Midi keyboard & Raspberry Pi

Retro6

Retro6

Retro6

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I have an Axiom 25 Midi Keyboard that has been gathering dust for years hardly ever used but its a lot of faff setting it all up with a computer and all the rest of it so I had an idea that maybe I could get it to work somehow conventionally without the aid of a computer with an audio output using a Raspberry Pi.

I have googled this and watched some YouTube videos but they aren't quite what I want to do. I don't know if what I am thinking is possible or whether it be better get a conventional keyboard instead that works out of the box faff free. Something like a Pi Zero would fit neatly inside this Midi keyboard. I have a whole box of Raspberry Pi's & Pi Zeros that never get used for anything that I've had for years, and I've always wanted to do something with them that is useful so maybe one could be used for what I have in mind if its at all possible?
 
I guess not then. I can't find anything online in regards to what I want to do. Raspberry Pi's are only really temporary until something goes wrong and less faff using it as a midi keyboard with a PC. The Raspberry Pi route is pretty much the same but more problematic. I don't know why things have to be so complicated these days just to have some simple functions and produce the same sounds as any generic cheap keyboard... I'll probably end up getting a synth. I don't really need it right now but what I like about the midi keyboard is that its small and can be tucked away when its not in use.
 
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Are you wanting to build a sound module (Roland Canvas or XV etc) or make your own Muse Research Receptor (https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/muse-research-receptor) clone?

There are projects like Zynthian (https://zynthian.org) and Monome Norns (https://monome.org/docs/norns/shield/) that are built around RPi's and you've got dedicated distros like Patchbox OS (https://blokas.io/patchbox-os/) or software like Carla (https://kx.studio/Applications:Carla), if it still exists.
And you have Wine and Yabridge to help run Windows DAWs/VSTs/plugins etc.

You may get somewhere with a combo of the above but the RPi has never been particularly great at low latency audio, like dedicated hardware sound modules, so you'll likely have issues there regardless of the audio interface or PI HAT you use - perhaps the RealtimePi distro (https://github.com/guysoft/RealtimePi) could help here.

Perhaps get a project thread up if you do get anywhere though as it certainly sounds interesting :)
Although if it were me and it was just to playing the "keys" once in a while then i'd be looking at a secondhand module off eBay; one of the Roland XV's (2020, 5080 etc) can be had for £100/200 and still sound ok.

Edit - Might be worth getting a mod to merge this with your other thread(s) to keep it all in one place?
 
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Thanks some good info there.

I found some other stuff as well about what I want to do which is basically turn a Raspberry Pi into a Korg Volca, Roland sound module, or Yamaha tone generator like how synth stacks worked in 1993. I wasn't aware that these devices already existed until I dug deeper about what I want to do with the Raspberry Pi. I wont need a desktop graphical interface on the Pi as it wont be needed because will work as a headless unit, so something like Raspberry Pi LITE OS "no desktop" will do the trick and then something like FluidSynth to make the sounds with auto boot.

So the setup would be 5 volts to the Raspberry Pi connected to the midi keyboard via USB, USB audio interface going to amp & speakers "no computer monitor, mouse or pc keyboard" just power and sound, everything is controlled by the midi keyboard.
 
Sounds very complicated.
Since I can't be bothered getting my full size stage keyboards out I just plug a folding 61 MIDI keyboard into my PC and either load up my DAW or multiple standalone modules I have like Samplitube, Hammond B3-K, Miroslave Philharmonik or Pianoverse.
 
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SexyGreyFox said:
Sounds very complicated.
Since I can't be bothered getting my full size stage keyboards out I just plug a folding 61 MIDI keyboard into my PC and either load up my DAW or multiple standalone modules I have like Samplitube, Hammond B3-K, Miroslave Philharmonik or Pianoverse.
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It could be worth it once its done tho because it will be a very simple setup once completed. I've never tried FluidSynth before but from what I've heard on YouTube it looks to have generic basic keyboard sounds but it will do to get things working.

I'm looking for more professional trance sound synths so maybe there is better synth software to explore later on in the project. I want to be focusing more on Witch House and Trance sounds. My Roland drum machine has all of that so I still have professional sounds on that but I will also need a keyboard for making synth samples because the Roland drum machine is more for making beats.
 
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Retro6 said:
I've never tried FluidSynth before but from what I've heard on YouTube it looks to have generic basic keyboard sounds but it will do to get things working.
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Uses soundfonts and there's some reasonable ones around, although most remind me of my Emu Proteus 2000, ie - very 90s sounding -


Retro6 said:
I'm looking for more professional trance sound synths so maybe there is better synth software to explore later on in the project.
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There are vintage synth soundfonts around, like a Roland Juno-6/60/106 or Jupiter etc, but personally i would be looking at VST (type) plugins and creating a VST host with a GUI/display, ie - build a Muse Research Receptor clone, as it gives you a lot more options.

You should get a project thread going though as it's certainly an interesting project for us audio tinkerers.
 
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Coming to think of it, basic generic keyboard sounds I could work with, I can just run it though a series of pedals and tweak until I get the sound I want with a bit of reverb on it, it could sound really nice.
 
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