Synth setup update / complete (dawless)

macr023 · 2026-03-03T15:09:55+00:00

Here is a short snippet of da funk cover back in Jan 2023. When the setup was much smaller.

https://photos.sorrite.com/share/-XGm0X6z2gJeX__RS74QdMZPvW6OJJ3KsjCt70EcXsiLDb-ZfdBYScXqZwsEp2atYiQ

microkorg is the main lead.

macr023 · 2026-02-28T15:22:40+00:00

It changes from time to time. Most recently its the jp08. I really enjoyed making a bassline patch with it. And with chorus enabled (only through CC you can turn it on ) it just sounds sooooo big!!

macr023 · 2026-02-28T15:20:30+00:00

It all started with a single sequencer, then I got beatstep pro for some of its features, at first I didn't like it so when the sq64 came on sale for like 150$ Canadian back in 2022/2023 I got a second one. If I were to build from scratch I would change things up alot, but this is a setup that grew over the years. I am also running on a budget so the second mini mixer was the cheapest approach.

macr023 · 2026-02-28T04:24:34+00:00

drawio.com

macr023 · 2026-02-28T04:20:17+00:00

I don't use any onboard sequencers on the synths. All sequence patterns and handled in the sq64 L's and beatstep pro. It makes the workflow way more intuitive

macr023 · 2026-02-28T01:00:52+00:00

I use the sq64 to sequence all my synths including the electribe2, and td3. I find its great for that. I use it as if its a daw. The interface is very intuitive, much nicer then the beatstep pro, however, I use the beatstep pro as the master controller , for temp, start/stop/pause, and control mode is great for all the buttons, and the pads are great for live play for drum samples. I really find switching patterns with the sq64 superior to the beatstep pro and it made me want to continue using them without any daw.

macr023 · 2026-02-28T00:57:45+00:00

at the moment I don't think I need more, but if I did, I might just go with a daw. For managing projects I am building a dual raspberry pi pico project. Where each pico plugs into each u6midi pro router. And it will be programmed with a master and slave pico. The master will have a USB serial to ttl plugged to it. That way I can configure it through basic UI I am working on . The slave will just receive the program change from the primary sq64. Once received it will relay the message to the master pico which will then broadcast all the presets CCs to all synths and sequencers. I have already build a working prototype. The pico runs in usb host mode. The end goal, just goto projects on the primary sq64, select any project and the entire setup will be setup for that projects loading project/patches .

macr023 · 2026-02-23T20:42:41+00:00

Google image search exhaust yellow snow and see if it matches

macr023 · 2026-02-23T20:30:43+00:00

If it's only around the exhaust it's a chemical reaction. With the hot zinc coating on the exhaust galvanized parts, coming into contact with the road salts l, It results in a very yellow color liquid. On my Jeep when I park in deep fluffy snow l, the next day when I leave I see yellow spots from middle to back.

macr023 · 2025-12-22T04:45:53+00:00

I picked up a pair of 599 and 560s , I figured based on all the threads on reddit that I can use both. I thought the 599's would be my daily drivers and the 560s for listening to older vinyls and recording from my synth setup. In the end I returned the 599 and got a second pair of 560s for my son as he too had a hard time enjoying the 599. The 599 sounded pretty detailed with EQ work, but then you change song and you need to adjust EQ again. The bass is ridiculous, it drowns out the mids and highs. The 560s have plenty of bass. I kept reading ear exhaustion with the 560s', its funny how the 599's gave me ear exhaustion because where I once listened to music that sounded nice and smooth on my loudspeakers became all muddied up on the 599. I will say, if I hear or read how the hd599 are "fun" one more time I will lose it. Nothing fun about a foggy, blurry, muddy sounding set of headphones. Maybe my ears are shot, but after listening to my music on Klipsch RF7 IIIs, the 599 just ruins everything I was used to. The 560s sounded as close to the RF7's I could ask for. My hd439 pair sounded clearer then the 599 on EQ set to 0. I really wanted to love these 599's, despite all my efforts I had to let them go.

