Uni project · Installation
Wav_Play.GB
Portable Step Sequencer
A Raspberry Pi beat machine built into an original Game Boy, with samples and WAV export.
Description
The Wav_Play.GB is a portable, Raspberry Pi-based step sequencer built in the form factor of an original Game Boy DMG.
It has a rechargeable battery lasting up to 5 hours.
It can create 12-bar loops with up to 6-voice polyphony.
Users can import their own samples as banks and export the finished song as a WAV file. All kinds of settings, such as BPM, step length and fade-in and fade-out times, can be adjusted.
The Wav_Play.GB allows for easy on-the-go beat making in any genre, with the possibility to continue working on songs on a computer later on.
Technical Implementation
Software:
The main program running the sequencer is written in Python. It includes the user interface, sound management and input management. Some adjustments to the Raspberry Pi operating system were needed to allow a seamless startup of the device.
Hardware:
At the heart of this project lies a Raspberry Pi Zero 2. It does all the computing and runs the Python program.
Four main systems are connected to the Raspberry Pi:
The input system handles the user's button presses and sends them to the Raspberry Pi.
The audio system receives a digital audio signal and converts it into an analogue signal, sending it through an amplifier to the speaker.
The display is controlled directly by the Raspberry Pi and shows the user interface.
The battery management system supplies power from the battery to the rest of the system and charges the battery.
Together, these systems create a standalone, portable device. Custom 3D-printed parts allow everything to fit into the housing of an original Game Boy.
- Date
- March 2022
- Built with
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2, Python, 3D printing