🐉 HYDRA SANITY v8.87 FINAL — Real-Time Multi-Graph Automation Engine

HYDRA SANITY is a real-time MIDI control and automation layer for Renoise HYDRA DSP devices.

It turns every HYDRA DSP into an independent HYDRA Row with its own MIDI assignment, recording state and automation target. Multiple rows can record, repeat, smooth and protect multiple automation graphs at the same time without flooding Renoise with unnecessary points. The companion MCU MIDI COM tool extends the same workflow to automatically mapped hardware encoders and MCU/PANORAMA rows.

Use HYDRA SANITY when you want to:

• control Renoise automation directly from encoders, faders, Pitch Bend or Aftertouch,
• record notes and several automation graphs in one pass,
• punch automation in from ARM ON,
• keep endless encoders linked to the value currently playing in the graph,
• repeat and update a selected automation phrase with LOOP,
• smooth existing automation while preserving its musical shape,
• automatically remap hardware encoders when the selected Renoise track changes,
• integrate MCU MIDI COM, PANORAMA control and hardware feedback,
• retry a pattern quickly without deleting its automation.

Final in v8.87: The v8.86 Gold Edition workflow is closed with stricter LEAVE, promotion-failure, boundary-retry and REC GUI authority, plus corrected MCU REL OSC value ownership during PLAY REC / WRITE IN. Accepted same-row MCU movement now remains the current controller state while the Automation Graph stays limited to one canonical point per Renoise row.

Guide map

• Install and open HYDRA SANITY
• Quick Start
• Understand the HYDRA Row
• Choose a GUI mode
• Complete button reference
• Configure MIDI and hardware profiles
• Learn hardware controls
• Choose a recording workflow
• Retry a pattern with DEL TRACK
• Use FOL ON
• Use CLK UP
• Understand REC, ARM, STICKY and LEAVE
• Use LOOP, Sm and Aftertouch
• Configure repeat boundaries and STOP NO
• Track-aware instrument auto-switch
• Use MCU MIDI COM, encoder layouts and fader modes
• Troubleshooting
• Current release and preserved changelog

1. Install and open HYDRA SANITY

Installation

1. Download the .xrnx package.

2. Drag the package into Renoise.

3. Confirm the installation.

4. Open:

   Tools > Zorgan > HYDRA SANITY

The monitoring engine starts when the GUI opens.

Recommended keyboard shortcut

Assign:

Preferences > Keys > Global > Hydra Sanity > Show GUI

A keyboard shortcut is the safest way to open and close the tool.

Optional native Renoise MIDI mapping

You can map a real hardware button to:

Tools > Zorgan > Hydra Sanity > Show GUI

This assignment belongs to Renoise native MIDI Mapping, not to the internal HYDRA SANITY MIDI MAPPER.

Do not assign a continuous source such as Mod Wheel, Pitch Bend, a fader or an encoder. A continuous message can repeatedly trigger Show GUI. If that happens, clear or relearn the assignment in Renoise:

Ctrl+M > Tools > Zorgan > Hydra Sanity > Show GUI

RESET ALL CC inside HYDRA SANITY does not clear Renoise native MIDI mappings.

When MCU MIDI COM is also installed, its Show GUI action can likewise be assigned to its own Renoise keyboard shortcut or MIDI hardware button. Each tool keeps its own independent GUI shortcut and native MIDI mapping.

2. Quick Start

Prepare the Renoise song

1. Add a HYDRA DSP device to every track you want to control.
2. Route each required HYDRA DSP output to an instrument, mixer, DSP or plugin parameter.
3. Give tracks, devices and targets clear names.
4. Open HYDRA SANITY.

Connect the controller

1. Press MIDI MAPPER.
2. Select the correct MIDI IN device.
3. Learn the row INPUT, REC and LATCH controls you need.
4. Select a valid MIDI OUT when hardware feedback or CLK UP is required.
5. Set the output role to BOTH, THRU, FB or OFF.
6. Press BACK TO STAGE.

Start working

1. Choose a workflow:
   • REC N&A — notes and automation,
   • REC Aut — automation only,
   • PLAY — safe listening.
2. Prepare each required row with:
   • REC ON for direct live writing, or
   • ARM ON to wait for its first mapped controller movement.
3. Move the mapped ENC / DEC / FAD / PB control.

When the first incoming note should start paused REC N&A, activate FOL ON.

When an external MIDI-synchronized arpeggiator must stay ready during PAUSE N&A, also enable Renoise MIDI Clock and activate CLK UP.

The four rules that matter most

3. Understand the HYDRA Row

Adding a HYDRA DSP automatically creates a corresponding independent HYDRA Row.

One HYDRA Row represents one controllable automation target, not one Renoise track. A track can therefore contain several HYDRA DSP devices and several HYDRA Rows, each controlling a different parameter.

Each row keeps its own:

• target and HYDRA DSP identity,
• MIDI assignments,
• current input value,
• recording and latch state,
• LOOP, Sm and Aftertouch state,
• graph writer and protection state,
• mute, solo and hardware-feedback state.

The live value meter shows the current automation or controller value and keeps a short peak indication of the latest highest value during playback.

Example song structure

This structure allows:

• several independent automation targets on one track,
• one controller mapping per HYDRA Row,
• group and master-track automation,
• note recording into the relevant note-capable track while other rows write automation.

Selecting a row

• First click on a HYDRA Row selects its automation graph.
• Second click on the already selected row opens the matching HYDRA DSP device.
• Controller movement can select the matching row, track and graph automatically.

If a PANORAMA/MCU row owns the same target, the physical HYDRA Row remains shadowed and selection is redirected to the visible owner.

4. Choose a GUI mode

SLIM

SLIM is the main performance view. A row can show:

• live value meter,
• REC ON / OFF,
• LATCH / ARM ON / STICKY / LEAVE,
• target name,
• ⟳ LOOP,
• Sm Smooth,
• AT Aftertouch,
• MUTE/SOLO state,
• mapping and feedback state.

FULL

FULL adds HYDRA DSP OUT 1–9 routing details so you can see where an output is going, to which device and to which parameter.

The OUT helper can show:

• output number,
• Renoise track,
• target device,
• target parameter,
• assignment state.

