PocketDAW v0.4.5 — SDK Control Navigation System + Gamepad Control Pass

PocketDAW v0.4.5 — SDK Control Navigation System + Gamepad Control Pass

We are excited to release v0.4.5, a major SDK update that transforms how you navigate and control every plugin with a gamepad.

SDK v5.0 — Control Navigation System

The new control navigation system gives plugins a declarative way to define their UI structure, enabling smart D-pad navigation that just works.

Control Orientation

Plugins declare their control axis type:

• PD_ORIENT_VERTICAL — for vertical sliders and lists
• PD_ORIENT_HORIZONTAL — for horizontal faders and rows
• PD_ORIENT_RADIAL — for knobs and rotary controls

The SDK auto-derives the correct D-pad navigation axis from these declarations.

Navigation Groups

Controls are grouped with layout hints:

• PD_GROUP_HORIZONTAL — controls in a row
• PD_GROUP_VERTICAL — controls in a column
• PD_GROUP_GRID — 2D layout (piano roll, sequencer)

The SDK auto-resolves neighbor links between controls based on these groups.

Focus State Model

Three distinct edit modes communicated via PdDrawContext.editMode:

• PD_EDIT_NAVIGATE — highlight mode, move focus with D-pad
• PD_EDIT_PARAM_SEL — parameter selection, pick what to edit
• PD_EDIT_VALUE — value adjustment, tweak the parameter

NavTable Engine (src/nav.h)

New navigation engine with three core functions:

• buildNavTable() — builds per-plugin navigation map from manifest metadata
• resolveNav() — resolves neighbor links between controls
• navigateNav() — handles D-pad navigation with focus state transitions

Cross-group navigation connects adjacent groups with the same layout, giving you perpendicular neighbor links for intuitive navigation.

Backward compatible: legacy plugins auto-infer navigation from widget type.

Gamepad Control Pass — All 13 Plugins

Every plugin now has a polished gamepad control experience:

3-Level Focus (Multi-Group Plugins)

Plugins like ReQ use three levels:

1. Band Navigate — move between parameter bands
2. Param Select — pick which parameter to edit
3. Value Edit — adjust the value

Press B to back out to the previous level.

2-Level Focus (Single-Group Plugins)

Plugins like JT Sidechain and Tape Delay:

1. Navigate — move between parameters
2. Value Edit — adjust values

Fine-Tune Acceleration

• Y button — ultra-fine (0.001x)
• L1 Trigger — fast (0.1x)
• Hold duration — ramp acceleration over time

Hint Bar

Contextual controls shown on-screen:

• A = SELECT
• B = CLOSE
• L1 = FAST
• Y = ULTRA-FINE

Visual Feedback

Editing state shown with > prefix and yellow highlight for the currently focused control.

Plugin Manifest Rollout — All 13 Plugins

Every plugin updated with full manifest declarations:

• JT Sidechain
• ReQ
• ReCorder
• Tape Delay
• PD Synth
• Drum Machine
• FM Synth
• Granular
• Wavetable
• Pitcher
• Re-Pitcher
• Simple Sampler
• JT Synth

Each declares widget type, orientation, navGroup, and navOrder for consistent navigation.

Fixes

Sample Edit Preview Fix

One-shot playback now plays the sample once (was infinite loop with loops=-1).

Arrangement Loop Fix

• Seamless looping — samples use SDL_mixer native looping, eliminates click/gap
• FX tail preservation — reverb/delay state preserved across loop boundary (note-off with release, not hard kill)

Download v0.4.5

Get the latest version for your platform:

• Anbernic RG35XX: Extract to SD/MUOS/application/
• Linux Desktop: Run the executable directly
• Windows Desktop: Drop it in your folder and launch

Download PocketDAW v0.4.5 | SDK Documentation

SDK Docs

SDK documentation updated at docs.pocketdaw.net with full navigation API reference.

Happy navigating.