Design Goals

I think its important to have a few guiding design principles and to make conscious design decisions when building stuff. And since this might be interesting for you too, this section contains some of my thoughts that guide the ongoing design of the Polaron.

Interaction

• Don't program, perform.
• Advanced features should not stand in the way of simple features
• Everything should work while the sequencer is running
• Several changes should be queueable and then activated with precise timing (e.g muting several channels, changing patterns on several tracks). The player should feel as if he has more than two hands
• Radical, surprising changes are fun. Jumping back to a previous state too.
• Allow for easy variation / new combinations
• Having fun with an instrument is more about the workflow and interaction, than the sound

Sound

• Think in bleeps, bursts, plonks, zaps and booms, not in snares, shakers, toms and drums.
• Try to stretch the definition of what a 'percussive' sound might be
• Don't be generic, be characteristic (while still allowing a maximum of sonic/artistic freedom)
• Don't try to be an 808/909

Random Ideas for new features:

Software

• Randomize Patters / Generate Euclidean Rhythms
• Clock divider for specific Patterns
• Conditional Triggers (1:1 / 1:2 / 1:4)
• Allow changing the Instruments per Track at Runtime (Maybe even Sequence them)
• Sampling Track that records and mangles the other tracks
• Allow capturing the current state into new Patterns
• Allow sending instrument channels into (global?) FX channels (sequenceable)
• Record everything you do (mute/unmute/changing patterns) into a new pattern
• Add Swing
• Implement pattern save/recall (SD Card)

Hardware

• Add volca style sync input/output
• Expose non-used teensy pins for easier experimentation with other sensors / inputs