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file management on norns

There are a few types of data that you will collect on norns: projects / apps, sound files, and presets. All of these live inside of dust, a special folder in norns.

In the maiden section, we reviewed how to write scripts of your own and how to download scripts from the community. These changes all commit to dust, but maiden is not the best way to exchange files between your computer and norns.

wifi-powered file transfers

These tools can help you confidently add, change, transfer, and remove files from norns:

  • file share: samba is a protocol which allows you to connect norns to a computer (via WiFi) and browse the contents of norns like you would a thumb drive. Use this to import/export audio files or to back up your scripts and presets.
  • SFTP: A client which allows you to connect norns to a PC or Mac (via WiFi) and browse the contents of norns like you would a thumb drive. Same uses as above.

Please click either link above to learn more about each method.

no wifi? (mac + linux)

For times when you are unable to connect norns to WiFi (no dongle, no network, etc), you can back up dust to a USB drive. dust includes your scripts, sound files, and presets.

First, connect norns to your computer via its power cable. Then, open a terminal and type:

macOS:

  • screen /dev/tty.usb
  • then, press TAB to autocomplete your serial number
  • then type 115200

Have doubts? The line should read: screen /dev/tty.usb[TAB KEY] 115200

linux:

  • dmesg to see what enumeration number your system gave norns
  • you’ll get something like this: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
  • then, type: screen /dev/ttyUSB0 (or whatever enumeration number was given)
  • then type 115200

Have doubts? The line should read: screen /dev/ttyUSB<enumeration number> 115200

If you see a blank screen, press ENTER. Then, you’ll be asked for login credentials:

  • user: we
  • password: sleep

Insert a USB stick into norns and execute ls /media/usb (this should show the contents of the USB stick). If the USB stick is recognized, copy your dust folder with cp -r /home/we/dust /media/usb

Shutdown with sudo shutdown now