Aeros Firmware 5.2.x

Howdy Aerosnaughts!

EDIT (July 22, 2024): Version 5.2.1 is no longer beta and is now available for download over WiFi!

If you have any trouble downloading over WiFi you can use the SD card update method (details below).

We have updated the Aeros Manual and the Printer Friendly Aeros Manual (less dark colors for less ink use).

How to Update to Aeros Firmware 5.2.1 (SD card method)

  1. Download the 5.2.1 update file here and place it on your SD card
  2. Rename the 5.2.1 update file to “aeros.bin” once it is on your SD card.
  3. Insert the SD card into the Aeros SD card slot while the Aeros is off, and turn the Aeros on. The Aeros will take about 10 minutes to update.

This version features extensive improvements to loop decay as well as the features of 5.2.0 like:

  • Input level controls
  • One Shot Parts
  • Output metering
  • Song Settings redesign
  • Backing Track Import expansion
  • And more

If you see any bugs , please report it to us so we can fix it! Please send logs to support@singularsound.com along with a video and/or a description of the bug. To learn more about useful information you could give us to better help you, please read this post on bug reports.

Song Settings redesign

Song settings are split into 3 tabs and can now be fully accessed hands free.

The tabs are:

  • Song
  • Parts
  • MIDI

The Song tab has the following settings:

  • Song Name
  • Song Saved to
  • Record
  • Parts x Tracks
  • Song Grid Mode
  • Auto BPM Range (Auto only)
  • Sync Tracks
  • Count in (Quantized and Auto only)
  • Settings Template
  • Loop Decay
  • Loop Decay Rate (if Loop Decay enabled)

The Parts tab has the following settings:

  • Song Part Tempo
  • Tempo (per part if Song Part Tempo set to Multi)
  • Multimeter
  • Time Signature (per part if Multimeter enabled)
  • Set Length (Global or Per Part/Auto only)
  • One Shot Parts (per part if enabled)

The MIDI tab has the following settings:

  • MIDI Song Select
  • MIDI Out Control

Use the Song Settings page hands free. You can highlight the toolbar to interact with the tabs and/or save the song. While the toolbar is highlighted, tap the middle Aeros button to toggle the selected tab or tap the right Aeros button to Save/Create the song. The individual settings can all be interacted with hands free. Read more in the manual. Cancel your current edit or return to the Loop Studio by pressing the bottom left or top left Aeros buttons.

Mixer 2

There are multiple ways to access Mixer 2:

  • Access the mixer from the Handsfree slideout menu in the Loop Studio
    • If the handsfree slideout is disabled, you can set the press and hold of the bottom left Aeros button to open either Mixer 1 or Mixer 2.
    • Edit the contents and order of your slideout menu in the Hands Free device settings.
  • Send MIDI CC:35 value 7
  • While in the Mixer 1 screen, press and hold the bottom left Aeros button to open Mixer 2. This works similarly when Mixer 2 is open, pressing and holding the bottom left Aeros button will open Mixer 1.

How to use Mixer 2 handsfree:

  • Tap the middle Aeros button to toggle between selections, you can select any of the inputs or the click level.
  • Tap the right Aeros button while selecting an input to toggle between mono (independent L+R) and stereo (linked).
    • When the L/R input pair is set to mono, you can independently select each input and control the input level.
    • When set to stereo the L/R input pair is controlled by a ganged fader, matching the levels. This is the recommended setting for users recording stereo signals.
    • These settings are global
  • Tap the bottom left Aeros button to exit the mixer and return to the Loop Studio
  • Press and hold the bottom left Aeros button to switch between mixers
    • This also works in Mixer 1

Input Controls and Meter

Sets the input level for the Aeros, this is a Global setting. You can also set the input levels in the device Routing settings. The inputs can either be Linked (or ganged) into L+R stereo inputs or unlinked as individual mono inputs.

To link or unlink the L and R inputs, use the stereo or mono button on the touch screen, or tap the Aeros right button while the input is selected to toggle the state.

Use the wheel or your finger to edit the selected fader levels to your liking. 0dB on the inputs is notated by a thick white line and the fader head will turn blue when it is at 0dB, like the individual track level faders do in mixer 1.

