Dirtywave M8 — Quick Reference

Firmware manual v6.5.2 (04/21/2026) · Models 01 & 02
8-track sequencer · 7 instrument engines · 128 instruments/song
01

Feature Overview

Sequencer

8 monophonic tracks, chains, phrases, tables, grooves & scales. Up to 255 chains/phrases, 128 instruments, 256 tables per song.

Instrument Engines

Wavsynth, Macrosynth, Sampler, FM Synth, Hypersynth, MIDI Out, External Instrument.

Effects

Per-instrument multi-mode filter, amp/limiter, 3-band EQ. Global ModFX (chorus/phaser/flanger), ping-pong delay, reverb, OTT compressor, DJ filter, limiter.

Sampling

Record, crop, slice, normalize, reverse, loop, downsample & bit-crush directly on-device via the Sample Editor.

MIDI

MIDI in/out via TRS & USB, clock/transport sync, CC mapping, track MIDI input (mono/legato/poly), MIDI note recording.

Export

Render mixed or per-track stems to WAV, bundle songs with samples, "Selection to Sample" quick-render.

Live Performance

Live Mode track cueing/quantize, mute/solo, song snapshots, touchscreen & MIDI CC parameter mapping.

Storage

microSD-based project, sample, instrument & theme storage; USB drive mode for file transfer.

Customization

Full RGB/HSV theme editor, font options, key delay/repeat, headphone protection.

Connectivity

USB Audio (stereo or 12-ch multi-channel) & USB MIDI class-compliant, remote host display streaming.

Utility Views

Time Stats, Effect Command Help, MIDI Mapping/Settings, Theme, System Settings.

Hardware

3.5mm TRS MIDI I/O, stereo line in/out, microSD slot, USB-C/Micro-USB, built-in mic (Model:02).

02

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keys: UP · DOWN · LEFT · RIGHT (D-pad)  |  EDIT  |  OPTION  |  SHIFT  |  PLAY

Global Navigation

DIRECTIONMove cursor
SHIFT+DIRECTIONSwitch between views
EDITEdit value / confirm ("YES")
OPTIONContext action / cancel ("NO")
EDIT+OPTIONReset to default / cut
PLAYPlay/stop from cursor
SHIFT+PLAYPlay all tracks from song position

Editing (grid views)

EDIT (empty cell)Insert value (last used)
EDIT ×2Insert new/unused item
EDIT+UP/DOWNCoarse value change
EDIT+LEFT/RIGHTFine value change
SHIFT+OPTIONEnter selection mode
OPTION (in selection)Copy & exit selection
SHIFT+EDITPaste
EDIT+OPTIONDelete / cut selection
SHIFT+OPTIONEDITClone into new number

Play / Mute / Solo

OPTION+SHIFTMute current track (hold)
OPTION+PLAYSolo current track (hold)
OPTION+SHIFT+PLAYClear all mutes/solos
OPTION+LEFT/RIGHTSolo tracks left/right of cursor
LEFT+PLAYCue song row for playback (Live Mode)
EDIT+PLAYPreview instrument
UP ×2 (row 00)Track re-order mode

Song / Chain / Phrase View

OPTION+UP/DOWNJump 16 rows / prev-next chain
OPTION+LEFT/RIGHTJump to prev/next track
SHIFT+OPTION→ dbl EDITDeep-clone chain + phrases
OPTION ×3Bookmark a chain
EDIT+EDIT (selection, stopped)Render selection to sample
OPTION+LEFT (note col, selection)Cycle note-fill modes
OPTION+RIGHT (note col, selection)Randomize triggers

Instrument / Table View

OPTION+LEFT/RIGHTPrev/next instrument or table
OPTION+UP/DOWNJump ±16 instruments/tables
SHIFT+LEFT/RIGHTJump to Phrase / Table view
EDIT + touchscreenDrag to edit a slider value
OPTION + touchscreenMap touchscreen axis to param
SHIFT+EDIT (single column)Interpolate selected range

Mixer / File Browser

SHIFT+OPTIONCreate song snapshot
SHIFT+EDITRecall song snapshot
OPTION+MIDI CCMap a MIDI CC to parameter
LEFT / RIGHTJump to top / bottom of file list
OPTION+UP/DOWNSkip 8 file-list entries
SHIFT+OPTIONSort directory
OPTION+EDITDelete selected file
03

Page / View Guide

Navigate between views with SHIFT + DIRECTION

Song

Grid of 8 tracks × up to 256 chain rows. The top-level song arrangement.

Live Mode

Cue, play or stop each track independently from any song position (SHIFT+LEFT from Song).

Chain

Playlist of up to 16 phrases with optional per-row transpose.

Phrase

16 steps of note, volume, instrument & 3 FX columns — the core pattern editor.

Instrument

Choose engine type, load/save presets, set transpose, table-tick rate & EQ slot.

Instrument Modulation

4 mod slots per instrument: AHD/ADSR/Drum envelopes, LFO, Trig envelope, Tracking.

Instrument Pool

Overview of all 128 instrument slots with quick mixer sends, reorder & copy/paste.

Table

Per-instrument mini-sequencer (16 rows) for arpeggios, envelopes, slides & effects.

Groove

Defines per-step tick timing for swing, shuffle, triplets & tempo changes.

Scale

16 user scales; enable/detune 12 note intervals, set key & root note.

Mixer

Per-track volume, 3 send-effect levels, line/USB input, DJ filter, limiter, main EQ & volume.

