Other SAM2695 Synths

After my experiments with the XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer and in particular, after looking in detail at some different SAM2695 synth modules in XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 3, I’ve also found a few other neat modules that I thought worth a mention.

Warning! I strongly recommend using old or second hand equipment for your experiments.  I am not responsible for any damage to expensive instruments!

If you are new to microcontrollers, see the Getting Started pages.

SAM2695 Synth Modules

So far, in addition to the XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer I’ve had a look at the M5Stack synth (see XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 6) and mentioned in passing the original “GM Mini Synth” that first got me interested in the SAM2695 (see XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 3).

MIDI Guy Modules

But I’ve also found the “MIDI Guy” modules on Tindie. There are two modules that are of particular interest to me:

• A complete SAM2695 based synth module: https://www.tindie.com/products/kinoshitalab/midi-guy-rev-21-kit/
• A MIDI interface with a connector compatible with the M5 Stack synth: https://www.tindie.com/products/kinoshitalab/m5-synth-standaloner/

Both modules are USB-C powered and provide a MIDI interface. In the case of the “”midi-guy” “stand alone” PCB it is a MIDI interface with a Grove/M5 Stack connector to plug directly into the M5Stack MIDI Synthesizer module.

The “MIDI Guy” however incorporates a MIDI (TRS) IN interface, audio output and Dream SAM2695 synthesizer all into one single unit.

Closing Thoughts

These are both great little modules, and very inexpensive too. Mine both came with MIDI DIN to TRS converters too.

The MIDI Guy synth module also has a link to a 3D printable base plate (as shown in the photo above).

My only niggle is that the mounting holes on the MIDI interface don’t line up with the mounting holes for the M5 Stack synth module. I wonder if they did at one point and something changed…

Anyway, these are great modules. If you have a M5 stack synth, get this MIDI interface for it! It makes it so easy to use.

If you want to experiment with the SAM2695 synth, you can do a lot worse than the MID Guy module. It just has everything in a single board.

Note: I wasn’t sent or otherwise encouraged to write about these modules. I just spotted them, thought they looked interesting and bought them to try. I wasn’t disappointed.

Kevin

https://makertube.net/w/aJbt7V7C5xehrQL9bt3JPf

#m5stsack #midi #midiGuy #SAM2695

XIAO USB Device to Serial MIDI Converter

Having recently revisited the CircuitPython USB to Serial MIDI Router as part of XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 2 it reminded me I didn’t really have a simple Arduino USB device to serial MIDI for the XIAO. So this is filling that gap.

Warning! I strongly recommend using old or second hand equipment for your experiments.  I am not responsible for any damage to expensive instruments!

These are the key Arduino tutorials for the main concepts used in this project:

• XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 2
• XIAO SAMD21, Arduino and MIDI – Part 4

If you are new to Arduino, see the Getting Started pages.

Parts list

• XIAO SAMD21
• Serial MIDI module
• Breadboard and jumper wires

The Circuit

A 3V3 serial module can be hooked up to the TX/RX pins of the XIAO as shown above.

The Code

This is largely a simplification of the code used for XIAO SAMD21, Arduino and MIDI – Part 4 to use just the standard serial port and USB device MIDI.

There is one option at the top to determine how the serial port ought to be routed. There are two options:

• Serial to USB. This allows a full bi-directional serial <-> USB.
• Serial to Serial. This allows both USB and Serial RX to route to Serial TX.

In the other direction, USB always gets routed to the Serial port.

Find it on GitHub here.

Closing Thoughts

Often I find I’ve missed out a simpler use-case in pursuit of a more complex one. This was one of those times so hopefully that is now fixed.

In the above photo I’m using it as a USB to serial router for my M5 Stack Synth module based on the SAM2695 that I’ve been playing with. The Synth is powered from the XIAO’s 5V and GND and connected to the TX/D6 pin. This allows me to use USB MIDI which gets routed to the M5 Synth hanging off the XIAO TX pin.

There is more on that particular synth chip here: XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 3.

Kevin

#m5stsack #midi #SAM2695 #samd21 #usbDevice #usbMidi #xiao