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Greybox: a chiptune synthesizer

The Greybox is a synthesizer module built around the RP2A03's sound generators, as made unforgettable by the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom.

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Greybox: a chiptune synthesizer

Greybox: a chiptune synthesizer

Greybox: a chiptune synthesizer

Greybox: a chiptune synthesizer

Greybox: a chiptune synthesizer

The Greybox is a synthesizer module built around the RP2A03's sound generators, as made unforgettable by the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom.

The Greybox is a synthesizer module built around the RP2A03's sound generators, as made unforgettable by the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom.

The Greybox is a synthesizer module built around the RP2A03's sound generators, as made unforgettable by the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom.

The Greybox is a synthesizer module built around the RP2A03's sound generators, as made unforgettable by the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom.

Chris Bethea
Chris Bethea
Chris Bethea
Chris Bethea
2 Campaigns |
Yokohama, Japan
$345 USD 3 backers
1% of $20,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects

More information, at intervals, will be added to this description. Additionally, our blog is located at http://i.am.curiousviolet.jp/

 

IMPORTANT UPDATE

about order fulfillment

Here's the deal: The Greybox is going to get built. I'm building it right now. If this project does not meet its funding goals, everyone who orders a Greybox will still receive one. The only difference is that the shipping time will be longer due to us having to do more of the assembly work in-house. 

TL;DR: If you order a Greybox, you will get a Greybox. Guaranteed.

 

About the Greybox

A long time ago, when I was still in college, I designed and built this synthesizer: essentially, I gutted my old Nintendo Entertainment System, fitted the processor's sound hardware to MIDI via a microcontroller, and made of this a playable, usable, surprisingly versatile little chiptune synthesizer. I had plans to start a company around this project, but I ended up getting a job in Japan instead. The synthesizer itself was damaged in the move, and it languished in the closet for seven years.

Recently, I started my own company (Curious Violet) to make electronic musical instruments and effects. A friend pointed out that since I was so proud of having built the Greybox all those years ago, I should dig the project out, start manufacturing them, and give other chiptune lovers a chance to have a Greybox.

So what, exactly, can a Greybox do? Well, here are the...

Specifications

DIMENSIONS: 88mm (height), 482.6mm (width), 200mm (depth)

INPUTS: MIDI IN, Control Voltage, Gate, Power (+9VDC, 800mA)

OUTPUTS: Audio (mono, 1/4" phone jack), MIDI OUT, MIDI THRU

PATCH STORAGE: 128 patches for squarewave, 64 patches for triangle and noise.

SAMPLE STORAGE: 32kB of delta-modulation samples

STORAGE MEDIA: Internal memory, SD card

FIRMWARE: Can be updated by SD card or via MIDI SYSEX.

DISPLAY: 128x64 pixel, monochrome graphic LCD with backlight

SOFTWARE: Includes a program to create and index patches, to convert samples into delta-modulation format, and to manage sample libraries/key mappings.

 The Greybox is a rack-mount module and will fit into any standard 19" rack with 2U of space available.

The playable sound channels are: two squarewaves, one triangle wave, one noise waveform, and one delta-modulation "sample" channel. Each of these can be controlled by a separate MIDI channel, or the keyboard can be "split" into ranges for each channel.

The parameters that can be adjusted are:

SQUARE: Selectable duty cycle (25/50/75%), ADSTR envelope, portamento (on/off and speed), vibrato (on/off, speed and depth), frequency sweep (on/off, speed), envelope looping (on/off) and arpeggiator (on/off, speed).

TRIANGLE: Note length (T parameter of ADSTR envelope), portamento, vibrato and frequency sweep.

NOISE: Noise type (short/long sequence), ADSTR envelope

SAMPLE: Playback rate

In addition, the two squarewave channels can be combined for additional effects: chorus (on/off, semitone offset, amplitude) and phaser (on/off, phase separation).

A "POLY" switch on the front panel activates a limited 2-voice polyphony mode that allows both squarewave channels to be controlled by the same MIDI channel. In this mode, all "effect" settings are copied from Square 1 to Square 2, for consistency in sound.

Finally, although it is not strictly "synthesis" related, an audio player application allows playback of NSF files stored on the SD card.

What We're Doing

In addition to getting the Greybox out there and in the hands of enthusiasts, we are correcting a number of bugs and flaws in the original Greybox's implementation. We are also adding several features that testers had remarked upon. We have figured $20,000 and three months to polish the hard/firmware and get the first production run (150 units) manufactured. 

FIXING AND POLISHING

By "polish" we mean things like:

The back side of the control board on the original Greybox.

All those 74-series logic chips will be rolled into a single CPLD. And naturally, by the time  we go to production, there won't be any need for jumper wires to correct circuit flaws.

We also mean things like:

Power supply module of the original Greybox

The original Greybox was terrible about managing its own power. The 5V linear regulator was the only power source in the system, and what with the synth itself wasting power left and right, it would heat up terribly, threatening to go into auto-shutdown. The new Greybox has a sane power scheme.

EXPANDING

The original Greybox was a usable little synthesizer, but it lacked some things that would have made it a great piece of gear. All those things will be added into the new Greybox. Just to name a few:

A more flexible arpeggiator: using the KORG Polysix arpeggiator as a reference.

A better user interface: using a 128x64 graphical LCD screen instead of the 16x2 character screen on the original Greybox.

