qu-bit-electronix/stardust

Stardust

Qu-Bit Electronix

Cosmic stereo tape looper with click-less looping, 4 loop modes (Sound on Sound, Replace, Frippertronics, Resample), wow/flutter/hiss tape emulation, DSP effects, varispeed, slicing/skipping, and USB import/export via Narwhal web configurator.667

Capabilities 2

Tape Loopertape-looper
Stereo tape looper with 4 loop modes (Sound on Sound, Replace, Frippertronics, Resample), click-less looping, varispeed, slicing, skipping, wow/flutter/hiss tape emulation, and DSP effects.667
USB Storageusb-storage
USB Type-A port for firmware updates, Narwhal configurable settings, and WAV loop import/export. Drive is 1GB formatted FAT32.667

Jacks 19 — 16 in / 3 out

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (16)
Audio Input Leftaudio≤5VLeft channel audio input. Normals to both channels when no cable is present in Audio Input Right. AC-Coupled, 10Vpp.667
Audio Input RightaudioRight channel audio input. AC-Coupled, 10Vpp.667
ClockclockExternal clock input for syncing Slice, Skip, Record, Reset, and Freeze parameters in Clock Mode.667
Flutter CVcv-5V to 5V667
Hiss CVcv-5V to 5V667
In Level CVcv-5V to 5V667
Mix CVcv-5V to 5V667
Play/Pause Gategate≥0.4V667
Record Gategate≥0.4V667
Reset Gategate≥0.4V667
Reverse Gategate≥0.4V667
Size CVcv-5V to 5V667
Skip CVcv667
Slice CVcv-5V to 5V667
Start CVcv-5V to 5V667
v/octcv-5V to 5V1V/Oct CV input controlling loop playback speed and pitch, paired with the Varispeed encoder.667
Outputs (3)
Audio Output Leftaudio667
Audio Output Rightaudio667
Novamixed0V to 5VMultifaceted CV/gate output. Configurable via Narwhal: Nova (end of loop + end of slice gate), Flare (end of loop gates), Spark (end of slice gates), or Orbital (playback position as CV). Gate amplitude +5V at 50% duty cycle.667
Assignable destinations
Nova (end of loop + end of slice gate)667 Flare667 Spark667 Orbital667

Parameters 20

NameTypeRangeBehavior
Effect ModebuttonCycles through four effect modes, selecting which effect Flutter and Hiss knobs control. All effects run simultaneously. Blue=Analog Tape Emulation, Green=Digital Audio Artifacts, Gold=Reverberation, Purple=Highpass/Lowpass Filtering.667
ErasebuttonErases the buffer. Button response configurable via Narwhal as either a tap (default) or hold for 1 second.667
FlutterknobControls the first effect assigned by the Effect Mode button. Off at full CCW, maximum at full CW. Assignment depends on Effect Mode: Blue=Wow & Flutter amount, Green=Downsampling amount, Gold=Reverb amount, Purple=Highpass amount.667
FreezebuttonFreezes a portion of the loop audio. Gate input threshold 0.4V. In freerunning clock mode, the frozen audio length is 1% of the loop length with a minimum of 62ms. Shift+Freeze enters Loop Save/Overwrite menu.667
HissknobControls the second effect assigned by the Effect Mode button. Off at full CCW, maximum at full CW. Assignment depends on Effect Mode: Blue=Tape hiss amount, Green=Bitcrush amount, Gold=Reverb time, Purple=Lowpass amount.667
In LevelknobControls incoming signal amplitude. Silent at full CCW. At center, audio is at full amplitude. Turning CW past center introduces tape saturation and compression to the incoming signal.667
Zones
Silent
Full Amplitude
Saturation
  • Silent -100–-100%Knob fully to the left: no audio signal passes through.667
  • Full Amplitude -100–0%From fully CCW to center: controls input amplitude from silent to full.667
  • Saturation 0–100%CW past center: introduces tape saturation and compression to the incoming signal.667
Inertiaknob≤2000msControls lag between user speed input and actual playback speed, creating tape stop effects. Off at full CCW; up to 2 second lag at full CW. Inertial Slope (Shift+Inertia) adjusts the ratio of speed decrease vs increase lag.667
Loop ModebuttonSelects macro recording behavior: Sound on Sound (default, overdub), Replace (delete and replace), Frippertronics (decaying overdubs), or Resample (bake all modifications into a new recording).667
MixknobBlends between dry (fully CCW) and wet (fully CW) signals. Default mix curve is Constant Power; can be changed to Transition or Linear via Narwhal.667
Play/PausebuttonStarts playback from current tape head position (LED green) or pauses it (LED white), leaving the tape head at its current position. State changes on button release or gate rising edge.667
RecordbuttonStarts and stops recording audio to the buffer. State changes on button release or gate rising edge. First recording sets max buffer length. Subsequent recordings are within the active loop. Configurable Punch-In mode available.667
ResetbuttonSets tape head back to loop start point on button release or gate high. LED blinks gold on each reset activation; blinks blue when loop point is hit.667
ReversebuttonToggles playback direction. LED blue = reversed; LED white = forward. State changes on button release or gate rising edge. Reversed playback speed matches the forward speed set by Varispeed.667
ShiftbuttonWhen held, activates secondary functions for all front panel controls including fine loop controls, DSP effects signal routing, punch-in recording modes, loop file access, and more.667
Sizeknob≥5msSets loop size relative to loop start point. Minimum 5ms at full CCW; expands to full buffer length at full CW. Indicated by gold LED streak across galaxy LED cluster.667
SkipknobAdjusts probability of splice transformations occurring. Transformations are cumulative by zone: Zone 1 (start offset), Zone 2 (random reverse), Zone 3 (micro pitch changes), Zone 4 (octave pitch jumps), Zone 5 (random semitone jumps), Zone 6 (tape lag on semitone jumps).667
Sliceknob≥62msSets number of evenly distributed splice points within the loop. No splice points at full CCW. Increasing CW adds splice points by multiples (2, 4, 8, 16, etc.) down to minimum 62ms splice length. Also randomly repeats splices unless galaxy LEDs show solid color.667
StartknobSets loop start point within the recorded buffer. Fully CCW = beginning of buffer; fully CW = end of buffer. Indicated by blue LED animation in galaxy LED cluster. Via Narwhal, CV input can be reassigned to control Frippertronics Decay Amount.667
UndobuttonRemoves the last recording from the buffer on button release. Pressing Undo a second time redoes the undone recording. Does not operate in Frippertronics Mode.667
Varispeedknob-2octave – 3octaveControls loop playback speed and pitch simultaneously (varispeed). CW = up to 8x speed (+3 octaves); CCW = down to 1/4 speed (-2 octaves). Click encoder to return to 1x speed. Secondary functions include octave jumps (Shift+turn) and range selection (Shift+click).667

Firmware history 6 versions

VersionReleasedNotes
v1.1.02025-10-07Added new multi-loop menu for loading/saving multiple loop files; added Frippertronics decay amount control; loop file formatting polish; now accepts mono files and files with metadata; various bug fixes and polish.667
v1.0.42025-04-01Added metadata note in File Import section.667
v1.0.32024-12-09Added calibration procedure.667
v1.0.22024-12-03Updated Clock Mode section text.667
v1.0.12024-11-14Fixed typos and updated Narwhal section.667
v1.0.02024-11-13Initial release firmware.667

References 2

  1. [667]
    Qu-Bit Stardust Manual v1.1.0manual
    verified 2026-05-21
  2. [668]
    Qu-Bit Stardust product pageproduct_page
    verified 2026-05-21