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The panel

Six faders and switches, ten function keys with two jobs each, and an LCD that tells you what is going on.

Verified for version 1.1.0 · Updated October 17, 2026

Faders and switches

The top row reads left to right like the faders on a real panel. The two on the left slide smoothly; the four on the right click into place.

The fader row: VOLUME (MIN to MAX), BALANCE (RHY to MEL), OCTAVE (LOW, MID, HIGH), TONE (VIOLIN to ADSR), REC (REC, PLAY) and POWER (ON, CAL).
VOLUME
The master level, MIN to MAX.
BALANCE
Rhythm against melody. In the middle both play at full level; slide toward RHY and the melody fades, toward MEL and the rhythm fades.
OCTAVE
LOW, MID or HIGH: the keyboard moves down or up a whole octave. On MID the leftmost C is middle C.
TONE
The voice: VIOLIN, FANT (Fantasy), PIANO, FLUTE, GTR (Guitar) or ADSR. See Five voices.
REC
REC stores the notes you play in the melody memory; PLAY is normal playing. See Melody memory.
POWER
ON is the synth. CAL turns the keys and buttons into a calculator. See The calculator.

Function keys

Each of the ten caps has two jobs. The music job is printed above the cap; the calculator job is printed in red below it, and takes over when POWER is on CAL.

The ten function keys: RESET/AC in red, DEL/C, TEMPO▲/÷, TEMPO▼/×, RHYTHM/−, M-C/+ (dimmed), MUSIC/= in orange, AUTO/MC, and two blue 1KEY caps for MR and M+.
KeyPOWER on ONPOWER on CAL
RESET / AC (red)RESET: stops the rhythm and any playback and puts the panel back to how it starts: Piano, MID, 120 BPM, the starting volume, centred balance and no effects. The rhythm pattern and the melody memory stay.AC: clears the sum and the notes you typed (not the memory).
DEL / CDEL: removes the last note from the melody memory.C: clears the number you are typing.
TEMPO▲ / ÷TEMPO▲: one BPM faster. Hold it to sweep, faster the longer you hold.÷
TEMPO▼ / ×TEMPO▼: one BPM slower. Hold it to sweep, faster the longer you hold.×
RHYTHM / −RHYTHM: starts or stops the rhythm.−
M-C / +M-C: does nothing in PocketTone, so it is dimmed.+
MUSIC / = (orange)MUSIC: plays the built-in demo tune on a loop. Press again to stop.=: the answer, then your typing played back as a melody.
AUTO / MCAUTO: plays the melody memory on a loop. Press again to stop.MC: clears the calculator memory.
1KEY / MR (blue)1KEY: plays the next note of the melody memory.MR: recalls the calculator memory.
1KEY / M+ (blue)1KEY: the same as the other blue key.M+: adds to the calculator memory, and stores the ADSR code.

The tempo runs from 40 to 240 BPM. It sets the rhythm, the melody memory, the calculator's playback and, for the ADSR voice, the speed of the vibrato and tremolo.

The LCD

  • The big digits show the tempo, with BPM above. With TONE on ADSR they show the eight-digit code instead, with the envelope drawn under it, and the tempo moves up to the corner (♩120). In CAL they show the calculator.
  • Bottom left: the voice (♪ PIANO), then the mode: REC 12 while recording a tune, MEM 12 once it is stored, AUTO or MUSIC while one plays, CAL or ERR in calculator mode.
  • Bottom right: the rhythm, between red ◀ ▶. Its name turns red while it plays.
  • Top left: a red recording timer while you record. See Record and share.
  • A small lock after a voice or rhythm name means it is part of Pro.

Top right

The red cap records what you play and the dark gear opens Settings.

Related

Still stuck? Write to zhi@nonoaudio.com. Support page