CV/Gate inputs: in addition to MIDI, the Greybox can now be controlled with CV/Gate signals.

Capability to play music files: the new Greybox has an SD card slot for bulk data save/restore, and any NSF files on the same SD card can be played.

MANUFACTURING

All the funds we raise go into the Greyboxes: printed circuit boards, parts, board assembly, custom enclosure drilling and etching, and the final assembly and test before shipping. As we were doing the math on manufacturing, the 150-unit point was where costs started to stabilize and economies of scale started to kick in. 

If we fail to reach our funding goal, we will still fill orders, but may end up taking longer as we have to stretch less money further. 

As the Greybox is essentially "rising from its ashes" of the synthesizer built seven years ago, we thought it was appropriate to break up the original synth and make pieces of it a "perk." We particularly like connecting the present with the past like this, and think it's a really fun perk.

Why Bother?

Because even with chiptunes becoming popular and even relatively mainstream, there is still no hardware equivalent of the SIDstation for the Famicom's sound. The console that single-handedly turned around the fate of video games in America is left in the lurch while other, less notable consoles go on to have their sound chips turned into proper instruments. To the best of my knowledge there is not a hardware solution available yet that will allow you to plug in a MIDI keyboard and just play. That is what the Greybox is about.

Other Ways To Help

If you love the idea of the Greybox but just aren't in a position to contribute, you can help us out mostly by spreading the word. Link your friends to this page, post about it on forums; just about any kind of exposure will help us get noticed and funded!

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Choose your Perk

Gratitude; recognition

$1 USD
Thank you so much for supporting the Greybox! As a token of our appreciation we will place your name on our website on a list of valued sponsors.
Estimated Shipping
July 2013
0 claimed

Schematics and source code

$10 USD
In addition to the "Gratitude; recognition" perk above, you will receive the schematics to the Greybox (as a PDF file) and its source code (as C, assembly and Verilog files).
Estimated Shipping
August 2013
1 claimed

Clear-file with schematics

$25 USD
If you're the sort who prefers to do her reading on paper, this perk is for you: high quality prints of the Greybox schematics in a Curious Violet clear-file (A4 size). Source code files will still be delivered electronically.
Estimated Shipping
September 2013
0 claimed

Commemorative T-shirt

$35 USD
Along with the other perks above, we will send you a T-shirt commemorating the Greybox project, made of durable high-quality 100% cotton and available in sizes S, M, L, XL and 3XL. (Please specify your size when contributing).
Estimated Shipping
August 2013
1 claimed

A piece of the original

$100 USD
Since the original Greybox has been neglected for so long, it seems poetically appropriate to finally break it up and give it to the people who are supporting its rebirth. You will receive a part of the very first Greybox, along with a typed description of what it is and what it did. You will also receive all the previous perks.
Estimated Shipping
August 2013
0 out of 150 of claimed

The Greybox (Early Bird)

$300 USD
For 25 early adopters, we are taking $100 USD off the purchase price! These will be the first production units made, numbered 1-25. The unit numbers are first come, first serve, so if you want unit #1 (or #3, or #17), you'll want to hurry!
Estimated Shipping
November 2013
1 out of 25 of claimed

The Greybox, $50 off!

$350 USD
After the Indiegogo campaign ends, the Greybox will sell for $400 USD. However, as an early adopter, you can get your very own Greybox for just $350 USD. This offer is limited to the first production run (150 units), so if you want one, time is of the essence.
Estimated Shipping
November 2013
0 out of 100 of claimed

Greybox (Limited edition)

$500 USD
This is a limited-edition version of the Greybox, done in "Curious Violet" style: the front panel is made of anodized aluminum, the lettering CNC-milled and filled with violet epoxy. The Curious Violet logo is laser-etched onto the front panel. All the LEDs on the control panel are changed from red to violet, and the LCD screen has a violet backlight. Only 10 of these will be produced, making it an extremely limited edition -- if you want one, you'll have to hurry!
Estimated Shipping
November 2013
0 out of 10 of claimed

Customized Greybox

$1,000 USD
This Greybox allows you to totally customize the look of the synthesizer. The front panel will be laser-etched with your design. Lettering will be filled with your choice of epoxy colors. The LEDs on the front panel will be the color of your choice (available options are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, violet, and white), and the backlight on the LCD screen changed to match! Perfect for anyone who wants a "limited edition" of one (or as a gift to that someone).
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
0 out of 15 of claimed

Beta-test the Greybox!

$1,500 USD
If you absolutely have to get your hands on a Greybox, this will give you access two months sooner than anybody else (except your co-beta testers). These will be pre-production Greyboxes and can be exchanged for production units at the end of testing (or kept). Additionally, a patch you create (of your choice) will be retained in the factory-default preset patches and named whatever you like (within reason).
Estimated Shipping
September 2013
0 out of 10 of claimed

The Royal Treatment

$10,000 USD
For a $10,000 contribution we will fly you out to Japan, show you around the Curious Violet facilities, give you a personal demo of the Greybox (which, of course, is yours to keep), and afterwards we will treat you to dinner (at the restaurant of your choice, or we can recommend) and drinks (soft if you prefer). Naturally we will arrange the hotel for the night, and you can wake up from your whirlwind tour with curiosity hopefully sated.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
0 out of 2 of claimed

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