Norns Shield Pro User Manual
Image:
Images can be found on the github repo.
Updates Log:
- 2025.12.16 - A new version is built.
Power on
Toggle the switch from OFF to ON, the front blue LED will light up to indicate that the power supply is functioning normally. In a few seconds, you’ll see a sparkle animation on the screen and you’ll hear a sinelike startup tone. Norns is on.*If the norns you received do not have batteries, it is recommended to power them through the Power port
Audio I/O
From left to right, looking at the top of the unit:
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1/8” stereo (TRS) headphone output; copy of the main outs, with gain
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2x 1/4” mono (TS) outputs; line level, left and right
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2x 1/4” mono (TS) inputs; line level, left and right
(If you plug TRS into the left channel input or output 1/4 channel alone, it will be stereo)
Interconnect
- 4 x USB ports for devices, can be expanded with a powered USB hub.
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Serial tty via USB-TYPC
WiFi capable (Ralink RT5370 chipset necessary for hotspot functionality)
Processing
Side plug layout
Battery and Power
Battery:
- The charging port allows the Norns Shield Pro to charge and operate simultaneously, with a charging capacity of 5.1V/2.7A. freely plug and unplug the power supply while charging without affecting normal operation.
- The battery capacity is 3500mAh *2, with a standalone discharge capability of 5.1V at 4A, which can simultaneously support the ARC and GRID running at full power.
- When the charging cable is plugged in, the front yellow LED will enter a flashing state and start to
charge the battery. This port can be connected to the power supply for an extended period without
affecting the battery's lifespan.
* This is to remind you that only China and Canada support shipping with pre-installed batteries. Other regions cannot provide batteries due to international mailing issues. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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Push this button, light front 4 red LED indicating power level, when only two lights are on,
please charge through the Battery port. The device cannot be powered on using the Power
ON/OFF switch when the battery level is below a certain threshold.
Power:
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The original power port of the Raspberry Pi 4B has a power supply capability of 5V 3A and is
independent of the battery system. When the power supply is connected, the Norns Shield Pro will
automatically power on, and the front blue LED will light up to indicate that the power supply is
functioning normally.
MIDI in/out
TRS MIDI in (3.5mm audio jack) is auto-sensing. MIDI in is a native feature of the scripts and does not require any additional settings.
TRS MIDI out (3.5mm audio jack) ->TypeA and TypeB.
To enable MIDI out, rst go to SYSTEM -> DEVICES -> MIDI and select 'virtual'. Then, enter a script that supports MIDI in/out functionality (for example, AWAKE). Press K1 to return to the main menu, and rotate E1 to access the parameter interface. Under the 'out' option, you can select 'audio + MIDI'. For the MIDI out device, choose '1. virtual '.
Batteries Installation
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For battery, 18650 flat head type like the below pictures. You could find it on EBay or Amazon.
Normally, I recommend 3000mAh capacity or more 18650 batteries, this capacity of batteries will
provide better performance.
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Pay attention to the polarity of the battery when installing. The left side is positive and the right
side is negative.
Question and Answers
1. What type of batteries are recommended?
Flat-top 18650 lithium-ion batteries are recommended. Please note that they must be lithium-ion 18650 batteries. Better performance will be achieved if the capacity of a single battery is greater than 3000 mAh. For your reference, the following are batteries available for purchase on Amazon:
In addition, please note that when installing the batteries, the left side is always the positive (+) pole and the right side is the negative (-).
2. What type of charging plug is recommended?
The charging capability of the Norns Shield XL Pro is 5V 2.4A, so a 5V 2A charging plug is sufficient to meet its charging needs. If you charge the Norns Shield Pro via a USB 2.0 port on a computer, the charging speed will be very slow, and this method is not recommended.
3. Why is MIDI IN/OUT not working?
Please configure MIDI IN/OUT according to the instructions below. The device is pre-set to "virtual" mode by default at the factory. The solution is:
4. Why does an ERROR appear on the screen?
Since all scripts are written by individual users, minor bugs are unavoidable. Various errors may occur when a script reads duplicate files or encounters other reading issues during initialization or switching. The official website provides solutions for some common errors. However, there are still some errors that cannot be resolved. You can log in to Maiden and check the real-time error causes in SuperCollider. Of course, the simplest solution is to reflash the memory card.
In addition, To avoid the aforementioned errors, downloading new scripts via the following method can prevent many issues.when downloading new scripts, you need to install them using the command ;install + url. Enter the above command in Matron on the Maiden interface, as shown in the figure below. Sometimes the installation may fail due to network issues, so please try several times.