NGEN – New Batch, Hardware Revision and 1.1 Firmware Update

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Today we’re excited to announce some great news related to our latest hardware project: NGEN – Algorithmic MIDI Workstation.

Since the release of NGEN, back in January 2023, we’ve been working on NGEN’s hardware design to improve availability and firmware to include many new features, improvements, and bug fixes. Today we’ve got some announcements related to a new NGEN batch, a new hardware revision, and the 1.1 firmware update!

Here’s the video that we’ve prepared for these new updates:

Throughout 2023, we’ve been working on many new updates related to NGEN that we’re finally able to share with you today.

If you haven’t heard about it yet, NGEN – Algorithmic MIDI Workstation is a multitrack MIDI sequencer that lets you combine multiple generators and MIDI FXs to create and perform music algorithmically.

Learn more about NGEN at http://spektroaudio.com/ngen

NGEN Availability & Hardware Revision

One of the main roadblocks during the initial development of NGEN was the availability of certain central components to NGEN’s design.

To properly address this issue, I decided to revisit NGEN’s internal design.

I’ve designed a new PCB for NGEN that is based on more commonly available components and that can be manufactured at a larger scale than before.

The R&D for the new board, along with multiple other prototypes, ended up taking most of our time during 2023 (which is why we haven’t released more NGEN content so far) but we’re very happy with the results.

With this new hardware revision and manufacturing capabilities, we should be able to improve NGEN’s availability going forward while still providing new features to NGEN such as USB-C, internal memory for projects, and improved CV outputs.

New NGEN Batch

A new batch of NGEN units is currently being assembled and our goal is to start shipping these units during the second week of January 2024.

Pre-orders for the new batch start on December 15th, 2023 and it’ll be available through NGEN’s product page:

http://spektroaudio.com/ngen

All NGEN units are assembled and shipped from Brazil so, to avoid long pre-order queues / wait times and give more people a chance to pre-order a unit, we’ll be making more units available for pre-order on the page at the following dates:

  • December 15th, 2023 – 1PM EST

  • December 28th, 2023 - 10AM EST

  • January 6th, 2024 - 12PM EST

NGEN 1.1 Firmware Update

The NGEN 1.1 firmware update is now available and it includes a major re-factoring of the entire NGEN framework, as well as new features, improvements and bug fixes.

Let’s go through some of the changes available in NGEN 1.1:

Updated Framework

In order to support the new hardware design and increase performance and stability, we’ve re-factored core parts of the NGEN’s framework.

Everything from I/O communication and display rendering to syncing and routing has been updated to provide a better user experience and to let us continue to improve and expand NGEN’s capabilities going forward.

Pattern Generation

One of NGEN’s main features is the Generate button which lets you generate new sequences using one of the available generators.

While generating individual parts is fun, sometimes you may want to generate an entire new pattern at once during a performance or a studio session.

With the new 1.1 update, you can now algorithmically generate new sequences for all active tracks in your current pattern. It’s also possible to create sequence variations for all active tracks.

A new Randomize State switch is also available in the General settings.

When enabled, NGEN will assign a random state (full, minimal, fill, sparse, or muted) to each of your active tracks when you generate a new pattern in order to create more dynamic and unique patterns.

Each generator then automatically adjusts its settings according to the assigned state to better batch it’s designed characteristics.

NSL Generator

The beta version for the new NSL Engine generator is now available in the NGEN 1.1 update.

NSL, or NGEN Scripting Language, is a custom scripting language developed for NGEN that lets you write custom generators using a set of available commands documented on the NGEN User Manual.

The NSL Engine is a generator capable of running NSL scripts that features a 32-step sequencer with programmable pitch, velocity, density, and note length per step; standard parameters such as Shift, Length, and Density; as well we 4 generic parameters that can be accessed via the available commands.

Our goal for NSL is to be an open programmable generator in NGEN that lets us test new ideas for generators and users create their own generators for NGEN.

Please keep in mind that NSL is still in beta so we’ll continue to work to expand its functionality and improve its usability.

Pattern Management

The new Pattern page design now shows the generator and MIDI effect for the first 3 active tracks of the selected pattern.

You can now manage your patterns by pressing Function + Pattern while in the Pattern page.

The new edit modal lets you save, copy, paste and delete the patterns available in your active projects, as well as 2 extra options: Generate All and Variate All.

Generate All lets you generate all 8 patterns at once, with a push of a button.

Variate All on the other hand lets you generate sequence new sequence variations and for each of your empty pattern slots.

Generate All and Variate All also work with the new Randomize State setting.

Updated Generators

The ACDGEN and Polyform generators have been updated to include features from their software versions.

ACDGEN now includes new Accent and Base Velocity parameters and new Lead and Legato modes (introduced in the latest ACDGEN software updates).

Polyform now includes new parameters for Inversion Probability, Inversion Range, Chord Quality and Trigger.

Highlights & Change-log

Here’s a list of the highlights of the new NGEN 1.1 update:

  • Re-factored NGEN framework: increased performance and improved stability

  • Updated user interface design

  • Pattern Generation: Generate new sequences (or sequence variations) for all your active tracks at once

  • Randomize State: generate more dynamic and unique patterns by randomizing the state of all your active tracks

  • Pattern & Track Reloading: quickly reload a pattern or track from their last saved state

  • NSL Engine: New beta programmable generator

  • Updated Generators (ACDGEN / Polyform / MIDI Player / Thru)

  • Updated MIDI FXs (Chords / Shaper / Strum)

  • MIDI Clock now supports swing for 1/8

  • Free Clock can now generate a master MIDI clock

  • Extended Clock Rate parameter range

  • Settings are now organized by different sub-menus

  • The global Variation Amount can now be adjusted under the General settings.

  • Mute Switches: mute the first 4 tracks using the NGEN’s 4 main buttons while in the Perform sub-menu

  • Improved parameter control: coarse control is now available by holding down the Menu encoder while turning it

  • The entire active project (and all patterns) are now stored in memory to improve performance

  • New file format for projects with support for dynamic file size

  • Improved project management

  • Updated MIDI CC assignments

The complete change log for the 1.1 update and the update instructions are available on the NGEN User Manual.

Roadmap for NGEN

With the release of the new hardware revision and 1.1 update, we should be able to improve NGEN’s availability in 2024 and continue to work on more improvements and new features for NGEN.

We’ll also continue to work on porting and sharing features between NGEN and our other software products such as ACDGEN and Polyform.

For more details about NGEN, visit http://spektroaudio.com/ngen

NGEN is designed and manufactured in São Paulo, Brazil.

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Until next time!