Coming soon: All genres

Notes: Introducing Boom Chick, a revolutionary analog drum machine built on the warmth and character of Pittsburgh Modular's newly designed analog drum circuits. These powerful, expressive percussion voices are paired with an advanced sequencer designed for intuitive creativity and deep rhythmic exploration. Inspired by the hands-on performability of iconic analog drum machines, Boom Chick redefines analog percussion with exceptional flexibility and sonic precision, tailored for modern musicians and producers.

Compact yet incredibly powerful, the Boom Chick ensures frustration-free jamming and tweaking through its intuitive knob-per-function layout and straightforward interface conventions. It's hands-on, immediate, and built for musicians who want a drum machine that feels alive. Turn up the dirt, push the limits, and make some serious noise.

Created by the Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers team, Boom Chick features five meticulously crafted drum voices, each designed for maximum flexibility and expressiveness. The sounds are raw, dynamic, and laser sharp, built to drive and slice through any mix. The electricity creating the analog sounds is directly shaped using the knob-per-function interface. No menus, no hassle, just pure, tactile beat-making analog magic at your fingertips. By focusing on creative, new analog designs, Pittsburgh Modular ensured that Boom Chick doesn't just mimic the past, but kick starts a new future of analog beats.

Every voice has been meticulously engineered for maximum sonic impact, making Boom Chick a true drum synthesizer, not just a drum machine. Starting with a massive bottom end, the Kick drum sculpts a specialized sine-wave oscillator using gritty overdrive, pitch manipulation, and a precise, percussive envelope allowing you to dial in everything from low and long or clean and punchy rhythms to aggressive, overdriven beats. The Snare drum showcases the power of modern analog with powerful snare hits that can mimic a physical snare drum or venture into creative new territories. Drum channels 1 and 2 offer even deeper sound-design possibilities. By utilizing two oscillators, wave shaping, frequency modulation, and noise you can generate everything from subtle nuanced percussion to wild, expressive sonic textures. Toms, claps, snares, kicks, cymbals, rim shots, cowbells, congas, claves, space sounds, and outer space sounds can all be dialed in and reimagined. Hats utilize a custom oscillator noise matrix to create crisp, bright metallic tones ideal for intricate rhythmic patterns.

Boom Chick's sequencer is designed to offer profound depth while maintaining intuitive simplicity. It features two powerful modes: Step Mode, for meticulous programming of each drum step, and Live Mode, allowing real-time rhythm creation and expressive performance. Tools such as Step Shift enable quick and precise timing adjustments for intricate rhythmic patterns, while Step Roll and Chance introduce engaging complexity and variation. Timing functions like Humanize, Swing, and Quantize provide refined control over groove and rhythm, allowing for perfectly locked or naturally loose-feeling sequences. Swing adds groove by shifting even steps slightly behind the beat, while Humanize introduces subtle timing variations to simulate natural playing styles. With up to 64-step sequences and polyrhythm capabilities, Boom Chick encourages experimentation by removing the boundaries to live performance and making beats.

At the heart of Boom Chick is a 6-track sequencer that gives you deep rhythmic control while staying easy to use. With design inspiration taken from Pittsburgh's Voltage Research Lab 2, Boom Chick's sequencer will take you from quick jams to mind-bending polyrhythms. This sequencer is not only designed to keep up with you, but also propel you to new territory.

Boom Chick is modular-friendly, MIDI-capable, and performance-ready. This makes it a perfect addition to any studio or live rig. Individual trigger inputs and individual drum outs allow each drum to be sent to a mixer or DAW separately for external processing or recording. MIDI in and out to send and receive clock, trigger drums, or sequence external percussion. Analog clock in and out allows Boom Chick to easily integrate with Eurorack setups and other gear. Separate Line and Headphone outputs make personal jams, recording, or live performances easy.

Notes: Wee Noise Makers PGB-1 is an advanced yet portable synthesizer and sequencer that allows you to craft complex musical pieces anywhere. This all-in-one, open-source, customizable device is designed to empower aspiring musicians, seasoned creators, and makers. It isn't just an instrument-it's your gateway to the world of music production and audio synths.

PGB-1 has open-source stock firmware that makes it a playful and powerful groove box. It allows you to craft complex musical pieces with drums, bass, lead, samples, reverb, bitcrusher, overdrive, and others.

Orchestrated by an advanced sequencer with conditional steps, repeats/ratcheting, pattern chaining, chord sequencing, song mode, live sequencing effects, and more.

PGB-1 is Wee Noise Makers' response to the current landscape of entry-level hardware synthesizers and groove boxes. In recent years, we saw a plethora of new electronic instruments marketed as accessible, affordable, and designed for beginners. Yet, often these instruments can feel limited, tying users to a specific sound or ecosystem. These limits sometimes feel artificial, pushing you to combine multiple products of the same line to actually make meaningful music. At the same time leading to frustrating sequencing, connection, and mixing issues that defeat the portability and playfulness of the instruments.