MINI and row navigation

MINI follows the selected or currently active row. The up/down controls between FULL and MINI adjust the visible row count and navigate larger row sets.

FULL, SLIM and MINI reuse cached layouts while row topology is unchanged. Hidden rows are excluded from unnecessary meter and state refreshes. A structural rebuild is reserved for a real HYDRA/MCU topology change.

MUTE behavior

If the target track is effectively MUTE or SOLO-muted:

• the row displays MUTE,
• REC ON / OFF is disabled while its previous REC intent is remembered,
• active LOOP is turned OFF and its button is disabled.

After UNMUTE, REC availability returns according to the remembered state and the LOOP button becomes available. LOOP does not reactivate automatically.

STAGE control reference

5. Complete button reference

Button labels can change to show the current state. Each entry below represents one physical GUI button or one shared button position with several state labels.

Main transport, runtime and view buttons

• DEL TRACK x in PATTERN y — Safely clears note and effect data in the current target track and pattern, returns to Row 00 and prepares the active REC workflow for a clean retry.
• GO 00 — Moves the edit and playback position to Row 00 of the current pattern.
• FOL ON / FOL OFF — Controls Renoise Follow Player and allows or blocks first-note autostart from paused REC N&A.
• REC N&A / PAUSE N&A — Starts or pauses the combined note-and-automation recording workflow.
• REC Aut / PAUSE Aut — Starts or pauses the automation-only recording workflow.
• PLAY / PAUSE Safe Listen — Starts or pauses safe listening without opening an ordinary live automation write pass.
• GUI SLIM / GUI FULL — Switches between the compact performance layout and the expanded layout.
• MIDI MAPPER / BACK TO STAGE — Opens MIDI routing and Learn setup, then returns to the previously used SLIM or FULL stage layout.
• START ENGINE / STOP ENGINE — Starts or stops the HYDRA SANITY runtime engine; closing the GUI alone does not stop it.
• PANIC — Sends MIDI panic and resets active HYDRA runtime states for emergency recovery.
• CLK UP — Reasserts MIDI Start during a HYDRA-owned pause so an externally clocked arpeggiator remains ready to provide the first resume note.

Repeat and FULL/MINI viewport buttons

• PATTERN LOOP — Toggles Renoise Pattern Loop for the current pattern.
• SEQUENCE LOOP — Toggles the current sequence slot; hold and drag horizontally to extend or reduce the sequence-repeat range.
• BLOCK LOOP 1/x — Toggles Renoise Block Loop; hold and drag horizontally to change the block-loop fraction.
• ▲ — Opens the compact FULL-row viewport and moves it one HYDRA row upward.
• FULL — Shows all HYDRA rows in FULL mode and resets the compact viewport.
• ▼ — Opens the compact FULL-row viewport and moves it one HYDRA row downward.
• MINI — Toggles the focused one-row view that follows the selected HYDRA or PANORAMA row.

HYDRA and PANORAMA row buttons

• REC ON / REC OFF — Enables or disables direct automation-writing permission for the individual row.
• LATCH / ARM ON / STICKY / LEAVE — Controls the row handoff between normal latch writing, waiting for first movement, continuous hold and intentional release back to preserved automation.
• Target / SELECT ROW — Selects the row, Renoise track and automation graph; a second click on the selected HYDRA row opens its HYDRA DSP device.
• ⟳ — Enables or disables HYDRA LOOP for the selected Automation Graph range.
• Sm — Enables or disables shape-preserving graph smoothing; LOOP and Sm are mutually exclusive for the same automation target.
• AT — Enables or disables global Channel Pressure and Poly Pressure input for the row.

Bulk-control buttons

• ALL REC — Enables REC for all visible HYDRA rows.
• Ø beside ALL REC — Disables REC for all HYDRA rows.
• ALL ARM — Places all HYDRA and PANORAMA rows into ARM ON waiting state.
• ARM OFF — Cancels waiting ARM ON states without changing active STICKY rows or existing REC ON states.
• ALL LATCH — Returns all HYDRA and PANORAMA rows to normal LATCH and clears ARM/STICKY hold intent.
• STOP NO — Chooses whether active STICKY, LOOP and Sm ownership survives the next repeat or backward boundary.
• hide H / show H — Hides or shows normal HYDRA rows; hidden normal rows ignore their direct MIDI input while PANORAMA rows remain active.
• 1–9 OUT badges — Read-only routing indicators for the selected HYDRA DSP outputs; their state and tooltip show whether each OUT target is assigned.

MIDI MAPPER buttons

• HW: STUDIO / HW: TRAVEL — Selects the active stored hardware profile and its MIDI devices, roles, channels and Learn assignments.
• SWAP HW — Exchanges the complete STUDIO and TRAVEL profile contents after confirmation.
• MCU MODE ON / MCU MODE OFF — Displays the automatically detected MCU-relative input state; clicking it performs a rescan and does not force MCU mode.
• LINKING TO GRAPH — Lets relative REL1/REL2/REL3/MCU inputs pick up the current automation value before movement continues.
• DIAG ON / DIAG OFF — Shows or hides internal OSC/IPC and Aftertouch diagnostic rows.
• TOOLTIP ON / TOOLTIP OFF — Enables or disables GUI tooltips and stores the choice in global preferences.
• RESET ALL CC — Clears all HYDRA SANITY global and row MIDI Learn assignments after confirmation.
• L / W — Starts Learn for the associated control; W indicates that HYDRA is currently waiting for input.
• R — Resets the associated learned mapping to the unassigned state.
• FAD INV — Reverses only the learned absolute FAD or PB direction; new absolute FAD/PB mappings enable inversion by default.

6. Configure MIDI and hardware profiles

HYDRA SANITY provides three direct MIDI inputs and three direct MIDI outputs.

MIDI output roles

Hardware feedback and CLK UP require at least one open MIDI OUT with role BOTH or FB.

STUDIO and TRAVEL profiles

Each hardware profile stores its own:

• MIDI IN and OUT ports,
• output roles,
• channel routing,
• HYDRA SANITY MIDI Learn assignments.

Use SWAP HW to exchange the stored STUDIO and TRAVEL configurations when the same physical controller mapping must change roles between setups.

