Synthpiser / MPC Project

Overview

This project combines both a web application and embedded systems to create a Synthpizer (Synthesizer + Sampler) or MPC (Music Production Center) system. The web application is built with React.js, while the embedded system is programmed with Python to run on a Raspberry Pi. The project allows users to interact with the Synthpizer/MPC through the web interface, selecting sounds and controlling playback, while the embedded system handles the actual playback of sounds and interaction with physical buttons.

Web Application (React.js)

The web application provides a user-friendly interface for interacting with the Synthpizer/MPC. Users can:

• Browse and select sounds from a list fetched from an API (FreeSound API).
• Assign selected sounds to physical buttons on the embedded system.
• Control playback of assigned sounds, including play, pause, stop, and reset functions.
• Monitor playback status and adjust settings such as reverb and distortion.
• Search for specific sounds using a search bar.
• View visual representations of selected sounds.

Embedded System (Python on Raspberry Pi)

The embedded system serves as the backend for the Synthpizer/MPC, handling sound playback and physical button interaction. It:

• Utilizes a Raspberry Pi for hardware control and sound playback.
• Interfaces with physical buttons to trigger sound playback events.
• Communicates with the web application via WebSocket to receive sound assignments and button click events.
• Preloads sound files from the web application for quick playback.
• Controls audio playback using the Pygame library.
• Detects button clicks and sends events to the web application for visual feedback.

Features

• Web Application:
  • Fetch sounds from the FreeSound API for selection.
  • Assign selected sounds to physical buttons.
  • Control playback of assigned sounds.
  • Visual feedback for sound selection and playback.
• Embedded System:
  • Interface with physical buttons for triggering sounds.
  • Preload sound files for quick playback.
  • Handle sound playback using Pygame.
  • Communicate with the web application via WebSocket.

Technologies Used

• Web Application:
  • React.js: Frontend framework for building user interfaces.
  • WebSocket: For real-time communication with the embedded system.
  • Axios: HTTP client for fetching sound data from the FreeSound API.
• Embedded System:
  • Raspberry Pi: Hardware platform for embedded system development.
  • Python: Programming language used for backend development.
  • Pygame: Library for audio playback and control.

Usage

1. Clone the repository.
2. Install dependencies for the web application using npm install.
3. Run the web application using npm start.
4. Ensure the Raspberry Pi is set up and connected to the same network.
5. Run the Python script on the Raspberry Pi to start the embedded system.

Acknowledgments

• Special thanks to the creators of the FreeSound API for providing access to a wide range of sounds.
• Thanks to the Raspberry Pi community for their resources and support in embedded system development.

Authors

• Yurco & Rondon