draft: false
Name: Degenerator
short-description: "Degenerator — Disintegrating Looper. Capture audio loops and apply irreversible degradation with 6 algorithms (Saturation, Filter Drift, Tape Hiss, Oxide Shedding, Bit Crush, Bit Rot) via preview/apply workflow. Inspired by William Basinski's The Disintegration Loops."
Language: C++ (Pico SDK + ComputerCard)
Creator: Joep Vermaat
contact:
  email: joep@joep-i.nl
  website: https://codeberg.org/johantv/
Version: 1.3
Status: Released
License: MIT
date-created: 2026-05-08
date-updated: 2026-05-31
Editor: https://degenerator-web.netlify.app/
Repository: https://codeberg.org/johantv/Degenerator

tags:
  - looper
  - sampler
  - distortion
  - glitch
  - disintegration

summary: |
  Irreversible layered looper with additive MIX and subtractive DEGRADE workflows.
  Z down is RECORD (and slot workflows in SLOT mode), Z middle is MIX, Z up is
  DEGRADE. Main controls mix/commit amount (full left freezes state), X selects
  harmonic effect zone, Y selects destructive effect zone. Boot with Z down enables
  SLOT mode with flash save/load features; otherwise YOLO mode is instant-on.

panel:
  inputs:
    - id: AudioIn1
      name: Primary Audio Input
      description: Main source for recording and overdub
    - id: AudioIn2
      name: Secondary Audio Input
      description: Mixed with AudioIn1 when connected
    - id: CVIn1
      name: Main Amount Modulation
      description: Adds voltage to Main knob value (mix level, degrade rate, and slot selection contexts)
    - id: CVIn2
      name: Y Effect Modulation
      description: Adds voltage to Y knob destructive-effect selection/intensity
    - id: PulseIn1
      name: Record Trigger
      description: Rising edge starts recording
    - id: PulseIn2
      name: Reset / Slot Select Trigger
      description: Resets loop in YOLO mode, or enters slot select in SLOT mode when Z is down
  outputs:
    - id: AudioOut1
      name: Loop Output
      description: Main processed loop output
    - id: AudioOut2
      name: Input Monitor
      description: Monitors AudioIn1 signal
    - id: CVOut1
      name: Loop Position CV
      description: Position ramp over loop cycle
    - id: CVOut2
      name: Output Envelope CV
      description: Envelope follower proportional to output level
    - id: PulseOut1
      name: Loop Boundary Pulse
      description: Pulse emitted when loop wraps to start
    - id: PulseOut2
      name: Record Complete Pulse
      description: Pulse emitted when RECORD completes and transitions to MIX

controls:
  knobs:
    - when: { z: middle }
      main:
        name: Mix Amount
        description: Amount of processed input layered into loop; full left freezes additions
      x:
        name: Harmonic Effect Select
        description: Crossfades through saturation, filter drift, and tape hiss zones for input processing
      y:
        name: Destructive Effect Select
        description: Crossfades through oxide shedding, bit crush, and bit rot zones for input processing
    - when: { z: up }
      main:
        name: Degrade Commit Rate
        description: Amount of processed buffer committed back each pass; full left freezes state
      x:
        name: Harmonic Degrade Effect
        description: Selects/crossfades saturation, filter drift, and tape hiss on loop buffer
      y:
        name: Destructive Degrade Effect
        description: Selects/crossfades oxide shedding, bit crush, and bit rot on loop buffer
    - when: { z: down }
      main:
        name: Record Context
        description: Not used for record level in RECORD

  leds:
    - display: list
      items:
        - id: LED0
          name: Output Level Left Meter
          description: Output level meter segment
        - id: LED1
          name: Output Level Right Meter
          description: Output level meter segment
        - id: LED2
          name: Harmonic Effect Amount
          description: Brightness tracks X effect intensity; pulse style indicates active X zone
        - id: LED3
          name: Destructive Effect Amount
          description: Brightness tracks Y effect intensity; pulse style indicates active Y zone
        - id: LED4
          name: Loop Position
          description: Bright at loop start and fades across loop progression
        - id: LED5
          name: Mode Indicator
          description: Indicates MIX/DEGRADE/RECORD and YOLO versus SLOT behavior states

host:
  usb:
    - name: Degenerator Manager
      role: editor
      description: Browser tool at the Editor URL communicates over WebUSB for loop upload/download in flash slot workflows
  notes: |
    Browser host interaction requires WebUSB-compatible browsers (Chrome/Edge). Local serving
    from the project `web/` directory is also supported by the upstream project.