Build Your Own Hand-Held Digital Synth

Zeppelin Design Labs describes the Macchiato Mini Synth as a fun, great-sounding, easy-to-use digital synthesizer that fits in the palm of your hand. The 8-bit synthesizer features a built-in 13-note capacitive-touch keyboard with 2-note polyphony, MIDI IN, and eight control knobs for shaping your sound. It requires 9V DC power from a battery or a plug-in power supply. You can buy it ready-to-play or build it yourself from a kit that can be completed in an evening. Zeppelin says that it's an easy build, suitable for ages as young as 13 (with supervision)

If you are an Arduino enthusiast, you can hack the open-source software that runs the Macchiato,  or download updates and flash them to your synth for a whole new sound.

MACCHIATO FEATURES

• Capacitive Touch Keyboard, 13 keys, 2-note polyphony
• MIDI IN to control your Macchiato from any MIDI device
• Wave Shape Select: Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square
• 4-Octave Shift: C2-C3 through C5-C6
• Adjustable Attack & Release
• LFO Shape Select: Sine, Saw, Ramp, Square
• Adjustable LFO Rate, Depth and Cutoff Frequency
• Volume Control
• LED Power Indicator
• 1" On-board Speaker
• Audio Out -- accepts 3.5mm (1/8") TRS  or TRRS male jack
• ISP Header for PC connection (to upload software updates/mods)
• Requires 9V DC power from battery or center-negative wall adaptor

CABINET OPTIONS
Whether you buy the synth as a kit or ready-to-play, it comes with a template you can use to make your own cabinet from a cereal box or specialty cardstock from the craft store. Optionally, you can order a sleek black plastic cabinet, either as a simple kit or ready-to-use. Finally, with some ingenuity, you could make your own cabinet or chassis, install the synth and apply the groovy Macchiato labels.

INTERNAL SOFTWARE
The Macchiato Mini-Synth incorporates the Mozzi Sound Synthesis Library for Arduino by Tim Barrass. The Macchiato code was written in the Arduino environment and is available open-source on this Github page.  Arduino enthusiasts can modify the code and flash it to the synth.

Pricing and Availability:
$39.00–$96.00

More information:

• Macchiato

• MIDI Controller Emulates A Theremin 12-Aug-19
• MIDI Control Theremin-Style 21-Nov-17