The bitbuf is a portable 8-bit minimalistic live looping machine. Designed as a tool for chip music improvisation and live performances, it aims to provide a set of simple yet versatile features. It's a work in progress, but I've made a prototype which is already quite functional and enjoyable to work with.

The word bit in this context refers to a small fragment (a loop) of a piece of 8-bit music. Buf is computer programming jargon for a piece of memory where you store something for later retrieval. The basic job of this machine is to memorise a loop, and then recall it over and over again.

Other portable minimalistic loop-based sequencers exist, such as LSDj for the gameboy, Korg DS-10 for the Nintendo DS, nanoloop and recently the DCM8. They have certainly been sources of inspiration. However, I find them to be designed in a way which, to me, is fundamentally unsatisfactory: First, neither of them appear to be useful for live looping, where loops are recorded as part of the performance. Second, they lack support for a number of techniques that are prevalent in chip music, such as the ability to change the current chord in a simple way.

Drawing on my own experiences of 8-bit music, I developed a new kind of sequencer interface to address the specific needs of chiptune improvisation (which I had to figure out as I went along). An overview of the interface is given in the presentation video above. My design goals were to create an interface which would be useful, logical and minimalistic, but not necessarily intuitive to a new user.

The bitbuf is based on an 8-bit microcontroller: An ATmega88 with 1 kB of RAM and 8.5 kB of ROM, running at 20 MHz, programmed in C and assembly language. The tight hardware specifications aid in keeping the design minimalistic.

The sound output is provided as a 44.1 kHz mono line out signal, via an external DAC chip (MCP4921). The input is omni-mode MIDI, with support for a very limited set of continuous controllers.

The software architecture is pretty straight-forward: A 44.1 kHz timer triggers an interrupt handler which generates sound from eight oscillators and a current sample level. The worst case execution time of this handler is currently 355 cycles, which at 44.1 kHz corresponds to about 80% of the computational power of the ATmega88. Another timer, at 5 kHz, updates the sample level from a DPCM table (if a drum sample is active), scans the switch and LED matrix, and sets a flag when the playroutine is due. A UART interrupt writes received MIDI bytes into a circular buffer. Meanwhile, in the main context, the MIDI buffer and playroutine flag are polled, and acted upon. These actions include reading and modifying the loop data structure, allocating oscillators to the tracks and live notes, and updating the oscillator parameters.

This is a prototype, and I'm eager to get some feedback. I don't have any long-term plans for the bitbuf yet, but please let me know what you think so far; general improvement suggestions, requests for specific features, opinions.

Discuss this page

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for what people (other than myself) write in the forums. Please report any abuse, such as insults, slander, spam and illegal material, and I will take appropriate actions. Don't feed the trolls.

Jag tar inget ansvar för det som skrivs i forumet, förutom mina egna inlägg. Vänligen rapportera alla inlägg som bryter mot reglerna, så ska jag se vad jag kan göra. Som regelbrott räknas till exempel förolämpningar, förtal, spam och olagligt material. Mata inte trålarna.

Anonymous

Thu 22-Dec-2011 15:54 Would love to buy one!

Anonymous

Thu 22-Dec-2011 19:23 You should definitely keep working with this. I would absolutely buy one.

Anonymous

Thu 22-Dec-2011 19:33 Awesome! (As everything you do).



What are your favourite D/A converters?

Anonymous

Thu 22-Dec-2011 23:21 Well, I know that I would buy one...

Anonymous

Thu 22-Dec-2011 23:56 Sell this as it is and you will make millions. Reserve one for me please!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 01:38 What a wonderful instrument & a GREAT performance!



I too would LOVE an instrument like this - PLEASE let us know if you do decide to develop this or even kits of the bitbuf!



Suggestions - not too many. Perhaps stereo, with each 'part' being panned? Macro keys for different drum patterns & the ability to string them together as you do with the keyboard parts? Additional tempo divisions for the 'glitch' effect and the ability to have the glitch on just the drums?



Fantastic instrument - I sincerely hope you develop it further and consider making a version/kit for others to play!



Merry Christmas!

mCKENIC

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 11:00 :O

make some kits,build some more ,or put the schematics online,

it's already finished enough as it is.

( or perhaps single outputs per part, if that's possible.)

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 12:26 Keep it up, I love the simplicity of it.



And you should put them up for sale at some point, I'd love a setup, like the one you're demoing here, to play with.

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 16:15 I will buy one !!!



Can you change de length of a note ?

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 16:35 Linus, I'd love to buy a kit! Merry Christmas!!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 17:06 I'm totally in love with the BitBuf... Any chances to buy you a DIY kit or schemes to build one ?

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 17:44 This is freaking gorgeous. I want, I want, I want. Can you put up schematics and code?

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 18:14 Schematics would be the best christmas present for many of us 8bit lovers and tinkerers!

Happy new year :D

articblue

Jake

Fri 23-Dec-2011 18:26 This is awesome, I love the glitch feature too. Well thought out and executed.

Thanks for sharing this.



Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 19:04 Check http://www.kickstarter.com/ for funding.

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 19:27 I'm an electronic musician, but haven't really ever gotten seriously into the chiptune movement. I'd still buy (or build) one of these without a 2nd thought! One of the most robust and professional-quality homebrew electronics projects I've ever seen!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 19:34 Would reaaaaaaaally love to see some schematics and code for this, would love to make me one of these!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 19:43 If you sold kits of this, there would be a ton of interest I'd bet. Very nice stuff, I enjoy all the various projects you have posted here.

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 19:56 This looks like a wonderful tool for chiptune. A nice looking case, with proper button caps, labelled panel, and retro style graphic logo would be some good finishig touches.

Many people would like to have one of these. You should produce this as a kit or complete unit, as adafruit industries does with the xoxbox.

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 19:58 Really well done, very polished in this form, lot of thought and engineering.



Hack-A-Day picked up the story, which is where I found it:

http://hackaday.com/2011/12/23/bitbuf-delivers-some-of-the-best-chiptune-effects-around/

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 20:12 I was so much in love whith your chipophone yet but it seems to be a good solution for carry everywhere. I would love to buy one !!!!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 20:36 wow, i would have one! what is make and model of the keyboard?

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 20:37 well, definitly this is an awesome thing! i was thinking doing the same one time, but havent done even prototype to program and never expected to see something like that functionality. truly a masterpiece of MCU programming, would build one for myself if you decide to make it opensource and post schematics and firmware. great work anyway!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 20:37 I would love source ode and schematics.

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 20:38 Let me guess, you had to make this amazing contraption after you finally found a song that you weren't able to play live on the chipophone? :D

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 20:46 Mass market this bitch. I want one. Also schematics. Take my money.

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 21:11 To quote Philip J Fry from the TV show Futurama; "Shut up and take my money!" This is simply hands down the best thing I've ever seen or heard moving electrical current do since the first time I turned on a video game system as a kid in the mid 1980's. Turn this into a unit, I will buy it. Sell it as a kit, I will buy it. Ask for donations, I will donate. Charming multiple layered classic sound without any perceivable emulation noise. Your demonstration shows it to be incredibly intuitive and user friendly, even as a proto board! Simply remarkable. I know of nothing on the audio equipment market today that even comes close to what I have just seen. Bravo!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 21:49 Awesome!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 22:37 Really good. You're clearly influenced by the SID! It would be wonderful if you could open source it, i've recently done that with a midibox synth related project and I've had great joy finding out what people can do with my code!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 23:23 I would love to have one or more of these!

Anonymous

Fri 23-Dec-2011 23:50 I think it's a great project, when i saw the chipophone i was so envious, now i have no words, i also think this is buyiable so my support on that aspect too, probably if you go to kickstarter you'll rise enough money to open your own synth company.



Also some tutorial for the comunity will be much apreciated :)



best wishes and good luck

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 00:32 This site needs an RSS feed!

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 00:49 I would really like to build or buy one!

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 01:21 Would love to buy one!

^^^^^ that! and merry Christmas! ^^^^^ that! and merry Christmas!

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 04:11 Would love to buy one!

^^^^^ that! and merry Christmas! ^^^^^ that! and merry Christmas!

DITTO! DITTO!

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 04:54 Wow what a stunning device! As with everyone else I hope you do indeed make this available somehow.

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 05:04 That is awesome, please make it open, I´ll make music.

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 05:07 That is awesome, please make it open, I´ll make music.

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 05:08 I would love to see the micro's source. That's fantastic what you pulled off.

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 07:41 Great job Linus, been a long time fan of your projects. If you ever decide to release .hex files I'll probably end up soldering one of these together :)

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 11:45 i would definitely buy one. just make sure it has midi sync for jamming with other gear.

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 13:28 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 13:31 Is it possible to sync it to incomming MIDI timing? If it is, i will buy one on the spot. You could perhaps sell it as kits, that would save you for alot of soldering ;-)

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 16:18 can i has to buy it?

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 20:14 I loved your chipophone organ mod, but bitbuf is really a mature product which I believe would have real commercial appeal. I know I want one! :-) Well done.

Anonymous

Sat 24-Dec-2011 20:27 Hej Linus!



Jag skulle köpa en, det verkar riktigt häftigt!

En sak som jag skulle vilja se först är en metronom istället för en blinkande led för att se tempot, eller att kunna välja mellan att kunna höra takten när man spelar in. Det skulle hjälpa mig enormt.



Jag vill verkligen ha en! (om den inte kostar alldeles för mycket dvs.)

Kontakta mig genom mail på knerpan@gmail.com om du vill och har tid!



Mvh Jonatan

Hernandi

Hernandi Krammes

Sat 24-Dec-2011 20:46 Hello.

This is realy programming art.

I am pleased hearing for the achived great performance with a microcontroler and a skiled mind.

You are better than Philip Glass.

Good xmas and new year.

