"cajoNES- the NES drummer" by Neil Baldwin ----------------------------------------- Here we go again! "cajoNES" is a 16-step, 4 voice drum synthesiser for the NES. It has: - ultra high-speed synthesis for sounds like you done never heard - tempo control - swing control - repeat control on each step - 'next step' control for non-linear playback and pattern length control - randomise single cells, selected cells or whole steps - copy-n-paste of cells - no saving whatsoever! SEE Down the left side are the Step Numbers Each horizontal step is made up of 14 parameters Across the top are the synthesis parameter IDs, see below for explanation At the bottom is the Speed, Swing amount and mute status for each voice PLAY + Tap [START] to toggle play/pause + Hold [SELECT] and tap [START] to start playback from the step your cursor is on. If already playing, play will jump to the cursor position at then end of the current step (thus keeping in time). MUTE + Hold [SELECT] and tap [U/D/L/R] to mute/unmute A/B/C/D SPEED + Hold [START] and tap [U/D] to change playback speed SWING + Hold [START] and tap [L/R] to change swing MOVE + [U/D/L/R] to move around EDIT + Hold [B] and tap/hold [L/R] to change value by +/-1 or tap/hold [U/D] to change value by +/-10 (16) PAINT + Tap [B] to 'paint' last edited value SELECTION + Hold [A] and tap [L/R] to set copy range from cursor position You can only select cells on the current row CLEAR + Hold [A] and then tap [B] to clear a value * + To clear a selection: Hold [A] and tap [L/R] to define selection, while still holding [A], tap [B] COPY + Hold [A] and tap [U] to copy current selection to copy buffer PASTE + Hold [A] and tap [D] to paste copy buffer at current position RANDOMISE + On any column other than CTRL: Hold [B] and tap [SELECT] to randomise row (except CTRL) Hold [A] and tap [SELECT] to randomise single value + On CTRL column: Hold [B] and tap [SELECT] to randomise repeat count (Rx) Hold [A] and tap [SELECT] to randomise next step (xN) + To randomise a selection: Hold [A] and tap [L/R] to define selection and while still holding [A], tap [SELECT] The reason randomise is different for the CTRL column is so that you don't inadvertently randomise the repeat/next step value which could really mess up the flow of your pattern. BONUS STAGE! Special FX + Hold [START] + [SELECT] then tap [U] to repeat the step that the cursor is on. You can keep increasing the tempo while the step is repeating by tapping/holding [U] and decreases the repeat tempo by tapping/holding [D] + Hold [START] + [SELECT] then tap/hold [L] to retard the synthesis engine temporarily. Tap/hold [R] to increase it again. Letting go of the buttons restores the synthesis speed The two effects can be combined. Letting go of [START]+[SELECT] restores the tempo and synthesis rate and also starts playback from the last step you forced playback from (by holding [SELECT] and tapping [START] - see the 'PLAY' section above). This way you can create your FX fill and have the pattern start at the 'beginning' when you let go of the FX controls. PARAMETER EXPLANATION Voice A (Square) Parameters: ---------------------------- IPA: Initial Pitch for Square A 00 - 7F = one shot (when sweeping pitch) 80 - FF = looping (when sweeping pitch) MDA: Pitch Mod Depth for Square A 00 = no sweep 01 to 7F = sweep down, slow to fast (*2) 80 = no sweep FF to 81 = sweep up, slow to fast (*2) If in one-shot mode, sound will be cut off when upper/lower limit reached If in looping mode, sweep will be constantly cycled for duration of step MSA: Pitch Sweep Speed for Square A 00 = no sweep 01 to FF = sweep speed, slowest to fastest EVA: Amplitude and Decay for Square A 00 = don't trigger envelope for this step xA = initial amplitude, 0 to F Dx = decay speed, 0 to F (slow to fast) Voice B (Square) Parameters: ---------------------------- IPB: Initial note for Square B, operation same as for IPA MDB: Pitch Sweep Depth for Square B, same as MDA MSB: Pitch Sweep Speed for Square B, same as MSA EVB: Amplitude and Decay for Square B, same as EVA Voice C (Triangle) Parameters: ---------------------------- IPC: Initial note for Triangle 00 = no note on this step* 01 - 7F = one shot (when sweeping pitch) 80 = no note on this step* 81 - FF = looping (when sweeping pitch) MDC: Pitch Sweep Depth for Triangle, same as MDA/MDB MSC: Pitch Sweep Speed for Triangle, same as MSA/MSB *Because the Triangle voice (C) has no volume control, specifying no note (00) for IPC has a similar effect to specifying 00 for the envelope (EVx) for the other voices. Voice D (Noise) Parameters: ---------------------------- MDD: Pitch and modulation for Noise 00-0F = normal clock pitch 10-1F = slow clock pitch 20-2F = normal clock pitch + 1 pitch toggle 30-3F = slow clock pitch + 1 pitch toggle 40-4F = normal clock pitch + 2 pitch toggle 50-5F = slow clock pitch + 2 pitch toggle and so on... EVD: Amplitude and Decay for Noise, same as EVA/EVB CTRL: Step Control 00 = play this step then move to next Sx = step repeat count 1-F = repeat this step for that number of times xN = next step after this one, 0-F ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "cajoNES DELUXE!" In addition to the instructions for "cajoNES", the "DELUXE!" version has several enhancements but requires an emulator or cartridge that supports 8K battery/save RAM You'll need an emulator that supports battery RAM - I use Nestopia (OSX) The ROM name is 'cajoNES+.nes' "DELUXE!" features: + a menu to LOAD and SAVE patterns into 8 save slots + in the same menu you can CLEAR any of the 8 save slots + button combos for quick LOAD or SAVE of the current pattern + extra screen info relating to these functions Saving a Pattern to a slot will save the Pattern step data, the Pattern Speed, the Swing Amount, the channel Mute status and the Start Step. SCREEN An exclamation mark (!) will appear next to the Pattern number if it has not been saved in it's current state. LOAD To 'quick load' the current pattern, hold [B] and tap [START] SAVE To 'quick save' the current pattern, hold [A] and tap [START] The screen will flash to indicate saving took place LOAD/SAVE/CLEAR SLOT To access this sub-menu, hold tap [SELECT] In the menu: tap/hold [LEFT/RIGHT] to select the save slot tap/hold [UP/DOWN] to select the function tap [B] to cancel tap [A] to select the function When selecting a save slot, bright numbers already contain data while grey numbers are considered 'empty'