# M20SIX v2.0 ADVANCED DRUMS

**Created by Pascal Glenn — 2026**  
Open source — GNU GPL v3.0

M20SIX is a performance instrument for the Critter & Guitari Organelle S2 combining:
- a PolySix-inspired playable polysynth,
- MS-20-inspired filter character,
- an A/B/AB melodic sequencer,
- an integrated 6-voice programmable drum machine,
- advanced per-step drum locks: velocity, pitch, probability, ratchet, flam and microtiming,
- arpeggiator and effects,
- 100 permanent USER memories.

The drum sounds are synthesized in SuperCollider. No drum samples are required.

---

#
## Emergency PANIC / stuck-note safety

**Hold AUX + hold the black encoder for more than about 1.15 seconds = PANIC / ALL NOTES OFF.**

Use this if any note ever remains sounding. The stuck-note safety system honors a wooden key release even if you changed page, pressed AUX, entered DRUM/DSTEP, or changed ARP state while the key was held. Sequencer and arpeggiator one-shot voices are tracked and forcibly cleaned up on STOP, ARP OFF, PANIC, and patch exit.

**Hold the black encoder without AUX = exit to the Organelle menu.**

# 1. KNOW THE CONTROLS

### Black encoder
The **black encoder** is the black top knob that can both **turn** and **press**.

- **Turn encoder** = change page.
- **Short press encoder** = page-specific action.
- **Hold encoder about 1.2 seconds** = leave M20SIX and return to the Organelle home/menu.

### AUX button
**AUX** acts like a SHIFT button.

When this guide says **AUX + wooden key 22**, do this:
1. Hold **AUX**.
2. While still holding AUX, press **wooden key 22**.
3. Release.

### Wooden-key numbering
M20SIX uses the wooden keys as numbers **1 through 24**, counted **from left to right**:

`1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24`

The first 16 keys are especially important because they correspond to the **16 sequencer steps**.

### Four parameter knobs
This guide calls the four main parameter knobs **K1, K2, K3, K4**, from left to right.

### Physical volume knob
The Organelle physical volume control is mapped to extra M20SIX output gain:
- around halfway = approximately **100%** of the original M20SIX output level,
- fully clockwise = up to **200%** / approximately +6 dB before the final limiter.

Start low and increase gradually.

---

## 2. MAIN NAVIGATION

Turn the black encoder to move through the eight pages:

**SOUND → ENV → SEQ → DRUM → DSTEP → ARP → FX → MEM**

You can turn in either direction.

---

# 3. SOUND PAGE

This is the main synth/filter page.

### Normal knobs
- **K1** = filter Cutoff
- **K2** = Resonance
- **K3** = Oscillator Mix
- **K4** = Drive

### Hold AUX while turning the knobs
- **AUX + K1** = High-pass filter
- **AUX + K2** = Filter envelope amount
- **AUX + K3** = LFO rate
- **AUX + K4** = LFO depth

### Global synth octave transpose
While on **SOUND**, hold **AUX** and turn the **black encoder**:
- **AUX + encoder LEFT** = octave DOWN one step
- **AUX + encoder RIGHT** = octave UP one step
- Keep turning until the display shows **OCT 0** to return to normal pitch

Range: **-3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2 octaves**. The current octave is shown on the SOUND page as `OCT-3` through `OCT+2`.

This is a **global synth transpose**: it changes live keyboard notes, melodic sequencer notes and arpeggiator notes without rewriting the stored sequence. Drums are not transposed. The octave value is saved in USER memories.

### Factory synth presets
- **Short press encoder** = next factory synth preset
- **AUX + short press encoder** = previous factory synth preset

Factory sounds:
1. WARM SIX
2. MS BITE
3. NEON BASS
4. POLY BRASS
5. SLOW PAD
6. GLASS KEYS
7. DIRTY LEAD
8. DREAM SIX
9. LASER PULSE
10. DARK STRINGS
11. SEQ PLUCK
12. COSMIC ORGAN

**Important:** changing factory synth presets replaces the current synth parameters. Save your work to a USER memory first if you want to keep it.

---

# 4. ENV PAGE

This controls the synth envelopes.

