# MiniDexed ![Github Build Status](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/actions/workflows/build.yml/badge.svg) ![minidexed](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/2480569/161813414-bb156a1c-efec-44c0-802a-8926412a08e0.jpg) MiniDexed is a FM synthesizer closely modeled on the famous DX7 by a well-known Japanese manufacturer running on a bare metal Raspberry Pi (without a Linux kernel or operating system). On Raspberry Pi 2 and larger, it can run 8 tone generators, not unlike the TX816/TX802 (8 DX7 instances without the keyboard in one box). [Featured by HACKADAY](https://hackaday.com/2022/04/19/bare-metal-gives-this-pi-some-classic-synths/), [Adafruit](https://blog.adafruit.com/2022/04/25/free-yamaha-dx7-synth-emulator-on-a-raspberry-pi/), and [Synth Geekery](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDSy5nnm0jA). ## Demo songs Listen to some examples made with MiniDexed by Banana71 [here](https://soundcloud.com/soundplantage/sets/minidexed2). ## Features - [x] Uses [Synth_Dexed](https://codeberg.org/dcoredump/Synth_Dexed) with [circle-stdlib](https://github.com/smuehlst/circle-stdlib) - [x] SD card contents can be downloaded from [GitHub Releases](../../releases) - [x] Runs on all Raspberry Pi models (except Pico); see below for details - [x] Produces sound on the headphone jack, HDMI display or [audio extractor](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/wiki/Hardware#hdmi-to-audio) (better), or a [dedicated DAC](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/wiki/Hardware#i2s-dac) (best) - [x] Supports multiple voices through Program Change and Bank Change LSB/MSB MIDI messages - [x] Loads voices from `.syx` files from SD card (e.g., using `getsysex.sh` or from [Dexed_cart_1.0.zip](http://hsjp.eu/downloads/Dexed/Dexed_cart_1.0.zip)) - [x] Menu structure on optional [HD44780 display](https://www.berrybase.de/sensoren-module/displays/alphanumerische-displays/alphanumerisches-lcd-16x2-gr-252-n/gelb) and rotary encoder - [x] Runs up to 8 Dexed instances simultaneously (like in a TX816) and mixes their output together - [x] Allows for each Dexed instance to be detuned and stereo shifted - [x] Allows to configure multiple Dexed instances through `performance.ini` files (e.g., [converted](https://github.com/BobanSpasic/MDX_Vault) from DX1, DX5, TX816, DX7II, TX802) - [x] Compressor effect - [x] Reverb effect - [x] Voices can be edited over MIDI, e.g., using the [synthmata](https://synthmata.github.io/volca-fm/) online editor (requires [additional hardware](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/wiki/Hardware#usb-midi-devices)) ## Introduction Video about this project by [Floyd Steinberg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3t94ceMHJo): [![YouTube Video about MiniDexed (Floyd Steinberg)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3t94ceMHJo/sddefault.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3t94ceMHJo) ## System Requirements - Raspberry Pi 1, 2, 3, 4, or 400 (Zero and Zero 2 can be used but need HDMI or a supported i2s DAC for audio out). On Raspberry Pi 1 and on Raspberry Pi Zero there will be severely limited functionality (only one tone generator instead of 8) - A [PCM5102A or PCM5122 based DAC](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/wiki/Hardware#i2s-dac), HDMI display or [audio extractor](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/wiki/Hardware#hdmi-to-audio) for good sound quality. If you don't have this, you can use the headphone jack on the Raspberry Pi but on anything but the Raspberry 4 the sound quality will be seriously limited - Optionally (but highly recommended), an [LCDC1602 Display](https://www.berrybase.de/en/sensors-modules/displays/alphanumeric-displays/alphanumerisches-lcd-16x2-gr-252-n/gelb) (with or without i2c "backpack" board) and a [KY-040 rotary encoder](https://www.berrybase.de/en/components/passive-components/potentiometer/rotary-encoder/drehregler/rotary-encoder-mit-breakoutboard-ohne-gewinde-und-mutter) ## Usage - In the case of Raspberry Pi 4, Update the firmware and bootloader to the latest version (not doing this may cause USB reliability issues) - Download from [GitHub Releases](../../releases) - Unzip - Put the files into the root directory of a FAT32 formatted partition on SD/microSD card (Note for small SD cards which are no longer sold: If less than 65525 clusters, you may need to format as FAT16.) - Put SD/microSD card into Raspberry Pi 1, 2, 3 or 4, or 400 (Zero and Zero 2 can be used but need HDMI or a supported i2c DAC for audio out) - Attach headphones to the headphone jack using `SoundDevice=pwm` in `minidexed.ini` (default) (poor audio quality) - Alternatively, attach a PCM5102A or PCM5122 based DAC and select i2c sound output using `SoundDevice=i2s` in `minidexed.ini` (best audio quality) - Alternatively, attach a HDMI display with sound and select HDMI sound output using `SoundDevice=hdmi` in `minidexed.ini` (this may introduce slight latency) - Attach a MIDI keyboard via USB (alternatively you can build a circuit that allows you to attach a "traditional" MIDI keyboard using a DIN connector, or use a DIN-MIDI-to-USB adapter) - If you are using a LCDC1602 with an i2c "backpack" board, then you need to set `LCDI2CAddress=0x27` (or another address your i2c "backpack" board is set to) in `minidexed.ini` - Boot - Start playing - If the system seems to become unresponsive after a few seconds, remove `usbspeed=full` from `cmdline.txt` and repeat ([details](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/issues/39)) - Optionally, put voices in `.syx` files onto the SD card (e.g., using `getsysex.sh`) - See the Wiki for [Menu](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/wiki/Menu) operation - For voice programming, use any DX series editor (using MIDI sysex), including Dexed - For library management, use the dedicated [MiniDexedLibrarian](https://github.com/BobanSpasic/MiniDexedLibrarian) software - If something is unclear or does not work, don't hesitate to [ask](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/discussions/)! ## Pinout All devices on Raspberry Pi GPIOs are **optional**. ![Raspberry Pi Pinout/GPIO Diagram](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/2480569/166105580-da11481c-8fc7-4375-8ab1-3031ab5c6ad0.png) Please see the [wiki](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/wiki) for more information. ## Downloading Compiled versions are available on [GitHub Releases](../../releases). Just download and put on a FAT32 formatted SD card. ## Building Please see the [wiki](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/wiki/Development#building-locally) on how to compile the code yourself. ## Contributing This project lives from the contributions of skilled C++ developers, testers, writers, etc. Please see . ## Discussions We are happy to hear from you. Please join the discussions on . ## Documentation Project documentation is at . ## Acknowledgements This project stands on the shoulders of giants. Special thanks to: - [raphlinus](https://github.com/raphlinus) for the [MSFA](https://github.com/google/music-synthesizer-for-android) sound engine - [asb2m10](https://github.com/asb2m10/dexed) for the [Dexed](https://github.com/asb2m10/dexed) software - [dcoredump](https://github.com/dcoredump) for [Synth Dexed](https://codeberg.org/dcoredump/Synth_Dexed), a port of Dexed for embedded systems - [rsta2](https://github.com/rsta2) for [Circle](https://github.com/rsta2/circle), the library to run code on bare metal Raspberry Pi (without a Linux kernel or operating system) and for the bulk of the MiniDexed code - [smuehlst](https://github.com/smuehlst) for [circle-stdlib](https://github.com/smuehlst/circle-stdlib), a version with Standard C and C++ library support - [Banana71](https://github.com/Banana71) for the sound design of the [Soundplantage](https://github.com/Banana71/Soundplantage) performances shipped with MiniDexed - [BobanSpasic](https://github.com/BobanSpasic) for the [MiniDexedLibrarian](https://github.com/BobanSpasic/MiniDexedLibrarian) software, [MiniDexed performance converter](https://github.com/BobanSpasic/MDX_PerfConv) and [collection of performances for MiniDexed](https://github.com/BobanSpasic/MDX_Vault) - [diyelectromusic](https://github.com/diyelectromusic/) for many [contributions](https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/commits?author=diyelectromusic)