# Synth panel design **URL:** \ **Category:** DIY STUFF\ **Created:** [February 5, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747 "2025-02-05T20:10:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/1 "2025-02-05T20:10:19Z")
Just updated the design of my synth control panel, I was using a Teensy 4.1 with an extra 8MB of RAM to store framebuffers for the 240x320 displays, but to be honest it was not a good solution for stability and the displays kept crashing or displaying other pages. So I tore out (carefully as it was soldered in) the Teensy from the board and fitted 9\* Waveshare Zero stamp RP2040 boards under each of the displays and these are fed from MIDI to display parameters. I’ve yet to see how fast it all reacts to a program dump and upload into the displays, plus it’s bi-timbral so it needs to be able to switch from a lower to an upper display and back again. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/f/b/fbdefeb5d469027212e7e0a4ec2759ad2a8835c5.jpeg "Updated synth controller displays") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=429AGqn35UY) The precariously mounted Zero’s ![1000012904](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/2/b/2b2371189039d5909496db09ba776c4a76f27353.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/2 "2025-03-14T19:25:01Z")
So the 8 voice board has finally been inserted into the synth filters/adsr/VCA etc. It sort of works, one voice is dead, another has a missing saw. But at least it’s in tune. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/2/4/24db9f0651874f49e7e9cf4000ab7d4ff0ad9a41.jpeg "8 voice board test with filters") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHqXG4gab8Q) ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/3 "2025-03-17T15:20:18Z")
So I’m getting somewhere with my filter board and polysynth. I was almost at the stage of abandoning the filter board altogether but I realized my issues and fixed a few broken connections and a missing ground and it burst into life. This was just a quick unison test of the PWM, 4 voices go left and 4 right. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/1/c/1c5fda48f5798f5052cfde9920b3ed94f074939d.jpeg "Unison test of the 8 voice polysynth") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_0KOXDHSgY) ---
**Author:** ![Swirv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/swirv/32/26090_2.png) [@Swirv](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Swirv)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/4 "2025-03-17T17:39:34Z")
Sounds badasssss dood! ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/5 "2025-03-25T13:41:47Z")
Added more features to the display interface to start the transition to bi-timbral. [](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpiFmv-AOBo) ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/6 "2025-03-28T21:28:47Z")
Something I’ve been working on for a couple of days is updating the patch management of my new synth build to include performance management that calls up either a single patch or two patches in whole, dual or split mode. Of course this includes creation of new performances, saving, overwriting and renaming of them. It’s nearly finished, I just need to add deletion of a performance as well. It will hold upto 128 performances made up from any of the 999 patches, the performance stores the patch numbers, mode and split point and a split transpose so you can move the left hand octaves higher or lower. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/b/c/bc4384106a88eb46bad58a8b4121b784b7f586ba.jpeg "Bi-timbral synth patch management") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY3k5UHOiD0) ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 12:29pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/7 "2025-03-30T12:29:36Z")
Not bad for a first pass rough measuring, my eyes are getting bad now and I struggle with measuring distances. ![1000013792](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/f/a/fa0aff3c0f674862ed7fbfd203d51e15061ddbee.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Farabide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@Farabide](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Farabide)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/8 "2025-03-30T22:58:56Z")
Looks so good. I love those 2600 like LED faders! But, like so many things it’s all going to come down to knob size. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/9 "2025-04-02T12:22:11Z")
Don’t judge me too harshly, sound design is something that comes out of necessity rather than sitting down and just creating sounds, so I made 4 quick ones. If you want to follow the progress of the coding and schematics, they are being pubished here: [[GitHub - craigyjp/A\_Bit\_More: A new 8 voice polysynth design with digitally controlled AS3340 VCOs and autotune.](https://github.com/craigyjp/A_Bit_More)] [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/5/2/52b15dbcb053f0d4546f4911528422e4471d913a.jpeg "4 quick sound patches for my new synth") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFHbRR43hqY) ---
**Author:** ![Swirv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/swirv/32/26090_2.png) [@Swirv](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Swirv)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 2:01am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/10 "2025-04-03T02:01:52Z")
Panels look great man 👍🏻 ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/11 "2025-04-03T15:21:24Z")
Is it just me or does everyone hate cutting front panels out. Don’t worry it will go all the way across, this was just for the holes. ![1000013840](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/0/8/080ab9ef050039e01ea6e23f7ba0ede560d9c89e.jpeg) ![1000013841](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/5/f/5f690c7705344a0fd8f9a731965db6010f97bfb8.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![TBone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TBone](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/TBone)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/12 "2025-04-03T15:29:04Z")
You can rest assured that its not just you. One of my least favorite parts of the process. ---
**Author:** ![krztoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/krztoff/32/29609_2.png) [@krztoff](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/krztoff)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/13 "2025-04-04T17:02:32Z")
People with water-jets be all like \> ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/0/8/087c4f19be20ea45bc2f1045cc4add7fd38403b7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/14 "2025-04-05T14:52:41Z")
I was afraid it might not all fit in, but I only have to move the power supply to the left and I’m in business. ![1000013887](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/e/f/ef54f6bdc775987a83d395383ebd8b6b72d1d971.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DonErskine](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/donerskine/32/26142_2.png) [@DonErskine](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/DonErskine)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/15 "2025-04-05T23:28:28Z")
VERY impressive work. ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/16 "2025-04-06T18:36:40Z")
Sunday evening update before the drones arrive… [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/8/1/81f620adfed60a4080ce6837e11125951454b02b.jpeg "First testing in its new home.....") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynyGN-qA6fE) ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 11:48am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/17 "2025-04-08T11:48:17Z")
Managed to print a complete front panel today, 4 sections and a lot of Kraft knife work ![1000013927](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/f/7/f740695f7cd785f7677cccb1161d4fc341dd67cd.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Caustic](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/caustic/32/15588_2.png) [@Caustic](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Caustic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 6:45am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/18 "2025-04-09T06:45:21Z")
This is insane!!! ---
**Author:** ![DonErskine](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/donerskine/32/26142_2.png) [@DonErskine](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/DonErskine)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/19 "2025-04-15T19:12:50Z")
How are you producing that panel? What are you printing on/with? ---
**Author:** ![craigyb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/craigyb/32/21602_2.png) [@craigyb](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/craigyb)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747/20 "2025-04-15T19:26:04Z")
Hi Don, it’s just A3 glossy paper laminated with a heavy 175mg matte laminate, it creates a very strong piece of panel which I then cut out carefully with a craft knife, the edges have to be as accurate as possible as this is a 4 part join. It’s stuck down with pritt stick. Software Front Panel Designer (free) Printer Epson L8180 A3 photo printer A3 generic glossy paper A3 laminator on highest setting of heat. A3 matte 175mg laminate sheets kraft knife and lots of snap off blades. Pritt stick Just add that when printing a 19" rack front panel an A3 sheet leaves a gap of about 5mm each side when printing. When you chose borderless it’s dimensions can change dramatically, well on my Epson printer it does, so I print to A3+ glossy paper for a rack front and cut it down to size first and then laminate it with A3 laminate, it just about fits in the pocket to give you a rack mount front panel. [Next page](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/synth-panel-design/7747.md?page=2)