Leader1 synthesizer

#1

i ordered 3 new axoloti for a specific project, namely my massive lead synth.
it's target is to have a cheaper alternative to the big stuff (example: access virus series, clavia nord lead series) while having an 'old-school' feeling by a wooden case.

featuring 3 axoloti boards (sound processing) and 2 teensy boards this will be a powerbeast.
3 octave keyboard, ili9341 display, potentiometers for analog feel and more.
all will be housed in a wooden enclosure, 63cm wide, 90mm high, 260mm deep

"so, why 3 axoloti and 2 teensy boards?"
simple answer: load balancing and thus more performance

will update as much as possible.

leader1_img.png757x439 7.55 KB

demo:

#2

Ambitious project. Be careful of scope creep and watch out for this forum. With the flexability of the Axo your design is forever bending and warping under the weight of wanting to include new things. The forum is especially bad that this as you read some other item or patch and suddenly it's included and you have one more button.

How are you doing the physical keyboard and the matrix?

#3

thanks, but i have 2 questions:

what do you mean by scope creep?

The forum is especially bad that this as you read some other item or
patch and suddenly it's included and you have one more button.

i also don't get what you mean with this.

i am using the keys of my nektar ix 61 keyboard, or 3 octaves at least. i am thinking of 3D printing keys in the future (will receive a test batch of 3D printed keys today)

the keyboard matrix will be a standard one, like 6 rows x 6scanlines, and 6 scanlines for the velocity, this gives a total amount of keys: 36 while using 18 gpio, leaving room for the spi bus (screen) and for the modulation wheel/pitchbend

code for each teensy will be up on github once i get my keybed pcb's (which i need to design as well)

#4

I've also heard it referred to as feature creep. Basically, during development there is a temptation to keep adding features (increasing the scope). Many projects simply collapse under their own metaphorical weight due to scope/feature creep. As long as you stay strong and stick to your original feature list y'll be reet.

#5

ah, well, i have tested most parts and the featureset is complete, so i don't have to worry about it~ :slight_smile:

also, my 3D printed keys came in from 3Dhubs. quality is pretty nice from the hub i ordered.

1 octave (plus extra C note) shown:

IMG_20160518_103421.jpg3264x1836 1.3 MB

#6

Looks cool!
Any way you could be persuaded to share your soundgood and distortion modules? They sound promising:)

#7

i will when i release the main patches :slight_smile:

also, update on the midi keys: they are too weak to be used, going to look for an alternative. (ideas welcome!)

#8

Yep, exactly this.The longer development takes, the more new things are announced on the forum and shiny thing syndrome takes over meaning mods to patches, hardware etc. :slight_smile:

#9

thats right up my alley and insane if you print out even the keys. you should custom design the case too, lots of leds ie. one per voice ...

#10

leds might be possible (using a teensy), but why should i do that?
the only reason i can think of is: to indicate how much voicing is used

also, i am gonna try to make the oscillator patch more adjustable, a bit like the "axcore experimental synth" here on the forum.
only downside about that is: might need to reduce the voicing to 4. (as higher cpu load)

for now, have a demo i made with purely the oscillator patch (no reverb or other fx)

please note that the noise is added by my laptop soundcard

#11

3 axoloti at work results in this:

this is having all modules i need for the Leader1
slight insight on how i divided the axoloti load:

1 for oscillators (90% load)
1 for stereo width, delay, soundgood (including distortion), 2 band compressor (60% load)
1 for reverb and final compressor (45% load)

EDIT: need to seek a way to reduce noise on the reverb module... :confused:

#12

after a while i found the motivation to resume trying out another melody

the WAV files can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mcuulq66n32mag4/AACdwdchSFUI3h2RhgHT_8Ypa?dl=0

#13

what do you guys think? wooden case with custom designed front panel of aluminium or wood? :slight_smile:

will look like this for the 3 octave keyboard design

aluminium: high costs, perfect look
wood: low costs, old-school/diy look

#14

I think wood. Easily modded when you find some design quirk and need to break out the drill.

#15

i only have hardboard and 22mm mdf at hand, so i asked my dad if he could help me realize the cutouts :slight_smile:
thisi is how it look now:

leader1.jpg3264x1836 930 KB

if i am going for a aluminium plate, i'd order it custom made for me for sure :slight_smile:

EDIT: holes for 16 potentiometers are drilled, cutout for the screen is done (fits nicely)

also, multiple patches (thanks to a microsd card) is a thing now, so one can switch between patches.

update: currently expirimenting with myltiple patch types, and managed to get a rock/metal like guitar (2 polyvoice) by using alot of FM and distortion. :slight_smile:

video: (sound starts at 25sec)

#16

need hardstyle screeches? my axoloti synth WIP (aka leader1) has them!

sadly nothing else has happened since a while, don't have enough money for all of my hobbies tbh..

#17

The like was for the demo not the lack of funds

#18

the project is stalled, but i'm still working on the soundgood module :slight_smile:

another demo demonstrating the power of my latest soundgood module alpha: