SUCOFUNKey - firmware for beatmaker's sketchbook

Teensy based Open Source Sampler & Sequencer.

Beatmaker's sketchbook is an open source alternative to different commercial electronic music devices like the MPC or OP-1.

The goal is to enable everyone interested in the topic to easily build and customize its own device without spending a lot of money. As sampling is an essential part of the Hip-Hop culture, SUCOFUNKey might be an option for amateur beat makers. It is battery powered and can be used everywhere.

Check out @sucofunkey on Instagram for a visual impression of the device and progress. You can sign up to the newsletter on www.sucofunk.com, check some background infos, contact me and stay up to date.

To see the implemented features, read the user manual.

If you are interested in participating, just send me a message. I spend a lot of time into the project without any return yet. If you want to support the project and help to keep the costs (office/workshop rent, hosting, etc.) as low as possible and speed the project up, I would be happy when you donate via Paypal. If you spend more than 25€, your name will be listed on the supporter screen in the device. Leave your name or nickname in the comment field of the donation process. Donate

Firmware

The firmware is a VSCode project, using the PlatformIO extension.

Status

SUCOFUNKey is work in progress. The firmware functionality is more complex than initially planned and a fully functional DAW for your pocket. It includes a sampler, a sequencer (samples and midi) with an approach that is a bit different to what you might know from other tools, an arranger to chain patterns from the sequencer to a complete song and a play mode for live performances.

Read the user manual for details.

Next steps

Currently I am creating almost everything by myself. So the next steps might take a while, hopefully not too long.

Sampler

• make samplenames editable after they are set once
• set a base note for a sample e.g. C4 to map chromatic pitching to note keys
• ADSR envelope
• bitcrusher

Sequencer

• add feature to select and move blocks
• copy and paste selections in the sequencer to re-use them

Play Mode

• chain snippets
• option to use beatmaker's sketchbook as a midi keyboard
• Send MIDI Chords
• Send MIDI Program Change
• optimize session recording

Miscellaneous

• move settings from code to a configuration menu within the device
• create a better manual / feature overview

Roadmap / Vision / Nice-to-have

• Effects
• Timestretching samples
• USB Audio
• Web-application to copy samples and edit/export sketches

Hardware

Beatmaker's sketchbook houses:

• Teensy 4.1 microcontroller
• 24 Keys to map a two octave keyboard
• 12 functional keys (play, stop, record, ...)
• 4 endless rotary encoders
• 10mm fader
• 2 inch LCD display
• 32 LEDs
• built-in microphone
• headphone output
• volume control
• 3.5mm line-in and line-out
• MIDI-in and MIDI-out

Optional:

• built-in LiPo battery with charger
• built in stereo speakers, driven by a small amplifier