***UPDATE***

This project has evolved substantially – follow developments regarding the Groovesizer DIY kit at groovesizer.com. To distinguish this project from the kit, this one has been rechristened Groovesizer mk1.

I’ve attached a 16-step sequencer to the original Auduino lo-fi synth and have added 8 LEDs and 5 buttons to the original design, and thus the Groovesizer is born. You can download the Arduino sketch here Groovesizer Arduino Sketch (v0.19). And here’s a breadboard schematic:

You’ll see I’ve maxed out all the ins and outs of the Arduino. I feel I’ve pretty much reached the limit of features I can support with the buttons and knobs available. For a future version, I’ll get into multiplexing to add more buttons, maybe an LCD, and while I’m at it 8 more LEDs.

Here’s the current feature list:
– note entry for individual steps or groups of up to 4 steps at once
– rests & ties
– pattern length from 1 – 16 steps
– pattern retrigger
– tap tempo
– pattern reverse
– pattern transpose (up and down in semitones)
– variable note duration
– swing/shuffle
– MIDI out
PATTERN MODE
– save and recall up to 32 patterns
– trigger patterns quantised (Ableton live style) or immediately

Here’s the link to the MANUAL.

By the way, I wanted to reclaim my Arduino for future projects and make this one permanent, so I replaced the Arduino with a hackduino, following this recipe. It works a treat. I’m considering having Groovesizer PCBs made that incorporates the hackduino. Anyone besides me interested in something like that? Leave a comment.

Latest Firmware:
Groovesizer mk1 – v019 – incorporates DuaneB‘s volatile fix

UPDATE 2 (2013-12-08) – Frontpanel Design

Splendit bend it did a nice demo on his SoundCloud page and also designed this cool frontpanel. Thanks for sharing, Splendid!

Frontpanel – png

The Groovesizer project is coming along very nicely. I managed to implement a bunch of additional features including pattern save and recall, so that you can now trigger patterns Ableton Live style. My ATMEGA 328 chips have also finally arrived from Hong Kong yesterday, so that I can now move the project to a hackduino and into an enclosure. Provided I find time, of course!

Enjoy Live Online #150: Carnival Tiger

Playlist: (1)Iceberg (2)Almond (3)Jag (4)Berry (5)Kook (6)Caramel (7)Jugendstil (8)Dragonfruit

All tracks written, produced and performed by MoShang.

This recording was made at Starport Omega (Second Life) on January 17th, 2013.

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I’ve been beavering away on this project for the last week or two. I’ve taken the open source Auduino synthesizer for the Arduino development platform, and have hacked on a 16-step sequencer. I’m very pleased with the way it’s shaping up!

I’ll post a video soon, but here are the details for now. I’ve added 8 LEDs and 5 buttons to the original design. The first 4 pots are tone controls, but when the buttons are pressed they also allow you to dial in the pitch for each of the 16 steps. The fifth pot and button have control functions. You can choose the sequence lenghth from 1 to 16 steps, control the tempo, swing and note length. I’m adding features as I think of them, but already it’s a sweet instrument to play. I like the fact that there’s no display and that you’re forced to rely on your ears.

I have some ATMEGA 328 chips on order from Hong Kong and the next step will be to replace the Arduino with a Hackduino and to move it along with the rest of the components off the breadboard and into the enclosure. I definitely want to add midi-out before I’m done, but when I’m far enough along I’ll post the Arduino source code and a schematic.