Output Meters

Monitor the Aeros output levels from each output individually.

Click level control

Set the click level quickly using the Aeros wheel. This can also be set in the device Behavior settings

One Shot Parts

One Shot parts are parts that only play back one time once they are started. The Aeros has a bit of a fun twist on this widely used setting: The Aeros one shot part will return to its previous state once it plays the part one time according to the length of the longest track. If the Part is played from a stopped state, it will stop itself automatically. However, if the part is switched to from another part, it will switch back to that other part automatically. Canceling the set up auto stop or auto transition will let the loop play back normally.

If you have a one shot part switch into a one shot part, the Aeros will switch parts back and forth automatically and indefinitely.

How’s that for a fun backup band!? Pro tip, to use for an AABA jam, record AA in part 1 and BA in part 2 and you can have a full-on Jam with the Aeros doing most of the work while you solo away. Turn on the Next Part Record device Behavior setting to get the Aeros to automatically set up and close new tracks as it switches back and forth.

How to enable One Shot Parts:

  1. Edit the song and go to the Parts Tab
  2. Highlight the setting and edit it hands free or use the touchscreen.
  3. Once on, you can set how the individual parts will behave.
  4. One Shot Parts can be turned on/off at any time, only requiring a save to do so.

Backing Track Import Expansion

Backing tracks are supported in all Song Grid Modes (Auto, Freeform, Quantized) and also when the Sync Tracks song setting is enabled.

How to get backing tracks onto the Aeros using the SD card

  1. After updating to 5.0.x, 5.1.x, or 5.2.x, the SD card will have a new folder on it called “backingtracks”.

  2. If the folder is not there, insert the SD card into the Aeros while powered off and boot the Aeros up, this will generate the folder.

  3. If you have not converted from pre 5.x.x format, you must convert your SD files, the Aeros will prompt you to convert if they are not already converted. Read more here.

  4. Add your backing tracks files to the “backingtracks” folder using your computer. The Aeros will only support .WAV (PCM) files that are 44.1kHz and 24bit. They can be mono or stereo.

How to add a backing track to your song

  1. In the Loop Studio screen, go to the song settings and select the Backing Track option using the touchscreen or the right Aeron button.

  2. Select a file from the “backingtracks” folder on your SD card. Use the wheel to scroll through the options and the right Aeros button to select the highlighted option.

  3. When importing, a pop-up window will ask if you want to:

  4. Add 360 samples to the end of the file (to prevent sync issues)

  5. Add a fade out (prevent pops)

  6. Press right Aeros button to import the file

  7. Hit Save to finalize the import

  8. Repeat step 2-5 to import backing tracks into multiple tracks, and/or manually switch the part while stopped to import backing tracks into other song parts

  9. While importing to tracks other than track 1, if your track is too short for minimum requirements and the song is set to Auto/quantized mode and/or Sync Tracks setting is on, the Aeros will ask if you wish to add silence to make the track fit the minimum requirements so as to not break sync.

Note: if your imported file exceeds the maximum limit for the file size. It cannot be imported. Please edit the file on your computer to fit the requirements and try again.

Importing into songs that have Sync enabled or are (auto)quantized

When importing into a song that has sync of any sort across the tracks, you will need to make sure you are importing tracks that are of equal length. Backing tracks of unequal length will have silence added to the end of them to meet the length requirements of the song.

Autoquantized songs will be able to quantize the song BPM to the very first imported track length using the Autoquantize algorithm. All subsequent tracks will be imported like in any quantized song.

Backing Track Options

Add Fade Out - Adds a 360 sample fade out to the file being imported. This prevents clicks and/or pops from occurring at the loop seam for the imported file. Enabled by default, you should disable it if you already are adding fades to your files as you export them in your DAW.

Add 360 samples - Adds 360 samples of silence to the end of an imported track. This is to prevent desynchronization when importing tracks made in a DAW. This is necessary because the Aeros normally needs these samples to crossfade correctly. It always records an extra 360 samples of audio after each loop is closed to allow for crossfades to be made smoothly. Enabled by default, warning disabling could cause desynchronization.

Why 360 samples?

Crossfades!

The Aeros normally records an extra ~8ms (360 samples) of fade out material for every recorded track to allow for clean crossfades between song parts when transitioning and to avoid pops on the loop seam.

