Drumboy & Synthgirl: A Novel Approach to Sound Creation

Randomwaves – Introduction

At Randomwaves, we are passionate makers, driven by a love for music, electronics, and the thrill of creation. Our mission is to craft a unique line of sound gadgets that ignite imaginations. We believe in the power of high-quality sound and captivating visuals, but we also prioritize affordability and accessibility. Our goal is to empower fellow makers with instruments that can be easily customized, hacked, and transformed into their own creative visions.

Randomwaves – Building Blocks

Beyond the introduction, let’s explore the six core principles that shaped our new family of gadgets:

24-bit True Audio: To ensure the highest sound quality, we designed the entire audio architecture using the powerful 550MHz ARM Cortex M7 processor, delivering pristine 24-bit audio.

5” Color LCD: We prioritized a large, vibrant screen that allows users to visually engage with the process of creating beats and songs, enhancing the overall user experience.

Capacitive Touch Controller: Moving away from conventional buttons, we opted for durable and reliable capacitive touch controls to provide a more responsive and modern interface.

SD Card Input: Understanding the need for flexibility, we included an SD card input that lets users load all samples and wavetables, save their files, and easily perform firmware updates.

Open Source Code: As part of the Maker community, we committed to providing open access to all hardware and software files. Developed on the widely used STM32 platform, our devices allow for easy customization and software installation using the STM32 Link dongle.

Sync In & Out: To ensure seamless integration, we designed our gadgets to synchronize effortlessly with each other and with other devices, offering versatility and adaptability in various setups.

Drumboy – Introduction

Introducing the first member of our gadget family — Drumboy, our first love. Drumboy is more than a step-sequencer; it’s an advanced drum machine that empowers you to create complex rhythms with 1/64 quantization across 8 bars and 8 measures. With features like complex fill generation, dual filter channels, and a robust effects processor, Drumboy stands out as a powerful & versatile tool for your sound creation.

Drumboy – Learn the Basics

Introducing our video guide showcasing the essentials of our drum machine. Dive into a concise yet informative presentation, where we walk you through the fundamental features and functionalities of Drumboy.

Drumboy – Sonic Architecture

• Rhythm: lets you adjust parameters such as bar, measure, (up to 8) and quantization (up to 1/64), providing fine-tuned control over your composition.
• Metronome: with four sound options, allowing you to enable/disable, adjust pre-count, and control volume settings for precise rhythm guidance.
• 10 Instrument Layers: Capable of handling .wav samples up to 8 seconds long. You can customize your sound with options to adjust volume, play speed, reverse playback, and normalize.
• Parametric Eq: Having one low shelf, one high shelf, and four peak filters. For each band, you can adjust the Q factor, gain, and frequency for precise sound shaping.
• 2 Filter Channels: With 4 modes; low pass, high pass, band pass, and band stop. Each filter allows you to adjust the frequency, resonance, slope, and mix, giving you even more control over your sound.
• 2 Effect Channels: with eight options; delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, compressor, expander, overdrive, distortion, and bitcrusher. Each effect can be customized with detailed controls, providing endless possibilities for your sound design.
• Reverb Engine: lets you control room size, decay, pre-delay, surround, dry and wet parameters, adding depth and dimension to your sounds.
• 5 Banks: For storing different songs in a single file, providing enough space to organize and access them effortlessly.
• 100 Files / Drumkits : (*) for saving and loading your songs and drum-sample packs, allowing for easy organization and quick access.

* All the data (samples, drumkits and files) is conveniently stored on the SD card, enabling seamless transfer to other devices.

Drumboy – Connectivity

Drumboy features a USB-C port for power, SD Card slot for loading samples, saving files, and updating firmware, STM32 interface for firmware customization, and Sync-In & Out ports for synchronization with other devices.

Drumboy – User Manual

This is your go-to guide for mastering our new handheld drum machine. Packed with detailed instructions, helpful tips, and comprehensive explanations of all features, this manual ensures you can easily navigate and fully utilize everything Drumboy has to offer. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this manual is designed to help you create the perfect beat, anytime, anywhere.

Synthgirl – Introduction

Our second addition to the product family is Synthgirl. Featuring dual 256-step wavetable oscillators, this new-age pocket synthesizer allows you to produce complex sounds akin to those from Serum or Massive VSTs. Equipped with dual channel filters, a powerful effects processor, and a reverb engine, you can craft even more intricate and layered sounds.

Synthgirl – Learn the Basics

Check out our video guide that covers the essentials of our wavetable synthesizer. In this quick and informative presentation, we’ll walk you through the key features and functionalities of Synthgirl.

