[HowTo] Turn a Raspberry Pi into a DIY Virtual Instrument with SamplerBox | Phazerville

[@Phazerville]

0:00 - Intro 01:23 - What is the Pi? 02:49 - Setting up SamplerBox 05:09 - Loading & configuring samples 09:20 - Demo Performance

[@likedatitbe]

Went down the KZbin rabbit home looking for how to make an arduino / raspberry pi looper / sampler / mpc / midi controller, and found you. You want above and beyond. I appreciate you.

[@hesner63]

This project is amazing. I got a new way for play audios in live performance with my rock band. I used a KORG nanopad2 and a Raspberry PI 2. Thank you for this great video!

[@jayc9184]

Yeah great way to put that Pi to work.

[@LunarWolf]

Thank you so much for this video :) Been thinking of building my own bunch of synths and this seems like the best way to go.

[@Phazerville]

This video is probably outdated by now, but at least it shows you what is possible with minimal effort. Glad people are still finding it helpful!

[@mcniac]

thank you! I just found your video and led me in the direction I was looking for. samplebox is just what I was looking for.

[@MacBeatsByGoldClaggettt-wf6vu]

Thanks for the video upload looks very interesting! I’m going to give it a shot and soon as I get the piece of mind I need thanks again sir🙏🏽💯🔥🔥

[@nacs]

Nice quick overview thanks!

[@benjaminsanchez3385]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND KNOWLEDGE. I LIKE YOUR MUSICAL TALENT AS WELL KEEP ON PUSHING FORWARD - BEN-

[@nigelstudio6123]

I just moved my attention to Sirius B 😊😊 listening to your live show!!

[@Phazerville]

Sirius B?

[@zefMusic]

Love ur jam .. specially @12:11 vocals kick in!

[@Xianpaul0523]

Can I just download the os then install it on steam deck perhaps?

[@Phazerville]

does steam deck run raspbian?

[@liberatumplox625]

I wonder if I can make this work via hid instead. I'd love to be able to plug in a numeric keypad and just roll with that.

[@Awyang]

Good one, gotta love hardware!

[@Phazerville]

It's such a versatile little computer!

[@marknhopgood]

Cool potential. However the audio output is not connected to the pi audio hat - how do you get audio out?

[@Phazerville]

in some parts of the video, I had USB connected to my Focusrite instead

[@ZeginMakesMusic]

​@@PhazervilleIs the pie hat worth it? I already have a class d audio amp wired directly into a two by twelve cab. I just need to figure out how to get my guitar in, Without using an audio interface.

[@ZeginMakesMusic]

100th!!!!!🎉🎉🎉

[@yasssminaw894]

hey what is the limit on how many sounds you can have in the machine. i want to sample all my vsts an dput them into a rompler , problem is im blind so i can t do something like this right now. maybe one day i can buy these romplers off you. . let me know whats up. dool vid!

[@WolfKingAka]

Just making sure I have this right, this should work right? Midi controller Keyboard > Configured Rasberry Pi > Amp

[@Phazerville]

Yep, that's the basic idea!

[@AdamsBrew78]

Have you tried “modep,” The Mod Duo emulator for pi? Wondering how the effects stack up against something like NI Guitar Rig or Reaktor. Been considering putting a Pi3 to use in my studio but not sure it’d really make sense unless it can add something unique to my setup..got so many hardware synths and samplers (Deluge, MPC, etc) already...just waiting for that “killer app” before I commit.

[@Phazerville]

Ooh, I have not! Thanks for bringing this to my attention. It looks promising! I know that SamplerBox can use a few effects plugins (reverb/delay, flanger, phaser, etc) under the hood, and they sound decent.

[@BriceVincent]

Hi ! Good video ! Thanks ! Can you help me ? I have the same setup : Raspberry Pi 3 B + HifiBerry DAC+ Standard + samplerbox. But how to connect the HifiBerry to the Raspberry ? (sorry for my bad english, i'm french)

[@wunderwuzziroboter7551]

Instant subscribe Dude! Good success, 167 subscribers, everyone have to start somewhere, Dude. Dude, greets from Vienna, Austria

[@buttonsplaymusic4896]

Are you using the HiFi DAC here? It looks like nothing's plugging into it? I'm wondering if you can run it by just plugging it in. I read somewhere you usually add a few lines of code to Raspbian OS or whatever you're using as an OS, so it can use the DAC?

[@Phazerville]

I wasn't using it in the video - my Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 was plugged via USB - but I do use the Hifiberry. And yes you just have to add (or uncomment) a configuration line to enable it.

[@PhilGillis]

you mention if works on Pi 4 . .I have seen problems with Pi 4 but maybe older information . . I have a 3b+ and a 4 and I am unsure which to use to try . . thank you for the video

[@Phazerville]

I don't have a Pi 4 (yet) so idk what, if any problems still exist... I know that Hans' modified version was known to not work on the 4.

[@PhilGillis]

@@Phazerville thank you . . I really just want to trigger one shots . .think a 3b+ would be cool?

[@Phazerville]

@@PhilGillis absolutely!

