Looks awesome! I love the idea of a compact yet powerful portable hardware studio. Would be excellent to transition from writing at home to playing live too. Excellent idea and great execution
I just finished something similar but ditched the foam (frustrating to cut…) and went with an aluminium profile instead. Not sure about the total weight, but will use a trolly for it. Really pleased with it so far 
10 Likes
You’ll find an automated script to replicate my pi setup here: https://github.com/sinedied/pi-midi-host
In the readme there’s link to all references I used. What the pi does currently is connecting all midi input to all outputs, so basically connecting everything together.
I’m currently working on a more compact version using a pi zero 2, and plan to create a custom hat to add real midi IO (in addition to USB) with 3.5mm jacks using GPIOs. I also have on my to-do to create a web interface to configure the connection matrix for more flexibility.
1 Like
That is an impressively compact project.
Did you go with Ruby over Python because you prefer the language or the MIDI libraries?
I went with Ruby because someone already wrote most of the code for it 
I’ll probably rewrite it in Node.js when I’ll implement the web UI for more convenience.
Here’s a WIP of the Pi Zero 2 version, which still retain the same capabilities in a much more compact footprint. I simply added a hat with 4 USB ports, still need to figure out how and where to add the 3.5mm midi board and design a 3D printed enclosure for it.
1 Like
This is amazing! Really inspiring build:)
I was wondering what cables you are using? I have some plans for a similar project, but finding angled cables that will fit in the Bluebox is a challenge.
That’s really cool. I take it the speaker is just basically a portable monitor?
I bought most of my audio cables and connectors on AliExpress, and soldered a few ones.
Here’s what I used with the blue box:
- CableCreation – câble Audio à Angle droit de 90 degrés, Jack, 3.5mm, pour écouteurs JBL, voiture, Xiaomi Redmi, PC, tablettes, voiture | AliExpress
- Cablecreation – lot de 2 câbles AUX 3.5mm, câble d'extension Audio, Jack 90 degrés mâle à femelle, câble de casque pour haut parleur de voiture | AliExpress
The most tricky cables to find were the angled midi ones, I used EBS ones: EBS CÂBLE MIDI PLAT À TÊTE FLEXIBLE 58 CM - Woodbrass.com
1 Like
Yes, I use it for quick bedroom jams, works well enough 
1 Like
After a lot of trials, pairing, experiments… I present you the v2 of my studio case:
I ditched the OPZ as it was a pain to make it work in the setup, and crashing too much so I don’t trust it for a live setup, and causing USB issues. I also removed the NTS-1 as it was a productivity killer, with too much to experiment with (custom osc, fx…) and no save.
Syntakt was the missing centerpiece, and now that all digis have foldable keyboard with scales, I don’t need the Korg nanoStudio. I was also quite rigid to configure, with no ability to switch midi channel on the go and requiring a computer to setup.
Also added for welcoming additionnal controls, the Faderfox EC4: entirely configurable without a computer, with great flexibility and multiple switchable setups, it’s the perfection compation to the Bluebox and for adding direct performance controls (MW macros for the digis FTW!).
The extension box is still here to allow plugging extra gear with midi in/out, USB (w/ midi) and audio in/out. Only the sync out was lost due to ditching the NTS-1.
This setup is now stable as I made a lot of battle tests to ensure stability, ergonomy while keeping focused enough to be productive 
For the curious, I took a WIP shot while I was rewiring almost everything in the bottom layer:
Here are the routing details for power, audio and midi:
Power routing
Audio routing
Midi routing
Now if you excuse me I’ll be off for a few months to work on my live set…
19 Likes
Thanks for sharing! Looks super clean.
I tried to do the same but the case i bought was too deep, preventing me from really enjoying it as a portable rig.
I am now trying to fit multiple power supplies under or in a pedalboard. Tedious…
What made this case possible was using USB power for everything, as it really reduce the amount of space needed. Now that we have USB power delivery, with adapters it makes it easy to power any kind of devices, even power-hungry ones like the Syntakt.
I’m trying to make a decision between polyurethane and polyethylene foam… looks like you went with the polyurethane pluck and pull type, is that just what you had available to you or was it a conscious decision?
Really awesome set up man, v1 looks great but v2 is so streamlined it just leaves nothing to be desired honestly. do you have any concerns about the raspberry pi overheating? I noticed you did not opt for a fan or a heat sink (not sure where the fan would plumb out to but you could probably figure something out if you had a small diameter pvc tube through the foam with a second puller fan on the output at the side of the case).
This is made for a pi, came with some little heat sinks and I think I paid $6 for the kit.
Thanks for sharing your update, very impressive and motivational as far as getting back to business.
2 Likes
I use the 2 layers of pluck n pull foam that came with the case, a Magma Carry Lite XXL case, I did not though out this further.
Everything is so packed anyways that it’s not much shock-proof, for bumpy travels I think it would need an outer case with a good amount of absorbing foam. But for moving around the house and put it in a car trunk it’s good enough I think.
Regarding the Pi, I used a Pi 3 that’s underclocked and undervolted, given that it’s only doing midi routing there’s almost no heat generated so I’m not worried. There’s also hidden space arount the PI air vent (it’s in a case) to create airflow below the speaker, so it should be good.
1 Like
sounds good, I only thought of it because when you use it for midi, the last thing you want is a latency to develop between your gear 30 minutes into a performance
where did you get the different coloured FUNC buttons? Custom?
The func buttons are the regular DT/ST/DN buttons, it’s just the blue lightning
I ordered black buttons for the DN bottom row and track keys, as seen here (with the correct colors): Color? We don't need no stinkin' color! - #27 by sinedied
1 Like
so you’ve got a ripcord for all elektrons and then a usb power hub thats powered by a wall outlet?
nice setup
DT use a MyVolts adapter (regular USB), that’s the only device stable with an adapter like this. ST and DN use cheap USB-C PD adapters bought on AliExpress (no worries, it’s passive), but yeah it’s the same as a ripcord. Had to use multiple USB power supplies though, have a look at the “power routing” section there’s all details 
1 Like