Not content with fitting a tiny square-wave MIDI synthesizer into a MIDI plug, [Mitxela] went on to cram a similar noisemaker into a USB plug itself.
Besides being physically small, the code is small too, as well as the budget. It uses V-USB for the USB library running on an ATtiny85, and a couple of passive parts. His firmware (apparently) takes in MIDI notes and spits out square waves.
Nothing too amazing, until you think about the miniaturization effort. To get this thing to fit inside the metal case of a USB plug, [Mitxela] cut out some of the plastic, and crammed the parts inside. And by “crammed” we mean ground everything down that wouldn’t fit. The through-hole Zener diodes were just a little bit too tall, so they went under the grinder. The end of the ATtiny stuck out just a tad. More grinding.
Once everything fit, it went back into the metal case with a bit of insulating tape, and it was done. Due to the form-factor alone, it was a lot smaller than his previous effort, and certainly even less useful! We see further room for miniaturization through trimming down the piezo buzzer case. We also see no point in that either.
This project seems to have started out as a finger-study for building USB MIDI controllers, so we’re looking forward to cool things coming down the pike. Until then, enjoy the so-far smallest monophonic USB MIDI squarewave synth that we’ve seen.
And as always, just a midi controlled square wave tone generator. NOT A SYNTH!
You could do that with a 555! ;-)
Because, as everyone knows, you can control 555 over USB…
Uhh… the V555 project! http://gethub.io/v555
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Unfortunately, you can’t make a sarcasm detector from a 555 :/
What else would it need in order to qualify as a synth under your rules? Amplitude envelope? I’m not sure if that could be done without additional hardware. If there’s enough code space LFO and envelope modulation of pitch and pulse width should be possible, giving a larger timbral palette. Would that merit calling it a synth?
At least if they’re using the hardware PWM, so there’s no problem with aliasing due to sample rate…
That said, adding PWM duty cycle over MIDI CCs … or duty cycle envelopes … would improve.
Watch out for janostman bragging that HE and ONLY HE made the smallest “synth chip” in the world :)
Actually, came here just because of that :D No janostman detected, yet!
Next: waiting how he is flaming out us :)
That is so frigging cool! Well done that man.
Needs a smaller piezo…
Actually, what it needs is more cowbell.
FTW.
I have a fever….
next, USB type C
mitxela’s site is a treasure trove of weird, wonderful, and very educational projects.