### Normal knobs
- **K1** = Attack
- **K2** = Decay
- **K3** = Sustain
- **K4** = Release

### Hold AUX while turning the knobs
- **AUX + K1** = Filter Decay
- **AUX + K2** = Filter Sustain
- **AUX + K3** = Filter Release
- **AUX + K4** = Detune

### Preset navigation
- **Short press encoder** = next factory synth preset
- **AUX + short press encoder** = previous factory synth preset

---

# 5. SEQ PAGE — SYNTH SEQUENCER

The melodic sequencer has 16 steps and two banks, **A and B**.

### SEQ knobs
- **K1** = BPM, approximately 55–190 BPM from this page
- **K2** = Swing
- **K3** = Note Gate/length
- **K4** = Pattern length, 1–16 steps

### Factory melodic sequences
- **Short press encoder** = next factory sequence
- **AUX + short press encoder** = previous factory sequence

Factory sequences:
BERLIN, MOTORIK, SQ ACID, ODD FIFTH, NIGHT DRIVE, SYNCOPATE, OCTAVE RUN, MINIMAL, RATCHET, FIFTH DANCE, SHADOW, CASCADE.

**Important:** loading a factory sequence replaces the current synth A and B patterns. Save first if you want to keep your sequence.

## SEQ manual editing — exact AUX shortcuts

While you are on the **SEQ** page:

- **AUX + wooden key 1–16** = select synth step 1–16
- **AUX + wooden key 17** = toggle selected step between NOTE and REST
- **AUX + wooden key 18** = Accent ON/OFF on the selected step
- **AUX + wooden key 19** = Ratchet 1x → 2x → 3x → 4x → 1x
- **AUX + wooden key 20** = change bank mode **A → B → AB → A**
- **AUX + wooden key 21** = synth sequence REC ON/OFF
- **AUX + wooden key 22** = transport **START/STOP**
- **AUX + wooden key 23** = erase the note on the selected synth step
- **AUX + wooden key 24** = load the next factory synth sequence

## Recording your own synth notes

### Step recording with transport stopped
1. Go to **SEQ**.
2. Choose A or B with **AUX + key 20**.
3. Press **AUX + key 21** to turn synth REC ON. The LED becomes blue.
4. Play a wooden note normally.
5. The note is stored on the selected step and the cursor advances.
6. Continue playing notes to enter the sequence step by step.
7. Press **AUX + key 21** again to leave REC.
8. Press **AUX + key 22** to play the sequence.

### Live recording with transport running
1. Start the sequence with **AUX + key 22**.
2. Turn REC on with **AUX + key 21**.
3. Play wooden notes.
4. Notes are written to the step that is currently playing.

### Live transposition
On the SEQ page, when the sequencer is running and synth REC is OFF, playing a wooden note transposes the running sequence.

---

# 6. A / B / AB — HOW IT WORKS

The synth and drum sections share the same A/B/AB arrangement mode.

- **A** = play pattern bank A
- **B** = play pattern bank B
- **AB** = play A for one cycle, then B for one cycle, repeating

On SEQ use **AUX + key 20**.  
On DRUM use **AUX + key 19**.

When **AB** is selected, editing defaults back to A. To edit B, first select **B**, make your changes, then return to AB for playback.

---

# 7. DRUM PAGE — PROGRAMMABLE DRUM MACHINE

M20SIX contains six synthesized drum voices:

1. **KICK**
2. **SNARE**
3. **CHH** — Closed Hi-Hat
4. **OHH** — Open Hi-Hat
5. **CLAP**
6. **TOM**

## DRUM knobs

Without AUX:
- **K1** = choose the drum voice
- **K2** = selected drum level, 0–150%
- **K3** = selected drum tone
- **K4** = selected drum decay

With AUX held:
- **AUX + K2** = overall DRUM MASTER, 0–150%

## Play the drums manually

While on the DRUM page and **without AUX**:
- wooden key **1** = Kick
- wooden key **2** = Snare
- wooden key **3** = Closed Hat
- wooden key **4** = Open Hat
- wooden key **5** = Clap
- wooden key **6** = Tom

This lets you finger-drum the kit directly.