Anonymous

Sun 25-Dec-2011 01:06 damn! this patterns can't get out of my head...

nice perfomance. i also have a midi keyboard, avr's and really want to play with this device. ^^

Anonymous

Sun 25-Dec-2011 08:41 This is pretty cool! It is great that you can do that in hardware, when will you share the plans? You mentioned Korg DS-10, but you should check out Rhythm Core Alpha on the Nintendo DSi and 3DS. It does all of the looping and chord stuff that this does and a lot more, and it's only a $5 or 5 Euro download in the DSiWare Shop or 3DS eShop.

Anonymous

Sun 25-Dec-2011 09:28 Dude. I want this so bad. Really.



If you sell it, I will buy it. Like honestly, I haven't wanted something like this in my entire life. Ever.



Hats off to you for creating something this brilliant.

Anonymous

Sun 25-Dec-2011 11:20 I love it! I would really want to buy one, or build one, if you share hardware schematics and software.



Also, great live performance dude. Share it with people! Record your live performances and put it on the Soundcloud, for example.



Cheers!

Anonymous

Sun 25-Dec-2011 17:40 I've been working on the same thing for a few moths right now. But what you have made... Really impressive. I'll just stop writing my shitcode and wait, until you release this cool thingy.

Anonymous

Sun 25-Dec-2011 17:43 As a suggestion - make an hardware "upgrade". I know that artificially made lack of computing power leads to creativity - but don't overkill with this. This can also lead to lack of awesome features and possible future updates.

Anonymous

Mon 26-Dec-2011 02:19 Sorry ladies, this hunk appears taken

Anonymous

Mon 26-Dec-2011 04:28 Amazing work. I don't know what I want more, schematics for the device, or a full length album with you rocking out on it.

Anonymous

Mon 26-Dec-2011 04:46 I think this is a wonderful project you have created here. I am not sure what you are planing on doing with the concept now that you have a working model but let me throw some ideas at you.



1. Sell it as a kit yourself - This would be a great way to make some money and share your product but it would require quite a bit of work on your part.

2. Sell your design to a company like adafruit - you would still make money and it would possibly take less work on your part.

3. Open source the design - You could provide files to make a PCB, a BOM and the code for everyone to make their own. You could do this and still provide kits or just PCBs.

4. Some combination of the previous 3

5. Do nothing with it and for others to make up their own project.



I really hope to see you do something with this, if I could buy one for $50-$100 I would pick one up tonight.



regards,

Jzatopa@gmail.com

Anonymous

Mon 26-Dec-2011 05:03 Forgot to mention that my girl and I think that this is a wonderful piece of art you have created. The improve, the synth + it's design and the fact you put this out there for everyone is awesome.



Jzatopa@gmail.com

Anonymous

Mon 26-Dec-2011 09:57 Gimme. (Also, if you're actually planning on starting to sell these, please don't make it too terribly overpriced?)

Anonymous

Mon 26-Dec-2011 15:21 I think this can sell for $300 +



I would buy this for $400!

Anonymous

Mon 26-Dec-2011 23:58 Grymt! Det byggs många konstiga musikmakapärer, både bra och dåliga, men det är sällan dess skapare kan ge ett ok demo av dem, det här låter helt fantastiskt!

Om du inte har några kommersiella planer måste du åtminstone släppa källkod / schema. Föredömligt minimalistisk hårdvara också.

Anonymous

Tue 27-Dec-2011 02:53 i want to know how you made this and if you plan on mass producing this. i would by it like no ones business.

Anonymous

Tue 27-Dec-2011 09:40 I look forward to building one!

Anonymous

Wed 28-Dec-2011 03:10 I'd build a kit, lovely programming and elegantly delivered, good demo.



Additions: hmm, mixer section if the minipots are not already doing that.

Stereo could be coded for pan rather than tweaked for panning, say set an arc of 7 possible pan positions.

A phase routine would be good but I suppose that's external efx.





Hardware:

Breakout board for individual outs as an option, or at least pcb solder pads on the board for those who want to go there. pcb midi jacks and a wall wart dc input jack, 9v uniersal. 9v battery option? On/off switch. midid receive send led. Needs a protective case like the shruthi or wtpa? Both have nice acrylic cases, so you may want to talk with olivier and Todd about that. At a minimum the caspar electronics dronemaster style case does provide good protection.

Clumsy players in darkened bars will want larger buttons, no offense but you are very tidy and precise (which is why you finished it so well of course.) That makes you atypical of a user, sadly.



Kit? Yes: but be careful about how you pacakge shipping the atmeg. I've had issues with that.



Using lsdj, dm8, sammichsid and that sort of chiptune thing at present and loads of analog.



lorne in Canada

Anonymous

Wed 28-Dec-2011 03:14 me again, forgot to say 512 meg memory chip, lcd to show library? Borrow the sd card design that todd has already designed? www.narrat1ve.com

Anonymous

Wed 28-Dec-2011 03:17 and one more comment: www.kickstarter.com to fund production costs. see quneo for an outrageous example of success.