Since we don’t expect users to add these 360 samples themselves when importing, we have added the option to add silence. Having the extra 360 samples of silence will prevent desynchronization without making you lose your hair trying to figure out how to export an extra 360 samples at the end of your DAW track.

If you find your loop import is not perfectly seamless while the Add Silence option is selected, try using your DAW to manually add an extra tail of 360 samples to the file you’re exporting. This will allow you to create your own tail which allows for an actual crossfade on the Aeros. If you manually added 360 samples to your imported file, you would turn the add 360 samples option off while importing.

Aeros Start Screen Setting

Set what screen opens when the Aeros powers on. You can set the Aeros to open on the: Home screen, the last open song, a new 2x2 song, or a new 6x6 song.

Set the Start Screen in the Device Settings under System Settings.

Improved VIsuals and Font sizes

We have spent some time improving the look and feel of the Aeros UI, including changing some font sizes and changing the highlight color for better visibility.

Expanded EXP controls

Set the behavior of the EXP pedal to control various other functions including:

  • Master Volume - Adjusts the Master Volume of the Loop Playback output level
  • Currently Selected (6x6)/ Last Used (2x2) Track Volume - Adjusts the playback level of the currently selected track in 6x6 or the last used track in 2x2.
  • Track N Volume - Adjusts the playback volume of the track.
    • track 1-6
  • Click Volume - Adjusts the click playback volume
  • Input Level
    • Main - Adjusts the volume of the Main Input
    • Aux - Adjusts the volume of the Aux Input
    • Main L - Adjusts the volume of the Main L Input
    • Main R - Adjusts the volume of the Main R Input
    • Aux L - Adjusts the volume of the Aux L Input
    • Aux R - Adjusts the volume of the Aux R Input

Use the Logarithmic and Exponential options to improve the smoothness of your pedal when editing values at either the min or max extremes of your EXP pedal range. Different pedals may give different results.

Custom Click Track

Set your own click track sounds for the Aeros to use.

How to add your own click track:

  1. After updating to 5.2.0 or later, the SD card will have a new folder on it called “clicktracks”.

  2. If the folder is not there, insert the SD card to the Aeros while powered off and boot the Aeros up, this will generate the folder.

  3. If you have not converted from pre 5.x.x format, you must convert your SD files, the Aeros will prompt you to convert if they are not already converted. Read more here.

  4. Turn off the Aeros and remove the SD card, insert the SD card into your computer

  5. Go to the SD card in your file browser, and drag and drop/copy and paste at least 2 WAV files into the “clicktracks” folder, one for the stressed beat and one for the nonstressed beat

  6. They must be mono, 44.1kHz 16 bit .WAV files in a PCM format

  7. Eject your SD card and insert it into the Aeros while off, power on your Aeros

  8. Go to System in the Device settings, and select the Click Track (Stressed) option

  9. Choose the File for the stressed beat

  10. Similarly, select the Click Track (Unstressed) option and choose the file for the nonstressed beat

  11. Turn on the metronome and test it out!

  12. Make sure that the click level is at an optimal level, check out the Mixer 2 screen or the device Behavior Settings to set the level of the click

  13. Make sure that the click is routed to the output(s) you are monitoring

  14. Check that the click is turned on in the settings (can also be set in the Loop Studio using the Song Dashboard)

Loop Decay (redesigned)

When enabled, the Loop Decay will decay the audio of the base layer by a percentage amount (which can be set using the Loop Decay Rate setting) every time a new overdub layer is added to the track. If the overdub is left open, the overdub will automatically commit and reduce the audio level at the overdub start point, this only happens when Loop Decay is turned on. Turn on ROP mode to get an instant frippertronics style effect while the overdub stays active. ROP mode, or Record-Overdub-Play, refers to the order of actions that happen when tapping the Aeros Track buttons)

Turn on Loop Decay in the Aeros Song Settings under the Song Tab.

When enabled you will get the following pop up:

Loop decay is a destructive process, the original WAV file gain will not be saved once decayed. We suggest copying or backing up any songs you wish to decay to not lose or degrade previous layers of recordings.

Tap any Aeros button or use the touchscreen to dismiss the pop up.