## Program the drums manually — exact AUX shortcuts

While on the **DRUM** page:

- **AUX + wooden key 1–16** = toggle the selected drum ON/OFF at that step
- **AUX + wooden key 17** = previous drum voice
- **AUX + wooden key 18** = next drum voice
- **AUX + wooden key 19** = change bank mode **A → B → AB → A**
- **AUX + wooden key 20** = normal/accent toggle on the selected active drum step
- **AUX + wooden key 21** = drum REC ON/OFF
- **AUX + wooden key 22** = transport **START/STOP**
- **AUX + wooden key 23** = MUTE/UNMUTE the selected drum voice
- **AUX + wooden key 24** = CLEAR all 16 steps of the selected drum voice in the current edit bank

### Example — program a simple kick
1. Go to **DRUM**.
2. Use **K1** until KICK is selected.
3. Hold AUX and press wooden keys **1, 5, 9, 13**.
4. Release AUX.
5. Press **AUX + key 22** to start playback.

You now have a four-on-the-floor kick pattern.

### Example — add snare
1. Use **K1** to select SNARE, or use **AUX + key 18** to move to the next drum voice.
2. Hold AUX and press wooden keys **5 and 13**.
3. Release AUX.

### Example — accent a drum hit
1. Select the drum voice.
2. Select/toggle the desired step with **AUX + key 1–16**.
3. Press **AUX + key 20** to toggle its accent.

## OLED drum symbols

The 16-character drum row uses:
- `.` = empty step
- `x` = drum hit
- `X` = accented drum hit
- `-` = selected empty step
- `O` = selected normal hit
- `@` = selected accented hit

## Drum live recording

1. Go to **DRUM**.
2. Press **AUX + key 21**. The LED becomes blue.
3. Play wooden keys **1–6** without AUX to perform Kick/Snare/Hats/Clap/Tom.

If transport is running, each hit is written to the current sequencer step.  
If transport is stopped, the hit is written to the selected step and the cursor advances.

MIDI velocity can create accented drum hits.

## Factory drum grooves

- **Short press encoder on DRUM** = next factory drum groove
- **AUX + short press encoder** = previous factory drum groove

Factory grooves:
1. MOTORIK
2. ELECTRO
3. ACID BOX
4. DISCO SIX
5. MINIMAL
6. BREAKBEAT
7. TRIBAL
8. HALF TIME

**Important:** loading a factory drum groove replaces the current drum A and B patterns. Save first if you want to keep your programming.

---

# 8. DSTEP PAGE — ADVANCED PER-STEP DRUM EDITING

This new page edits the **currently selected drum voice + currently selected step**.

Example: select KICK and step 5 on DRUM, then turn the encoder to **DSTEP**. You are now editing **KICK step 5**.

The OLED shows:
- bank A/B/AB,
- drum voice,
- step number,
- OFF / ON / ACC,
- the advanced values for that exact hit.

## DSTEP knobs — without AUX

- **K1 = Velocity**: about 15% to 150%
- **K2 = Pitch**: -24 to +24 semitones
- **K3 = Probability**: 0% to 100%
- **K4 = Ratchet**: 1x to 4x

### What these do

- **Velocity** changes the strength of only that hit.
- **Pitch** tunes only that hit. This works on Kick, Snare, Hats, Clap and Tom.
- **Probability** controls whether that hit happens on each pass. At 50%, it plays roughly half the time.
- **Ratchet** repeats that hit 1, 2, 3 or 4 times inside its step.

## DSTEP knobs — hold AUX

While holding **AUX**:

- **AUX + K1 = Flam**: 0 to about 70 ms
- **AUX + K2 = Nudge / Microtiming**: about -30 ms to +30 ms
- **AUX + K3 = select Step 1–16**
- **AUX + K4 = select drum Voice 1–6**

### Flam
Flam creates a second, softer hit a few milliseconds after the main hit.

### Nudge / Microtiming
- negative values move the drum hit slightly **early**,
- positive values move it slightly **late**,
- 0 ms puts it exactly on the grid.

M20SIX uses a small internal look-ahead so both early and late timing work while the drum machine remains synchronized to the melodic sequencer.