Anonymous

Thu 29-Dec-2011 05:17 This is inspiring. I would absolutely buy this and put it to amazing use. I've been using LSDJ and nanoloop for a while but I've never liked having to program the loops ahead of time. I play piano live, and this would ultimately satisfy every need I would ever have for performing. I'd like to mention that I'm an in no way tech savvy. I would never be able to build one of these if you were ever to simply release the instructions... So I beg you. Please please please offer an option to acquire one pre-built.

Just for reference, what keyboard is that?

Anonymous

Thu 29-Dec-2011 13:19 For the love of god Linus - make turn this into a kickstarter project. The world needs a bitbuf kit! Just make sure we can export/load via sysex or via, for example, an sd-card.



You are beyond amazing!



// christoffer, umeå

Anonymous

Fri 30-Dec-2011 07:19 I see a lot of comments about what features you should add... I'd just like to say that I'm a huge fan of how simple and easy Bitbuf is to use. Adding an army of random features (like support for some add-on I've never heard of) would turn me away. Really, I'd be happy with buying the board as it is right now.

Anonymous

Sat 31-Dec-2011 12:28 Yes i would realy like to buy one :)

Anonymous

Sat 31-Dec-2011 12:30 Yes i would like to buy this , Bra jobbat !

Anonymous

Sat 31-Dec-2011 15:59 Nice work! How did you connect the MIDI cable to the USART?

Anonymous

Sun 1-Jan-2012 08:57 Open source it and change the scene! I've been dreaming of building something very similar to this but you have the talent and time to get it done. Great job! -Brett W. (FightCube.com)

Anonymous

Mon 2-Jan-2012 19:46 Excellent demo and awesome instrument!

I want to buy/build one. Will you release the firmware? Will you sell kits?

I hope you will ;)

Anonymous

Tue 3-Jan-2012 16:39 HI Linus your Osiclator it´s awesome, only a question if it´s possible to answer me...



You only use a 555 for Oscilator, or use the Big chip, I´m not sure if it´s an Arduino for generating the wave forms?¿...



Thanks in advance and excuseme for my poor english...



Kinds regards, from Spain.

Iván J

Anonymous

Tue 3-Jan-2012 19:28 great. really great.

please please please release the firmware as open source, start a new projekt on github! it's great, i wanna build my own bitbuf, maybe with other extensions, and based on atmega32.



your firmware, is it made in asm or c? (hoping for c, and hoping you release it with a nice licence).



good work! go on!

Anonymous

Tue 3-Jan-2012 23:06 great. really great.

please please please release the firmware as open source, start a new projekt on github! it's great, i wanna build my own bitbuf, maybe with other extensions, and based on atmega32.



your firmware, is it made in asm or c? (hoping for c, and hoping you release it with a nice licence).



good work! go on!

Read the info at least...



"An ATmega88 with 1 kB of RAM and 8.5 kB of ROM, running at 20 MHz, programmed in C and assembly language. The tight hardware specifications aid in keeping the design minimalistic." Read the info at least..."An ATmega88 with 1 kB of RAM and 8.5 kB of ROM, running at 20 MHz, programmed in C and assembly language. The tight hardware specifications aid in keeping the design minimalistic."

Anonymous

Fri 6-Jan-2012 06:23 Wow, I am impressed.

I would buy this.

But I think a hard case (perhaps clear) would help me worry less of potential damage.

Anonymous

Fri 6-Jan-2012 08:11 I would buy one immediately!

Anonymous

Tue 10-Jan-2012 08:09 and one more comment: www.kickstarter.com to fund production costs. see quneo for an outrageous example of success. Kickstarter has funded a lot of innovative people, take printrbot for example. Kickstarter has funded a lot of innovative people, take printrbot for example.

Qball

Tue 10-Jan-2012 10:52 Fantastic work! I really love the looping options, the sound and the effects.

Anonymous

Wed 11-Jan-2012 19:38 Thats an amazin job, congrats!! Of cours now that you show off you need to feed the trolls and release some schemas :P (just to make the trolls bigger and more hungry hehehe).

Anonymous

Wed 11-Jan-2012 19:40 Some nice feature I could see there:



-sync with another bitbuff

Anonymous

Thu 12-Jan-2012 17:13 Oh, wow, this is pretty cool. Like the others, I would love to see the code for this so I could try my hand at duplicating it. Also, what is the little 4 pin IC next to the ATMega?



As for any improvements, I dunno. Perhaps a larger memory bank and interface so if you make a progression you're particularly proud of you can save it and recall it later for recording or to show off or something. Or maybe live you could make some sort of really catchy hook that you keep coming back to while playing other songs interspersed. Or something.



Either way, fantastic stuff. I'm gonna bookmark this page to keep on top of any updates.

Anonymous

Fri 13-Jan-2012 12:34 Very nice!

It will need a way of syncing with others

¿maybe a analog clock I/O? for sync it with old stuff

Nice work!!

joeforker

Daniel Holth

Wed 18-Jan-2012 15:58 Can you provide a few more details about the number of bits used for the triangle waves, dpcm tables, etc? Does it use multiplication or have an envelope generator? Mostly inspired by the NES synthesizer like the Chipophone?

