Skip to main content

Quick start

This walkthrough starts with an empty project and uses the built-in OPAL synth, so it does not need a sample or demo file.

Before you start​

  • Make sure audio is ready on your device. See Use NullPerator anywhere if this is your first session.
  • Save any work you want to keep; the first step replaces the current project.
  • Find Shift, Enter, Play, and the directions in Controls at a glance.

On Web, choose Enable sound before using Enter or Play for the first time.

In the steps below, “tap” means press and release; “hold” means keep the button down.

1. Open a clean project​

If an existing song opens on Song, hold Shift and tap Up to open Project. Place the cursor on Name, use Left or Right to select New in the bottom bar, and press Enter. If NullPerator warns that unsaved changes will be lost, choose Yes and press Enter again.

After choosing New, NullPerator returns to Song automatically. Put the cursor on row 00, track T1.

Empty Song view with row numbers on the left and eight tracks across the screen

Song arranges music across eight tracks. Start at row 00 under T1.

2. Make the first pattern​

  1. Tap Enter. The Song cell becomes 00.
  2. Hold Shift and tap Right to open Chain 00.
  3. At Chain row 00, tap Enter. The PH cell becomes 00.
  4. Hold Shift and tap Right again to open Phrase 00.
Chain view with PH and TR columns

PH chooses a phrase. Leave TR at 0 for now.

3. Add a note​

Keep the cursor on NOTE, row 00, and tap Enter. The row now shows note C3 and instrument I00. It is normal to hear nothing yet: the instrument slot does not have a sound until the next step.

Phrase row 00 showing note C3 and instrument I00

C3 is the pitch. I00, immediately to its right, chooses Instrument 00.

4. Give it a sound​

  1. Hold Shift and tap Right to open Instrument 00.
  2. Tap Down once to move from Name to Type.
  3. Tap Left once. The type wraps from NONE to OPAL.
  4. Hold Shift and tap Left to return to Phrase.
Instrument 00 with Type set to OPAL

When Type reads OPAL and the settings appear, Instrument 00 is ready.

5. Hear and play it​

Back on Phrase row 00, hold Enter while the cursor is on the C3 note. You should hear the note immediately; release Enter to stop the preview.

Tap Play to hear the pattern in sequence. A filled triangle in the top bar means playback is active. Tap Play again to stop.

If there is no sound, check these three things:

  • Audio is ready on your device.
  • The Phrase row shows both C3 and I00.
  • Instrument 00 shows TYPE OPAL, not NONE.

6. Name and save it​

Project page with the Name row selected

Name actions appear in the bottom bar: New, Load, Save, and Rename.

  1. Hold Shift and tap Left to go from Phrase to Chain.
  2. Hold Shift and tap Left again to go from Chain to Song.
  3. Hold Shift and tap Up to open Project.
  4. Focus Name, choose Rename in the bottom bar, and press Enter.
  5. Enter a non-empty name and choose Save.
  6. Back on Project, choose Save in the Name bottom bar.

NullPerator also autosaves when it is safe. Before closing the app, powering off, or removing storage, stop playback and wait for the saving mark in the top-right corner to disappear. Use Save whenever you want a known checkpoint.

Next​