[@PhilGillis]

@@Phazerville thanks again for the video . hope to see more!

[@KiR_3d]

Hi! Did you've tried some Open Data based projects on Pi? How much RAM do you need for a good work with SamplerBox? BTW... Reaper can be working on any Linux machine (incl. Raspberry Pi). Did you've tried? My main needs are to have a good looper and basic FXs (like delay-echo, reverb, distortion-overdrive, flanger-chorus) inside one micro-PC (like Raspberry). This quest was started as I've realized that I don't want Korg NTS-1. Although it can give great reverbs, delays, synths and etc. But it lacks a lot. Including some bad things like noise in audio. As a performing artist you understand me here, I'm sure. Also I don't have plans to populate my flat with different fancy pedals like BigSky. These are overpriced :) And often gives you just a small part of what they could do per CPU power. Will be glad if you'll direct me about all these moments. P.S. I'm considering to buy Orange Pi but I've heard that there can be GPIO differences. I'm running the Neoris band project. If you're interested, I'll give you links to my bandcamp and etc.

[@JCruz405]

Does this work with the Raspberry Pi 4?Looking at the Pi4 8gb RAM... not sure if 8gb is overkill for Samplerbox.

[@Phazerville]

I think the main SamplerBox build works on Pi 4, but not Hans' extended version. I'm thinking about getting a Pi 4 soon myself.

[@ibendiben]

@@Phazerville Any update on this? Saw there's a samplerbox 2 developed now.

[@djortiz616]

hell yeah

[@Phazerville]

Pretty neat, huh?

[@djortiz616]

Yeah never considered raspberry pi for music stuffs. Neato!

[@jmd76family]

How does it work with drum samples and velocities?

[@Phazerville]

I primarily use it as a simple drum sampler - one sample per note, velocity = volume level of the played hit (default). It is also possible to specify different samples for different velocity thresholds, as seen in the Grand Piano sample set available on the website.

[@jmd76family]

@@Phazerville awesome! Thanks for the advice.

[@tomasstrevens9448]

Does anyone know if there is an up and down octave button with this? or will I have to custom create code?

[@alfonso_ima]

Hey, pop question, do you find any kind of delay between you pressing the keys and the actual sound? Is that configurable?

[@Phazerville]

Good question! In my experience with the Raspberry Pi 3 + HiFiBerry, there is VERY low latency between keypress and sound - low enough that I don't even notice. It just depends on your sound interface, and you can probably adjust the buffer size in the config files.

[@drwombat]

Windows 10 (IoT) is only available for rPi2 and rPi3, it is not available for the latest rPi4. Also it does not include support for x86 emulation so basically no software that runs on windows will work withe the rPi windows installation. Basically it can only run software from the "windows store" so its mostly useless unless you write the software you need yourself. which isnt feasible for most musicians

[@Phazerville]

Lol yeahhhh, so... Windows on Pi is basically a joke 😜

[@therealjackfisher]

Amazing little thing. So it already have 2 working DAWs, its a synth, smapler, what else can it do. This is pretty amazing. I hear allot that it is heating pretty much bit I dont hear anyone complaining that it has burned or anything. Whats the average power use of this thing?

[@Phazerville]

It's a computer! It'll do whatever you configure it to do... It's powered by a standard micro-usb power supply - 5V, 2.5A. I haven't tried overclocking it too much, so heat is not an issue.

[@validcore]

Cases are cheap & they include fans yo keep it cool that are powered off the Pi.

[@dachimp4879]

Hey I downloaded the software and flashed it on a sd card and managed to get a square wave sound when I play a note. However, I’ve got a usb that has other presets with a whole different instrument as the default and it won’t play it. Is there a step in missing or should I get the extended program in order to have it working?

[@Phazerville]

You might have to either boot up the Pi with the USB plugged in, or send a MIDI Program Change to make it reload the sample set... Make sure the folder on the USB is named something like "0 mysounds"

[@ntamboia]

I have a question, I don't see any cable that connects the rpi to the kross pad, how the sound comes out??

[@Phazerville]

Watch the "Setting up" section carefully - red USB cable is a Focusrite Scarlett interface connected to RPi. Then audio out of the Scarlett into Kaoss Pad, and out of Kaoss Pad to my speakers + secondary interface for recording the video.

[@jonathancohen3035]

hi again, got all my stuff, wuestion! when you say "once you've got the software flashed onto an sd card" what do you mean exactly? I downloaded the samplerbox software, inserted my formatted for raspbian sd card into the computer, but when I try to drag the samplerbox software into the sd card, it says not enough space (its 32GB and thesoftward is 1.7 Gb) any ideas if IM missing a step here? thanks!

[@Phazerville]

You either need to reformat/repartition the card entirely before copying files, or use a tool like balenaEtcher to "flash" the software image onto the card (as is the case with Hans' fork)

[@jonathancohen3035]

@@Phazerville thanks so much!

[@jonathancohen3035]

@@Phazerville hi again, ive got samplessets on my flash drive but whne i insert it, i only get the basic sound, nothing changes, no new sounds. Any idea why? I reformated my usb stick (Im on a mac) does this thinng not like macs? its wav and 16 bit, and the pi sees it on the screen but no sounds. i do program change on the midi keyboard, but sill no sound. Any ideas?