Set the Loop Decay Rate once the Loop Decay is enabled. Higher rates mean the audio decays more, lower rates are more subtle. For example, 100% will decay the base layer completely which means you will not hear it once starting a new overdub layer. We suggest a rate of 5-20% for the smoothest sound here.

Loop decay can be enabled or disabled at any time, it requires saving the song to do so, however.

There is a catch to using loop decay mode, we have indefinitely removed all double tap and hold behaviors from the Track (RPO) button(s) while loop decay is engaged. This was to be able to smoothly apply loop decay and also undo loop decay without considering all of the corner cases for the immediate tap starting a new overdub layer.

To have the best experience, we suggest:

  • Turning on the Cancel Recording Behavior setting in the device settings menu. This allows you to undo the current recording or overdub by tapping the Play/Stop All button. This will allow you to cancel current recordings without the ability of tapping and holding to undo the track.
  • Using the slideout menu to apply undo/redo, the slideout menu will still work when Loop Decay is applied
  • Using MIDI to apply undo/redo and/or cancel the current recording/overdub

Noteworthy Changes

  • Pops have been fixed in all reproducible cases, high potential all reported pops are fixed. Please report all pops to support@singularsound.com with all the steps needed to get the issue and any video/audio you can provide of what happens.
    • There is one notable exception: Loop Decay is missing logic to be able to correctly write the decay to avoid pops on consecutive overdubs if the overdub is left open with Loop Decay enabled. On the second revolution of a loop, you will be able to hear an audible bloop where the audio changes level instantly. The bloop is less or more audible depending on the level of the audio playing back at the seam and the amount of decay applied. This will only be noticeable if audio is recorded at the overdub seam. We apologize for the inconvenience this bug brings. This pop is not written to the decayed file.
  • The Aeros has a new setting that fixes the Loop Playback being louder than the live signal. It is automatically fixed when you update your looper.
    • Playback Level Calibration - Sets the level of the Aeros Loop Playback signal. When set to 80%, this avoids a disparity between the level of the live signal as you monitor it and the level of that same signal once it is recorded, committed, and played back. If you do not monitor your live signal on the Aeros itself, this will not be a notable change for you.
    • 80% is the default setting
  • Added Immediate/End of Measure/End of Loop options to the playing handsfree slideout menu. Edit the contents and order of your menu in the Hands Free device settings.
  • We’ve greatly increased the font size in several critical areas for better visibility
  • Cursor will always start from right end of text when reactivating the edit state for text
  • All editable text fields now align left
  • Aeros will now always select the first album in the Albums screen when accessing the albums screen. This allows you to easily scroll up to highlight and create a new album handsfree if you would like to. This removed the need to manually scroll to select the first album on opening the Albums screen.

Version 5.2.1 changelog

  • Moved loop decay rate to the device settings
  • Added MIDI (CC: 29) support for loop decay rate
  • Added expression pedal support for loop decay rate
  • Updated the progressive loop decay while overdubbing
  • Loop decay rate settings gets saved in the settings template
  • Added the ability to change the loop decay rate live
  • Added a second circle to the mono icon on the mixer screen
  • Increment loop decay speed by 10ms instead of by 1
  • Added the loop decay rate setting to the second page of the dashboard in the loop studio
  • Added an on screen popup notification when loop decay rate is changed via MIDI or EXP

Bug Fixes:

  • Fixed a pop when you close the overdub while loop decay is active
  • Fixed the Aeros dropping midi commands
  • Fixed backing tracks not working correctly
  • Fixed overdubs not playing back when stopped within one loop
  • Fixed overdubs not visually closing in the loop studio
  • Updated the text for the loop decay rate setting
  • Fixed Aeros getting stuck when creating a new song and cancelling it
  • Change the mono/stereo options around
  • Fixed icons on the mixer screen