Shared MIDI input warning

If the same physical MIDI input is active in both Renoise and HYDRA SANITY, Renoise may write controller messages into pattern effect columns.

Disable:

Renoise Preferences > MIDI > Record & Play Filter > Pitchbend & Controllers

for the shared input.

7. MIDI MAPPER and MIDI Learn

HYDRA SANITY MIDI MAPPER is separate from Renoise native MIDI Mapping.

It can learn:

• row INPUT controls,
• row REC buttons,
• row LATCH / ARM ON / STICKY / LEAVE buttons,
• row MUTE / SOLO,
• row Aftertouch enable,
• global REC N&A,
• global REC Aut,
• global safe PLAY,
• global DEL TRACK.

CLK UP is a direct STAGE control and is not a separate internal MIDI Learn target.

Basic Learn procedure

1. Open MIDI MAPPER.
2. Select the correct MIDI input slot.
3. Press the required L Learn button.
4. Move an encoder or fader in both directions, or press and release a button.
5. Wait for automatic classification.
6. Return with BACK TO STAGE.

Supported continuous inputs

New absolute FAD and PB mappings enable FAD INV by default so the physical direction matches Renoise Automation Graph orientation. Disable FAD INV when the original hardware direction is preferred.

MIDI Learn evaluates a short value sequence instead of classifying one isolated movement. Ambiguous movement remains in Learn mode rather than being stored incorrectly.

Supported button patterns

• 127 press / 0 release,
• 0 / 64,
• 64 / 127,
• Note On with Note Off,
• Note On followed by Note On velocity 0,
• velocity-sensitive pads used as buttons.

HYDRA SANITY stores the detected ON/OFF pair and does not assume that every button ON value is 127.

MCU mode and feedback

MCU-compatible messages are detected automatically. With a compatible MIDI OUT and role BOTH or FB, HYDRA SANITY can provide button LEDs and encoder-ring feedback.

For example, an X-TOUCH MINI fader in MCU mode is detected as Pitch Bend on MIDI Channel 9.

RESET ALL CC

RESET ALL CC clears HYDRA SANITY internal assignments.

It does not clear Renoise native MIDI mappings, including the native Show GUI assignment.

8. Choose a recording workflow

REC N&A — notes and automation

Use REC N&A when Renoise note recording and HYDRA automation writing should run in the same pass.

HYDRA SANITY:

1. resolves the active HYDRA or PANORAMA target row,
2. selects the matching Renoise track,
3. opens the Pattern Editor,
4. enables the note-and-automation workflow.

From PAUSE N&A, recording can resume in two ways:

With FOL OFF, incoming notes do not start paused REC N&A. They remain available to the normal Renoise or instrument path.

Other rows waiting in ARM ON remain armed until their own mapped controller moves.

Start recording with the first played note

1. Select REC N&A; the button changes to PAUSE N&A.
2. Activate FOL ON.
3. Prepare the required rows with REC ON or ARM ON.
4. Play the first MIDI note.
5. HYDRA SANITY starts playback and note recording at that moment.

REC Aut — automation only

Use REC Aut to write one or more automation graphs without recording notes into the pattern.

From PAUSE Aut, the first valid movement from an ARM ON row:

1. resumes playback in REC Automation,
2. changes that row to STICKY,
3. uses the same decoded MIDI value as the first graph-write value.

Start several graphs from hardware

1. Select REC Aut; the button changes to PAUSE Aut.
2. Put each required row into ARM ON.
3. Move the first mapped controller to start REC Automation and that row’s STICKY write.
4. Move the other mapped controllers when needed. Each row enters STICKY from its own first movement.

A separate REC ON mapping is not required for this ARM ON punch-in workflow.

PLAY — safe listening

Use PLAY / PAUSE Safe Listen to listen without opening an ordinary automation-write pass.

Switching from a recording workflow to safe PLAY turns active LOOP and Sm off and returns active STICKY rows to ARM ON. Safe PLAY does not activate LOOP, start LATCH/STICKY recording or create a new automation lane.

In PLAY and REC Aut, Renoise note data can still be edited from the computer keyboard. These modes do not use incoming notes as the paused REC N&A first-note trigger.

9. DEL TRACK — GO 00 — FOL ON workflow

DEL TRACK x in PATTERN y is a protected retry command for the current pattern.

What it clears

It clears note-column and effect-column data from the current target track in the current pattern.

It does not:

• delete the automation graph,
• delete the Renoise track,
• replace Renoise Undo.

If no HYDRA Row owns the selection, the current note-capable Renoise track can still be used.

Protected reset sequence

A successful action:

1. validates that the target is a note-capable track,
2. changes active REC N&A to PAUSE N&A or active REC Aut to PAUSE Aut,
3. safely changes active STICKY rows to ARM ON,
4. clears note and effect data,
5. returns edit and playback position to Row 00,
6. re-arms the first-note detector for paused REC N&A,
7. preserves the current FOL ON / OFF state,
8. preserves active CLK UP pause protection,
9. prepares the next Note On or mapped controller movement for a clean restart.

If validation or clearing fails, the transport and STICKY states are not changed.

What starts the next take

10. FOL ON and Renoise Follow Player

FOL ON / OFF is directly linked to Renoise Follow Player and also controls first-note autostart for paused REC N&A.

Use FOL ON for real-time note recording and first-note autostart.

Use FOL OFF for manual note, track or effect-column editing. Notes received while FOL is OFF are absorbed into the detector baseline, so turning FOL ON later cannot cause a delayed start from an older note.

HYDRA SANITY preserves the user’s FOL choice. It does not force FOL ON when REC N&A starts, pauses or resumes. DEL TRACK also preserves the same state.

FOL does not control HYDRA LOOP, Sm or repeat-boundary ownership. Those functions are governed by STOP NO.

11. CLK UP — external MIDI arpeggiator pause protection

CLK UP is for hardware keyboards, controllers and arpeggiators synchronized to external MIDI Clock.

Why it is needed

Renoise can continue sending MIDI Clock during PAUSE, but many external arpeggiators also require MIDI Start before they generate notes. Renoise PAUSE may send MIDI Stop, leaving the arpeggiator synchronized but inactive.

