A little off topic but, oddly enough the Z80 processor at the core of the dmg has been used in many instruments including famous ones. here is the list of DMG cousins in music:
MIDI sequencers such as E-mu 4060 Polyphonic Keyboard and Sequencer, Zyklus MPS, and Roland MSQ700 were built around the Z80,[citation needed]
MIDI controllers and switches such as Waldorf Midi-Bay MB-15 and others.[citation needed]
Several polyphonic analog synthesizers used it for keyboard-scanning (also wheels, knobs, displays...) and D/A or PWM control of analog levels; in newer designs, sometimes sequencing and/or MIDI-communication. The Z80 was also often involved in the sound generation itself; implementing LFOs, envelope generators and so on. Known examples include:
Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Prophet 10,[65] Prophet 600, Six-Trak, Multitrak, MAX, and Split-8
MemoryMoog six-voice synthesizer[66]
Oberheim OB-8 eight-voice synthesizer with MIDI
Roland Jupiter-8 eight-voice synthesizer
Digital sampling synthesizers such as the Emulator I, Emulator II, and Akai S700 12-bit Sampler,
as well as drum machines like the E-mu SP-12, E-mu SP-1200, E-mu Drumulator, and the Sequential Circuits Drumtraks, used Z80 processors.
Many Lexicon reverberators (PCM70, LXP15, LXP1, MPX100) used one or more Z80s for user interface and LFO generation where dedicated hardware provided DSP functions.
The ADA MP-1. A MIDI controlled, vacuum tube, guitar pre-amplifier.

Wonder if anybody has scoured the code of any of these devices for anything that could be applied towards synth building?

herr_prof wrote:

http://www.nullsleep.com/treasure/zynth80/

SICK!

http://www.nullsleep.com/treasure/zynth80/

zerolanding wrote:

A little off topic but, oddly enough the Z80 processor at the core of the dmg has been used in many instruments including famous ones. here is the list of DMG cousins in music:
MIDI sequencers such as E-mu 4060 Polyphonic Keyboard and Sequencer, Zyklus MPS, and Roland MSQ700 were built around the Z80,[citation needed]
MIDI controllers and switches such as Waldorf Midi-Bay MB-15 and others.[citation needed]
Several polyphonic analog synthesizers used it for keyboard-scanning (also wheels, knobs, displays...) and D/A or PWM control of analog levels; in newer designs, sometimes sequencing and/or MIDI-communication. The Z80 was also often involved in the sound generation itself; implementing LFOs, envelope generators and so on. Known examples include:
Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Prophet 10,[65] Prophet 600, Six-Trak, Multitrak, MAX, and Split-8
MemoryMoog six-voice synthesizer[66]
Oberheim OB-8 eight-voice synthesizer with MIDI
Roland Jupiter-8 eight-voice synthesizer
Digital sampling synthesizers such as the Emulator I, Emulator II, and Akai S700 12-bit Sampler,
as well as drum machines like the E-mu SP-12, E-mu SP-1200, E-mu Drumulator, and the Sequential Circuits Drumtraks, used Z80 processors.
Many Lexicon reverberators (PCM70, LXP15, LXP1, MPX100) used one or more Z80s for user interface and LFO generation where dedicated hardware provided DSP functions.
The ADA MP-1. A MIDI controlled, vacuum tube, guitar pre-amplifier.

Wonder if anybody has scoured the code of any of these devices for anything that could be applied towards synth building?

very neat

A little off topic but, oddly enough the Z80 processor at the core of the dmg has been used in many instruments including famous ones. here is the list of DMG cousins in music:
MIDI sequencers such as E-mu 4060 Polyphonic Keyboard and Sequencer, Zyklus MPS, and Roland MSQ700 were built around the Z80,[citation needed]
MIDI controllers and switches such as Waldorf Midi-Bay MB-15 and others.[citation needed]
Several polyphonic analog synthesizers used it for keyboard-scanning (also wheels, knobs, displays...) and D/A or PWM control of analog levels; in newer designs, sometimes sequencing and/or MIDI-communication. The Z80 was also often involved in the sound generation itself; implementing LFOs, envelope generators and so on. Known examples include:
Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Prophet 10,[65] Prophet 600, Six-Trak, Multitrak, MAX, and Split-8
MemoryMoog six-voice synthesizer[66]
Oberheim OB-8 eight-voice synthesizer with MIDI
Roland Jupiter-8 eight-voice synthesizer
Digital sampling synthesizers such as the Emulator I, Emulator II, and Akai S700 12-bit Sampler,
as well as drum machines like the E-mu SP-12, E-mu SP-1200, E-mu Drumulator, and the Sequential Circuits Drumtraks, used Z80 processors.
Many Lexicon reverberators (PCM70, LXP15, LXP1, MPX100) used one or more Z80s for user interface and LFO generation where dedicated hardware provided DSP functions.
The ADA MP-1. A MIDI controlled, vacuum tube, guitar pre-amplifier.

Wonder if anybody has scoured the code of any of these devices for anything that could be applied towards synth building?

Glitch Militia wrote:

Could't you just use a midi controller with whatever potentiometers that you fancy?

Sure. What I suggested could be compact form solution which (I guess) is what OP was looking for.

I was actually thinking about doing something similar - replacing gameboys top side with panel with pots and stylophone-like keyboard. And get rid of the front pcb of course. I've got a render of the device somewhere - will post if I find it.

Could't you just use a midi controller with whatever potentiometers that you fancy?

DogTag wrote:

Is it possible to do what I'm saying with just an Arduinoboy?

You'd have to hack the code to read potentiometers / switches instead of incoming midi data. Or add another arduino reading the sensors and transimiting midi to arduinoboy. Basically making a midi controller.

Nitro2k01 made a GB synth rom with MIDI filter control: http://chipmusic.org/forums/post/159293/#p159293

Haven't tried it myself, but maybe that's of some use?