## DSTEP exact AUX + wooden-key shortcuts

While on **DSTEP**:

- **AUX + wooden key 1–16** = select step 1–16 **without toggling it**
- **AUX + wooden key 17** = previous drum voice
- **AUX + wooden key 18** = next drum voice
- **AUX + wooden key 19** = A → B → AB → A
- **AUX + wooden key 20** = accent ON/OFF for the selected active hit
- **AUX + wooden key 21** = drum REC ON/OFF
- **AUX + wooden key 22** = START/STOP
- **AUX + wooden key 23** = selected drum step ON/OFF
- **AUX + wooden key 24** = reset only the advanced locks on this step:
  Velocity 100%, Pitch 0, Probability 100%, Ratchet 1x, Flam 0 ms, Nudge 0 ms

## Preview the selected step

On **DSTEP**, give the black encoder a **short press**.

M20SIX auditions the selected drum using its current Velocity, Pitch, Accent and Flam settings without changing the pattern.

## Finger-drumming while on DSTEP

Without AUX, wooden keys **1–6** still play:
1. Kick
2. Snare
3. Closed Hat
4. Open Hat
5. Clap
6. Tom

That lets you edit a step and immediately audition the kit.

## Example — make one kick hit different

1. Go to **DRUM**.
2. Select **KICK** with K1.
3. Use AUX + wooden key **1** to make sure step 1 is active.
4. Turn the encoder to **DSTEP**.
5. Hold AUX + wooden key **1** to select step 1.
6. Release AUX.
7. Set **K1 Velocity** around 130%.
8. Set **K2 Pitch** around -7.
9. Set **K3 Probability** to 100%.
10. Set **K4 Ratchet** to 2x.
11. Hold AUX and give **K1** a little Flam if you want.
12. Press **AUX + key 22** to start playback.

Only that kick step now has those settings.

## Example — humanize a hi-hat line

1. On DRUM select **CHH**.
2. Program several hi-hat steps.
3. Go to DSTEP.
4. Select different steps with AUX + keys 1–16.
5. Give some steps Velocity 60–80%.
6. Give occasional steps Probability 60–85%.
7. Use small Nudge values such as -8 ms or +12 ms.
8. Leave most steps at 100% probability so the rhythm still has a stable backbone.

This creates movement without changing the entire drum voice.

---

# 9. ARP PAGE — ARPEGGIATOR

### Knobs
- **K1** = direction: UP / DOWN / UP-DOWN / RANDOM
- **K2** = rate: 1/4 / 1/8 / 1/16 / 1/32
- **K3** = octave range 1–4
- **K4** = gate

### Turn ARP on/off
- **Short press encoder** = ARP ON/OFF

Then hold one or more wooden notes normally and M20SIX arpeggiates them.

---

# 10. FX PAGE

- **K1** = Chorus
- **K2** = Delay amount
- **K3** = Reverb
- **K4** = Delay feedback

Preset navigation on FX:
- **Short press encoder** = next factory synth preset
- **AUX + short press encoder** = previous factory synth preset

---

# 11. MEM PAGE — SAVE / LOAD USER 001–100

This is how you make your work permanent.

## Select a memory
1. Turn the encoder to **MEM**.
2. Turn **K1** to choose **USER 001 through USER 100**.
3. The screen says **SAVED** if the slot already contains data, or **EMPTY** if it has never been saved.

## SAVE — exact steps
1. Go to **MEM**.
2. Use **K1** to choose the USER slot you want, for example **USER 001**.
3. **Hold AUX**.
4. While holding AUX, give the **black encoder one short press**.
5. Release AUX.
6. The OLED should display **SAVED USER 001**.

### Remember
**AUX + short encoder press = SAVE**

## LOAD — exact steps
1. Go to **MEM**.
2. Use **K1** to choose the saved slot.
3. Make sure AUX is **NOT** held.
4. Give the **black encoder one short press**.
5. The OLED should display **LOADED USER xxx**.

### Remember
**Short encoder press without AUX = LOAD**

If the memory has never been saved, the OLED shows **EMPTY USER xxx**.

## What does a USER memory save?

A USER memory stores the complete performance setup, including:
- global synth octave transpose (-3 to +2),
- synth sound parameters,
- synth effects,
- synth sequence A,
- synth sequence B,
- accents and synth ratchets,
- BPM,
- swing,
- note gate,
- sequence length,
- A/B/AB mode,
- arpeggiator settings,
- drum pattern A,
- drum pattern B,
- selected drum voice,
- drum master level,
- individual drum levels,
- drum tones,
- drum decays,
- drum mute states,
- per-step drum Velocity,
- per-step drum Pitch,
- per-step drum Probability,
- per-step drum Ratchets,
- per-step Flam,
- per-step Microtiming/Nudge.

