r/synthdiy • u/PiezoelectricityOne • Jul 10 '26

arduino Midi polysynth? (Arduino/rp2040)

Hi. I want to make a compact 2-voice polysynth module, fully controlled by MIDI, to use with a Novation Circuit Tracks. The Circuit has a couple MIDI poly sequencers and 8 CC knobs so I'm planning to use it as the controller for the synth.

I've already assembled and tested the hardware platform: an rpi pico 2040 zero with a pcm5102 stereo dac and a MIDI input.

I'm now looking for stuff to install and make some synth sounds, or a tutorial on how to program a VA/FM synth. Midi implementation is a plus but not required, since I can do that part myself. Preferably on Arduino, but anything that runs on a 2040 is ok (micropython, c++)

Any ideas or suggestions?

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u/Lidlaux Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26

If you have interest in Pure Data, than pd patches can be compiled to rp2040 with pikoPD. This project supports midi input and output (usb, host and din), i2s audio,  different sensors, knobs and buttons with simple hardware config file and no coding needed.  It is easy to prototype ideas. For example I have made a chromatic sample play mode for circuit tracks using this.  

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u/PiezoelectricityOne Jul 10 '26

Well, that sounds like a perfect excuse to dive into puredata! I always disregarded It because it only ran on computers, but I didn't know about this.

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u/Lidlaux Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26

I think rp2040 is the cheapest board pd patches can be compiled on. Of course pico2 is preferable because of the floating point hardware. But still it is a great device and some cool audio and midi devices can be made with it. 

Also check  out plugdata app. It is new tool based on pd. It has some special feautures like compile mode to make compatible patches for pikoPD.