OscPocketD/Synth - portable beat/song-making studio with synths and drum machine!

StaffanMelin · March 30, 2021, 1:18pm

Hi all,

I’ve played with the Daisy Seed for 2 days and it is great fun! My latest synthesizer projects have been using Arduino with the excellent Mozzi library and Raspberry Pi running softsynths.

Now, my target is to make a multitimbral portable music making tool with Daisy. I am going to do it in three steps:

Prototype: Something static and self contained (nothing except the Seed)
Usable: Programmable using an LCD Keypad, save patterns and sounds
Finished: GATE IN/OUT, some pots for editing and live control, LFOs

Before I enter step 1, I’ve been doing an experiment. I’ve made a simple MIDI engine using the Metro class. It plays a small drum machine, a bass and an arpeggio. The drums are synthesized (kick, snare and open/closed hihat). Two synths are running right now, controlled by MIDI values in arrays holdings 16ths. So all in all 4 oscillators, 2 noise generators, 8 envelopes, 4 filters. Mixed in simple “stereo” out.

Maybe this experimental code can be interesting and/or useful for someone making something similar.

If there is any interest, I’ll provide updates on my progress!

https://oscillator.se/sites/default/files/opensource/oscpocketd.zip

Thanks,

Staffan

StaffanMelin · December 28, 2020, 9:24pm

Short demo: https://youtu.be/IEzufs4jgXI.

StaffanMelin · January 4, 2021, 1:44pm

Step 1 - Prototype completed.

11+2 voices running now, all sequenced. New song mode added, where 2 bar sequences can be chained in any order.

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/TvxvXqrM678

Next: Step 2 - Usable. I will create the UI, using the LCD library I wrote (LCD class for a 16x2 LCD using the Hitachi HD44780 driver chip).

It is sounding a bit too much chip-tune for my taste, but the UI will include editable parameters for all oscillators, including the VA drums.

autodafe · January 6, 2021, 9:32am

It looks promising, I already built your OscPocket on the Arduino and would like to test it once released

StaffanMelin · January 7, 2021, 10:22am

Thanks @autodafe! As you noticed it has some similarities with my Arduino project, but the power of the Daisy makes it possible to do so much more with just one Daisy!

At the same time I want to keep the cost down, you will only need the Daisy Seed + LCD Keypad + 2-3 audio connections.

I will add a SYNC IN (GATE) so you will be able to let the OscPocketO work with the OscPocketD.

Thank you for your interest!

StaffanMelin · January 9, 2021, 5:05pm

I’ve built a simple circuit with the Daisy and the necessary parts. Front and back attached.

The UI is operated with the buttons on the LCD Keypad, which I now read successfully in the code.

The extra single button is a reset-to-bootloader (BOOT_FLASH attached to a pin?) which makes reprogramming a lot easier.

The three extra audio sockets will potentially be used for: SYNC IN (GATE/CLOCK), MIDI and Audio In.

I’ve also left some space for 2-3 pots.

Now only the UI/edit code remains (great fun!), but work starts Monday, so…

StaffanMelin · February 1, 2021, 6:12am

So the UI is almost finished, just some testing remains. The synths are editable, as are the sequences. I’ve added an 8 channel mixer with volume and pan (and room for a future FX update).

This is the current status:

The OPD features:

3 x bassline tracks, 32 notes each (1/16ths, 2 bars), one editable subtractive synth per track
3 x lead tracks, up to 32 notes each, one editable subtractive synth per track
1 x chord track, up to 32 notes, one editable 3 note subtractive polysynth
1 x drum machine, 32 steps (1/16ths, 2 bars), with VA sound generation of kick, snare, open hihat, closed hihat, crash and clap
synths combine a VCO, a VCF and an ENV and are editable
drum machine creates the sounds using oscillators and noise generators with VCFs end ENVs, the sounds are editable
8 channel mixer with volume and pan
note editors for each track
5 sequences per track
a pattern play and a song play mode
song editor where you can chain sequences on all 8 tracks
utility functions for saving and loading to Flash, setting gate time and manipulating sequences
a compact UI running on a 16x2 LCD screen

I will try to complete a first usable version with manual this week, with documentation and code, all released as open source.