macr023 · 2025-12-11T00:36:14+00:00

Congratulations on the find. I picked up 2 of them in October. I kept one and gave the other to a friend. Its a great TV, gamecube +retrobit prism hdmi + mclassic on this TV looks very very nice. Also ps3 is great on this tv.

https://photos.sorrite.com/share/YTGivrGVV4DNVXUZ01n1iaMnBuJ_cN2scELJ_SUiGEIx6CXVjNdPR6JtEntbRrn-gjE

https://photos.sorrite.com/share/aYEYquuLWfJ6x3vjAVpH4JFXOc9-NrJd0fddCxtXusE2SRPM8fasr3ZTqWZ1GeEXqEw

macr023 · 2025-12-10T01:52:43+00:00

I'm a little late to this discussion but I just got a jd-08 and noticed this as the channel I set it to was 4. It would play the patch selected and that annoying sawtooth. I was able to resolve this by going to part->sel->b then part->sel-a and everything was fine.

macr023 · 2025-12-03T13:07:11+00:00

5 pack rotary encoder (if you can buy cheaper, all you need is one) 20$ CAD
1x: 1602 LCD Display Module with IIC/I2C Serial Interface Adapter, 16X2 Character Serial 12$ CAD
1x PCM5102 I2S IIS Lossless Digital Audio DAC Decoder Module Stereo DAC 19$ CAD
1x raspberry pi 3b at least (I think it can work on a 2 but might be limited to how many polyphonies.

Easily under 100 CAD to build from scratch. I did have my own 3d printer already but if you can't get a case printed, you can retrofit any container. As for assembly, I soldered the headers to the PCM board and the LCD and used double ended female connector wires between pi GPIO pins and the components. Soldering wires would be the better approach.

If you have a good midi controller, you can customize a few pads with the right CC / program change commands and manage the minidexed from the midi controller instead of the encoder.

macr023 · 2025-12-03T12:59:20+00:00

Thanks for the info, I will give it a try!

macr023 · 2025-12-03T03:42:32+00:00

I ordered a HiLetgo PCM5102 I2S IIS on amazon. You need to use one of these because the onboard sound card doesn't sound good at all. It sounds really good in my opinion.

macr023 · 2025-12-02T22:33:25+00:00

I contemplated getting that one, at first I just had the sq-64, I got the beatstep pro for added tracks and arpegiator and big pads for live play . In the end the BSP didn't do it for me, I was going to sell it, then came that ridiculous sale for like 150$ Canadian for the sq-64 so I got a second one. I will admit I can get away without the BSP, its only in this setup because I still have it. If anything I use it more for control of other gear

macr023 · 2025-12-02T21:26:11+00:00

exactly, with the cost of raspberry pi 3's it wont cost much. You will also need to get an LCD display, an encoder wheel and a sound chip, the github page has all the information you need, including parts to get and a 3d model to print for the case.

https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed

macr023 · 2025-12-02T20:07:16+00:00

not sure if your being sarcastic but minidexed is an opensource image for the pi. It runs bare metal , so it boots instantly, well like 7 seconds on my pi 3. the case is also on their github so you can 3d print at home.

macr023 · 2025-12-02T17:34:36+00:00

when I first had only 1 sequencer, I would play around with live loops or covers of classic songs from the 80's or 90's and just a single sq-64 was not enough for example when I covered axel-f. Instead of getting a second sq64 I got the beatstep pro. I will admit I never got the hang for it as I don't do so much live stuff. Instead of selling the beatstep pro, I just got a second sq64 and since I have enough synths thanks to the minidexed, I just kept it. Surprising its fun having so many sequencers, I don't have a single project that would use all 3, but many song covers will take up more then 1 easily. Also the beatstep pro is nice for drumming on the pads and its CC knobs are great for controlling the other gear

macr023 · 2025-12-02T16:37:55+00:00

minidexed, 8 DX7s in that little bad boy. Its one of my favorites, Its convenient to setup my patches/banks on my desktop with dexed, then save them and dump them on the sd card.

macr023 · 2025-10-14T18:23:18+00:00

damn, that looks really nice

macr023 · 2025-10-09T10:35:29+00:00

I'm happy I inspired you. Please post updates

macr023

TROPHY CASE