CLK UP restores the required MIDI Start state after a HYDRA-owned PAUSE. The external arpeggiator can then generate the first Note On which, with FOL ON, resumes paused REC N&A.

Renoise remains the only clock authority. HYDRA SANITY does not generate MIDI Clock or calculate BPM/LPB timing.

Signal flow

1. Renoise continues sending MIDI Clock.
2. A HYDRA-owned PAUSE may produce MIDI Stop.
3. CLK UP reasserts MIDI Start.
4. The external arpeggiator generates a Note On.
5. FOL ON authorizes that note to resume REC N&A.

Required setup

1. Set the external controller or arpeggiator to its external-clock mode.
2. Enable Renoise MIDI Clock for the target MIDI OUT.
3. Select the same output in HYDRA SANITY.
4. Set its output role to BOTH or FB.
5. Activate CLK UP.
6. Activate FOL ON when the first arpeggiated note should resume REC N&A.

Renoise Send Start/Stop may remain enabled or disabled:

• when enabled, CLK UP restores Start after Renoise Stop,
• when disabled, CLK UP provides the required Start.

Button states and safety

CLK UP sends transport messages only. It adds no second clock generator, timer, BPM/LPB scheduler or first-note detector.

An explicit STOP, PANIC, STOP ENGINE, song change or tool unload remains the higher safety authority. Disabling CLK UP while Renoise is stopped sends MIDI Stop to return the external arpeggiator to a safe state.

12. REC ON, ARM ON, STICKY and LEAVE

HYDRA SANITY separates the global transport workflow from each row’s graph ownership.

REC ON

REC ON gives the row direct permission for ordinary live graph writing.

When active:

• fresh mapped movement writes automation,
• LATCH and Release Bridge are available,
• STICKY and HOLD can own the graph.

When inactive:

• ordinary controller movement does not start a direct write pass,
• Sm works only with an existing automation graph and never creates a lane by itself,
• ARM ON can still punch into STICKY without a separate REC ON mapping.

Turning REC ON for a different row selects that row and opens its graph. On the already selected row, it changes only the REC state and does not toggle graph/HYDRA DSP focus.

LATCH

LATCH writes while the mapped controller is active. After release, HYDRA SANITY reconnects from the last confirmed live value toward the nearest preserved future automation point.

ARM ON

ARM ON waits for the first valid movement from the row’s mapped ENC / DEC / FAD / PB control.

That first movement:

• enters STICKY during PLAY REC,
• or resumes the stored REC mode from PAUSE and then enters STICKY.

The triggering MIDI value is used as the first real graph-write value; it is not discarded.

With LINKING TO GRAPH and a relative ENC / DEC / MCU input, the first ARM ON movement during PLAY REC reads the graph value at the current playback position before STICKY activates. This applies to both normal REC ON + ARM ON and ARM ON @ REC ON workflows. The endless encoder therefore continues from the value that is actually playing instead of an obsolete internal position.

PAUSE, absolute controls, Pitch Bend and LINK OFF keep their normal behavior.

STICKY

STICKY:

• holds the last live value,
• keeps a safe forward graph shelter,
• remains active after controller release.

Controller release alone does not end STICKY.

LEAVE

Use LEAVE to end STICKY intentionally. HYDRA SANITY reconnects from the last confirmed MIDI-written point to the nearest preserved future graph point.

13. HYDRA Row graph and input tools

⟳ LOOP

LOOP repeats a selected grouped range from the Renoise Automation Graph during PLAY REC note&aut. or PLAY REC aut.. It can be prepared while recording is paused, but ordinary safe PLAY cannot activate or run it.

Basic workflow:

1. Open the Automation Graph for the intended HYDRA or MCU/PANORAMA row.
2. Select a genuine grouped automation range in the currently active pattern.
3. Enable the row’s REC state and activate ⟳ on that exact row.
4. Start or resume a REC workflow.
5. Edit a projected block directly with the mouse when needed.
6. After the edited block is physically complete, it becomes the source for the following block.

The selected source must contain more than one row and valid automation grids. A selection left over from another pattern is rejected. The current playback row may be before the selection, on its first row, inside the selection or on its last row when recording begins.

The original selected area defines the fixed phase. The latest complete physical block defines the content that continues forward.

Empty source rows clear corresponding target rows so stale points cannot survive inside the repeated block.

Manual graph drawing has higher priority than copied LOOP content. Clearing or collapsing the graph selection immediately deactivates LOOP and restores a clickable OFF button. Renoise can report the entire pattern after a selection is cleared; HYDRA SANITY recognizes this unowned fallback and does not copy the whole pattern into the next one.

Selecting a different valid area suspends the previous loop and activates the new area after the selection becomes stable. An invalid selection leaves an existing Sm processor unchanged.

During Sequence Repeat, prepared content for the next pattern remains internal LOOP data. It is not interpreted as a new manual selection, so the next pattern does not select the entire graph, overwrite it with a constant value or stall the engine.

Once a valid LOOP is running, its forward projection may continue into the following pattern. This is different from initial activation, which always requires a selection in the currently active pattern.

LOOP and Sm cannot run simultaneously on the same target, including a physical HYDRA Row and its matching MCU/PANORAMA Shadow row. Activating LOOP disables Sm; activating Sm disables LOOP. A clean ARM ON waiting state can coexist with either processor, but the first accepted ENC / DEC / PB / FAD / MCU movement stops that row’s LOOP or Sm and writes the same controller value normally. Other rows remain unaffected.

Effective MUTE turns active LOOP off. Changing from PLAY REC to ordinary PLAY turns LOOP and Sm off and returns active STICKY to ARM ON.

Sm Smooth

Sm softens an existing automation curve while preserving its overall musical shape, valid peaks and troughs. It reconstructs canonical points at the start of each row and removes invalid intermediate points without repeatedly modifying an unchanged area.

At a pattern boundary, Sm uses neighboring patterns as read-only mathematical context:

• At Row 00, it reads the terminal value from the previous pattern and reconstructs the following rows inside the current pattern.
• At the last row, it reads Row 00 from the next pattern and reconstructs the preceding rows inside the current pattern.
• At the physical beginning or end of the song, a nonexistent neighboring pattern is never invented.
• A paused edit-position jump processes its destination rather than replaying every skipped row.
• Sm never rewrites a neighboring pattern merely because its value was needed for continuity.

