EIGHT PERFORMANCE SCENES
Scene A through H can point into any part of the existing song. Set a start bar, a one-, two-, four-, eight-, or sixteen-bar window, and mute state independently for every track.
DOWNLOAD NODE / RELEASE 0.3.4
BKLVA
POCKET DAW
Firmware and field manual for a standalone music workstation living inside an M5Stack Cardputer ADV.
- LATEST BUILD
- 0.3.4
- FIRMWARE
- DIRECT .BIN / 5.1 MB
- MANUAL
- 0.3.4 / 21 PAGES
ALSO AVAILABLE IN M5BURNER
PUBLIC DIRECT DOWNLOADS 248 BIN + MAC
The Mac flasher carries the latest 0.3.4 build inside. Direct BIN and manual downloads remain available for everyone else.
THE CARDPUTER MUSIC WORKSTATION
FOUR TRACKS.
ONE POCKET.
BKLVA Pocket DAW turns the M5Stack Cardputer ADV into a complete, playable music workstation. Record long audio to microSD, slice samples, turn a slice into a saved chromatic instrument, layer drums, sequence patterns, mix the result, and keep complete songs.
Version 0.3.4 adds eight lightweight performance Scenes and a sixteen-step Chain Arranger. Complete songs now recall their own tempo, samples, freezes, Scenes, and effects, while the Sampler plays directly from its page and USB Sampling returns straight to the captured waveform.
- TRACKS
- 4
- MAX TRACK
- 16 BARS
- AUDIO
- 44.1 KHZ
- DRUM PADS
- 16
DISPLAY ARCHIVE / 0.3.4
LOOK INSIDE.
Sixteen views from the working instrument: Midnight Circuit, Scene launching, Chain arrangement, Drum16, sampling, tracks, effects, system health, and USB capture. Select any screen for a closer look.
THE COMPLETE 0.3.4 FEATURE LIST
A POCKET WORKSTATION, NOT A TOY.
SIXTEEN-STEP CHAIN
Arrange Scenes into a sixteen-step performance with repeats, HOLD, and END. Launches happen immediately while stopped and land on the bar while the transport is moving.
COMPLETE SONG RECALL
Song slots bring back their own BPM, swing, quantize, track lengths, sound banks, Drum16 pads, samples, freezes, Scenes, Chain, and effect state without old notes or tails leaking in.
PLAYABLE SAMPLER RETURN
Play cues directly from the Sampler page with the performance keys. After USB phone capture, the normal DAW returns straight to the waveform with the selected track restored.
DRUM16 SAMPLE MACHINE
Sixteen keyboard pads can use microphone recordings, imported WAV files, sampler slices, or synthesized drums. Shape level, tune, decay, choke, start, end, fades, and filtering per pad.
TRACK LENGTHS + SOUND BANKS
Run each track at one, two, four, eight, or sixteen bars. Move between Loop, Slice, Synth, Drum16, and Instrument without destroying prepared sounds, and freeze or thaw Synth tracks.
LONG SD-BACKED RECORDING
Capture 44.1 kHz mono PCM16 from the microphone directly to microSD. Long takes, loops, and Drum16 recordings stay out of the small internal audio window.
SAMPLER + INSTRUMENTS
Shape up to sixteen cues, then turn a selected slice into a saved four-voice chromatic instrument with root, tune, ADSR, filter, loop, and gate controls.
SIX-VOICE SYNTH + CHORDS
Build patches with oscillator color, detune, ADSR, resonant filter, envelope, and LFO controls. Live-recorded chords keep as many as four note events on each step.
TRACKS + OUTPUT FX
Track volume, length, filter, drive, delay, and reverb live in one readable place. Finish with tempo-synced delay, reverb, compression, and protected output.
USB MIDI + PHONE SAMPLING
Normal mode hosts class-compliant USB MIDI with protected cold attach and hot-plug handling. USB Sample records compatible phone audio digitally, then returns directly to the Sampler.
WI-FI FILE MANAGEMENT
Remember a Home Wi-Fi network or create a Direct AP. The browser manager can upload, download, preview, rename, delete, and organize SD files without removing the card.
