The developer claims the framework is friendly for beginners.

A developer has launched a new open-source framework that should allow people to create their own unique hybrid hardware and software synthesizers at home.

As Synthtopia reports, Ivan Franco’s Prynth platform allows anyone to create a synth using a Raspberry Pi computer, circuit boards and components that can be ordered online. The project site even gives detailed instructions on what you need.

Franco says that while it may seem as if the barrier to creating your own synth is set high, the stable platform that Prynth offers, together with in-depth assembly instructions and working snippets of code, make it accessible to beginners as well as experts.

“Electronic music is usually created using hardware synthesizers, computer software or a mix of both,” Franco explains at the project’s website.

“The computer offers immense power and flexibility in digital music instruments. It can do complex sound synthesis, integrate algorithmic processes or even be played with radically different physical controllers.

“In turn hardware synthesizers are devices dedicated to music making, containing important instrumental qualities that promote a focus on the embodied cognitive activity of performance. They are also generally better concerning longevity, reliability and most importantly learnability.

We think there is an opportunity to explore new hybrid designs in synthesizers. Many previous hardware devices have included some form of reconfigurability but not many have embraced computation strongly or deeply explored the concept of a highly programmable synthesizer. The goal of this project is to offer freely accessible technologies to build such instruments.”

One of the first devices to be created using the Prynth framework is The Mitt, a digital synthesizer whose five channels are controlled by joysticks that should comfortably fit your hand. The demo video below shows it creating ambient and drone sounds.

To find out more on Prynth and how to build a device using the platform, visit the project’s website.

Read next: This DIY synth can be built in 10 minutes and costs just £79

Latest

Latest



		
	
Share Tweet