TŒRN

Build while it plays

TŒRN is designed around the running clock. Mute, solo and transpose voices without stopping. Change samples, load or save a pattern, or switch an entire sample pack while the sequence keeps moving.

Probability and conditional triggers add controlled variation. A 64-slot page chain turns individual pages into complete arrangements.

Voice mode gives each voice its own pattern length. A voice loops the pages that contain its notes, including pitches on other rows, while every other voice keeps its own cycle.

ETC → FIRE adds optional sideways sparks when a chosen voice’s notes light under the playhead.

There is no separate preparation mode. Building, editing and performing are the same workflow.

Sample anything

Load WAV files from MicroSD or record directly into one of the eight sample voices. Browse samples by folder and hear them before loading.

Every sample voice holds up to 12 seconds of 44.1 kHz, 16-bit mono audio. Trim the start and end points, reverse the sample, set its level, shape its envelope, filter it or reduce its bit depth and sample rate.

TIME stretches or shortens a sample without the usual pitch shift from speeding it up — useful for fitting hits and loops to the groove while OCTV/DTNE still own pitch.

Record without stopping

Capture a microphone, instrument or line-level source while the clock is running, then sequence the recording immediately.

Use hold-to-record for hands-on sampling or one-shot mode for a defined take. Input monitoring lets you hear the source throughout the recording process, with separate control over input and output levels.

One poly synth. Two mono synths.

Eight sample voices, one three-voice poly synth and two mono synths. The remaining grid rows are unassigned or reserved for navigation rather than additional sound voices.

The polyphonic synth provides three voices with three oscillators per voice. It includes an ADSR envelope, filter envelope, waveform selection, tuning in cents and semitones, pan and a shared reverb send. Presets cover bass, keys, chiptune, pad, wow, organ, flute, lead, arp and brass.

Two monophonic synths provide two oscillators each, plus their own LFO and arpeggiator. They do not have a reverb send. Use them for bass lines, leads, drones and repeating melodic structures.

Shape every voice

Sound parameters remain accessible while the sequence runs. Adjust envelopes, filters, independent time-stretch and bit reduction as part of the performance instead of treating them as a separate production stage.

Each voice has its own ADSR envelope. Filters provide low-pass, high-pass and band-pass modes with resonance. The bitcrusher controls bit depth and sample-rate reduction. Sample page 1 includes TIME (WSOLA stretch around the current pitch; default off).

Reverb is shared through individual sends, allowing selected voices to sit in the same space without processing the entire mix equally.

Clock your setup

TŒRN can lead a setup or follow one.

MIDI input and output carry clock, notes or both over 3.5 mm TRS Type A connections. Use the internal BPM clock, sync TŒRN to an external MIDI clock or send its timing to other instruments.

A dedicated analog PPQN pulse output follows the same clock (1–32 PPQN). On rev H and later, JST headers also bring out analog clock in (3–12 V), buffered 5 V clock out, and a 5 V sidechain / gate out — digital pulses only, no CV. USB-C carries power, serial data and USB audio output. Use the TRS ports for MIDI notes, clock and transport; USB MIDI handling is not implemented in the current firmware.

Audio in and out

TŒRN’s audio system is built around the SGTL5000 codec, providing onboard sampling, monitoring and playback.

Connect headphones, a mixer, an external microphone or a line-level source using full-size 6.35 mm connections. A built-in microphone is available whenever you want to capture something without setting up additional equipment.

Open by design

TŒRN is an instrument you can play immediately and a platform you can continue to change.

It runs on a Teensy 4.1 with Arduino-based firmware. The firmware is released under the MIT License. Hardware design files are published under CC BY-NC.

Expansion headers expose 3.3 V, 5 V, ground, WS2812 and spare I/O — plus (rev H+) dedicated clock-in, 5 V clock-out and sidechain/gate JSTs. Add lights, switches, triggers, clocks, gates or something that does not exist yet.