Raspberry Pi

[Ocular]

I was just thinking, and I have an idea.
How well do you all think it would work to build a hardware synthesizer out of a raspberry pi and a softsynth?

[ExoBassTix]

This sounds like a brilliant idea to me.
I don't really know what else to say though @_@

[Alycs]

I was actually thinking about doing something like this earlier this week! But I don't have the time, so it'd be awesome to see what happens! Go for it

Make sure you get the soft-synth maker's permission first, thats the only thing I could say.

[Ocular]

Why would I need their permission? I'm not selling it, it'll be for personal convenience.

[the4thImpulse]

The point of a hardware synth is to have dedicated knobs, sliders, and possibly keys. I don't know much about raspberry pi but it seems redundant to have soft synth software running on an external computer 'just for the hell of it'. If you could tell me why you think it would be better, I'd like to know.

[the4thImpulse]

The point of a hardware synth is to have dedicated knobs, sliders, and possibly keys. I don't know much about raspberry pi but it seems redundant to have soft synth software running on an external computer 'just for the hell of it'. If you could tell me why you think it would be better, I'd like to know.

the only advantage i can think of is to save your computers cpu

That is a valid point, but it doesn't take much of a computer (CPU) anymore to worry about needing to save resources. I have the $1000 model laptop of last year running my largest projects at no more than 50% CPU.

[DrSorkenstein]

OP: Yes you could build a functional synth with the Pi.

Alternative 1: (Pi + MIDI keyboard)
Buy a Pi (version B with 2 USB ports), a monitor, a set of wireless mouse/keyboard and a MIDI keyboard. Install a softsynth, play the keyboard and record the output from the Pi back into your DAW.

Alternative 2: (MIDI data from your DAW into PI)
Same as above but instead of a MIDI keyboard you mod your Pi with a MIDI breakout board which will allow you to send MIDI data directly into the Pi (or so I understand).

I honestly can't see much of a reason to go with either unless you happen to have a spare monitor and wireless mouse/keyboard lying around. All you're basically doing is housing a plugin on hardware that requires extra periferals for you to be able to interact with it (keyboard/mouse/monitor). I have seen people building synths with the Pi that work without booting any OS but that involves modding as well as low level C coding.

I'd recommend checking out a synth kit or an arduino instead.

[Sugarholik]

sdfgshjfg

CPU

lol CPU sdfghjdsfghjsf $$$€€€£££

I have to mind the performance all the time as well.
Rgrds 400€ laptop.

Annnywayyy:
OP, if you made a MIDI controller of your own and hooked that to Pi it could be cool, but not necessarily worth the trouble.

arduino

Thanks for sharing! Looks really interesting.
Link for the lazy:
http://www.arduino.cc/

[Ocular]

Bumping this thread. I'd like to hear some more interest before I actually buy anything.