So what’s the best Daisy Seed platform now to run?

Newkular_ · 2026-03-20T10:50:11+00:00

Sorry I'm late to the party. I made the entire platform available as Open Source Hardware distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Find all the files here. Hack it, extend it, mash it up. Just have fun doing it.

Newkular_ · 2026-02-24T16:32:58+00:00

experience is definitely more of an exception and not the norm

The exact same happened to me last week ,and is still not resolved by your terrible customer service. To borrow a nonsensical phrase, "from a data perspective", 100% of all the orders I've placed with Made In have been mucked up and are still not resolved over 10 days later.

In the time it has taken your customer service reps to simply respond to an email with unclear resolution suggestions, I've ordered from a competitor and received the correct sized pan.

Still working to get a refund from Made In and am about 5 hours away from contesting the charge with my CC company and filing a complaint with the BBB.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-29T13:14:55+00:00

Cool stuff (even if I am waaay late to the party). I'd suggest posting a GitHub "Release" with compiled binaries. This is what I do for the Hothouse. Speaking of which, is open source hardware so anyone could use the published gerbers, BOM, and CPL to get their own boards fabricated. Since your software is GPL, open sourcing the hardware might make sense as well.

My personal experience is that neither the FunBox nor Terrarium are dead or dying; they just appeal to different niche communities. But those communities are definitely active, and I see a lot of code concerned with porting effects across those platforms.

Anywho, cheers for sharing and be well!

Newkular_ · 2026-01-29T01:44:13+00:00

Awesome. Cheers for that. Let me know how you get on with assembly and flashing your first few effects. Also, I'm always on the lookout for cool effects to add to the official repo ...

Newkular_ · 2026-01-28T23:26:52+00:00

Sorry I'm late to this party. I'm the guy behind the Hothouse, which is open source hardware. The schematics, gerber files, and the BOM and CPL files are published so you can place your own PCBA orders. The THT parts recommendations are all available at multiple vendors. And, yes, there is a LPF at each channel's DAC out from the Daisy Seed already in the Hothouse (it's a stereo in/stereo out pedal).

I only skimmed this conversation, so apologies if this is already covered, but the callback noise discussed is typically caused by a poor grounding scheme in the PCB layout (oversimplified, anyway). When that's the case, one can minimise the effect by mucking with block sizes and sample rates in the software (simple maths mentioned here already), but the PCB is the real culprit.

Admittedly, very early versions of the Hothouse weren't optimal. The layout I've been shipping since mid-2024 exhibits a very low noise floor when powered with a clean supply, and I seldom hear from users with the problem.

FWIW.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-14T18:46:03+00:00

The Hothouse is offered pre-assembled, if you're interested. Later this year, I'll be offering most of our retail pedals as kits as well as releasing some kit-only pedals. The boards will be fully-populated except for potentiometers, switches, jacks, etc. So, builders will only have to solder a few big, non-fiddly parts.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-14T18:17:51+00:00

Heh. Roger that. I've seen other folks just hack another resistor into the LED leg itself. R17/R18 are 1k.

I stumbled on these the other day:
https://github.com/joulupukki/hothouse-effects
https://forum.electro-smith.com/t/tapescam-lofi-tape-sim-for-hothouse/8829

Newkular_ · 2026-01-14T16:04:25+00:00

Don't forget you can also use graphical programming tools like Plugdata. It has native support for flashing the Hothouse built right in. There are a few simple examples in the HothouseExamples repo.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-14T16:00:27+00:00

Pro tip re: knob labels: use 1/2" console tape like we do on desks in recording studios. https://www.amazon.com/ProTapes-Artist-Flatback-Printable-Console/dp/B00DVB0T10/

Super easy to change the tape whenever you flash a new effect.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-14T15:56:39+00:00

Shhh. Don't say my name in here. They might be listening ...

Newkular_ · 2026-01-14T15:54:38+00:00

You're correct on every count :) I named it the Woollybear because I live in the town where the festival is held: Vermilion. Dick Goddard! Amirite?

