ATTENSION

ATTENSION 1.0.1 — Maintenance Release 🦊

This minor update prepares ATTENSION for inclusion in Bastl Instruments' official Kastle 2 community firmware directory.

What's Changed

• Assigned ATTENSION its unique community application ID: 0x4F, replacing the default 0xFF.
• No changes to musical behaviour, controls, voices, effects, or generative composition.
• Updated the repository README to reference the latest firmware.

Installation

Download ATTENSION_1.0.1.uf2 and install it on your Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 using the standard RP2040 BOOTSEL firmware update procedure.

On first startup, the LEDs may briefly flash cyan-blue as the new application ID is registered. This is expected and does not erase existing hardware calibration.

The existing ATTENSION User Manual 1.0 remains fully applicable.

Looking Ahead

Future updates may introduce additional musical refinements and creative surprises.

Happy wandering. There's always a way Home! 🦊

ATTENSION 1.0 — Initial Release 🦊

ATTENSION is an alternative generative music firmware for the Bastl Instruments Kastle 2, built around the musical ideas of tension, resolution, exploration, and returning Home.

Rather than relying on purely random sequences, ATTENSION creates evolving musical conversations between two melodic voices, accompanied by a generative drummer. Melodies wander, harmonies shift, tension builds, and familiar musical ideas return.

The goal is to make generative music feel less like a collection of random events and more like a musical journey.

Features

• Two interacting melodic voices with evolving melodies and harmonies

• TENSION control for shaping musical behaviour

• WANDER control for exploring further from Home

• Home refrains that bring familiar musical phrases back into the composition

• Generative percussion with fills and variations

• Seven effects: FRACTURE, DISTORT, ECHO, FLANGE, REVERB, WHISTLE, and GLIDE

• Home Preview for creating your own Home melody

• Custom faceplate and illustrated user manual

Installation

1. Download ATTENSION_1.0.uf2 from the release assets below.

2. Install the firmware on your Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 using its firmware update procedure.

3. Refer to the included user manual for controls, connections, and musical features.

4. Start exploring!

Downloads

ATTENSION_1.0.uf2 — Ready-to-install Kastle 2 firmware

ATTENSION_User_Manual_1.0.pdf — User manual and operating instructions

The complete source code, build instructions, licensing information, and faceplate artwork are available in this repository.

Feedback and development

ATTENSION 1.0 is the first public release. Feedback, bug reports, and musical discoveries are welcome through GitHub Issues.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Bastl Instruments for creating the Kastle 2 and making its platform available for experimentation and independent development.

ATTENSION is an independent community project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bastl Instruments.

Happy wandering. And remember: there's always a way Home. 🦊