Home -> Basic aspects

This page desrcibes the basic aspects of the SubSyn2 project.

  • SubSyn2 is based on SubSyn modular synthesizer.

  • I want to build a modular synthesizer but I don't want to have to make my own boards: neither to design a PCB, nor to use general purpose PCBs. So, the SubSyn2 design uses off-the-shelf boards, and my soldering iron is used only for some connections between the boards and the control parts (potentiometers, switches, and stuff like this).

  • Each module is based on a 32-bit MCU. At this time a cheap solution is the SAMD21 boards that are refered to as "Arduino zero" compatible.

    Here is the photo of the module:

    These modules are sometimes called RobotDyn "SAMD21 M0-mini". The module I got is not from RobotDyn (I got a clone of a clone!!!!)

    I soldered the pins. Here are the photos:

    I downloaded the Arduino IDE (now at version 1.8.11 for Windows). I followed the instructions spread around the internet and installed the support tools for SAMD board (Tools -> Board -> Boards Manager... -> Arduino SAMD Boards, Supports Arduino Zero among others, version 1.8.4)

    Following again instructions found in the internet, I added line
    #define LED_BUILTIN 25
    at the "blink" example.
    I connected the SAMD21 module, and loaded tools --> Board: Arduino Zero (Native USB Port)
    I compiled, loaded, and the blue LED marked as RX started blinking!

    The best way to find information for these boards is to search for "RobotDyn SAMD21 MO-mini". However, the RobotDyn site is not trustable: the schematic given for the board has a difierent pinout naming than the pin naming shown in the photo!