Smack
Firmware for Alchemy Lab (Hermetic Modular)
Live loop capture for the Alchemy Lab V2 that records into a ring, cuts the grabbed loop into slices and runs a seeded pattern of glitch effects across them.
- Distribution
- Prebuilt image you flash yourself
- Requires stock
- Alchemy Lab V2 board
- License notes
- One file derived from STMicroelectronics' USB device library keeps ST's license (src/LICENSE-ST-USB.md).
- Source
- github.com https://github.com/timncox/smack-alchemy
- Homepage
- timncox.github.io https://timncox.github.io/smack-alchemy/
- looper
- fx
- glitch
- usb-audio
- platform
Description
Smack records everything played into a ring buffer, grabs the last chosen number of steps on demand and divides the loop into slices. A seeded pattern of effects is then applied across the slices, so a given seed always produces the same result. It is the same engine as the author's Smack for the Noise Engineering Versio, rebuilt for six pots on two pages, three buttons and the Lab's LED rings. Version 0.2.0 adds a USB audio interface mode and controller support through the USB-C port. It carries the same SD-card firmware picker as the author's other Alchemy Lab firmwares. Hermetic Modular did not write or endorse it.
Install notes
Hold B3 at power-on to enter update mode, then flash smack_alchemy.bin from Hermetic's web programmer or with dfu-util. Alternatively put the .bin in the /alchemy folder of the microSD card and switch to it from another family firmware's Settings page. Smack keeps its working state in preset slot 12, so anything another firmware saved there is overwritten. The release notes say it has been played on one module.
Version history
| Version | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| v0.2.0 | 2026-09-26 | Beta. Adds USB audio mode, Launchpad and GP2040-CE pad support, and held punch effects. |