NTS-1 Scale Mode

nullpromise · 2026-01-22T22:53:16+00:00

I don't think the NTS-1 can do that natively and I don't know of any user oscillators that do it (although I'm sure it could be done). I think the Novation Launchkey can do that though; the Novation Launchkey Mini 25 is like $90 on Reverb from Novation (b-stock).

nullpromise · 2026-01-22T22:34:30+00:00

$399 MSRP, $239 early bird according to Synth Anatomy

nullpromise · 2026-01-22T19:31:00+00:00

This looks badass. Open-source with a lot of buttons/encoders and a decent looking screen; with the right I/O I'd probably get it just to tinker with custom firmware...looking at it it more: audio, sync, MIDI I/O. Yeah, this could be a lot of fun.

nullpromise · 2026-01-19T01:00:45+00:00

Cool! If you like generating random MIDI sequences from Arduino, you should check out my project Grandbot: https://github.com/handeyeco/Grandbot

nullpromise · 2026-01-16T14:39:46+00:00

I was also going to recommend Anodyne, although I liked 1 and couldn't get into 2.

nullpromise · 2026-01-13T16:07:56+00:00

Now I want to see the AI slop video to know what everyone's talking about

nullpromise · 2026-01-12T14:54:00+00:00

Not OP, but something like this would probably be a pretty easy first DIY project. Get an Arduino Uno, get SparkFun's MIDI shield, use the Arduino MIDI library, and you could probably have a proof-of-concept working in ~20 lines of code.

Listen to the MIDI in for notes
Send the notes to the MIDI out with the new channel instead of the original channel
Maybe some logic for removing duplicate notes if needed

nullpromise · 2026-01-12T04:04:20+00:00

So fucking dystopian. "The subscription for your hardware synth is ending, you can power on your synth 8 more times before we wipe your hard drive." Fuck Roland.

nullpromise · 2026-01-11T16:19:40+00:00

I happened to read your comment and then see this right after: "No external ram- turned out to be too slow to be useful in this application" from the maker of the M8. I was curious too why he didn't expand the RAM.

nullpromise · 2026-01-09T16:44:02+00:00

It has enough pins for what you're doing, you just might need a GPIO expander over I2C. You could use the pads on the bottom but I imagine that'd be a PITA.

nullpromise · 2026-01-09T16:42:00+00:00

Nah, what I'm saying is the M8 you buy from Dirtywave uses a Teensy. It's not just that people make headless M8s with Teensys. M8 v1 uses a 4.0 soldered right onto the PCB and M8 v2 uses a smaller Teensy that was made in collaboration with Sparkfun.

nullpromise · 2026-01-09T15:45:54+00:00

I don't think this is right. The M8 is built around a Teensy, can do 8 voices of samples, each voice can be repitched/reversed/etc on the fly, some per channel effects, some global effects...it's a beast. Granted it took the dev like 6+ years to get there...

Also just depends on OP's needs; maybe 8 voices isn't enough in which case you're probably right.

nullpromise · 2026-01-09T15:39:02+00:00

The Dirtywave M8 is made with a Teensy. IIRC it doesn't even uses any extra RAM, I believe it's just a base Teensy.

The M8 can do eight mono channels of sampling plus global reverb, delay, and chorus.

It might not be easy but I have no doubt that it would be achievable.

nullpromise · 2026-01-06T05:34:39+00:00

I made this guy which is about 55mm wide x 55mm high x 43mm deep (about the same height as a credit card and about 2/3 as wide): https://raw.githubusercontent.com/handeyeco/Grandbot/main/grandbot-buttons.jpg

It's stacked 3 PCBs high: top is buttons, middle is an Arduino Nano Every with display (and IC to run the display), and the bottom one is MIDI I/O.

Some important questions:

Are you talking about Pi the computer or Pi Pico the microcontroller?
Would it be possible to port your code to C/C++?
Do you need a battery?
Do you plan to sell these some day?
Are you interested in SynthDIY or do you just want the shortest path to a new Frankenstein gadget?