[@orbiquity]

I may have missed it - how do you switch between sounds without a display or buttons?

[@Phazerville]

By sending MIDI Program Change signals with my controller

[@orbiquity]

Oh, I see. In my case, I don't have any extra buttons beyond the keyboard keys. Can I map a key to it? I'll rtfm shortly. :D

[@adotacevedo6662]

Hey so when I enter root as login it promts me to enter password but doesn't let me type anything until press enter then it says incorrect login = T SOS

[@Phazerville]

Standard Linux stuff - you cannot see your password as you type it. Default login on Hans version is root/root

[@5amJones69]

what's the latency like?

[@Phazerville]

It probably depends on the specific hardware, and buffer settings in the config files... IME, it was not too bad, probably

[@boimesa8190]

Could u pleaseeee do a tutorial on samplerbox and how u made it headless?? And what about sustaining notes.. because if it's samples it won't be able to do long notes unless samplerbox can read loop points..?

[@Phazerville]

It does read loop points in the WAV files. And it works headless by default... It's just designed to have some kind of LED display or something.

[@boimesa8190]

@@Phazerville how do u mean by default..??

[@Phazerville]

@@boimesa8190 If you were to install, plug in and power on, it will work immediately without a screen - press a MIDI key and it will play a sound.

[@boimesa8190]

Phazerville by how to switch between presets? And will it work on Rpi 2?

[@Phazerville]

@@boimesa8190 Preset switching is triggered by MIDI ProgChange (PC) signals via my controller. It should work on Rpi2.

[@validcore]

How many voices can overlap?

[@Phazerville]

I don't think there's a hard limit on the polyphony... As many as your hardware (and fingers) can handle!

[@Phazerville]

Looking into the config files now, the default MAX_POLYPHONY is set to 80

[@jonathancohen3035]

does this work for mac too?

[@Phazerville]

The RPi itself runs Linux, but yes, you should be able to find a Mac utility for writing the software to the SD card.

[@jonathancohen3035]

@@Phazerville what is the glass case you are using?

[@Phazerville]

GeauxRobot Dog Bone stackable case - www.amazon.com/dp/B00NU70MZS/ ...but I have since switched to a HiFiBerry case.

[@marcconangla4357]

you are actually not using the hifiberry outputs, right? if that's makes any sense...

[@Phazerville]

Lol correct, I did not use them in this video... but I have modified my setup since then, so I'm using them now. It works just the same. Maybe if I ever find time to make a follow-up vid...

[@marcconangla4357]

@@Phazerville Alright, glad you did so! doesn't make any sense to have the board if the outputs are not being used :S Cheers!

[@vrconcerts667]

Easy, detailed, up-to-date, build instructions: forums.pimoroni.com/t/pirate-audio-hat-midi-samplerbox/17809

[@fibranijevidra]

Your TV commercial short cuts style edditing is so distractive.

[@Phazerville]

Lol it is? Can you give a specific timestamp example? I don't have a whole lot of video editing experience... I'm basically imitating what I've seen.

[@fibranijevidra]

@@Phazerville Well, just make it sound natural. Have some minimal pause between cuts. In commercials, they cut away everything but voice so they can have maximum of information in shortest possibe time because air time is very, very expensive. They often speed up naration for the same reason. You probably heard that as a disclaimer at the end of add... to advise yourself with medical doctor or pharmaceut. You don't pay per seccons somake it as you would speak because we all hate commercials! ;)

[@Phazerville]

@@fibranijevidra ahhhh ok, I get it. I'm guilty of condensing the dialogue, because I'm appealing to my own ADHD! 😂

[@fibranijevidra]

@@Phazerville No worries. I have ADHD too.

[@makeshiftsavant]

@@Phazerville Your constant jumpcuts make this whole video way slower. What could be said could have taken half the time.

[@AndrewAHayes]

The Rpi foundation spouted some BS about the RPi being credit-card sized and the whole world bought that BS, it's much bigger than a credit card.

[@sergemo4607]

How do you even focus on what you are doing? There is just too much noise where you are. What you are presenting is good stuff but It is difficult to follow, too much background noise.

[@Phazerville]

I just realized what you're talking about - one of the background tracks I used is made up of random sounds/noises from a cafe. Probably not the best choice in retrospect! 😅

[@jeffpricefamily3905]

Not a " Virtual Instrument " DIY video. " Virtual " as in virtual reality means " as if " reality, artifical, you used a real keyboard.

[@Phazerville]

I kinda see what you're saying... The device & keyboard controller are "real"/physical - the box is an instrument by its own right - but the sounds are a virtualization of a piano, for example, or an organ, a violin, etc. It's a way to electronically play the sound of an instrument, without the real thing. I use the term "Virtual Instrument" in lieu of a software plugin that emulates a physical instrument.

[@paulochain4242]

Couldn't finish watching the video. you cut it every 2 seconds is very annoying despite of this very interesting information.