Skinning support is limited in Microtonic V3.3, but it does support replacing image resources.

The resource folder must be named "Microtonic V3.3 Resources" and located in the same folder as the Microtonic.dll file (Microtonic.vst or Microtonic.component on Mac). It is also possible to create a text file named "Microtonic V3.3 Resources Path.txt" containing the full path to where you want Microtonic to search for resources.

If any resource file is missing in the folder, the built-in resource is used instead.

Image formats

Image dimensions are hardcoded into Microtonic and must remain the same. For animations or multi-state images, we use either frame strips or something we call pixel strips.

Frame strips are images where each frame is stacked vertically. For example, a 100x100 pixel button animation with eight frames would be represented by a 100x800 pixel image.

Pixel strips are a proprietary format that we use on some images. In a pixel strip, each pixel from each frame is sequenced horizontally. By rearranging pixels this way, we can sometimes achieve higher file compression. To edit these images, you must convert them from pixel strips to frame strips and back again for Microtonic to read them. We have a simple command-line utility to convert between frame strips and pixel strips, that can be downloaded here:

pixelSequencer_v0.3_win.zip(699kB, 258 downloads)
pixelSequencer_v0.3_mac.zip(1.66MB, 234 downloads)

Image Specifications

aboutboxbackdrop_x2.png               940 x 760                 
aboutboxbubbles_x2.png                 64 x 2048     (  64 x 64  * 32  )
aboutboxoverlay_x2.png                900 x 720                 
background_x2.png                    1480 x 1100                 
beetleknob_x2.png                   12800 x 100      ( 100 x 100 * 128 )  pixel strip
bluetocyansquarebutton_x2.png         704 x 88       (  88 x 88  * 8   )  pixel strip
bluetogreenchannelbutton_x2.png      1184 x 60       ( 148 x 60  * 8   )  pixel strip
bluetogreenglasseggs_x2.png           800 x 100      ( 100 x 100 * 8   )  pixel strip
bluetogreensmalllanebutton_x2.png     512 x 40       (  64 x 40  * 8   )  pixel strip
bluetoredsquarebutton_x2.png          704 x 88       (  88 x 88  * 8   )  pixel strip
buttonicons_x2.png                     48 x 336      (  48 x 48  * 7   )
cclabelbackground_x2.png              204 x 36       (  68 x 36  * 3   )  pixel strip
channelnotes_x2.png                    24 x 256      (  24 x 32  * 8   )
channeltitles_x2.png                   44 x 256      (  44 x 32  * 8   )
displaybuttons_x2.png                  48 x 120      (  48 x 60  * 2   )
displayfont_x2.png                     32 x 7200     (  32 x 32  * 225 )
eastereggs_x2.png                    3200 x 100      ( 100 x 100 * 32  )  pixel strip
horizontalbeetleslider_x2.png         100 x 60                  
icons_x2.png                           64 x 2112     (  64 x 64  * 33  )
inprintcharacters_x2.png               32 x 7168     (  32 x 32  * 224 )
matrixbackground_x2.png              1132 x 470                  
matrixchannels_x2.png                  60 x 414                  
matrixchoke_x2.png                     26 x 26                  
matrixnotes_x2.png                     56 x 1144     (  56 x 52  * 22  )
matrixplayposition_x2.png              58 x 8                 
matrixselection_x2.png               1088 x 50                  
menubutton_x2.png                      88 x 176      (  88 x 88  * 2   )
mididraghover_x2.png                   68 x 36                  
mididragicon_x2.png                    52 x 52                  
midilabelcharacters.png                12 x 240      (  12 x 12  * 20  )
midilabelcharacters_x2.png             24 x 480      (  24 x 24  * 20  )
midinotelabelbackground_x2.png         68 x 108      (  68 x 36  * 3   )
morphleds_x2.png                      768 x 24       (  24 x 24  * 32  )  pixel strip
patchdisplay_x2.png                   304 x 50                  
patterntitles_x2.png                   32 x 384      (  32 x 32  * 12  )
patterntitlesgray_x2.png               32 x 384      (  32 x 32  * 12  )
presetdisplay_x2.png                  568 x 50                  
programnumbers_x2.png                  20 x 416      (  20 x 32  * 13  )
smallmenubutton_x2.png                 76 x 152      (  76 x 76  * 2   )
tempo_x2.png                          250 x 26                  
verticalbeetleslider_x2.png            60 x 100                  
whitetobluechannelbutton_x2.png       148 x 480      ( 148 x 60  * 8   )
whitetoblueglasseggs_x2.png           800 x 100      ( 100 x 100 * 8   )  pixel strip
whitetobluelargeroundbutton_x2.png    800 x 100      ( 100 x 100 * 8   )  pixel strip
whitetobluematrixbutton_x2.png         60 x 480      (  60 x 60  * 8   )
whitetoblueroundbutton_x2.png         704 x 88       (  88 x 88  * 8   )  pixel strip
whitetobluesmalllanebutton_x2.png      64 x 320      (  64 x 40  * 8   )
whitetobluesquarebutton_x2.png        704 x 88       (  88 x 88  * 8   )  pixel strip
whitetogreenchannelbutton_x2.png      148 x 480      ( 148 x 60  * 8   )
whitetogreenroundbutton_x2.png         88 x 704      (  88 x 88  * 8   )
whitetogreensquarebutton_x2.png        88 x 704      (  88 x 88  * 8   )
whitetoredmutebutton_x2.png            60 x 480      (  60 x 60  * 8   )