Anonymous

Thu 19-Jan-2012 10:19 Certainly buy one if you propose kit to sale!!!

Great Job!

Anonymous

Fri 20-Jan-2012 02:19 Great machine, and great creator

Anonymous

Tue 24-Jan-2012 15:18 Witch is your keyboard brand?

Anonymous

Wed 25-Jan-2012 13:37 Witch is your keyboard brand?

Obviously a M Audio Oxygen Obviously a M Audio Oxygen

Anonymous

Sat 28-Jan-2012 23:01 Any Chance you would be willing to share the binary ROM for the atmega to us? the schematics would be nice, but not as necessary to reproduce seeing as you posted a picture of the protoboard.

--Primis

Anonymous

Wed 1-Feb-2012 20:54 I love it! :D TAKE MY MONEY!! :D super coolt

Anonymous

Wed 1-Feb-2012 22:20 want

Anonymous

Thu 2-Feb-2012 04:59 Would love to buy one! Just echoing what everyone else has said....I'd buy one...I'D BUY TEN!!! Just echoing what everyone else has said....I'd buy one...I'D BUY TEN!!!

Anonymous

Thu 2-Feb-2012 05:36 Dude, I no longer think its a prototype. This thing needs to be sold and show at namm

Anonymous

Thu 2-Feb-2012 13:09 u should put this on production

suddenly i am interested in music again

pranic_roger

Roger Fontaine

Thu 2-Feb-2012 15:14 great bitbuf product. I enjoyed your demo, your technical ability, and the precision of your design, also musical creativeness.

ditto to other comments, stereo with panning, are you sending bitbuf o/p to what kind of recorder? computer? apple?

as composer who likes to record this would be a great tool to have in studio. I could also see it as great improv performance tool.

keep me informed as your production progresses.

Anonymous

Thu 9-Feb-2012 22:01 This is amazing, please release a kit or a finished product! I'll echo the Kickstarter sentiment.



Suggestion: MIDI clock in (if not i/o) to sync with other hardware/software! Analog clock would be cool too but MIDI sync is the most important

Anonymous

Mon 13-Feb-2012 13:47 Oh man this is so lovely.. The live capabilities of this and the versitality of it... I want one right now. Id play with it all night.. Or if you release this as a kit i will purchase it something shameful! -owly84

Anonymous

Sun 26-Feb-2012 00:47 oh my god please let us buy one why are you teasing us so much by posting such awesome videos and not selling your stuff in some form or another? You are like the god of building awesome things. Please go show this to guitar center or sam ash or some music store and try to retail this, I think that they would think this was awesome. Please manufacture this. it kicks the alesis microns butt. lol.

Anonymous

Wed 29-Feb-2012 05:31 please sell this, I can have all my money, ALL OF IT!!!!

Anonymous

Wed 29-Feb-2012 17:57 Any news on this? Have you decided whether you'd prefer to open source it or sell it?

Anonymous

Sun 4-Mar-2012 09:10 Please start a Kickstarter! I would love to buy one of these from you! :D

Anonymous

Wed 7-Mar-2012 14:32 Wow, this is pretty much the best thing you've ever done, and that is saying more than anyone could possibly imagine!

Having been through the fiddly/frustrating process of trying to do improvisations using LSDj and various Chip trackers, my mind is on fire at the idea of having the chance to use something like this!



As much as I'm sure you enjoy just making cool things for the sake of it, PLEASE take the opportunity to share the beauty of this creation with the world! As several people have already stated: Kickstarter. I would PAY to have the *opportunity* to buy one of these, let alone actually make a purchase!

Anonymous

Thu 8-Mar-2012 05:56 i would love to see this as a purchasable kit or opensource device.



i really love the glitchy effects



but releasing this on the world would just shock the hobbyist audio movement, personally, i'm not good enough to do any live shows, but to have this as something to play around with. but i can see this hitting it big not only in live shows, but as a hobbyist\ musicians new instrument <at fractions of the cost of what other software\hardware costs

Wonkyth

Toby Walker

Sat 10-Mar-2012 08:12 I've already made a comment on this, but as an anonymous user.

I just registered specifically to show my support to the idea of making this something purchasable!

Anonymous

Sat 10-Mar-2012 11:32 would love to love one

Anonymous

Thu 15-Mar-2012 05:01 If you need help making this in volume, I am certain it would not be too hard to recruit some help among the community. I think it is easy to find the right persons to give a few hours here and there to migrate your design to SMD and start a 1000 units in a china fab... Kickstarter all the way...unless you are completely set on using a 8 bit AVR, I would also consider the 16 bit MSP430 for a smaller footprint and low cost in 1000 units, also if there is enough overhead on the cycle% it may be possible to elimiate the DAC to a r2r ladder or a combination of PWM/r2r (saw once a rare implementation like that).

That should make an affordable BOM...

Anonymous

Wed 21-Mar-2012 00:22 Would love to buy a kit, this looks exactly what i would need!!

