Description
The Macchiato Mini Synth is a versatile little 8-bit synthesizer you can build and mod yourself. It features a built-in 13-note capacitive-touch keyboard with 2-note polyphony, MIDI IN, and eight control knobs for shaping your sound.
The synth kit can be completed in an evening. It’s an easy build, suitable for ages as young as 13 (with supervision).
MACCHIATO FEATURES
- Capacitive Touch Keyboard, 13 keys, 2-note polyphony
- MIDI IN to control your Macchiato with any MIDI device:
- Responds to Pitch Bend, Modulation, Velocity, Volume and Portamento
- Selectable MIDI Receive Channel
- 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
Your kit comes with a template you can use to make your own cabinet from card stock (available separately) or a cereal box. Optionally, you can order a shiny black acrylic cabinet kit. 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, and is covered by the Creative Commons Attribution / Non-Commercial / Share alike License.. The Macchiato code was written in the Arduino environment and is available open-source on the ZDL Updater App for PC page.
Anna (verified owner) –
The macchiato is a superb little device that is easy to play and even easier to transport. The controls are very functional, providing a customizable sound that fits any tone of melody I want! Each knob has a different purpose to help you fine tune the sound of your synth, allowing a wide range of tones to fit into one small instrument. I could mess around with the macchiato for hours and still not run out of variety. I love my mini synth!
ryantroyford (verified owner) –
I’ve been messing around with simple theremins and guitar effects pedals for the last year or so, and was eager to branch out into simple synthesizers. A coworker showed me the Macchiato, and I think I had placed my order within thirty seconds. The kit is well designed, the instructions are well written and in-depth (they also include a lot of “how this works/why this is does what it does” type of information, which I was very thankful for), and it was a blast to build. Within a couple hours I was beeping and booping, learning about LFOs and different wave shapes. This thing is endless fun, and I could not be happier with my purchase! They’re also made right here in Chicago, which is awesome.