Sm does not:

• start WRITE IN,
• start LATCH, STICKY or HOLD,
• run Release Bridge,
• create a new automation lane.

LINKING TO GRAPH

LINKING TO GRAPH is intended for learned relative inputs: REL1, REL2, REL3 and MCU.

It seeds an endless encoder from the automation value at the relevant projected or current playback position. Absolute controls and Pitch Bend already provide their own absolute value.

Aftertouch

The global AT input supports:

• Channel Pressure,
• Poly Pressure.

Aftertouch is normalized to 0..1 and routed only to rows with AT enabled. Its input path ignores notes, standard CC and Pitch Bend. When several input types arrive in the same pending window, Aftertouch has the highest priority.

14. Repeat topology and STOP NO

HYDRA SANITY supports:

• Pattern Loop,
• Sequence Loop,
• Block Loop,
• song repeat and backward transport boundaries.

The topology buttons reflect the real Renoise transport state.

Block Loop and the physical automation-graph axis

BLOCK LOOP 1/x defines the Renoise playback return area, but it does not isolate the automation graph or turn it into a circular lane. HYDRA SANITY continues to treat the graph as one physical linear song axis.

This means:

• Sm can refine automation across the Block Loop start and end,
• REC ON release and ARM ON → STICKY release can reconnect beyond the block boundary,
• the nearest real graph points before and after the block remain valid interpolation references,
• HYDRA SANITY never creates an artificial graph connection across the transport jump from block_end back to block_start.

The result is a graph that remains musically continuous when Block Loop is disabled or when playback later continues beyond the repeated area.

Sequence Loop gesture

STOP NO

STOP NO defines whether continuing HYDRA ownership survives the next supported repeat or backward boundary.

In both states, Renoise Pattern, Sequence and Block Loop remain active. STOP NO changes HYDRA ownership policy; it does not disable the native loop topology.

15. Automation graph safety

HYDRA SANITY writes useful automation points while protecting the live audio value and preserving future graph data.

Independent multi-graph writing

Each row has independent:

• MIDI input state,
• confirmed graph-commit state,
• shelter and guard state,
• writer runtime.

Several controllers can therefore write several graphs in the same pass. A second HYDRA Row can begin writing while Block Loop is active without reallocating, interrupting or resetting rows that are already recording.

Writer timing and latency

The writer reuses already resolved physical song geometry, row projections and automation data within each active write pass. After a graph change, only the affected graph data is refreshed.

For the user, this provides:

• faster response to dense MIDI and OSC movement,
• more consistent REC ON and STICKY timing,
• steadier operation at high LPB and inside active repeat areas,
• less redundant work when several HYDRA Rows write simultaneously.

Fresh sample policy

• The live audio runtime uses the newest valid MIDI value.
• The graph stores at most one fresh sample for each sequence + row.
• Repeated same-row traffic does not flood Renoise with unnecessary points.

Forward shelter

Before stale points are removed, Renoise receives a safe current anchor and a same-value forward guard. This horizontal shelter prevents Renoise from interpolating prematurely toward old future data.

Release Bridge

Release interpolation connects:

• A — the last MIDI value confirmed in the automation lane,
• B — the nearest preserved future graph point.

A synthetic guard is never used as the real release endpoint.

Lane resurrection

If the automation lane is deleted manually, HYDRA SANITY invalidates the stale reference and creates a new lane on the next valid write.

The writer foundation has been runtime-tested at BPM 213 / LPB 31.

16. Renoise focus and topology changes

HYDRA SANITY can follow Renoise, and Renoise can follow HYDRA SANITY.

Track-aware instrument auto-switch (v8.81)

HYDRA SANITY can select the appropriate instrument when the user changes tracks, especially in a new or empty pattern where Renoise has no note data from which to infer the required instrument.

The feature follows the song’s existing routing instead of overriding Renoise. Detection priority is:

1. saved Plugin Instrument Audio Routing from BUS outputs to tracks,
2. fixed MIDI Input Assigned Track settings,
3. Renoise instrument detection from notes already present in the current pattern,
4. the last instrument confirmed as used on the selected track.

When Renoise already selects the correct instrument, HYDRA SANITY leaves it unchanged. Multi-timbral instruments are supported: one plugin instrument can serve several tracks through separate BUS outputs, and selecting any routed track selects that same instrument.

HYDRA to Renoise

Mapped controller movement can select:

• the matching HYDRA Row,
• the matching Renoise track,
• the matching automation graph.

Renoise to HYDRA

Selecting a known track, DSP device, parameter or automation target in Renoise can activate the corresponding HYDRA or PANORAMA row.

Moving to a track with no HYDRA DSP and no HYDRA/MCU row clears stale selected-row ownership.

HYDRA DSP changes

• Adding a HYDRA DSP during PLAY uses a lightweight structural rescan.
• A new HYDRA DSP remains open in the Track DSP panel.
• Renaming a HYDRA DSP preserves SELECT ROW because identity follows the actual device, not its display name.
• Removing or reordering HYDRA DSP devices triggers the required scan, rebuild and purge.
• Passive MCU/PANORAMA refresh is not treated as a physical HYDRA topology change.
• In PAUSE, passive focus updates do not steal a valid manually selected HYDRA Row.

17. MCU MIDI COM, PANORAMA and feedback

HYDRA SANITY v8.87 works together with the separate MCU MIDI COM tool to combine flexible hardware mapping with controlled Renoise automation recording.

MCU MIDI COM manages the controller connection, hardware encoders, faders, displays, buttons and LEDs. HYDRA SANITY owns the Automation Graph, recording state, ARM/STICKY workflow, Sm, LOOP and protected graph writing. Their runtime communication uses OSC.

Automatic ENC 1–8 mapping

When the selected Renoise track changes, MCU MIDI COM can automatically remap ENC 1–8 to the DSP or mixer parameters available on that track. HYDRA SANITY receives the committed target map and creates or updates the matching PANORAMA_E1 ... PANORAMA_E8 rows.

