Vitracker User Manual

A vim-modal music tracker with multiple synthesis engines including Mutable Instruments Plaits, VA synthesis, sampling, and beat slicing.

Source Code · Download · Discussions · Report Bug

---

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Screens
3. Modes
4. Global Keys
5. Pattern Screen
6. Chain Screen
7. Song Screen
8. Instrument Screen
9. Mixer Screen
10. Commands
11. Plaits Engines

---

Overview

Vitracker is a music tracker with vim-style modal editing. Like vim, it has distinct modes for navigation and editing, allowing fast, keyboard-driven workflow.

Structure Hierarchy

Song
 └── Chains (16 columns)
      └── Patterns (sequence of patterns per chain)
           └── Tracks (16 tracks per pattern)
                └── Steps (notes, instruments, effects)

Workflow

1. Create Instruments with different Plaits engine sounds
2. Compose Patterns with notes across 16 tracks
3. Organize patterns into Chains with optional transpose
4. Arrange chains in the Song across 16 columns
5. Mix levels in the Mixer

---

Screens

Switch between screens using number keys 1-6 or {/} for previous/next.

Key	Screen	Description
1	Project	Project settings, tempo, groove
2	Song	Arrange chains into a song
3	Chain	Sequence patterns with transpose
4	Pattern	Edit notes and steps
5	Instrument	Configure Plaits synth parameters
6	Mixer	Volume, pan, mute, solo per instrument

---

Modes

Vitracker has four modes, shown in the status bar at the bottom.

Normal Mode

Default mode for navigation and triggering actions.

• Arrow keys navigate
• Single-key commands (y, p, d, etc.)
• Press i to enter Edit mode
• Press v to enter Visual mode
• Press : to enter Command mode

Edit Mode

For entering and modifying data.

• Arrow keys adjust values (not navigate)
• Type notes directly (C, D, E, F, G, A, B)
• Press Esc to return to Normal mode

Visual Mode

For selecting regions.

• Arrow keys extend selection
• y to yank (copy)
• d to delete
• < / > to transpose selection
• Press Esc to cancel selection

Command Mode

For executing commands.

• Type command after :
• Press Enter to execute
• Press Esc to cancel

---

Global Keys

These keys work in Normal mode across all screens.

Navigation

Key	Action
Arrow keys	Navigate cursor
1-6	Switch to screen 1-6
{	Previous screen
}	Next screen
[	Previous pattern/chain/item
]	Next pattern/chain/item
Enter	Drill down (Song→Chain→Pattern→Instrument)

Transport

Key	Action
Space	Play/Stop

Mode Switching

Key	Action
i	Enter Edit mode
v	Enter Visual mode
:	Enter Command mode
Esc	Return to Normal mode

Editing (Normal Mode)

Key	Action
Alt+Up/Down	Adjust value in grids
Alt+Left/Right	Adjust value in grids
Left/Right	Adjust non-grid parameters
+ / =	Increment value
-	Decrement value
Shift+N	Create new item
r	Rename current item
d	Delete
Backspace	Clear cell

Clipboard

Key	Action
y	Yank (copy)
p	Paste

Undo/Redo

Key	Action
u	Undo
Ctrl+R	Redo

---

Pattern Screen

The Pattern screen (4) is where you compose music. Each pattern has 16 tracks and 16-64 rows.

Layout

Track:  0    1    2    3   ...  15
      ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬───┬────┐
Row 0 │NOTE│NOTE│NOTE│NOTE│...│NOTE│
Row 1 │ .. │ .. │ .. │ .. │...│ .. │
 ...  │    │    │    │    │   │    │
      └────┴────┴────┴────┴───┴────┘

Each step contains:

• Note (C-0 to B-9, or --- for empty, OFF for note-off)
• Instrument (00-7F)
• Volume (00-FF, or .. for default)
• FX1, FX2, FX3 (effect commands)

Entering Notes (Edit Mode)

1. Press i to enter Edit mode
2. Type note letter: C, D, E, F, G, A, B
3. Optional: # for sharp, b for flat
4. Type octave: 0-9
5. Arrow keys move to next field (instrument, volume, FX)
6. Press Esc when done