BUILD HISTORY / PUBLIC CHANGELOG
THE MACHINE REMEMBERS.
A public record of what changed, what became sturdier, and what new musical machinery appeared.
0.3.4 20 AUG 2026 CURRENT FIRMWARE
SCENES
- Added eight song-local Scenes, A through H.
- Each Scene stores a start bar, length, and mute state for every track.
- Scene launches are immediate while stopped and bar-quantized during playback.
- Fn+Space loops the current Scene without starting the full Chain.
CHAIN ARRANGER
- Added sixteen Chain steps for arranging Scene A through H.
- Each step can repeat from one to sixteen times, HOLD, or end the arrangement.
- Scenes reuse existing notes and WAV regions instead of duplicating them in RAM.
- Older songs remain compatible and open naturally as Scene A.
COMPLETE SONG RECALL
- Song changes restore tempo, swing, quantize, track lengths, mode banks, and Drum16 pads.
- Samples, freezes, Scenes, Chain, and effect state now follow the destination song cleanly.
- Held notes, filter state, compressor gain, and old effect tails clear before the next song plays.
- A stale zero-length sample save can no longer block Song Load.
PLAYABLE SAMPLER
- Sampler cues can be played directly from the performance keyboard row.
- Multiple cues spread across the keys and wrap when necessary.
- Auditioning records only when the selected track is already Slice and armed.
- The firmware never changes track mode silently.
SAMPLER RETURN
- Leaving USB Sampling skips the splash and returns directly to the Sampler waveform.
- The selected track is restored and both menus close automatically.
- The return works with a new recording and when USB Sampling exits without one.
- Normal audio and MIDI operation resume without restarting the Cardputer.
USB + COMPATIBILITY
- USB MIDI remains available at boot and through controller unplug and reconnect cycles.
- Foreground UI and SD work stay quiet while the physical USB device is enumerated.
- Existing project, song, sample, and companion file layouts remain compatible.
- Updated the public manual to 21 pages for the 0.3.4 release.
0.3.3 06 AUG 2026 DRUM16 + FREEZE
DRUM16
- Added a sixteen-slot drum sampler played from the Cardputer keyboard.
- Each pad can use microphone audio, an imported WAV, a sampler slice, or a synthesized drum voice.
- Added Grid, Focus, and Wave views plus level, tune, decay, choke, start, end, fade, and filter controls.
- Optional pad WAV files stay beside the song while existing projects remain compatible.
TRACKS + FREEZE
- Each track can now run independently at one, two, four, eight, or sixteen bars.
- Loop, Slice, Synth, Drum16, and Instrument banks survive non-destructive track-mode changes.
- Added Synth freeze and thaw while Mixer processing and effect sends remain active.
- Added the TRACKS view for volume, length, filter, drive, delay, and reverb.
RECORDING + MIDI
- Live-recorded Synth chords can keep four note events on each step.
- Improved quantized recording around input timing, swing, and loop boundaries.
- Strengthened live note release delivery to prevent stuck notes.
- Restored dependable USB MIDI startup while supporting the larger track system.
OUTPUT FX
- Delay now offers 24 tempo divisions plus Feedback and Tone.
- Reverb, Compressor, and Output join Delay in the effects accordion.
- Added final output protection and lighter idle behavior when effect sends are silent.
- The metronome stays dry for clearer recording.
MIDNIGHT CIRCUIT
- Fresh installations open with a real editable four-bar demo at 112 BPM.
- Drum16, Slice sub, acid bass, and delayed Pluck chords introduce the instrument in D minor.
- The demo exists in memory only and is never written to the SD card unless Save is chosen.
COMPATIBILITY
- Existing projects and song formats remain compatible.
- USB MIDI, USB Sample, long recording, and Wi-Fi management remain intact.
- Updated the public manual to 20 pages for the complete 0.3.3 release.
0.2.37 01 AUG 2026 LANES + TIMING
SEQUENCER
- Added switchable 4 Lane and Lane Focus layouts, toggled directly with V.