This provides:

• automatic controller reassignment after a track change,
• one corresponding automation target for each active encoder,
• immediate Automation Graph selection when a physical encoder is moved,
• stable target replacement when the track, DSP device or parameter changes,
• REC ON, ARM ON, STICKY and graph-aware relative pickup on supported MCU rows,
• independent operation of several encoders and physical HYDRA Rows,
• synchronized controller feedback without assigning the same graph to two active owners.

An incoming MCU encoder movement can switch the selected graph during both PLAY and PAUSE. Passive GUI or DAW synchronization does not steal a manually selected HYDRA Row while transport is paused; a real physical controller movement has higher priority.

MCU MIDI COM GUI layouts: ENC 4 and ENC 8

The companion tool provides two controller-oriented GUI layouts:

Choose the layout that matches the physical controller. These are MCU MIDI COM layouts; HYDRA SANITY keeps its own independent FULL, SLIM and MINI views.

MCU MIDI COM FADER mode: MIXER or # DSP ONLY

MCU MIDI COM faders can be used for direct song-parameter control in two modes:

To expose a DSP device in # DSP ONLY mode:

1. Open the target Renoise track and locate its DSP device.
2. Rename the device so its name contains #, for example # Filter, Delay # or # Reverb.
3. Select the # DSP ONLY fader mode in MCU MIDI COM.
4. Assign the available parameters from the marked device to the hardware faders.

Devices without # are not offered by this filtered DSP-only view. This keeps the fader list focused on the parameters intentionally prepared for the song, while ENC 1–8 remain available for the HYDRA SANITY automation workflow.

Opening either GUI from hardware

Both HYDRA SANITY and MCU MIDI COM support a Renoise keyboard shortcut or a mapped MIDI hardware button for Show GUI. Assign each tool separately and use a button rather than a continuous encoder or fader message.

Duplicate-target ownership

When a PANORAMA W.A. row and a physical HYDRA Row target the same parameter:

• PANORAMA becomes the visible owner,
• the duplicate HYDRA Row is shadowed and input-blocked,
• clicking the physical HYDRA DSP selects the PANORAMA owner,
• WA_OFF releases ownership and allows the HYDRA Row to return.

LCK is a lock modifier; it is not required for duplicate-target detection.

Feedback

Feedback can include:

• REC, ARM, STICKY and transport LEDs,
• MCU encoder rings,
• MUTE state,
• graph-following values,
• Smooth pulse,
• selected-row feedback.

Select a valid MIDI OUT and set its role to BOTH or FB.

MIDI input and feedback use bounded controlled queues. Repeated feedback for the same control is coalesced so obsolete LED or ring values cannot accumulate during dense input.

18. Troubleshooting

19. Practical checklists

First setup

• [ ] Install the .xrnx.
• [ ] Add and route HYDRA DSP devices.
• [ ] Select MIDI IN and required MIDI OUT devices.
• [ ] Set each output role.
• [ ] Learn row INPUT controls.
• [ ] Learn required row and global buttons.
• [ ] Return to STAGE.

Before recording

• [ ] Choose REC N&A or REC Aut.
• [ ] Choose FOL ON for first-note REC N&A autostart or FOL OFF for manual editing.
• [ ] Activate REC ON or prepare rows in ARM ON.
• [ ] Confirm the correct HYDRA Row and Renoise track.
• [ ] Move a controller or play the first note.

External arpeggiator during PAUSE

• [ ] Set the controller/arpeggiator to its required external or auto clock mode.
• [ ] Enable Renoise MIDI Clock for the target output.
• [ ] Select the same output in HYDRA SANITY.
• [ ] Set its role to BOTH or FB.
• [ ] Activate CLK UP.
• [ ] Activate FOL ON.
• [ ] Enter PAUSE N&A and play or hold the first note/chord.

Retry the current pattern

• [ ] Press DEL TRACK.
• [ ] Confirm Row 00.
• [ ] Confirm the intended FOL state.
• [ ] Confirm CLK UP when using an external arpeggiator.
• [ ] Play the first note or move an ARM ON controller.

20. Current release and preserved changelog

HYDRA SANITY v8.87 FINAL — Runtime Authority and MCU REL WRITE Closure

HYDRA SANITY v8.87 is the final runtime-approved release in the v8.87 line. It closes the v8.86 Gold Edition development cycle without changing the established Renoise workflow or increasing Automation Graph density.

Final corrections:

• LEAVE remains gated by its canonical lifecycle and cannot be projected from an incomplete transport transition.
• Failed ARM-to-STICKY promotion no longer falls through into unauthorized writer work.
• Boundary close failure preserves the existing retry authority instead of losing the pending close transaction.
• REC GUI text follows the canonical committed REC state rather than suppression or legacy fallback projection.
• During graph-linked MCU REL WRITE, the valid absolute OSC value produced by MCU MIDI COM is the controller-value authority.
• Accepted MCU REL updates in the same Renoise row remain available as the current runtime value while the graph keeps at most one canonical automation point for that row.
• MCU acceleration deltas such as ±2, ±4 and ±8 therefore retain their resulting MCU value during PLAY REC / WRITE IN instead of being reconstructed from a competing writer/runtime base.
• SGA acquisition, exact T/D/P target validation, W.A./LCK behavior, OSC packet shape and the existing MCU input-per-row limit remain unchanged.

Release identity:

• public version: 8.87;
• Renoise runtime: 3.5.4, API 6.2;
• final runtime-source checkpoint: Git commit 235c371;
• release status: FINAL / CLOSED.

HYDRA SANITY v8.86 Gold Edition — Reliable Multi-Graph Recording and MCU MIDI COM Integration

HYDRA SANITY v8.86 consolidates automation recording, selected-area LOOP, shape-preserving Sm and MCU MIDI COM integration into a consistent Renoise performance workflow.

Recording, ARM ON and STICKY

• Stabilized REC ON during tool startup, repeated activation and PAUSE → PLAY transitions.
• Preserved REC configuration and exact-target ownership when control passes between a physical HYDRA Row and an MCU/PANORAMA Shadow row.
• Improved ARM ON, STICKY and LATCH consistency during track changes, target replacement and recording-mode transitions.
• Kept the first valid controller value when ARM ON acquires the graph and starts writing.
• Restored graph-aware relative pickup from the automation value at the current playback row.
• Protected independent rows when several ENC, DEC, PB or FAD controls are used together.
• Corrected pattern, sequence and song-wrap handling while preserving the selected STOP NO policy.