EQ Editor

3-band parametric EQ (Low/Mid/High) usable on any of 128 EQ banks, main mix or send FX.

Limiter & Mix Scope

Histogram scope of level/compression; controls limiter attack/release, DJ filter, OTT.

Effect Settings

Deep parameters for the 3 send FX: ModFX (chorus/phaser/flanger), Delay, Reverb.

Project

Song-wide settings: tempo, transpose, groove/scale defaults, load/save/render/bundle.

System Settings

Backlight, fonts, metronome, USB audio routing, hearing protection, key repeat.

Theme

RGB/HSV color editor for every UI element; load/save shareable theme presets.

MIDI Mapping

Up to 128 CC/touchscreen-to-parameter mappings, stored with the song.

MIDI Settings

Sync in/out mode, control surface, note recording, per-track MIDI channel/mode.

Time Stats

Playback time, work time, power-on time & file save date/time.

Render

Export the song (or a range) as mixed or per-track stem WAV files.

Sample Editor

Record, crop, slice, normalize & convert samples; accessed from Sampler instruments.

04

FX Command Reference

All FX commands use format CMD XX or CMD XY (hex). Open the Effect Help view with EDIT+UP/DOWN on any FX column.

Sequencer FX (phrase & table columns)

CmdDescription
ARP XY3-note arpeggio: X = 1st interval, Y = 2nd interval (semitones)
ARC XYArpeggio config: mode (X), speed in ticks (Y)
CHA XYChance / probability of trigger (0=never – F/FF=always)
DEL XXDelay row (phrase) or table play-head (table) by ticks
GRV XXSet groove number for current track
GGR XXSet groove number for all tracks
HOP XYJump play position to row Y (phrase: next phrase; table: X repeats)
INS XXTrigger / change instrument number
KIL XXStop instrument after XX ticks
RND XYRandomize the previous FX command (left/right range)
RNL XYRandomize the FX command to the left
RET XYRetrigger row with volume ramp (X=amount, Y=ticks)
REP XXRepeat last FX command, incrementing by XX per step
RTO XXMin/max stop value for REP
RMX XYRemix: set phrase play-head of tracks left of current
NTH XYConditional trigger based on loop count
PSL XXPitch slide (portamento) time in ticks
PBN XXContinuous pitch bend up/down
PVB XYVibrato: speed (X), depth (Y)
PVX XYExtreme vibrato (higher range/rate)
SCA XYSet track key (X) & scale number (Y)
SCG XYSet global key (X) & scale number (Y)
SNG XXSong hop: relative song-row jump for track
SED XXSet random seed for track
TBL XXSet table number for current instrument
THO XXTable hop: jump table play-head to row
TIC XXTable tick rate (speed) for the instrument
TBX XXAssign auxiliary table to play alongside track
TPO XXSet song tempo (BPM)
TSP XXGlobal song transpose
NXT XXTrigger instrument on the next track (same note/velocity)
OFF XXNote off after XX ticks (triggers envelope release)
MTT XXMicro-time: nudge row timing by sub-ticks

Mixer & Send-Effect FX

CmdDescription
EQM / EQI XXAssign main-mix EQ / current-instrument EQ slot
VMV XXMain song volume
VMX / VDE / VRE XXModFX / Delay / Reverb send volume
VT[1-8] XXVolume of track 1–8
XMT / XMM / XMF / XMW / XMRModFX: type, mod depth, mod freq, stereo width, reverb send
XDT / XDF / XDW / XDRDelay: L:R time, feedback, stereo width, reverb send
XRS / XRD / XRM / XRF / XRW / XRZReverb: room size, decay, mod depth, mod freq, width, freeze
DJC / DJR / DJT XXDJ filter cutoff / resonance / type
IVO / IMX / IDE / IRV XXLine-input volume / ModFX / Delay / Reverb sends
IV2 / IM2 / ID2 / IR2 XXSame, for 2nd (dual-mono) line input
USB XXUSB input volume

Instrument FX (common to all engines)

CmdDescription
VOL XXOffset instrument volume
PIT XXOffset note pitch (semitones)
FIN XXFine tune ±1 semitone
EA1/EA2 XXEnvelope amount (slot 1 / slot 2)
AT1/AT2 XXEnvelope attack time
HO1/HO2 XXEnvelope hold time
DE1/DE2 XXEnvelope decay time
ET1/ET2 XXRetrigger envelope
LA1/LA2 XXLFO amount
LF1/LF2 XXLFO frequency
LT1/LT2 XXRetrigger LFO / set phase offset

Almost every engine parameter (filter cutoff, resonance, algorithm-specific knobs, etc.) also has its own FX command — highlight the parameter in the Instrument view, then SHIFT+LEFT/RIGHT to auto-fill it into the Phrase or Table FX column.

05

Exporting Audio

Render View (Project → Render)

Exports 16 or 32-bit / 44.1 kHz stereo WAV files to /Renders.

Bundles (Project → Bundle)

Samples are not stored inside a project file. "Bundle" packages the project + samples + instruments into /Bundles for sharing or archiving.

Selection to Sample (Song View)

Select a range (SHIFT+OPTION), then double-tap EDIT.

USB Audio Routing (System Settings → USB Main Out)

Choose how USB audio output behaves: Mix, Pre:Track/Effect, Line In, Mix and Monitor, or Post:Mix. Stereo or 12-channel multi-channel (per track + FX) modes available.

06

Updating Firmware

Get the latest firmware & TyUploader at github.com/Dirtywave/M8Firmware. Avoid USB hubs — connect directly to your computer.

Notes