The Raspberry Pi is a great little device for creating interesting synths and sound projects. If you’re happy to delve into “bare metal programming” — in which the Pi is programmed directly rather than having an operating system or other more friendly controlling software on top — you might be interested in the MiniDexed project, which ultimately lets you put eight classic Yamaha DX7 sound generators in a single unit.
Of course this is an emulator, but it’s pretty darn good. With the DX7 already iconic, imagine having eight at your disposal without requiring an octet of keyboards, or multitracking or manipulating in your DAW.
Dtronics has come up with the DT-DX, which is additional hardware including a rotary input dial, used to control the Pi.
Features
Features of this prototype, which is currently unavailable and is looking to be placed on Kickstarter for funding:
- FM synthesizer closely modeled on the famous DX7
- Supports multiple voices through Program Change and Bank Change LSB/MSB MIDI messages
- Loads voices from .syx files from SD card
- Runs up to 8 Dexed instances simultaneously (like in a TX816) and mixes their output together
- Allows for each Dexed instance to be detuned and stereo shifted
- Compressor effect
- Reverb effect
- 112dB Audio Stereo DAC
- Robust housing
- MIDI input
- MIDI output
- USB (PC/power)
- USB (ext. Keyboard )
- Jack audio out left / Right
- Power button on/off
Find out more and follow its status on the product page.
