I wrote a software synth myself with the intention of running it on Raspbery Pi 3 / Zero 2. Those are actually quite capable processers; sound synthesis requires very little RAM, both code and for maintaining state, so everything fits in the rather tiny cache. But at the same time, while these Pis use "little" cores, the maximum throughput of NEON instructions is actually the same as for the corresponding "big" cores like the Cortex-A72. With four cores, you can do in the order of ~10 GFLOPS 32-bit FMA instructions. With a sample rate of 96 kHz and 32-note polyphony, you theoretically have a few thousand FMA instructions per note to spend.
Little bit shallow article. Raspberry 3/4/5 are in a different league than RP2040. Newest Zynthian kits are updated for Pi5. There is also a big difference between using Linux (e.g. Zynthian) and running barebones (e.g. Minidexed, MT32-pi, probably some proprietary offerings).
Max MSP has RNBO [0] which provides a Pi image, and a quick deploy path for patches. I've used it for a few art installations, and the versions from this year have been super nice. Basically, you can design and test audio on your regular dev machine and quickly deploy to the PI. You don't need to mess with any Linux audio nonsense.
I discovered by pure chance the vast ecosystem of iOS synths apps. And I was absolutely blown away. 90+% of the synths of the past century are available for ~5-20€ each. Connect that to a basic KORG MicroKeys Air [extra cheap, but includes Bluetooth]. And you are the next Jean-Michel Jarre.
[Note: and the amount of tutorial videos on YouTube is huge.]
GarageBand is free on every iPhone and has a good selection of starter synths, with added DAW capabilities. Bluetooth midi controllers are supported (via bluetooth midi connect App). Using a pi or Arduino to build a midi controller can also be great fun.
For some synths like Blofeld, you're paying $10-20 for something that used to sell in a box for $300. And it's the exact same synth (100% digital) often with a better UI.
The iPad is a great choice for music - you get the variety of hardware synths with none of the annoying setup (power, midi, audio routing), at a cheaper price, but it still feels more immersive than sitting at a desktop PC and a daw.
Yes! But, huge but, very huge but, you lose the affordance of the switches and the buttons and the knobs and the patch cables. And that is a terrible loss for fiddling and discovery.
True. But for going from zero to semi-hero, that’s definitely an option.
[the huge amount of presets in software synths is really an BIG added value, so you can learn how each given sound is built]
When the word synthesizer is used, it's not meant to be a piano like thing or? For me the word is analogous to "piano keyboard" but it seems to not be so...
A synth is a device that generates sounds. They’re often (but not always!) controlled by piano-style keyboards, but so are lots of non-synth things. For example, although a piano emulator could be a synth, they’re generally not thought of that way. A sampling keyboard is not a synth: it’s playing back recorded sounds.
Lots of synths spent their whole lives never connected to a keyboard, but might live in rack mounts and be driven by sequencers or DAWs.
The m8 and the recently, heavily promoted Woovebox 2 are the Emacs/Vim of grooveboxes. They hide a vast amount of functionality behind what initially seems like an impenetrable jungle of button presses and shortcuts; a system that ultimately proves* to be highly ergonomic.
*Based on what I read. Sadly, I don't own these devices.
Typical how they first let Korg do the talking, when actually, Korg is much slower to innovate. With one line, the article mentions Tasty Chips synthesizers (who are friends of mine), but as far as I know, they were actually the first, just check their Kickstarter campaigns which go back ten years.
Note that using RPi is not all sunshine and roses. There were times that compute modules were extremely hard to get.
Arturia does that, and Korg did as well (making controller keyboards specific for emulating a synth, with the software running on a Mac or PC.
Downsides:
- if the software doesn’t get updated, you’re stuck running an old OS an old Mac that supports it.
- you can’t just turn on the synth and use it, you need to find a cable, connect it to the Mac, launch the software, etc
What I don't quite get is why manufacturers of midi controllers (Arturia, Novation, NI, etc.), with the exception of, possibly only Korg, don't release any of their digital instruments as mobile apps. After sitting the whole day in front of my computer, the last thing I want to do is to swap VS Code for Ableton or Kontakt and spend a few more hours in the glow of my monitors.
(I do get that if you are very serious about making music you need a proper computer set up. I am just a mere amateur hobbyist.)
I wrote a software synth myself with the intention of running it on Raspbery Pi 3 / Zero 2. Those are actually quite capable processers; sound synthesis requires very little RAM, both code and for maintaining state, so everything fits in the rather tiny cache. But at the same time, while these Pis use "little" cores, the maximum throughput of NEON instructions is actually the same as for the corresponding "big" cores like the Cortex-A72. With four cores, you can do in the order of ~10 GFLOPS 32-bit FMA instructions. With a sample rate of 96 kHz and 32-note polyphony, you theoretically have a few thousand FMA instructions per note to spend.