Anonymous

Mon 2-Apr-2012 20:43 Fantastic!!! The POTENTIAL OF THIS PROJECT IS ASTOUNDING!!! I've been making chiptunes for years and although I adore making that style of music, one thing that has always bothered me is the classic: "programming rather than playing" dynamic. This would help with creating a more personal and spontanious piece! Plus the immediacy of playing an already familiar surface such as a keyboard vs diving into theory and programming notes/chords/arps makes this so appealing!!! I definitely encourage you to pursue this project! USE KICKSTARTER!!! You'd have a backer out of me for sure! How programmable would this be? This question pertains to DIY midi. Would this or does this BitBuf have midi learn capabilities? I'm new to the world of DIY midi controllers, but it would be amazing to have this BitBuf accompany a specialty midi controller!!!

Anonymous

Mon 9-Apr-2012 05:03 When I hear your Chipophone or the bitbuf I only close my eyes and let me feel the nostalgia and the years passing by me.



Amazing, thank your Sir for your outstanding work!



Respect from Portugal

Anonymous

Wed 11-Apr-2012 04:43 Would love to buy one!

Anonymous

Sun 15-Apr-2012 03:42 Yes, yes it has been said MANY times: I would love to buy a kit or at least get a parts list and schematic. I also totally agree with the many others in saying that putting this on kickstarter or something similar would make a HUGE amount of sense. It definitely won't make billions, but it would be a smash hit in the niche it occupies. I think it could definitely compete with the korg and similar looping machines.

Anonymous

Sun 15-Apr-2012 09:50 Kickstart it, please!

Anonymous

Tue 17-Apr-2012 14:05 Wow, perfect ! Exactly what I need. Please release a kit. I 'll buy one.

Anonymous

Thu 19-Apr-2012 00:40 I would buy one, or a kit version for sure :)

Anonymous

Sat 21-Apr-2012 08:44 Would love to buy one!

Id definatly want one of these, Coolest little gadget ive seen in a long time. Id definatly want one of these, Coolest little gadget ive seen in a long time.

Anonymous

Mon 23-Apr-2012 02:17 You, my good sir, just won the entire internet! Please make a tutorial for how to make a bitbuf :) You are my bit-hero :D

Anonymous

Wed 25-Apr-2012 14:00 Fantastic work!!! I love the sound and the looping options! Please, it would be really nice to get a tutorial or the schematics!

benadski

Ralph Willekes

Thu 26-Apr-2012 23:49 Too bad I have no experience playing music... But this is a thing that might just help me over the edge and make me at least try to compose music. :-)



Maybe a storage function for patterns and instrument setting banks is the only thing I might miss... Not for whole songs, where's the fun in that? ;-P

Gizah

Mon 7-May-2012 21:23 Every week I come back here hoping you have posted the schematics and code for this, even if it's just an unfinished version.



Please make me the happiest person on Earth.

Anonymous

Wed 16-May-2012 00:44 Gizah wrote: Every week I come back here hoping you have posted the schematics and code for this, even if it's just an unfinished version.



Please make me the happiest person on Earth. Every week I come back here hoping you have posted the schematics and code for this, even if it's just an unfinished version.Please make me the happiest person on Earth. Ditto.

Anonymous

Thu 17-May-2012 03:13 MAKE IT!! at least sell us chips and post the schematics..



or at least least least, post the firmware so we can burn chips and make one!

Anonymous

Mon 21-May-2012 20:24 Would love to buy one!

ME TOO



I would pay $300 no questions asked. ME TOOI would pay $300 no questions asked.

Anonymous

Tue 22-May-2012 00:05 YES!!! Please make this commercially available!

Anonymous

Wed 23-May-2012 11:52 I'd buy one. Let us know if you decide to produce more of these.

Anonymous

Sat 2-Jun-2012 18:32 Please sell this as a kit, or post the schematics this is a lovely invention

Anonymous

Mon 4-Jun-2012 22:51 WANNTT!!!!!

Anonymous

Wed 6-Jun-2012 05:40 I want one now!!

Anonymous

Thu 7-Jun-2012 11:48 Wow, amazing stuff. Please make a kit or post the schematics!!! I would love to use this unit live. Can it be MIDI synced?

Anonymous

Tue 3-Jul-2012 01:31 Aaaaw! Thats damn nice work you did there.

Even if you are not going to sell it, it would be nice, if you share the plans with us :)

(would buy it anyways)

Anonymous

Wed 18-Jul-2012 08:53 Mind blown... You sir are extremely talented.

Anonymous

Mon 30-Jul-2012 00:11 Make a kit that you can solder together yourself!

Anonymous

Fri 10-Aug-2012 12:17 I would buy one! I think the Kickstarter idea is great!

Anonymous

Mon 13-Aug-2012 21:44 Yes indeed! let's kickstart this one - this base would perfectly fit such an encouraging enterprise like this. Just go for it, plz :)))))))))))))))))

Anonymous

Wed 10-Oct-2012 16:22 Very nice!! This should be possible to fit on a pretty small pcb, iluminated switches would make it even more compact. And the parts are pretty cheap too! I'd vote for a kit ;)

Anonymous

Wed 10-Oct-2012 16:24 ...and as mentioned: midi clock sync would be nice. I guess clock output would be easier then slaving it.

