[Ivan Franco] sent us this great synthesizer project that he’s working on. Or maybe it’s more like a synthesizermeta-project: a synthesizer construction set. You see, what Pryth has is a Raspberry Pi inside that’s running acustom distribution that includes SuperCollider to generate the sound, OSC for the communication layer, and aTeensy with up to 80 (!) multiplexed analog inputs that you’ll connect up to whatever hardware you desire.

With the computer inside the box — the Raspberry Pi in question — you can easily make this system into astandalone musical instrument, without tethering it to your laptop. Or you can tether it, and using a web interfacethat’s hosted on the Pi, write new SuperCollider programs for your instrument, changing the way it behaves. Andof course, if you’re already a SuperCollider or Raspberry Pi expert, you can work on the Pi directly.

The system is brand new, but check out the Mitt synth device that [Ivan] already made, with a video embeddedbelow. It’s a good overview of one of the possible hardware configurations, and a sweet demo of a coupleSuperCollider routines.

[Ivan] is trying to create an interesting and easy-to-use empty vessel for you to pour your hardware and softwaresynthesizer dreams into. Everything is open source, and aside from the Pi and the price of potentiometers, this is adirt-cheap device. You’re not going to be limited by SuperCollider, and we’re guessing that you’re not going to belimited by 80 inputs either. What’s the craziest sound-maker you can think of?Posted in musical hacksTagged 8051, raspberry pi, supercollider, synthesizer