Default resources as a starting point for easier editing or replacement.
Microtonic Skin Template V3.3.zip(922kB, 446 downloads)

To test out the custom skin possibilities I created a retro skin for the Vintage Tonic release.

Love it! I think maybe this should be the official new look!

love this

thanks!

beautiful work, thank you for sharing. Hope to see this make it into the default product. :)

Nice alternative look. Thanx, Fredrik!

Whow, awesome new skin, will try this new stuff asap! Happy holidays all!

Very cool! Thank you!

Thank you for the "tutorial", the new skin, the skinning possibiliteis and the plugin at all. Just great! (=

This looks great! Thank you!

Trying to get the Vintage Skin working, can someone give me specifics on where to put the folder on Mac ?

- Sam Saw wrote:
Trying to get the Vintage Skin working, can someone give me specifics on where to put the folder on Mac ?

For VST copy "Microtonic V3.3 Resources" folder into your Mac HD > Library > Audio > Plug-ins > VST > Sonic Charge

I believe same goes for any other plugin type so for AU you need to go into "Components" instead of "VST" folder and so on.

Well, Fredrik literally already wrote it:

The resource folder must be named "Microtonic V3.3 Resources" and located in the same folder as the Microtonic.vst (or Microtonic.component) file.

I got it working with the plugins, but can't get it to work with the standalone version of Microtonic.

I had also placed the resources folder in the 'Sonic Charge' folder located under Applications (the same folder as Microtonic standalone). Does it need to go somewhere else for the standalone version? Does the skin work with the standalone version?

Also, is removing this folder the only way to revert back to the original or is there a toggle I am overlooking? Thanks!

Cool skin. Thanks, Fredrik!

COOL! But how to install this on Windows 10 x64? ))
Thanx!

- Joey Luck wrote:
I got it working with the plugins, but can't get it to work with the standalone version of Microtonic.

Yes, it's a bit tricky with the standalone version because the .vst file is actually inside the .app bundle. So if you right-click it in Finder and "Show Package Content", you can find the .vst in there and drop the resource folder next to it. This is not a beautiful solution, we know, skinning is more of a hack for now.

Also, is removing this folder the only way to revert back to the original or is there a toggle I am overlooking? Thanks!

Yes, or you can rename it to turn it off of course.

Fantastic!! Thanks so much for all you do!!

This is amazing. LOVE that skin! I'm such a sucker for skins, SO excited to play around with the template!

love this look!
thanks frederik

Beautiful ! And so happy this is skinnable :)

will the other products get a similar skinning feature?

Only one word - COOL!!!!!! Thank you! Amazing instrument is now with the Great look!!!

F yah@!

Interested to see what the skinning masters out there come up with

Love the woodgrain. ;-)

Thank you very much and Merry Christmas

Merci !!

*****If any resource file is missing in the folder, the built-in resource is used instead.

Yes it is missing. So I can't replace it with Microtonic V3.3 Resources...

Where is the resource file (old) to replace ? Or do I have to uninstall Microtonic first and reinstall ?

Thanks , this looks great . Merry Xmas

- okan bayir wrote:
*****If any resource file is missing in the folder, the built-in resource is used instead.
Yes it is missing. So I can't replace it with Microtonic V3.3 Resources...
Where is the resource file (old) to replace ? Or do I have to uninstall Microtonic first and reinstall ?

and I only have a .dll and no .vst file in my VST Folder......I placed the .dll into the Microtonic V3.3 Resources folder.....it doesn't work...(Win 10 x64)

I am absolutely blown away, this skin breathes brand life into Microtonic. My favorite drum machine in the world now looks utterly fantastic in addition to sounding as great as always. Happy holidays, and thank you.

- okan bayir wrote:
I only have a .dll and no .vst file in my VST Folder......I placed the .dll into the Microtonic V3.3 Resources folder.....it doesn't work...(Win 10 x64)

Ah sorry, .vst is Mac, it's called Microtonic.dll on Windows. (Updated my top post for clarity). Just drop the Microtonic V3.3 Resource folder next to your .dll file, it should then find it when the plugin loads up.

- grymmjack wrote:
will the other products get a similar skinning feature?

Synplant, Echobode, Bitspeek, and Permut8 actually have way better skinning support than Microtonic. It not only lets you replace image resources but change almost everything with the interface. You can change dimensions of components, move things around, or add new stuff, like the random buttons I made for Echobode and Permut8.

The problem is we have not written any documentation on it and have no alternative GUIs to show how it's done.

For the brave soul who wants to try it anyway, the principle is the same, if it finds resource folders it will load from them instead. Built-in resources are easily extracted on Mac since you can just do "Show Package Contents" on the .vst file.

Awesome! Back to the Future. Great Christmas gift. Thank You.

a-ma-zing!!!

Thank you very much! I could make myself a light version (cause my eyes can't read the dark version very good). It's great to be able to customise the look. Thank you for this great Christmas gift! (And the wonderful vintage sounds of course!!!)

Cheers
Dumbo

This is phenomenal and the sounds are great. Can you please make more packs built on other drum machines, possibly even things like the Tempest?

Also, will you make the machine learning available to others?

Best,
JL

Looks great! Thanks for this!

Looks awesome! Thx!

sounds great, more please!

Ooh nice! I may try to cook up a skin or maybe two and post them up here. As I haven't even thought about this yet, any suggestions are welcome.

Excellent!

Thank you for this, Looks great!

- Fredrik Lidström wrote:

- Joey Luck wrote:
I got it working with the plugins, but can't get it to work with the standalone version of Microtonic.

Yes, it's a bit tricky with the standalone version because the .vst file is actually inside the .app bundle. So if you right-click it in Finder and "Show Package Content", you can find the .vst in there and drop the resource folder next to it. This is not a beautiful solution, we know, skinning is more of a hack for now.

That worked. Thanks!

awesome!
one problem.
user can't understand what channel is currently selected if pattern is played.
little red dot on selected channel is not very obvious.
may be highlight the selected PAD?
https://prnt.sc/wadzza

Nice to see Microtonic is still alive !

It works for me in the standalone version, it works as a vst in Reason,but Live doesn't let it load ... i go back to the original version, that being said, it's quite cool this new skin.

You guys keep making your great work even better. Thank you!

Thanks Fredrick

- Fredrik Lidström wrote:

- okan bayir wrote:
I only have a .dll and no .vst file in my VST Folder......I placed the .dll into the Microtonic V3.3 Resources folder.....it doesn't work...(Win 10 x64)

Ah sorry, .vst is Mac, it's called Microtonic.dll on Windows. (Updated my top post for clarity). Just drop the Microtonic V3.3 Resource folder next to your .dll file, it should then find it when the plugin loads up.

Does not work. Placed as you described. I am using Studio One Pro 5

Other Win10 x64 User here, or am I the only one who can't make it work ?

Very cool and fun thank you for the new patches!

- okan bayir wrote:

- Fredrik Lidström wrote:

- okan bayir wrote:
I only have a .dll and no .vst file in my VST Folder......I placed the .dll into the Microtonic V3.3 Resources folder.....it doesn't work...(Win 10 x64)

Ah sorry, .vst is Mac, it's called Microtonic.dll on Windows. (Updated my top post for clarity). Just drop the Microtonic V3.3 Resource folder next to your .dll file, it should then find it when the plugin loads up.

Does not work. Placed as you described. I am using Studio One Pro 5
Other Win10 x64 User here, or am I the only one who can't make it work ?

Same config here: S1Pro v5 on win 10 x64 and working.

The resource folder is just sitting in the Sonic Charge folder alongside my microtonic.dll. I did not place the microtonic.dll inside the resource folder.

This is a fresh new ("old") look for the uTonic I'm enjoying very much to have. Thank you Fredrik and Magnus ! :D

I've used the .txt method to point to the skin folder, so it's easier to toggle it on/off without moving folder/files.

yeahhh ! merry xmas :)

Teal and orange in the making.

Cool stuff guys! 👍

- colin wrote:

ultra-retro in the making :D

Sick so far! Excited to try the final :)