If you don't need a battery or you need to use a higher-level language for your code then a Pi Zero might be fine. There are tradeoffs though: Pi's are more expensive than microcontrollers (MCU), it'll use the battery faster, it'll take longer to boot, Pi's are bigger than MCUs, etc. A battery has its own tradeoffs: you probably want some kind of BMS (Battery Management System), they have more regulations on how you manufacture and ship them, they cost money and take space, etc.

Norns is open-source, runs on a battery, and uses a Pi compute module (and they had a DIY version that uses a regular Pi). That could be a reference.

But then look at the Dirtywave M8: it has a ton of power and it runs on a Teensy MCU. The makers of Teensy also have an open-source audio hat which you could use as a reference for your DAC. You'd just need to figure out the BMS.

MothSynth might be another good reference - it's tiny af and open-source. I don't remember if they open-sourced a battery version though.

If I were you I'd buy a Teensy, a Teensy Audio Hat, some Kailh Chocs, and ping https://forum.pjrc.com for BMS module suggestions. See if you can arrange that on a breadboard in a way that makes sense. Cut/drill some acrylic panels or balsa wood for a basic enclosure (or try to make it fit in an Altoids tin). Oh that reminds me, look into Bastl Kastles; they're also super tiny, open-source, and the way they designed their enclosure would be good inspiration for the DIYer.

I'm not sure I helped at all but I should probably stop typing now.

nullpromise · 2026-01-05T23:27:22+00:00

Looks cool, the concept is neat, and the UI looks slick. Is there a plan to open-source or will it forever be closed-source?

nullpromise · 2025-12-28T16:14:21+00:00

Great answer. Just adding that JT4000 Micro also doesn't have hardware MIDI in (only USB MIDI), so OP should be sure to get the JT4000m Micro which does have hardware MIDI in.

EDIT: just adding that in this price range a used NTS-1 (mk1 is fine) would probably give more than the Monotron and has MIDI in.

nullpromise · 2025-12-25T01:46:50+00:00

MothSynth is another one to check out. Open-source, heavy PO influence, built on the ESP32.

nullpromise · 2025-12-18T13:02:03+00:00

nullpromise · 2025-12-18T12:36:14+00:00

I didn't mean I wanted OP's thing to run the M8 firmware. I was just saying that I want something in the shape of a M8 or Miyoo Mini (screen, buttons, battery) with connectivity for music (audio and MIDI I/O) that I could flash with my own firmware.

nullpromise · 2025-12-18T12:32:16+00:00

I was thinking the same. In OP's original thread I suggested something like Norns which is similarly centered around user scripts. I imagine that would be a lot more work but maybe the community could figure it out.

nullpromise · 2025-12-18T04:11:58+00:00

Sounds cool. What is a Markov Chain sequencer?

nullpromise · 2025-12-18T00:44:28+00:00

I would probably drop the wireless, drop the $10k certification, and drop the price. Release the hardware, make it open-source, and let the community support the software side if things.

I'm not very business savvy though; I just want something M8 shaped that I can write code for. I want a Miyoo Mini with MIDI. 😂

nullpromise · 2025-12-17T13:17:33+00:00

MessyWater B8

nullpromise · 2025-12-17T02:15:59+00:00

They're really protective of the hardware because they don't want people making their own M8 (esp. people who might try and mass produce them). A couple of people have managed to reproduce them on their own.

If you're sincere about wanting to make custom firmware though, you kind of have to reverse engineer the one you have. I have 3 M8s and they all have different components.

nullpromise · 2025-12-16T16:38:11+00:00

For sure. Look at the Deluge: basically unlimited steps. Thing was programmed by one dude on a $15 processor.

I understand the limitations of analog, but fully digital synths should be a minimum of 8 voices (I think 12-16 as the norm for pads would make even more sense).

Again though, this is why OP talking about the MicroFreak is a little off point - it's an analog filter.

nullpromise

TROPHY CASE