Selected-area LOOP

• Required a genuine selected Automation Graph area in the currently active pattern.
• Allowed LOOP preparation in PAUSE and playback only in PLAY REC note&aut. or PLAY REC aut..
• Kept LOOP active when recording begins before, inside or on the first/last row of its selected source.
• Prevented a cleared graph selection from being mistaken for a whole-pattern selection.
• Stopped LOOP immediately after manual deselection instead of copying an entire pattern into the next one.
• Supported stable manual reselection and normal forward projection into the following pattern.
• Made LOOP and Sm mutually exclusive for one physical target, including its MCU/PANORAMA Shadow row.
• Closed LOOP or Sm when the first real encoder, fader or Pitch Bend input takes graph ownership, without losing that input.
• Turned LOOP and Sm off when moving from PLAY REC to ordinary PLAY; active STICKY returns to ARM ON.

Sm automation smoothing

• Preserved automation continuity across neighboring patterns using their real boundary values.
• Wrote reconstructed automation only at canonical row-start positions and removed invalid intermediate points.
• Read the previous pattern’s terminal value at Row 00 and reconstructed inward within the current pattern.
• Read the following pattern’s Row 00 value at the current pattern end and reconstructed inward within the current pattern.
• Prevented paused cursor jumps from smoothing every skipped row between the previous and current edit position.
• Preserved valid peaks, troughs, monotonic transitions and the overall shape of existing automation.
• Kept neighboring patterns read-only even when their automation provides mathematical boundary context.

MCU MIDI COM and controller integration

• Improved cooperation with current MCU MIDI COM releases through an OSC-only runtime bridge.
• Automatically updated ENC 1–8 target assignments when the selected track, DSP device or parameter changes.
• Published a new MCU target map only after its complete encoder snapshot was available.
• Prevented old OSC packets and stale encoder snapshots from replacing a newer confirmed target.
• Fixed physical MCU encoder autoswitch to select its Automation Graph during both PLAY and PAUSE.
• Preserved passive manually selected HYDRA focus in PAUSE until a real controller input requests ownership.
• Supported the companion tool’s ENC 4 and ENC 8 layouts for four- and eight-encoder hardware.
• Documented MCU MIDI COM fader selection through MIXER and # DSP ONLY modes.
• Stabilized MCU encoder feedback and exact-target handoff between physical and Shadow rows.
• Supported independent Show GUI keyboard shortcuts and MIDI buttons for both tools.

Stability and cleanup

• Corrected queue ordering so pending MIDI and writer work remains reliable between compaction passes.
• Cleared stale MIDI, CC and writer queues when a runtime row is closed.
• Improved MIDI input opening and recovery from blocked or unavailable ports.
• Preserved OSC string values and queue-lane contracts during communication.
• Protected writer locks against errors at transport wrap boundaries.
• Removed obsolete duplicate MCU/PANORAMA state and event paths.
• Removed the legacy IRON processor; existing saved IRON state is safely treated as inactive.

HYDRA SANITY v8.85 — Block Loop Graph Continuity and Faster Writer Response

Sm — Shape-Preserving Reconstruction Reworked Sm into a shape-preserving automation reconstruction system. Added two-pass smoothing with shrink compensation to preserve modulation amplitude and dynamics. Added controlled Hermite reconstruction for genuinely curved gaps. Linear gaps are left clean without unnecessary point generation. Added immutable-source processing so each Sm pass evaluates a stable graph snapshot. Added source-signature protection against repeatedly smoothing an unchanged area. PLAY REC uses trailing closed-area processing; PAUSE/scroll uses the same Sm mathematics. Sm behavior remains tempo/LPB independent. Sm — Geometric Safety Added monotone Hermite limiting for normal transitions. Sm no longer creates a new opposite-direction movement inside a monotonic transition. Added a no-new-extrema guard for shrink-compensated smoothing. Existing real peaks and troughs remain protected. Missing peaks/troughs can still be reconstructed when supported by surrounding graph geometry. Added bilateral extremum evidence: missing peak/trough reconstruction now requires compatible evidence from both sides. Strongly asymmetric plateau shoulders fall back to a monotonic transition instead of generating false overshoot. This removed the inverse sinusoidal “ears” previously produced around plateau edges. Result accepted as sufficient for classical automation smoothing/writing. Sm — Pattern Boundary Continuity PAUSE/scroll Sm now continues across physical pattern boundaries. At row 00, Sm acquires context from the previous pattern. At the pattern end, Sm acquires context from the following pattern. Cross-pattern processing uses the same physical linear song axis as the rest of Sm. Loop boundaries remain playback boundaries only and do not replace physical graph neighbors. STOP NO — Continuous STICKY Wrap Fixed STICKY writing across Sequence Loop / Pattern Repeat / song-repeat boundaries with STOP NO enabled. STICKY no longer enters an internal wait-for-release state at the wrap. The controller can continue writing immediately after the boundary without being physically released. REC-OFF temporary STICKY authorization is preserved through the handoff. Existing STOP NO OFF behavior remains unchanged: REC ON → ARM ON REC OFF → LATCH MIDI OUT — Feedback Authority FB and BOTH are now the authoritative modes for synthesized controller feedback. mcu_enabled is limited to REL-MCU input decoding and no longer acts as a master LED/RING switch. THRU remains raw MIDI passthrough without synthesized HYDRA LED/RING feedback. Stateful REC/LATCH buttons under FB/BOTH are controlled by HYDRA runtime state instead of raw button-release echo. MIDI Button LED Feedback Restored persistent REC LED state: REC ON → LED ON REC OFF → LED OFF Restored ARM ON blinking using the existing feedback timer. Restored STICKY state LED behavior. Preserved REC-OFF ARM/STICKY feedback combinations. Restored state-driven feedback for: PLAY REC N&A PLAY REC Automation PLAY PAUSE feedback for these modes again uses the original blinking behavior. DEL TRACK remains the intentional exception: momentary LED flash only. LED RING Restored encoder LED RING feedback for FB and BOTH. W.A./LCK no longer globally disables HYDRA ring feedback. Ring feedback is no longer dependent on the REL-MCU decoder state. Existing graph-mode ring and feedback behavior is preserved. STOP ENGINE reliably clears LED and RING feedback. MCU / Shadow Feedback Handoff Feedback state is derived from the actual runtime owner while preserving the physical HYDRA Row as the learned MIDI mapping authority. Single MCU REC OFF now transfers REC OFF to the physical HYDRA fallback before Shadow release. This prevents the hardware REC LED from returning to a stale REC ON state after MCU ownership is detached.