USER memories are written to the SD card under:

`/sdcard/data/m20six/`

They remain available after leaving the patch or restarting the Organelle.

---

# 12. LED COLORS

- **RED** = transport/sequencer is running
- **BLUE** = synth REC or drum REC is active
- **OFF** = transport stopped and neither recording mode is active

Remember: blue REC means notes or drum hits are being written into the **M20SIX sequencer**, not that audio is being recorded to a WAV file.

---

# 13. MIDI

Normal MIDI notes play the M20SIX synth.

MIDI channel 10 uses this drum mapping:
- MIDI note **36** = Kick
- MIDI note **38** = Snare
- MIDI note **42** = Closed Hat
- MIDI note **46** = Open Hat
- MIDI note **39** = Clap
- MIDI note **45** = Tom

M20SIX also responds to:
- pitch bend,
- mod wheel,
- sustain pedal.

The Organelle footswitch input toggles sequencer START/STOP.

---

# 14. FAST CHEAT SHEET

## SEQ page
- AUX + **1–16** = select step
- AUX + **17** = note/rest
- AUX + **18** = accent
- AUX + **19** = ratchet
- AUX + **20** = A/B/AB
- AUX + **21** = synth REC
- AUX + **22** = START/STOP
- AUX + **23** = erase selected note
- AUX + **24** = next factory synth sequence

## DRUM page
- AUX + **1–16** = toggle drum steps
- AUX + **17** = previous drum
- AUX + **18** = next drum
- AUX + **19** = A/B/AB
- AUX + **20** = drum accent
- AUX + **21** = drum REC
- AUX + **22** = START/STOP
- AUX + **23** = mute selected drum
- AUX + **24** = clear selected drum line

## DSTEP page
- K1 = Velocity
- K2 = Pitch
- K3 = Probability
- K4 = Ratchet
- AUX + K1 = Flam
- AUX + K2 = Nudge / Microtiming
- AUX + K3 = select Step
- AUX + K4 = select Voice
- AUX + **1–16** = select step only
- AUX + **17/18** = previous/next drum voice
- AUX + **19** = A/B/AB
- AUX + **20** = accent
- AUX + **21** = drum REC
- AUX + **22** = START/STOP
- AUX + **23** = step ON/OFF
- AUX + **24** = reset advanced values
- short encoder press = preview selected step

## SOUND octave shortcuts
- Hold **AUX + turn encoder LEFT** = octave down
- Hold **AUX + turn encoder RIGHT** = octave up
- Stop at **OCT 0** for normal pitch
- Range = **-3 to +2 octaves**

## MEM page
- **K1** = USER 001–100
- **encoder press** = LOAD
- **AUX + encoder press** = SAVE

## Everywhere
- **turn encoder** = page navigation
- **hold encoder ~1.2 sec** = exit M20SIX / return home

---

# 15. IMPORTANT SAFETY / WORKFLOW RULES

1. **SAVE before loading another factory sound, sequence or drum groove** if you want to keep your work.
2. When editing patterns, check whether you are in **A, B or AB**.
3. In **AB**, editing defaults to A; choose B first if you intend to edit B.
4. The 200% output stage can be powerful. Start with the physical volume low and raise it gradually.
5. Use the normal Organelle exit or hold the encoder to leave M20SIX cleanly.

---

# 16. SIMPLE FIRST PERFORMANCE

Try this from a fresh launch:

1. On **SOUND**, choose a synth preset with short encoder presses.
2. Turn to **SEQ**.
3. Press **AUX + wooden key 22** to start the melodic sequencer.
4. Turn to **DRUM**.
5. Choose a factory drum groove with short encoder presses.
6. Edit the Kick by selecting KICK with K1 and toggling steps with **AUX + keys 1–16**.
7. Turn to **FX** and add Chorus/Delay/Reverb.
8. Turn to **MEM**.
9. Choose a USER slot with K1.
10. Hold AUX + short-press the encoder to SAVE the whole performance.

That saved USER slot can later restore your synth, sequences, drums, tempo, arp and effects together.