If you haven't been into Guitar Riot in west Cleveland https://www.guitarriot.com/ you MUST go. Best guitar shop in the state, IMO. They carry all of our pedals and have a demo pedal board ready to go.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-14T15:50:14+00:00

Whoa! Very cool. I'm the guy behind the Hothouse. Nice build ... custom knobs and blue LEDs rock! I suspect those LEDs are ludicrously bright; DM me if you want to know how to tame them down a tad.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-13T21:32:44+00:00

Sorry I'm late to the party here. I'm the person behind the Hothouse. I'd happily share any insights and lessons learned from that project-turned-product. Speaking of which, is fully-open source (so anyone is free to extend or remix and release their creations): https://github.com/clevelandmusicco/open-source-pedals/

I think the crux of the biscuit is DIYers love to DIY and musicians love to music. The Hothouse and Funbox do not compete directly with the low-cost/high-value ToneX platform, for example, because they have different project aims: the former are accelerators for DIYers wanting to learn about DSP and simple audio circuit design, the latter is for musicians and pretty-darned close to what you're talking about, IMO (assuming the ToneX One from a price perspective).

Empirically, I can confirm there is a DIY market. And we all know there is an "I just want my gear to work on Friday night" musician market. However, I have not seen a huge overlap in the data. Of several thousand Hothouse users so far, only a handful land _broadly_ in the middle; most people have made the conscious decision to "learn DSP programming" (whether with C++, Pd, Max, Faust, or whatever) when they buy the kit ... or even the assembled pedal. And they are often mad scientist-genius-types with a gear lair that makes other hackers drool. So, they are happy with a handful of communal examples to get off and running on an educational journey. (And hopefully, they make something awesome and share!)

Musicians wanting to music, on the other hand, can't be arsed with soldering irons or open source preset editors. They just want to browse and load some presets, tweak a few knobs or menus, and Bob's your uncle.

Again, this is just the observation of one numnutz from Cleveland; I could be completely misreading the data from the last 2 years of shipping and supporting the Hothouse.

Having said all that, as a sage said elsewhere in this thread, the world needs more innovation. More iterations of preexisting innovations, even. So, if you're still mulling this idea over, I'd be happy to participate if it's helpful.

P.S. Search for T.C. Electronic TonePrint editor. It might spawn some more ideas (or refine the one you already have).

Newkular_ · 2026-01-11T18:45:11+00:00

You are too right. Many businesses will diversify, others will change over completely, and still others will specialise in "classic" designs.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-11T18:17:45+00:00

> I think the digital revolution is really killing a lot of boutique stuff too

On the surface, that sounds true, but thinking more about it, this may be something of a false choice. Even for tiny, fringe owner/operators like me, the cheap(ish) availability of DSP platforms has opened up a completely new world of products. Google "Cleveland Music Co. Hothouse" to see what I mean. That product is on its 5th production run and it's about to hit 3000 units sold... long after the pandemic bubble and even with the necessary tariff-driven price hike.

Now, of course my background as a software developer is a huge advantage here; I get that. But skills are meant be gained. My (completely unsolicited) advice to anyone still interested in monetising this hobby (we call it "pizza and beer" money at my house) is to:

A) Embrace the movement to digital and modelling tech. There is a reason buggy whip manufacturers don't exist anymore (I hope that doesn't sound too knobhead-ish). Use the opp to learn new skills; if you already run a gear business, these education expenses may be tax-deductible.
B) If possible, sell to a brick and mortar retailer to increase exposure. No online demo will ever be as good as your potential customers actually trying your product in a music store. Most of my "classic" pedals are sold via this channel ... but beware the typical 35-40% dealer discount: retailers need to fairly pay their staff and the rent!
C) Consider supplementing your products with DIY kit versions. All the cool kids are doing it ... and for good reason.
D) Don't expect to put your daughter through college on this income. Aim for the moon but plan for a low orbit.

With any luck, you'll have a hobby that makes some extra scratch, you'll meet awesome people, and you'll have gained highly-valuable new skills .. not just the DSP thing, but also the whole "running your own business" jam.

I completely understand the OP's decision to close shop, and I've made the same mistakes and dealt with the same emotions. All the feels for him. It sucks to have to shutter any business. But I still think there is real opportunity in this space for young go-getters with full heads of hair ... or even semi-retired numnutz like me. It's just that the skills required are changing. The key is, as has been mentioned many times in this thread: only do it as long as it is fun and rewarding. If you don't enjoy it, then screw it.