With the PGB-1, Wee Noise Makers wanted to address all these shortcomings, bringing you an instrument that is:

All-in-one: you only need one device to craft complete music pieces
Powerful: Drums, bass, lead, samples, etc. with advanced sequencing features
Truly pocket-size: 10 x 6.6 x 1.5 cm, smaller footprint than a smartphone
Hackable: Designed for customization, open-source firmware, and compatible with several programming languages (including Python)
Creativity should not be limited by the tools you have, but empowered by them. With the PGB-1, Wee Noise Makers are dedicated to creating a platform that encourages innovation and experimentation. Whether you are a musician looking to explore new sounds, a developer eager to create unique software, or a hobbyist who enjoys tweaking and building.

PGB-1 is designed to be customized and modified to your taste. The front panel is a bare PCB, designed with the open-source software Kicad. The production file will be available so that anyone can make its own version with custom graphics and get it manufactured for a few bucks.

PGB-1 is also hackable with CircuitPython, C\C++, and Ada support for programming your own synthesizers, video games, or any audio-based projects.

By making the PGB-1 open source, a sandbox is provided for the audio community. Users can delve into the code, modify existing features, or add entirely new functionalities. This flexibility not only enhances the capabilities of the PGB-1 but also fosters a collaborative environment where users can share their creations and learn from each other.

Additionally, Wee Noise Makers have set up a dedicated Discord server for all PGB-1 users and enthusiasts to discuss, share, and contribute to the growing ecosystem.

Open-source software is not as common in the audio industry, but with this project, the aim is to follow the path of great manufacturers such as Mutable Instruments or Winterbloom.

Features & Specifications

Processor: Raspberry Pi RP2040

16 MB Flash
Audio IC: Cirrus Logic WM8960 (or equivalent)

Up to 32-bit at 48 kHz digital audio link
On-chip Headphone Driver, 1 W Stereo Class D Speaker Driver
Up to 3 stereo Line-in/Microphone interfaces
User Interface

128 x 64 monochrome OLED screen
24 addressable RGB LEDs
30 tactile switches
1 capacitive touch strip
Input & Outputs

1x USB Type-C (Power & Data)
1x 3.5 mm Headphone/Headset
1x 3.5 mm Audio Line-in
1x 3.5 mm MIDI Input (TRS type-A)
1x 3.5 mm MIDI Output (TRS type-A)
Internal microphone

Notes: The Michigan Synth Works SY-1 Drum synth is a full size, exact replica of the Pearl SY-1 Syncussion. Every detail has been replicated from the original board layouts to the mechanical construction. The assembled version has been modernized to use current manufacturing processes while still using the original board layouts and all parts have been carefully chosen to match the behaviour of the original. Case, boards, and I/O Boards are all interchangeable with the original Pearl device.

Assembled versions come with the METAL back standard, the wood case is available as a DIY kit separately.

The Syncussion:

The Syncussion is a 2 voice drum synthesizer with two oscillators per voice and six different modes. Five modes mix and modulate the oscillators plus a noise channel. Each voice has controls for TUNE, DECAY, SWEEP amount, SWEEP Speed, Sweep up/off/down, LFO amount, and LFO speed, LFO Shape (Tri or Square), and sample and hold.

OSC Modes:

A: One oscillator sound, at this position the regular drum synthesizer sweep can be effected.

B. Sound of one oscillator adjusting the other oscillator frequency; produces a metallic sound.

C. Sound of a mix of two oscillator outputs; sound is similar to that of a vibraphone.

D. Sound of mix of two oscillator outputs; produces a low to high sweep and is done by hitting pad softly or hard; there is no connection to SWEEP SPEED and SWEEP RANGE

E. Sound of one oscillator adjusting the other oscillator frequency with a mix of noise; produces a sound similar to hitting thin metal.

F. Sound of only noise

Triggering:

The SY-1 is designed to be triggered via drum triggers which output a very low pulse signal. Modern 5V trigger signals (v-trig) can be used, how it i recommended experimenting with simple audio samples or more dynamic triggers. One of the more interesting features of the Syncussion is the dynamic response to the drum triggers and just sending a straight pulse which maxes out the trigger inputs does not do the device justice.

Tuning:

The original SY-1 uses a tune pedal to adjust the pitch of both oscillators while playing. This functionality has been retained in the original configuration but is of limited use without the pedal. The expanded version DOES have per voice CV control (1v/Oct) as well as the MIDI.

The inputs and outputs use 1/4" Stereo to 1/4" (3 included) to greatly expand the capabilities of the device. The Mod input is prewired to VCF freq but can easily be switched to decay via jumper on the voice cards.

The SY-1 ships with a metal base panel but the DIY wood case can be used instead. It is provided UNFINISHED and sold separately.

Whats included:

SY-1 Synthesiser

Universal Power adapter (100-240V, 12V DC out, Tip Positive)

Expanded I/O: 3x 1.5m TRS 1/4" Phone to 2x TS 1/4" Phone