- Lane Focus enlarges the selected 16-step lane while keeping three compact track overviews visible.
- Added playing-bar follow and a low-bandwidth realtime playhead to both views.
- Recorded Synth notes now preserve performed hold length and release behavior.
MUTE AND SOLO
- Muting dims the complete lane and adds a small M marker without changing its name.
- Solo keeps the selected lane clear while dimming the other tracks.
- Persistent header indicators show when mute or solo affects playback on another page.
LOOP RECORDING
- Loop recording now starts and closes on exact musical sample positions.
- Pressing R while recording schedules a clean stop at the next bar boundary.
- Early stops fill only the unfinished part of the bar with silence.
- Recorded loops return to the same position without hidden padding or gradual drift.
INTERFACE
- Changed the display background to true black and increased text contrast.
- Corrected the indexed palette so grey, cyan, orange, and magenta stay clean.
- Improved the compact interface font and maintenance headings.
- Added a deliberate 2.5-second BKLVA splash on normal cold boot.
WI-FI AND MANAGE MODE
- Moved Home Wi-Fi discovery into a dedicated boot-time scan before the realtime audio engine, USB host, and full interface load.
- Added automatic scan retry and a hard timeout instead of leaving the device stuck on a failed scan.
- Home Wi-Fi selection and password remain saved for the next connection.
- Leaving Home Wi-Fi or Direct AP Manage Mode now performs a clean return to the music system.
- The active song, SD streams, audio engine, and USB MIDI host restore automatically after Manage Mode.
- Wi-Fi mode changes skip the decorative cold-boot splash for a faster, clearer return to music.
DOCUMENTATION
- Added a new 19-page public user manual covering the complete 0.2.37 build.
- Added an updated overview of both sequencer views, Wi-Fi tools, Manage Mode, and USB Sample.
0.2.20 30 JUL 2026 INSTRUMENTS + USB
SAMPLE INSTRUMENTS
- Added a four-voice chromatic Instrument made from any selected sampler slice with Fn+I.
- Added 16 global Instrument slots stored on microSD.
- Added root note, tune, ADSR, filter, resonance, loop, gate, and mono/poly controls.
- Added Cardputer keyboard, sequencer, and USB MIDI performance for Instrument tracks.
USB
- Added separate modes for normal DAW USB MIDI and USB phone-audio sampling.
- Added phone status, input metering, recording time, and optional input monitoring.
- Returning from USB Sample imports the capture into the sampler and restores the DAW.
RECORDING AND TIMING
- Added true count-in pre-roll while the song and playhead remain parked.
- Improved live-record timing around step one and pattern wraparound.
- Added adaptive human timing compensation while preserving unquantized recording.
- Stopping transport now disarms Step Record and Live Record automatically.
REALTIME STABILITY
- Reduced display-transfer bandwidth to protect audio and SD streaming.
- Stabilized live Synth playing while Instrument tracks stream from microSD.
- Improved protection against stuck notes, clicks, and invalid filter feedback.
0.1.32 27 JUL 2026 PUBLIC BASELINE
FIRST DOCUMENTED PUBLIC BUILD
- Four-track sequencer with 16 steps per bar and song lengths up to eight bars.
- 44.1 kHz signed 16-bit mono recording and playback.
- Loop, Slice, Synth, and Drum track types with step and live recording.
- Microphone sampler with waveform editing and up to 16 cue-defined slices.
- Six-voice synth, eight-part drums, eight song slots, USB MIDI, mixing, effects, and system monitoring.
BEFORE UPDATING: Back up songs, samples, and Instrument files that cannot be replaced. Pocket-sized does not mean emotionally replaceable.
BKLVA // BENCH
BENCH // OPEN
BUG REPORTS • FEATURE IDEAS • PUBLIC PROGRESS
STATUS
THE BOARD IS LISTENING.
Bugs, ideas, replies, and progress.
Found something broken or thought of something better? Put it on the public bench. Your email stays private; the useful part becomes visible so everyone can follow what happens next.