Anonymous

Fri 26-Oct-2012 15:15 I also think a Kickstarter would get a lot of support if you have the time and wish to manufacture MIDI compatible finished products.



Jag skulle köpa en i alla fall!

Anonymous

Sun 4-Nov-2012 06:38 Would love to buy one.

Anonymous

Mon 5-Nov-2012 06:27 Please post at least a part list, or the code for the chip, or some schematics! Even just a detailed guide on how to use it.

Anonymous

Tue 6-Nov-2012 01:57 Desperately want one...

Anonymous

Thu 8-Nov-2012 19:56 Any news on this? Linus I'm aching to use one!

exxos

Mikael Bouillot

Sat 17-Nov-2012 20:38 I was wondering about two features of the sound:

1) on the attack of each note, there seems to be a small "noise blast",

2) the notes have a high aliasing content.



For (2), I was under the impression that it came from sampling the waveform at a fixed rate without first filtering it (which would probably require a DSP implementing BLEPs or something similar), but the effect seems extreme. Did you include some kind of non-linear saturation to get that effect?



For (1), I have no idea where that might come from but I like the effect :-)



On the other hand, the interactivity (bass and chords modification in particular) is awesome. That's kind of what I'm trying to achieve with my own project.

simon

Simon Budig

Tue 20-Nov-2012 12:34 The hardware/schematics really isn't the problem, it is easy enough to figure out the schematics from the photo in the posting. There is no magic happening there. I'd gladly offer to turn this into a pcb layout.



However, the software is the tricky part. The experience Linus has with chiptunes is not easily reproduced, let alone turned into a sanely working midi synth. So I guess we're out of luck for now.



Bye,

Simon

Anonymous

Thu 29-Nov-2012 23:46 simon wrote: The hardware/schematics really isn't the problem, it is easy enough to figure out the schematics from the photo in the posting. There is no magic happening there. I'd gladly offer to turn this into a pcb layout.



However, the software is the tricky part. The experience Linus has with chiptunes is not easily reproduced, let alone turned into a sanely working midi synth. So I guess we're out of luck for now.

The hardware/schematics really isn't the problem, it is easy enough to figure out the schematics from the photo in the posting. There is no magic happening there. I'd gladly offer to turn this into a pcb layout.However, the software is the tricky part. The experience Linus has with chiptunes is not easily reproduced, let alone turned into a sanely working midi synth. So I guess we're out of luck for now.

http://www.linusakesson.net/hardware/chiptune.php



but of course, it would have been cool if Linus put togheter the stuff on this page. I would guess that there are lot of elements from the other projects involved, like what you find on "making of chipophone" page, which again links to this:http://www.linusakesson.net/hardware/chiptune.phpbut of course, it would have been cool if Linus put togheter the stuff on this page.

Anonymous

Fri 14-Dec-2012 01:56 If you can price it for under £50 I think you'll make a shed load of money!!

Anonymous

Mon 14-Jan-2013 01:57 I would love to produce this device for people to buy. Contact me if you are interested at emil@eimer.dk

Anonymous

Sat 19-Jan-2013 00:26 When I saw the video on YouTube, I immediately thought that I would have built one. And then I realized that the software and the schematic were not available.

:C

Anonymous

Wed 30-Jan-2013 02:59 GREAT! Respect from Russia. Would buy one)

Anonymous

Thu 18-Apr-2013 21:00 Linus



There is a world of musicians who want to have their own bitbuf. Why don't you share your design with them. You could either 1. open source the whole project and leave it to others to take it from there or 2. put together kits or finished pieces and sell them. The kits could be as simple as a PCB, a flashed chip + a BOM. If you are concerned you don't have time to sell projects like this you could always contact a company like adafruit or similar to do the sales for you.

Anonymous

Fri 19-Apr-2013 19:18 Linus



There is a world of musicians who want to have their own bitbuf. Why don't you share your design with them. You could either 1. open source the whole project and leave it to others to take it from there or 2. put together kits or finished pieces and sell them. The kits could be as simple as a PCB, a flashed chip + a BOM. If you are concerned you don't have time to sell projects like this you could always contact a company like adafruit or similar to do the sales for you.

I am of the same opinion. I am of the same opinion.

Anonymous

Sat 27-Apr-2013 14:46 Linus



There is a world of musicians who want to have their own bitbuf. Why don't you share your design with them. You could either 1. open source the whole project and leave it to others to take it from there or 2. put together kits or finished pieces and sell them. The kits could be as simple as a PCB, a flashed chip + a BOM. If you are concerned you don't have time to sell projects like this you could always contact a company like adafruit or similar to do the sales for you.

I am of the same opinion. I am of the same opinion. Another +1 for that. This thing is incredible.

Anonymous

Thu 13-Jun-2013 06:28 Why don't you a kick starter or something ?