Synthgirl – Sonic Architecture

• Rhythm: lets you adjust parameters such as bar, measure, (up to 8) and quantization (up to 1/64), providing fine-tuned control over your composition.
• Metronome: with four sound options, allowing you to enable/disable, adjust pre-count, and control volume settings for precise rhythm guidance.
• Key / Arpeggiator: Defining the base note of your composition and fine-tuning arpeggiator settings such as rate, pattern, chord, order, and octave, providing variety and expression in your musical arrangements.
• 2 Wavetable OSCs: Allowing seamless integration of .wav samples (up to 256 steps) exported from software like Serum or Massive VSTs. You can adjust level, tune, phase, start and end points of wavetables, as well as the ability to flip in both X and Y axes.
• 4 Shaping LFOs: Capable of manipulating the wave, level, and tune of both oscillators. Featuring 25 prebuilt types and adjustable parameters (including target, rate and depth), these LFOs offer a wide array of modulation possibilities.
• Parametric Eq: Having one low shelf, one high shelf, and four peak filters. For each band, you can adjust the Q factor, gain, and frequency for precise sound shaping.
• 2 Filter Channels: With 4 modes; low pass, high pass, band pass, and band stop. Each filter allows you to adjust the frequency, resonance, slope, and mix, giving you even more control over your sound.
• 2 Effect Channels: with eight options; delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, compressor, expander, overdrive, distortion, and bitcrusher. Each effect can be customized with detailed controls, providing endless possibilities for your sound design.
• Reverb Engine: lets you control room size, decay, pre-delay, surround, dry and wet parameters, adding depth and dimension to your sounds.
• 7 Banks: For storing different songs in a single file, providing enough space to organize and access them effortlessly.
• 100 Files / Synthkits : (*) for saving and loading your songs and oscillator packs, allowing for easy organization and quick access.

* All the data (wavetables, synthkits and files) is conveniently stored on the SD card, enabling seamless transfer to other devices.

Synthgirl – Connectivity

Synthgirl is equipped with an USB-C port for power, SD Card slot for loading wavetables, saving files, and updating firmware, STM32 interface for firmware customization, and Sync-In & Out ports for device synchronization.

Synthgirl – User Manual

This is your essential companion for getting the most out of our new portable synthesizer. Inside, you’ll find clear instructions, expert tips, and detailed insights into all of Synthgirl’s features. Whether you’re crafting unique sounds or diving into advanced settings, this manual is designed to guide you every step of the way, ensuring you can make the most of your creative journey with Synthgirl.

Synchronization

Drumboy and Synthgirl provide seamless sync options, enabling users to synchronize either device together or with third-party equipment. Just connect the sync-out of the master device to the sync-in of the slave device, and then access the main menu to easily select sync parameters, ensuring effortless coordination for your musical setup.

Syncing offers two distinct modes to accommodate various setups and preferences. The RW mode facilitates communication between two Randomwaves devices(like Drumboy & Synthgirl), allowing users to control tempo speed, start and stop songs, and manage instrument settings effortlessly. Additionally, there’s the Global Mode designed for third-party devices, functioning as a beat trigger to integrate Drumboy and Synthgirl with external equipments.

Open Source Code

Embracing the maker community ethos, Drumboy and Synthgirl provide open-source access to both hardware and software data. Our commitment to collaboration means all source code will be freely available on Github Platform.

Hardware drawings, created using Eagle Software, are accessible for tinkering and modification. Powered by STM32 and programmed in C++, the software offers endless possibilities for customization. With the STM32 Link connector, hacking and tailoring the firmware to your preferences is both simple and encouraged. Join us in shaping the future of music technology together.

From Concept to Creation

Our journey involved the creation of multiple hardware prototypes, each aimed at refining our designs to meet our standards of functionality and usability. The coding process was equally extensive, with considerable time dedicated to crafting and fine-tuning the software to ensure optimal performance and versatility. Through relentless iteration and dedication, we navigated challenges to bring Drumboy and Synthgirl to life, embodying our commitment to excellence in both hardware and software engineering.

This Kickstarter marks just the beginning of our journey! Our instruments are designed to evolve, built on a flexible platform that can accommodate multiple firmware options in the future. New gadgets will be joining our team in the future, expanding the possibilities and capabilities of Randomwaves even further. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to innovate and grow.

Project Roadmap

We’re gearing up to begin production of our gadgets. Following our Kickstarter campaign, we’re planning a three-month production phase. During this time, we’ll be manufacturing PCBs, finalizing and uploading the firmwares,  and handling packaging and other details. After the production phase, we aim to deliver the gadgets to our users by February 2025.

Meet the Team

We’re a team of two: Emin and Ayse. Emin is an electronic engineer with a master’s degree in product design, and he handles all the product design and development at Randomwaves. Ayse has a license and a PhD in public administration, and she takes care of marketing and sales. We split our time between Istanbul and London, working really hard on this project. As electronic music enthusiasts, we wanted to create an inclusive culture and make sound design more accessible for everyone, especially new learners.