PUBLIC NOTE + PRIVATE EMAIL COPY
RPT
TELL BKLVA.
Broken button, brilliant idea, mysterious beep. Put it on the bench.
FINAL HUMAN CHECK
TARGET --
/ YOU --
CONNECTING TO COMMUNITY SIGNAL...
THIS EXISTS BECAUSE BOTS ALSO HAVE OPINIONS.
PUBLIC WORKBENCH
BUGS ON THE TABLE.
00
BKLVA MODE ACTIVE
CHECKING THE PUBLIC BENCH...
A SMALL MACHINE WITH A COMPLETE LOOP
FROM NOISE TO SONG.
- CAPTURE Record a long microphone take, capture phone audio through USB, import a WAV, or resample the master.
- SHAPE Edit cues, save a chromatic sample instrument, design a synth patch, or choose a drum.
- SEQUENCE Read the whole arrangement in 4 Lane, focus one track for detail, step-record, or perform live into REC.
- ARRANGE Launch one of eight Scenes, then Chain them with repeats, HOLD, and END into a complete performance.
- MIX Balance tracks, filter, drive, add delay, and shape the master.
- SAVE Store the song in one of eight slots and keep reusable instruments in 16 global slots.
VERSION 0.3.4
TECHNICAL SIGNAL.
DEVICE
M5Stack Cardputer ADV
AUDIO ENGINE
44,100 Hz / signed 16-bit PCM
SEQUENCER
4 Lane + Lane Focus / 16 steps per bar / independent 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 bars
ARRANGER
8 Scenes / 16 Chain steps / x1-x16 repeats / HOLD / END
SAMPLER
Long SD-streamed mono PCM16 / up to 16 editable cues
VOICES
6 synth voices / 4 instrument voices / 16 Drum16 pads
STORAGE
8 complete song slots on FAT32 microSD
MIDI
Class-compliant USB MIDI host input + output
USB AUDIO
Separate compatible phone-audio capture mode
WI-FI
Remembered Home Wi-Fi / Direct AP / browser manager
FIRMWARE
0.3.4 full BIN / 8 MB flash / address 0x0000
USEFUL ANSWERS
BEFORE YOU FLASH.
What exactly is BKLVA Pocket DAW?
It is standalone music workstation firmware for the M5Stack Cardputer ADV, combining four-track sequencing, long recording, sampling, saved instruments, synthesis, drums, mixing, effects, song storage, USB audio, USB MIDI, and Wi-Fi management.
What hardware do I need?
Version 0.3.4 is made for the M5Stack Cardputer ADV. A reliable FAT32 microSD card is recommended for projects, long samples, loop recordings, and saved instruments.
Can it record and import samples?
Yes. Record long 44.1 kHz microphone audio directly to microSD, capture compatible phone audio through USB Sample mode, resample the master, or convert PCM16 WAV files from 8 to 96 kHz. A sample can hold up to 16 editable cues.
Does it support USB MIDI?
Yes. Normal DAW mode hosts class-compliant USB MIDI input and output for the selected track. USB Sample mode is a separate role for compatible phone-audio capture, so the two modes are used one at a time.
Can I manage files without removing the microSD card?
Yes. Connect through remembered Home Wi-Fi or the device's Direct AP, then use the browser manager to upload, download, preview, rename, delete, and organize files. Audio pauses while management owns the SD card so simultaneous writes cannot occur.
How do I install version 0.3.4?
On macOS 13 or newer, download the Mac flasher: it includes the current 0.3.4 build and handles the required flash settings. You can also download the full BIN and flash it manually at address 0x0000. The 21-page manual explains G0 download mode, the online ESP tool, flash settings, and first boot.
Will updating erase my saved songs?
The microSD card does not need to be erased. Compatible song slots, patterns, patches, samples, and 44.1 kHz loop WAV files can remain while the firmware is updated.
READY WHEN YOU ARE
PUT A DAW IN YOUR POCKET.
Use the Mac flasher with 0.3.4 already packed inside, download the checksum-verified BIN directly, or keep the complete manual beside you.