Are planning on builds, I notice the vid is from 2011

Anonymous

Wed 24-Jul-2013 06:12 Start a Kickstarter project and I will definitely buy one!

Anonymous

Fri 30-Aug-2013 01:58 please! i want one too :)

Anonymous

Tue 15-Oct-2013 23:19 We _NEED_ this! Please please PLEASE publish the source code... and maybe schematics, but I guess it's no magic figuring them out when having a look at the code. Just release it! :)

Anonymous

Mon 28-Oct-2013 17:46 The Korg version simply has more screens and functions and more man hours work in it, its amazing how well the bitbuf competes with those programs, I say, keep the analog controls, give it some nice buttons, I think its already great, maybe you could just add more tutorials explaining it from a technological standpoint.

Anonymous

Sun 15-Dec-2013 01:26 I would love to build the bitbuf myself, are you going to put out any instructions for this machine?

Anonymous

Tue 11-Feb-2014 21:20 Seriously,

please share your ideas or take our money. But such a nice device without any chance to get hands on by ourselves, really gives you bad karma!

Anonymous

Mon 10-Mar-2014 11:50 Please offer this in kickstarter or somewhere where we can buy it.



Best regards from Spain! Andres

Anonymous

Tue 18-Mar-2014 14:00 Make it available for us!

Anonymous

Sun 4-May-2014 05:57 Hi Linus,



Great work!



Any updates? (any chance for a rough BOM, some more pictures, another demo video, source code)



This thing looks like so much fun.

Anonymous

Mon 19-May-2014 02:46 love to love you baby

Anonymous

Wed 11-Jun-2014 02:52 Patch memory might be a fun addition, storing the current loops etc. to an SD card to be recalled later. Also, would multi-channel MIDI be possible? IE one channel for lead, one for chords etc.

Also, PLEASE RELEASE THIS ON THE WORLD! IN ANY FORM! PLEASE! THE WORLD NEEDS THIS!

Anonymous

Sat 26-Jul-2014 02:46 I NEED ONE dude go get this patented keep it up I know this is old but please make this available to everyone!

Anonymous

Sun 1-Feb-2015 01:04 Please continue developing it and please show how you did it! I would love to make/buy one!

Anonymous

Wed 18-Feb-2015 20:29 get this on kickstarter, you will do very well! Ill have 2!

Anonymous

Wed 4-Mar-2015 10:44 Hej Linus!

Instämmer i kören om scheman och källkod eller ännu hellre ett kickstarter-projekt.

Snälla snälla.. :)

Anonymous

Thu 2-Apr-2015 22:20 wow, i would have one! what is make and model of the keyboard?

its a M-audio



https://www.google.se/search?q=maudio&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=989&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ycoYVZfDAszBPML_gcAO&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgdii=_&imgrc=GxdLVhWo3A-Y5M%253A%3BThPJCshSEMRejM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dammitray.com%252Fblogger%252Fuploaded_images%252FM%252520Audio%252520Ozone-705481.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dammitray.com%252Fblogger%252F2006%252F04%252Fpeople-love-my-shit.html%3B1024%3B768



its a pitcure of it on google



sorry for the lengt of the link its a M-audiohttps://www.google.se/search?q=maudio&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=989&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ycoYVZfDAszBPML_gcAO&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgdii=_&imgrc=GxdLVhWo3A-Y5M%253A%3BThPJCshSEMRejM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dammitray.com%252Fblogger%252Fuploaded_images%252FM%252520Audio%252520Ozone-705481.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dammitray.com%252Fblogger%252F2006%252F04%252Fpeople-love-my-shit.html%3B1024%3B768its a pitcure of it on googlesorry for the lengt of the link

Anonymous

Sun 3-May-2015 04:12 Hi Linus,



I've been asking this a couple of times a year for the past 3 or 4 years now, but I still maintain hope. What are your plans for the bitbuff - do you plan to release source code, etc. sometime? Maybe even do a writeup on how the synthesiser works (a guide to designing your own and the constrains you overcame / little tricks)?



Keep up the excellent and exciting work!

Anonymous

Sun 21-Jun-2015 20:37 Just shut up and take my money.

Anonymous

Sun 8-Nov-2015 01:08 This is sweet, make it into a eurorack module with some control voltage ins and outs and you'd be a happy man

Anonymous

Tue 10-Nov-2015 23:22 Very nice project!

Hope it won`t be so expensive like all c64 carts.

It was easier to buy real midi-module than used prophet 64

especially when you have 23% VAT in Poland...

First I would like to be so skillful in piano like you :D

Back to keyboard.

ALL BEST ,you`re my music hero since Craft!

Anonymous

Wed 20-Jul-2016 15:20 Would love to buy one! Me too, please take orders! Me too, please take orders!

Anonymous

Sat 18-Nov-2017 05:54 I'm totally in love with the BitBuf... Any chances to buy you a DIY kit or schemes to build one ?

PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!!

Anonymous

Thu 30-Nov-2017 10:28 My annual request:

Please Linus Akesson, make this device available or provide us with some information about the code. I think that everybody would love to pay for that.

Please answer somehow!