StaffanMelin · February 9, 2021, 9:02pm

Working version finished!

Welcome to the OscPocketD (OPD) - the Daisy Pocket Synth!

Demo: https://youtu.be/ocJnv1VTkYQ

The goal is to combine the Electosmith Daisy Seed with a 16x2 LCD Keypad to make a simple, inexpensive and portable beat/song making tool running open source software.

All software is running on the Daisy computer, including sound generation!

The OPD features:
• 3 x bassline tracks, 32 notes each (1/16ths, 2 bars), one editable subtractive synth per track
• 3 x lead tracks, up to 64 notes/rests each, one editable subtractive synth per track
• 1 x chord track, up to 64 notes/rests each, one editable subtractive 3-note polysynth
• 1 x drum machine, 32 steps (1/16ths, 2 bars), with VA sound generation of kick, snare, open hihat, closed hihat, crash and clap
• synths that combine a VCO, a VCF and an ADSR and are editable (waveform, detune, LPF cutoff, resonance, attack, decay, sustain, release)
• a drum machine that creates the sounds using oscillators and noise generators with VCFs end ENVs, the sounds are editable
• an 8 channel mixer with volume and pan (and soon some FX!)
• 4 different note editors for each track style (bass, lead, chord, drum)
• 10 sequences per track (0-9)
• a pattern play and a song play mode
• a song editor where you can chain sequences on all 8 tracks, up to 100 steps
• utility functions for saving and loading to Flash, setting gate time and manipulating sequences (and soon FX editing!)
• a compact UI running on a 16x2 LCD screen

Download, build and test: https://oscillator.se/opensource

MakingSoundMachines · February 14, 2021, 7:14pm

Great job - neat idea implementing a groovebox style sequencer and sound generator with daisy. Subbed to your Youtube channel, excited to see where this goes.

StaffanMelin · February 14, 2021, 7:53pm

Thank you for your interest!

I started it to learn Daisy, then it evolved. It is losely based on my Arduino Mozzi machines OscPocketO, Drums and Synth (https://youtu.be/xTlGxCow4GA).

I have recently added a Reverb with reverb send on all tracks, as well as a separate Delay for all tracks. I also added a simple LFO on all tracks that can affect the filter cutoff frequency. This makes it sound more interesting. Then I seemed to have maxed out the MCU, so I had to do some cleaning up.

Only two things missing now:

SYNC IN/OUT.
MIDI export.

I hope to finish those things in the week to come.

StaffanMelin · February 19, 2021, 2:04am

The OscPocketD - portable music creation with Daisy Seed - is finished! (There are probably bugs and room for improvement! )

Demo: https://youtu.be/n4_eJM9G5Ms (all sounds made by OscPocketD)

Since last I’ve added LFO modulation of filters, a delay on each track as well as a global reverb with individual sends for each track.

You can export your note data if you want to continue to work on it in your DAW.

Download code, manual and build instructions from: https://oscillator.se/opensource.

kuhoyip · February 19, 2021, 1:46pm

Superb Creation

You really have built a super synth/workstation which is also portable and powerful than any of those expensive brands, you know R, K, Y, N…
If you can plot this onto Patch, that will be even a miracle to all of us having the Eurorack dream!

StaffanMelin · February 19, 2021, 2:29pm

Thanks a lot!

In the start I was a bit inspired by the Pocket Operators by T.E.

Yeah, that would be a lot of fun. The Field would be a dream platform. At the moment both of those products are out of my price range unfortunately…

kuhoyip · February 19, 2021, 2:32pm

Ask Electro-Smith to sponsor you, or to get you as the development partner. You deserve it.

StaffanMelin · February 19, 2021, 11:24pm

Thanks! I can hope!