattern change paradigm and will remain. In Pattern Play Mode patterns still can be as short as one step.

• Din Sync Out, Master mode: Lag on the synchronized slave unit seems to be a common problem. This might be fixed if it’s not too complicated. Problems in the code has been identified.

• Din Sync Out, Slave mode: In this mode the Nava could in theory work as a Midi Clock to Din Syn converter. However, Din Synced slave units often seems to play extremely slow. This problem looks difficult to solve and will most likely not be solved.

• There are still some unusual combinations where the Metronome doesn’t work. Try changing to Pattern Play and engage Metronome (Guide) and then it usually works. Hopefully this bug can be traced.

• Sysex is not working but the implementation on the 2021 version will be evaluated and maybe added if there are no serious bugs or drawbacks.

• Drum Notes Out (via midi) and Realtime Accent are removed. They will probably not be reinstalled. Realtime accent destroys Total Accent. Drum Notes Out occupy a bit too much of the sensitive time critical sections of the code. If there’s some reliable way to make it optional it might be reinstalled. In previous versions I believe midi channel could be changed to zero to disengage but the code was still executed to a great extent and I don't think that's a good idea.

Hi @Oortone - thanks for picking up the firmware topic for the Nava!
In the next days I'll take a look at my Nava's version (I'm running it with the Extra9+ modification) and maybe I will be able to make a summary of what was bugging me... if you have time to look into these, I'd be happy to be your "beta tester"
In any case: thanks for already taking a shot at the new firmware! Really appreciated!

FlavioB wrote: ↑Jan 14th, '24, 17:37 Hi @Oortone - thanks for picking up the firmware topic for the Nava!
In the next days I'll take a look at my Nava's version (I'm running it with the Extra9+ modification) and maybe I will be able to make a summary of what was bugging me... if you have time to look into these, I'd be happy to be your "beta tester"
In any case: thanks for already taking a shot at the new firmware! Really appreciated!

I guess the Extra9+ uses a different firmware? My mod is for the original hardware.
EDIT: or maybe it's only differences in sound manipulations, no extra sounds? In that case I guess it works with the same firmware.

Oortone wrote: ↑Jan 15th, '24, 09:09

FlavioB wrote: ↑Jan 14th, '24, 17:37 Hi @Oortone - thanks for picking up the firmware topic for the Nava!
In the next days I'll take a look at my Nava's version (I'm running it with the Extra9+ modification) and maybe I will be able to make a summary of what was bugging me... if you have time to look into these, I'd be happy to be your "beta tester"
In any case: thanks for already taking a shot at the new firmware! Really appreciated!

I guess the Extra9+ uses a different firmware? My mod is for the original hardware.
EDIT: or maybe it's only differences in sound manipulations, no extra sounds? In that case I guess it works with the same firmware.

AFAIR there's no different firmware related to the Extra9+ but let me double-check first...
F.

FlavioB wrote: ↑Jan 15th, '24, 09:28

Oortone wrote: ↑Jan 15th, '24, 09:09

FlavioB wrote: ↑Jan 14th, '24, 17:37 Hi @Oortone - thanks for picking up the firmware topic for the Nava!
In the next days I'll take a look at my Nava's version (I'm running it with the Extra9+ modification) and maybe I will be able to make a summary of what was bugging me... if you have time to look into these, I'd be happy to be your "beta tester"
In any case: thanks for already taking a shot at the new firmware! Really appreciated!

I guess the Extra9+ uses a different firmware? My mod is for the original hardware.
EDIT: or maybe it's only differences in sound manipulations, no extra sounds? In that case I guess it works with the same firmware.

AFAIR there's no different firmware related to the Extra9+ but let me double-check first...
F.

Great to hear. Even more worth working on the firmware then

Hi.
I can confirm that Extra9+ does not come/require a dedicated firmware.
So your further development will also work on my Nava.
I'll get back to you!
F.

The Stop/Continue functionality

This is not yet set. It might take some time and thinking to finish. Also there are the midi realtime equivalents when running as slave that I guess should reflect the same functionality as the buttons.

Here are the combinations I can think of and my preliminary suggestions. Hopefully they can be implemented. Please comment.

Sequencer is playing playing – then…

START
Do nothing regardless of mode

CLEAR (remember sequencer is playing)
Track play: bar aligned return to first bar
Pattern play/write: immediate return to first step (sync to other gear will offset)

STOP
Track play: stop – keep bar position
Pattern play/write: stop – keep step position

STOP – CLEAR
Track play: goto first bar (FWD, BWD to any bar in Track also possible)
Pattern play/write: goto first step in current pattern

STOP – CLEAR – STOP (Continue):
Track play: will play from first bar
Pattern play/write: will play from first step in current pattern

STOP – CLEAR – START:
Track play: will play from first bar
Pattern play/write: will play from first step (in first pattern, if pattern chain)

STOP – STOP (Continue):
Track play: play from current bar
Pattern play/write: play from current step in current pattern

STOP – START:
Track play: play from first bar
Pattern play/write: play from first step in current pattern

Pattern chains - pattern groups (in Pattern Play mode)

I'm not sure of the terminology: Pattern Chains and Pattern Groups are essentially the same thing.

On the TR909 pattern chains could be saved so that when selecting one pattern, a whole chain would be selected. The chain was saved with the pattern. This was recreated in earlier versions of Nava firmware but there were a lot of inconsistencies when selecting chains. Both when selecting patterns with stored chains and also selecting new chains directly by pushing two pattern buttons. You would get repeats of some patterns or skipped patterns in a very unpredictable way. The cause of this seems to be both that new patterns are loaded from the slow EEprom at the last step of each bar but also probably bad logic structure. I could not really make it work until I removed the stuff involved in storing pattern chains (or groups as it is also called). The whole pattern preloading process was also altered to be safer.

From my point of view. Storing pattern chains is not especially useful and has drawbacks. Say you’ve stored a chain in pattern 5 so that selecting 5 selects 5-6-7-8. But what if you are improvising and suddenly want to select 5 only? That won’t work unless you stop the sequencer and break the chain. On the other hand, without stored chains, you can always select any pattern chain you want, at any time, sequencer playing. Up to about 8 patterns can be selected using only one hand for most people.

Unless I’ve missed some very valuable use of stored pattern chains it will not be re-implemented in this firmware since it really makes a lot of stuff very complicated. However the old code structures are kept inactivated in the code if some one some day really wants to implement storable pattern chains.

Hey!
Let me take some time next week to read through your posts and give you feedback.
Thanks already for your time end efforts!
F

Great, thanks.
The Start/Stop button logic is no rush. I will not fix that for the first beta, otherwise most things are falling into place and seems to work. Will probably make a proper beta release in the next few weeks.