• Block Loop now works on the same physical linear automation graph as Pattern Loop, Sequence Loop and song repeat.
• Sm can refine a curve across Block Loop boundaries in one rewrite instead of stopping at the block edge.
• Releasing a MIDI controller near the end of a Block Loop now reconnects smoothly to the nearest real future graph point in both REC ON and ARM ON → STICKY workflows.
• Removed artificial Block Loop end-to-start graph connections and incorrect truncation of valid Shelter and Release Bridge paths.
• Multiple HYDRA Rows can start and continue writing independently while Block Loop is active.
• Reduced perceived latency and improved engine timing during dense MIDI/OSC input, high LPB playback and repeated automation writing.
• MCU/OSC controller movement selects the corresponding HYDRA or MCU Row more consistently.
• Shadowed HYDRA Rows remain available in MIDI MAPPER and return correctly after BACK TO STAGE.
• Unmapped MIDI controls no longer display invalid device and channel identifiers.
• Adaptive Sm produces cleaner automation from a single rewrite while preserving the overall musical movement.

HYDRA SANITY v8.83 — ARM ON global Fix

Fixed ARM ON @ REC ON incorrectly enabling the real REC ON state after a repeat. With STOP NO disabled, it now returns correctly to REC OFF + LATCH. Fixed ARM ON transitions after GO 00, DEL TRACK, PAUSE resume and pattern repeats, preventing stale writer positions from cancelling STICKY or writing to the wrong row. Corrected the first ARM ON write so PAUSE workflows start from the controller’s actual ENC value, while active PLAY REC with LINKING TO GRAPH starts from the interpolated Automation Graph value at the current playback row. Extended graph pickup to both normal REC ON + ARM ON and ARM ON @ REC ON. Fixed stale graph-link seed state between consecutive ARM ON activations. Reduced redundant ARM promotion and boundary processing that could contribute to Renoise playback stuttering.

HYDRA SANITY v8.82 — ARM ON Boundary Fix

Fixed boundary ARM ON requiring two button presses to return to LATCH after a repeat with STOP NO disabled. Corrected REC OFF → ARM ON → STICKY punch-in behavior so it returns to REC OFF + LATCH at the repeat boundary. Preserved the existing REC ON + STICKY → ARM ON transition and DEL TRACK re-arming behavior.

HYDRA SANITY v8.81 — Track-Aware Instrument Auto-Switch

HYDRA SANITY v8.81 introduces automatic instrument selection based on the currently selected track.

This update was not designed to replace or override Renoise behavior. Instead, it works as an additional compatibility layer that follows the routing and instrument relationships already defined in the song. It respects fixed MIDI Input Assigned Track settings, Plugin Instrument Audio Routing for individual BUS outputs, and instruments already used in the pattern. When Renoise selects the correct instrument on its own, HYDRA SANITY keeps that selection unchanged.

The feature is especially useful when working in a new or empty pattern. In this situation, Renoise may stop switching instruments automatically when the user changes tracks because the current pattern does not yet contain any notes that identify the required instrument. HYDRA SANITY can restore the appropriate instrument automatically and reduce the need for manual instrument selection.

Instrument detection follows a clear priority order:

1. Saved Plugin Audio Routing from BUS outputs to tracks
2. Fixed MIDI Input Assigned Track settings
3. Renoise’s native instrument detection from notes in the current pattern
4. The last instrument confirmed as used on the selected track

Multi-timbral plugin workflows are also supported. A single instrument can be connected to several tracks through multiple audio BUS outputs. For example, Omnisphere BUS 1–3 can be routed to Tracks 05–07. Selecting any of these tracks will automatically select the same Omnisphere instrument.

HYDRA SANITY v8.81 — GUI Hotfix

• Fixed FULL / MINI navigation controls remaining visible after returning from MIDI MAPPER to GUI SLIM, especially after changing TOOLTIP settings.
• Removed the redundant REPEAT: label from the loop-control row in all GUI modes.
• Reduced the PATTERN LOOP button width for a cleaner, more compact layout.

HYDRA SANITY v8.81 — Notifier Cleanup Microfix

• Replaced dynamically allocated anonymous closures in native Renoise notifier cleanup with one reusable protected helper.
• Preserved individual pcall protection and exact callback identity for every notifier.
• Reduced temporary allocations during tool reload and unload without changing runtime behavior.

Preserved HYDRA SANITY v8.80 changelog

HYDRA SANITY v8.80 FINAL — Stability, Performance and MCU Integration

Version 8.80 is a runtime-tested consolidation release. It preserves the established workflow while improving correctness and reducing unnecessary work.

User-visible improvements:

• corrected LOOP handoff between patterns during Sequence Repeat,
• no invalid full-pattern graph selection, constant overwrite or related engine stall,
• graph-aware ARM ON pickup for relative ENC/DEC with LINKING TO GRAPH during PLAY REC,
• stable SELECT ROW after renaming a HYDRA DSP,
• newly created HYDRA DSP remains open in the Track DSP panel,
• reliable physical HYDRA DSP selection while MCU rows are active,
• faster and more consistent FULL, SLIM and MINI layouts,
• more stable MIDI and MCU feedback under dense activity,
• faster cleanup of large automation ranges.

Internal consolidation:

• one authoritative S.dev row and mapping state,
• one controlled queue system,
• one transport authority,
• fewer repeated MIDI target searches,
• lighter idle, GUI, meter, writer and topology hot paths,
• obsolete fallbacks, mirrored states and dead audit code removed,
• no parallel writer, MIDI dispatcher, feedback queue or transport state remains.

The full v8.80 engineering changelog and all earlier release history are maintained in:

CHANGELOG_ARCHIVE.md

HYDRA SANITY v8.80 was the accepted stability and performance baseline on which v8.81 was built.