Quick Note Entry (Normal Mode)

• Type A-G directly to enter note at cursor
• Instrument is auto-filled from last used

Pattern Navigation

Key	Action
[	Previous pattern
]	Next pattern
Shift+N	Create new pattern
r	Rename pattern

Visual Selection

1. Press v to start selection
2. Move cursor to extend
3. Actions on selection:

Key	Action
y	Copy selection
d	Delete selection
<	Transpose down 1 semitone
>	Transpose up 1 semitone
-	Transpose down 1 octave
+	Transpose up 1 octave

---

Chain Screen

The Chain screen (3) sequences patterns with optional transpose.

Layout

Chain: 00 "Lead"
Scale Lock: C Major

 Pat  Trans
┌────┬─────┐
│ 00 │  0  │
│ 01 │ +2  │
│ 00 │ +4  │
│ 02 │  0  │
└────┴─────┘

Fields

• Pattern - Which pattern to play (00-FF)
• Transpose - Scale degrees to transpose (e.g., +2 = up 2 scale degrees)
• Scale Lock - Scale for transpose calculation (top of screen)

Editing

Key	Action
Alt+Up/Down	Change pattern number
Alt+Left/Right	Change transpose
Left/Right	Change scale lock (when on scale row)
[ / ]	Previous/next chain
Shift+N	Create new chain
r	Rename chain
Enter	Jump to selected pattern

Scale Lock Options

• None, C Major, C Minor, C# Major, C# Minor, … (all keys)
• Transpose is in scale degrees, not semitones

---

Song Screen

The Song screen (2) arranges chains into a complete song.

Layout

     Col 0  Col 1  Col 2  ...  Col 15
    ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐
Row 0│  00 │  01 │  -- │ ... │  -- │
Row 1│  00 │  02 │  -- │ ... │  -- │
Row 2│  -- │  -- │  -- │ ... │  -- │
    └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘

• Each column plays independently
• All columns in a row play simultaneously
• -- indicates empty slot

Editing

Key	Action
Alt+Up/Down	Change chain number
d or Backspace	Clear slot
Enter	Jump to selected chain

Playback

When playing in Song mode:

• All columns play their chains simultaneously
• Each column’s pattern track 0 plays on its corresponding audio track
• When a chain finishes, it advances to the next pattern in the chain
• When all chains finish, the song advances to the next row

---

Instrument Screen

The Instrument screen (5) configures Plaits synthesis parameters.

Presets

The Instrument screen includes factory and user presets for quick sound selection.

Preset Row

At the top of the screen, a Preset row shows the current preset:

• [Engine] PresetName - Current preset
• [Engine] PresetName* - Preset modified (asterisk indicates you’ve tweaked parameters)
• [Engine] -- - No preset loaded

Factory Presets

Each engine includes 2-7 factory presets:

• All engines have an Init preset (neutral starting point)
• FM engine includes classic sounds: DX7 E-Piano, M1 Piano, M1 Organ, Lately Bass
• Drum engines include variations like Punchy, 808, Tight, etc.

User Presets

Save your own presets with :save-preset name. User presets are stored in ~/.vitracker/presets/.

Parameters

Main Parameters (Top)

• Preset - Current preset (use Left/Right to browse)
• Engine - Plaits synthesis engine (0-15)
• Harmonics - Harmonic content
• Timbre - Timbral character
• Morph - Morphing between variations

Envelope

• Attack - Amplitude attack time
• Decay - Amplitude decay time

Filter

• Cutoff - Filter cutoff frequency
• Resonance - Filter resonance

LFO 1 & 2

• Rate - LFO speed (0-15, tempo-synced)
• Shape - Waveform (Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square, Random)
• Dest - Modulation destination
• Amount - Modulation depth (-64 to +63)

ENV 1 & 2

• Attack - Envelope attack
• Decay - Envelope decay
• Dest - Modulation destination
• Amount - Modulation depth

Sends

• Reverb - Reverb send level
• Delay - Delay send level
• Chorus - Chorus send level
• Drive - Distortion amount
• Sidechain - Sidechain duck amount

Editing

Key	Action
Up/Down	Navigate parameters
Left/Right	Adjust value (non-mod parameters)
Alt+Left/Right	Adjust value (mod matrix rows)
Alt+Up/Down	Adjust value (mod matrix rows)
[ / ]	Previous/next instrument
Shift+N	Create new instrument
r	Rename instrument

---

Mixer Screen

The Mixer screen (6) controls per-instrument levels.