Version 5.2.0 Changelog

  • Implemented one shot parts (song parts that play only once) in song settings
  • Added support for backing tracks when sync tracks is on and/or in quantized or autoquantized Song Grid Mode
  • Allows options for what the expression pedal controls, as well as the shape of its curve (linear, exponential, logarithmic)
  • Created a second mixer page for click volume, output meters, and input level control. Switch between mixer pages by long holding the left hardware button while in the mixer
  • Added ability to get to mixer from the hands free slideout
  • Added option to slideout for settings menu
  • Implemented specific timing commands for mute, stop, and change part into playing hands free slideout (Immediate, EOM, or EOL)
  • Implemented reverse track from stopped slideout
  • Added new option to stopped screen to show midi song select
  • Split song settings into sections for better organization: Songs, Parts, MIDI
  • Implemented new startup pages (Home, Last open, New 2x2, New 6x6 - in system settings)
  • Turned off song select settings when copying a song that has it, to ensure uniqueness
  • Always highlight last loaded song when sorted by custom
  • Added playback volume level setting (in system settings)
  • Allowed custom click track sounds (see info for file requirements)
  • Made font size bigger
  • Updated settings text with correct defaults
  • Changed song parameters button to say “create” for a new song and “save” for an existing song
  • Added setting for popup notification system
  • Improved scroll behavior of the wheel on home and settings screen
  • Brighter highlight and green text for easier visibility of the selected item on all screens
  • Moved clear song confirmation to system settings

Bug Fixes:

  • Fixed pops
  • Applies loop decay on every overdub seam (so the active overdub gets decayed as well, even if it’s never committed)
  • Fixed active logger toggling visually when popup is canceled
  • Fixed muted tracks showing the flashing red track circle on transition
  • Fixed muted tracks remaining muted when a song is cleared
  • Fixed cancel not canceling for sliders on system settings
  • Improved visual performance of using MIDI to change a tracks volume in the mixer
  • Ignores screen change midi commands if popup is open
  • Fixed fade to mute MIDI commands (CC38:71-76 and 81-86) not respecting global settings
  • Fixed MIDI commands for ROP/RPO not working as intended (CC45:0 and 1)
  • Fixed issue with rapid successive MIDI transition commands causing an immediate transition
  • Made Aeros more responsive to large amounts of volume change MIDI commands (CC20-26)
  • Visual and audio improvements to mute pause
  • Resolved issue with backing track songs failing to load when song is moved
  • Fixed bug where adding backing track doesn’t allow changing other song parameters
  • Made popup warning you that you are trying to move a song to the album it’s currently in hands free
  • Fixed button lockup bug on exiting the mixer
  • Fixed output level text in system settings
  • Fixed output level resetting to default each time unit is powered on
  • Fixed duplicate song select error popping up when it shouldn’t
  • Fixed edge cases with locked tracks not automatically queuing a recording based on record next part setting
  • Fixed locked tracks disappearing when renaming the song
  • Fixed issues with Time Signatures
  • Changed “Main In Level” setting to “Main In Load” in system settings, this was done to avoid confusion with the new Main Input Level settings

KNOWN ISSUES:

  • There is a rounding error in mono with both import option boxes unchecked (both must be unchecked) when importing a 100 BPM, 4/4 backing track into a quantized song set to 297 bpm.
  • Issues with undoing the first track and trying to import a file after. Song may get stuck loading forever. There are several cases:
    • undoing first track in quantized
    • undoing first track in auto via holding right HW
    • undoing first track in auto via pressing the upper HW (that undoes currently recording track depending on your setting)
  • Issues when recording to the second track first in a 2x2 song and then trying to import a backing track.
    • For example, if you record to the 2nd track in a 2x2 without recording to the first track, and then try to import a backing track without saving the song first, it corrupts the song
  • Loop Decay is missing logic to be able to correctly write the decay to avoid pops on consecutive overdubs if the overdub is left open with Loop Decay enabled. On the second revolution of a loop, you will be able to hear an audible bloop where the audio changes level instantly. The bloop is less or more audible depending on the level of the audio playing back at the seam and the amount of decay applied. This will only be noticeable if audio is recorded at the overdub seam. We apologize for the inconvenience this bug brings.
13 Likes

WOW!

4 Likes

Good morning
this version gives a count on a whole part and not on a measure. for me it is unusable with my midi maestro programming which worked perfectly with the previous version. everything else looks nice. too bad :sob:

1 Like

Did you try “* Set Length (Global or Per Part/Auto only)” in Part Tab of Song Settings

Hi,
No, I have currently reverted to the previous version 5.1.1
If I reinstall 5.2 I will try your suggestion.
Thank you for answering!

