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Eterna Reference Manual

website·Indexed 30 days ago

https://docs.etsuko.fm/eterna

Documentation for Eterna, a 6-track sampler and sequencer for Monome Norns. Includes reference guides for the sequencer, envelopes, slices, echo, playback rates, and filters, as well as audio file requirements and Monome Grid integration.

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What's inside Eterna

  1. Overview of Eterna Sequencer functionality

    The Sequencer provides step sequencing for six voices. Patterns can be generated algorithmically using Perlin noise (allowing the entire pattern to be reshaped at once) or edited step-by-step using a monome grid. Visual indicators include step brightness for velocity and the brightness of rectangles on the right side of each row for the current envelope level.

  2. Overview and requirements for Eterna sampler

    Eterna is a 6-track sampler and sequencer designed for Monome Norns. To use Eterna, you need a Monome Norns device and a WAV or AIFF sample file with a sample rate of 48kHz. The sample file can be mono, stereo, or contain up to 6 channels.

  3. Manage voice amplitude distribution using Levels

    The Levels page controls the amplitude of all six voices via a bell curve distribution. The position and amplitude of the curve determine how levels are spread across the voices. When playback is active, real-time metering visualization is provided via bar graphs showing the current amplitude of each voice.

  5. Configure voice envelopes in Eterna

    The Envelopes page controls the attack/decay envelope for each triggered voice. The balance between attack and decay is managed by a single Shape parameter. When the Lowpass Gate (LPG) is enabled via the MOD parameter, the envelope controls both the amplitude and the cutoff frequency of a per-voice lowpass filter.

  6. Configure the Eterna Master output chain

    The Master page provides a mastering chain for the stereo output. The signal flow consists of a Bass Mono stage (using a Linkwitz-Riley filter to mono-sum frequencies below a threshold) followed by an optional compressor. A Lissajous curve is provided to visualize the history of the last few samples.

  7. Manage pitch and direction using Playback Rates

    The Playback Rates page controls the pitch and direction of all six voices. Playback rates are quantized to octaves and distributed across voices as a sine wave, allowing a single control to adjust the pitch spread of the entire instrument. If the spread is set to zero, all voices play at the same playback rate.

  8. Manage audio sample slicing and voice assignment

    The Slices page allows a loaded sample to be cut into up to 32 equal segments. Each of the six available voices is assigned one slice for playback. If the total number of slices is fewer than 6, slices are recycled across the voices.

    Voice assignment depends on the audio file type:

    • Mono Samples: The slice designated as the 'Start slice' (E2) is assigned to voice 1, and subsequent slices are assigned to voices 2 through 6 sequentially.
    • Stereo Samples: Slices are assigned by alternating channels (Slice 1 → Channel 1, Slice 2 → Channel 2, Slice 3 → Channel 1, etc.).
    • Multichannel Samples: Slices are assigned sequentially by channel, wrapping back to Channel 1 after the last channel is reached (e.g., in a 4-channel file: Slice 1 → Ch 1, Slice 2 → Ch 2, Slice 3 → Ch 3, Slice 4 → Ch 4, Slice 5 → Ch 1).

    To identify which slice is currently playing, observe the graphic: the active slice flashes according to its envelope when a sequence triggers a voice.

  9. Modify sequences using monome grid

    When a monome grid is connected, the current sequence is displayed on the grid. Modifying a sequence via the grid disables the Perlin noise sequence parameters (E2 seed and E3 density on the sequencer page), which is indicated by a * in the sequencer page's footer. To re-enable Perlin noise and override the grid-drawn sequence, twist the E2 or E3 knobs to re-apply their values.

  12. Load audio samples in Eterna

    The Sample page allows audio loading for all six voices. Once a sample is loaded, the file path is displayed as the window title, the duration is shown in parentheses, and a waveform for each channel is rendered. Playback begins automatically upon loading.