Per-Instrument Controls

• Volume - Output level (0.0 - 1.0)
• Pan - Stereo position (-1.0 left to +1.0 right)
• Mute - Silence this instrument
• Solo - Solo this instrument (mute all others)

Master Controls

• Master Volume - Final output level

Keys

Key	Action
Arrow keys	Navigate
Alt+Up/Down	Adjust value
m	Toggle mute
s	Toggle solo

---

Commands

Enter Command mode with :, type command, press Enter.

File Commands

Command	Action
:w	Save (file dialog)
:w filename	Save as ~/filename.vit
:e	Load (file dialog)
:e filename	Load ~/filename.vit
:new	New project
:q	Quit

Pattern Commands

Command	Action
:transpose N	Transpose selection by N semitones
:interpolate	Interpolate values between first and last in selection
:randomize N	Randomize selection by N percent
:double	Double pattern length
:halve	Halve pattern length

Preset Commands

Command	Action
:save-preset name	Save current instrument as user preset
:delete-preset name	Delete a user preset (factory presets cannot be deleted)

---

Plaits Engines

Vitracker uses all 16 Plaits synthesis engines:

#	Engine	Description
0	Virtual Analog	Classic VA oscillator with variable waveshape
1	Waveshaping	Waveshaper with fold/drive
2	FM	2-operator FM synthesis
3	Grain	Granular synthesis
4	Additive	Additive synthesis with harmonic control
5	Wavetable	Wavetable morphing
6	Chord	Chord generator
7	Speech	Formant/speech synthesis
8	Swarm	Swarm of detuned oscillators
9	Noise	Filtered noise
10	Particle	Dust/particle synthesis
11	String	Physical modeling string
12	Modal	Physical modeling resonator
13	Bass Drum	Analog bass drum
14	Snare Drum	Analog snare drum
15	Hi-Hat	Analog hi-hat

Each engine responds differently to the Harmonics, Timbre, and Morph parameters.

---

Tips & Tricks

Fast Workflow

• Use [/] to quickly switch patterns/chains/instruments
• Enter drills down: Song → Chain → Pattern → Instrument
• Alt+arrows for quick edits without leaving Normal mode

Live Performance

• Mute/solo instruments in Mixer (keys m/s)
• Use Song mode for arrangement, Pattern mode for loops
• Scale lock ensures transpose stays musical

Sound Design

• Start with an engine that matches your sound goal
• Harmonics controls complexity
• Timbre controls brightness
• Use LFOs for movement
• Use ENVs for plucks and swells

---

Keyboard Reference Card

Modes

Normal ──i──> Edit ──Esc──> Normal
Normal ──v──> Visual ──Esc──> Normal
Normal ──:──> Command ──Enter/Esc──> Normal

Quick Reference

Navigation:     ↑↓←→      Mode Switch:    i v : Esc
Screens:        1-6 { }   Transport:      Space
Edit Values:    Alt+↑↓←→  Clipboard:      y p d
Undo/Redo:      u Ctrl+R  New/Rename:     Shift+N r
Next/Prev:      [ ]       Drill Down:     Enter

Commands

:w :e :new :q
:transpose N :interpolate :randomize N :double :halve
:save-preset name :delete-preset name

---

Contributing

Vitracker is open source under the GPL v3 license. Contributions are welcome!

• View Source on GitHub - Browse the code, fork, and submit PRs
• Report Bugs - Help us fix issues
• Request Features - Suggest new features
• Join Discussions - Ask questions and share ideas
• Contributing Guide - Read the contribution guidelines

---

Support Development

If you find Vitracker useful, please consider supporting its development!

---

Vitracker - Made with JUCE and Mutable Instruments Plaits