1 Like

I don’t not good understand your case
Do you mean de count in take a whole track length ?
I have the 5.2.0 and the count in work normal ,

Hi,
I have a system where Midi maestro controls each part individually without counting down, with 5.2 controlling the same way Beatbuddy starts but the part is played silent once empty before starting!
If I order on the Aeros the countdown is done correctly. That’s it.
Thank you for paying attention to my concerns.

Hey there, could you please elaborate a little more:

What MIDI command are you sending to the Aeros? What midi controller are you using?

Did you make sure that you had count in enabled?

Did you make sure you did not have fade in enabled?

Is the Aeros the master or the slave to the BeatBuddy?

Let me know, thanks

Hi Brennan
In order I send:
cc43 value 1; cc113 value1; cc113 value0.
I use the Midi Maestro, the countdown is activated since it works on the play button of the Aeros.
The aeros works as master, I have not tested the fade in.
So I’m going to reload version 5.2.0 and see this fade in. I will keep you posted.

New, everything seems to work using only the Aeros buttons.
It seems that the problem comes from the orders placed by the Midi Maestro.
For example if aeros stops on part 1 I order part 2 with the midi maestro the aeros plays part 1 in full before starting part 2!
On 5.1.1. everything worked perfectly.

Thanks for the detailed response, do you send these all at once?

When this happens what are you sending to the Aeros? It has to be stopped for the bug to occur? This doesn’t happen if playing back, you have to stop playback and then the bug happens?

Does it happen the very first time you start the song or only every time you restart it after stopping?

Let me know thanks!

Yes, all midi commands are done on the same button in the order given.
As soon as the song is ready on the aeros when I request the playback of a part (ordered on the MM) I obtain the first silent part in full before finally having my request.
Finally, after stopping the song if I order a part other than the one played recently, I have to wait for the latter to pass silently. Everything I control directly on the Aeros works. This is how it happens.

Great features! Can we have some good quality videos (please not shorts) on how to access and operate these features. Thanks

1 Like

After getting a heads up from Brennan that the 5.2.0 beta release had a tweak to address the menu selection visibility issue, I was excited to give it a try.
Loaded the beta update tonight, and gave it a look-see.

I am really pleased with the menu visibility enhancement in this beta release. Singular Sound implemented my suggestion to use bold, bright green font color for active menu selection highlighting. It seems to be implemented universally as well (e.g., in the main menu screen).

Works really well! It is very easy to see the currently selected menu choice now. No more bending over or trying to change my viewing angle in an effort to see what’s going on.

Well done! Thanks Singular Sound!

6 Likes

Here are some unofficial ones I found at https://www.youtube.com/@ForFunGuitar/videos

1 Like

The panning feature supports those of us that are smart and focused enough to change the setting before we record a part.

Will there be an update where we can control the left and right volumes after recording (on Mixer 1)? Seems like we could add the split/unison control to the UI for each track (and perhaps figure out a way to expose toggle on that page … maybe with a long press on the Mute button).

The two ways of panning do things the other way cannot.

2 Likes

I am a newcomer to Aeros, I purchased mine about two weeks ago. I’m 63 and have had a lifetime passion with music, and audio gear. The first time I used the Aeros I couldn’t believe it didn’t have an adjustment for input gain. I am so happy that feature is now available. The Aeros designers seem to be very intelligent, input gain adjustment must have been discussed, but not implemented for some reason.

4 Likes

Thanks very much for these

HI - all very exciting!

Potential ‘bug’? it seems like it is now taking even longer for aeros to respond to midi song selection, and then longer to load the song once it responds.

when i send midi command, the beat buddy responds immediately, but aeros takes 17 seconds (yes, 17 seconds - an eternity on stage) to then start the "loading song’ which then takes another 12 seconds.

Really hoping there’s a way to improve on this… potentially close to a full minute of dead air between songs on stage is not ideal.

(FWIW, I went back to version 5.1.1 and it takes rougnly 6 seconds to respond and just 3 seconds to load the song… this count is pretty consistent accross several songs with varying amounts of tracks, file sizes)

1 Like

Excellent for me and was worth the wait
Thanx

1 Like