Little bit shallow article. Raspberry 3/4/5 are in a different league than RP2040. Newest Zynthian kits are updated for Pi5. There is also a big difference between using Linux (e.g. Zynthian) and running barebones (e.g. Minidexed, MT32-pi, probably some proprietary offerings).
https://shop.zynthian.org/
https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed
https://github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pi
Max MSP has RNBO [0] which provides a Pi image, and a quick deploy path for patches. I've used it for a few art installations, and the versions from this year have been super nice. Basically, you can design and test audio on your regular dev machine and quickly deploy to the PI. You don't need to mess with any Linux audio nonsense.
People also use this to make unique pedals.
[0]: https://rnbo.cycling74.com/
I discovered by pure chance the vast ecosystem of iOS synths apps. And I was absolutely blown away. 90+% of the synths of the past century are available for ~5-20€ each. Connect that to a basic KORG MicroKeys Air [extra cheap, but includes Bluetooth]. And you are the next Jean-Michel Jarre.
[Note: and the amount of tutorial videos on YouTube is huge.]
Creating music was never more accessible than it is now.
Conversely, the likelihood of making it big just by making some good damn music was never lower than it is now. Makes for a fine hobby though.
GarageBand is free on every iPhone and has a good selection of starter synths, with added DAW capabilities. Bluetooth midi controllers are supported (via bluetooth midi connect App). Using a pi or Arduino to build a midi controller can also be great fun.
For some synths like Blofeld, you're paying $10-20 for something that used to sell in a box for $300. And it's the exact same synth (100% digital) often with a better UI.
The iPad is a great choice for music - you get the variety of hardware synths with none of the annoying setup (power, midi, audio routing), at a cheaper price, but it still feels more immersive than sitting at a desktop PC and a daw.
For synth heads, there is also a well-regarded Syntorial app/course. (BTW, has anyone tried their Building Blocks? There are very few online reviews.)
Additional note: synth emulation is also available in the Bristol Linux app, or in the [proprietary but very complete] Arturia VST.
Yes! But, huge but, very huge but, you lose the affordance of the switches and the buttons and the knobs and the patch cables. And that is a terrible loss for fiddling and discovery.
My path has been to work a lot in the ODDYSEi app.
Now that I understand most of it, I am really considering buying a ARP 2600 replica.
So yes, the switch from software to hardware comes with time. But, at least for me, the first step is cheap apps on my already-owned tablet.
True. But for going from zero to semi-hero, that’s definitely an option. [the huge amount of presets in software synths is really an BIG added value, so you can learn how each given sound is built]
Definitely agree too. Budget is definitely not the same.
And something like VCVRack is heaven to learn, experiment and understand what one can do with synthesis, step by step.
My first synth was a TX81Z. That one set of buttons I’ll never miss.
Ahh, but, you can just chain a bunch of Intech controllers. That's what I do. https://intech.studio
When the word synthesizer is used, it's not meant to be a piano like thing or? For me the word is analogous to "piano keyboard" but it seems to not be so...
A synth is a device that generates sounds. They’re often (but not always!) controlled by piano-style keyboards, but so are lots of non-synth things. For example, although a piano emulator could be a synth, they’re generally not thought of that way. A sampling keyboard is not a synth: it’s playing back recorded sounds.
Lots of synths spent their whole lives never connected to a keyboard, but might live in rack mounts and be driven by sequencers or DAWs.
theres also things like the M8 tracker from Dirtywave which uses a teensy board and sounds really good for a chip of that size
The m8 and the recently, heavily promoted Woovebox 2 are the Emacs/Vim of grooveboxes. They hide a vast amount of functionality behind what initially seems like an impenetrable jungle of button presses and shortcuts; a system that ultimately proves* to be highly ergonomic.
*Based on what I read. Sadly, I don't own these devices.
Typical how they first let Korg do the talking, when actually, Korg is much slower to innovate. With one line, the article mentions Tasty Chips synthesizers (who are friends of mine), but as far as I know, they were actually the first, just check their Kickstarter campaigns which go back ten years.
Note that using RPi is not all sunshine and roses. There were times that compute modules were extremely hard to get.
There’s quite a few Eurorack modules that use the RP2040 too
What if instead it ran on a macbook which you plugged the keyboard into. You could still make the software open source if you want.
Arturia does that, and Korg did as well (making controller keyboards specific for emulating a synth, with the software running on a Mac or PC.
Downsides: - if the software doesn’t get updated, you’re stuck running an old OS an old Mac that supports it. - you can’t just turn on the synth and use it, you need to find a cable, connect it to the Mac, launch the software, etc
What I don't quite get is why manufacturers of midi controllers (Arturia, Novation, NI, etc.), with the exception of, possibly only Korg, don't release any of their digital instruments as mobile apps. After sitting the whole day in front of my computer, the last thing I want to do is to swap VS Code for Ableton or Kontakt and spend a few more hours in the glow of my monitors.
(I do get that if you are very serious about making music you need a proper computer set up. I am just a mere amateur hobbyist.)