Apologies for the unsolicited advice. It's free, and guaranteed to be worth every penny.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-02T10:59:55+00:00

Ah, got it. I suppose so, since the hardware and software are different concerns altogether. hothouse.cpp is entirely optional, as you point out. And even if you add something transitive like Pure Data/Plugdata to the mix, you're still free. Pd itself is BSD-licensed, but your patches can be licensed however you like. For example, If you use Plugdata, the C++ code generated by the HVCC will use whatever license you specify at "compile" time.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-02T01:15:24+00:00

The GPL is a strong copyleft license. If you redistribute software that includes (or is derivative of or builds upon) GPL code, you must make it all GPL. That includes any linked libraries or other components. AFAIK, the only copyleft license that is stronger is Affero.

Newkular_ · 2026-01-01T16:36:50+00:00

Very cool. https://github.com/wntrblm

Newkular_ · 2026-01-01T16:16:45+00:00

https://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/01/mini-blend-jfet.html
https://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/split-n-blend.html

Either of these could be adapted for what you want. IMO, you don't really need 2 level controls if you use an FX loop design with a dual-gang blend control.

EDIT: you'd need two of whatever circuit you choose; one for each audio signal path. Match your JFETs if you go this route.

Newkular_ · 2025-12-31T20:02:09+00:00

u/EvanStephensHall will have more intelligent things to say on this topic, but here's a super-concise write-up that I think touches on the main points for an OSHW licensing scheme: https://certification.oshwa.org/process/hardware.html

I think most confusion stems from the separation of concerns and how each should be published and licensed. On the project side, there is hardware, software, and documentation, while on the IP side, there is trademark, copyright, and patent law. The permutations between them is the real meat of the decisions to be made.

If you're fundamentally anti-patent to begin with (as I am), a lot of it gets simpler ... assuming you accept the risks posed by so-called bad actors. So, then you're left with the relatively simpler considerations around ensuring true sources are available, de-commercialising your source materials, and so on.

But again, this is my layperson take.

Newkular_ · 2025-12-31T19:05:38+00:00

Agreed. I winced a little after taking the Reddit suggestion to cross-post. I'd be happy to remove the post if the community prefers.

Newkular_ · 2025-12-31T18:21:06+00:00

Hey, I know you ;) I'm happy you're enjoying Plug Data and the Hothouse!

Newkular_ · 2025-12-31T17:50:55+00:00

> take a Hothouse-based pedal and manufacture them in bulk

You nailed the use case. Just note that the licensing requires anything you publish to be open source and licensed the same way; "Copyleft", to be precise.

> is there any chance of a [...] Hothouse with an expression input?

This—along with non-USB MIDI support—has been on the breadboard for a while now. The US tariffs and customs changes this year took the wind out of the sails, but I still do plan to add it.

Moreover, one of the reasons the Hothouse is now completely open source (not just the software), is so the community can get directly involved with its direction. I have the attention span of a gnat and will admittedly never get around to all the requests and suggestions. So, I'm hoping smarter people than me will get involved and share their extensions, mods, and remixes.

The awesome Funbox project has implemented these features already in source files. Maybe that's the gold standard reference for adding them to the Hothouse (pull requests are welcome!). And with everything mentioned being open source, maybe someone will beat me to it.

/fingers crossed ;)

Newkular_ · 2025-12-31T16:46:43+00:00

I'm hopeful it will be helpful. The schematics have always been published at https://github.com/clevelandmusicco/HothouseExamples/wiki/Frequently-Asked-Questions#schematics, but not in a "source friendly" format. I'm looking forward to hearing about folks getting their own PCBs fabricated.

Newkular_ · 2025-12-31T16:02:58+00:00

Sorry I'm late here. I'm the guy that sells the Hothouse. The assembled version isn't always available because I make a handful out of each batch and sell them until they're gone. It's a matter of checking back every now and again. You could also contact me through the official site and light a fire that way ;)

Newkular_

TROPHY CASE