# Battery powered Zynthian with build in keyboard

**URL:** <https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356>\
**Category:** Building Zynthian\
**Created:** [November 18, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356 "2017-11-18T02:51:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 9:10am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/81 "2017-12-01T09:10:10Z")

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What do you think is best way to make Teensy and Raspberry pi to talk to each other? I was thinking about making Teensy into MIDI controller.

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**Author:** ![christianforshaw](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@christianforshaw](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/christianforshaw)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 9:11am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/82 "2017-12-01T09:11:10Z")

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Mine runs on battery power… Via power bank

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**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 9:12am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/83 "2017-12-01T09:12:20Z")

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That is probably easiest way to do it but I have not found power bank that you can recharge and use as power supply at same time.

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**Author:** ![mheidt](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/mheidt/32/773_2.png) [@mheidt](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/mheidt)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 9:14am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/84 "2017-12-01T09:14:11Z")

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MIDI won’t be enough. OSC as well f.e.  
This is something, jofemodo should decide.  
I guess zyncoder (part of zynthian) will handle it.

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**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 9:19am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/85 "2017-12-01T09:19:41Z")

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How come MIDI is not enough? Shouldnt it work with MIDI keyboards?

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**Author:** ![mheidt](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/mheidt/32/773_2.png) [@mheidt](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/mheidt)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 9:25am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/86 "2017-12-01T09:25:09Z")

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i can imagine that it’s best to design your own protocol. zyncoder maps to midi then.  
But i don’t have the overall picture here.

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**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 9:29am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/87 "2017-12-01T09:29:48Z")

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What kind of protocol are you talking about? I am new to computer programming. Do you mean some kind of communication protocol between Teensy and Pi?

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**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/88 "2017-12-03T10:57:29Z")

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I have ordered everything except rotary encoders, PCBs I designed and maybe some other thing but I lost the list of things I did not order. I dont have money to buy encoders now as they are over 60€. I will check what I ordered when things arive. Rotary encoders will be ordered during this month as is PCBs I designed.

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**Author:** ![jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/jofemodo/32/2_2.png) [@jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jofemodo)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 11:06am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/89 "2017-12-04T11:06:50Z")

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Eiiin?? What kind of encoders do you intend to use? Normal PEC11R-xxx encoders shouldn’t cost more than 2-3 euros/unit.

Regards,

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**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/90 "2017-12-04T15:28:17Z")

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> **[Rotary Encoder - Illuminated (RGB) - COM-10982 - SparkFun Electronics](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10982)**
>
> Rotary encoders can be used similarly to potentiometers. The difference being that an encoder has full rotation without limits (It just goes round and roun

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**Author:** ![C0d3man](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/c0d3man/32/9_2.png) [@C0d3man](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/C0d3man)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/91 "2017-12-04T15:32:14Z")

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I have some of them for a MIDI controller project. We made transparent knobs with a 3D printer…

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**Author:** ![jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/jofemodo/32/2_2.png) [@jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jofemodo)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/92 "2017-12-04T17:48:43Z")

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OK! I forgot you want to use these encoders 😉

Regards,

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**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 6:01am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/93 "2017-12-05T06:01:46Z")

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What kind of filament you used? I also have 3d printer.

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**Author:** ![C0d3man](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/c0d3man/32/9_2.png) [@C0d3man](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/C0d3man)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 8:20am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/94 "2017-12-06T08:20:53Z")

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Uhhhh - I don’t know where the filament is from… I have no own 3D printer, but a good friend who is willing to print my ideas.

 ![IMG_20171206_090736](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/e/ec76cb47edb2bf6bd9d9e3c2b66c046d2ed04882.jpg)

Here they are… If you need the STL data, I can go and search for it 😉

Regards, Holger

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**Author:** ![Axeman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/axeman/32/278_2.png) [@Axeman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Axeman)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 8:50am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/95 "2017-12-06T08:50:03Z")

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It seems a standard PLA transparent filament. I use it when I need light transmission, like in the buttons I made for the Pocket Operator:  
[https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2090105](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2090105)

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**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/96 "2017-12-07T18:33:41Z")

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Does stl files happen to be made so that size of knobs is easily changed?

I have ordered RBG led rotary encoders. 🙂 Thanks goes to tax refunds. I think I will buy few eurorack module PCBs.

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**Author:** ![C0d3man](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/c0d3man/32/9_2.png) [@C0d3man](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/C0d3man)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 11:49am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/97 "2017-12-08T11:49:25Z")

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> [@Aleksi](#):
>
> Does stl files happen to be made so that size of knobs is easily changed?

Hm, maybe… I made the STl and a friend took it and “pimped” it up. I will try to find the file in my archive and upload it here.

Regards, Holger

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**Author:** ![Axeman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/axeman/32/278_2.png) [@Axeman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Axeman)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/98 "2017-12-08T12:27:18Z")

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Just fiddle with OpenScad and one of the many customizable knobs, or create your own, it’s a nice exercise for you programming skills or for your cursing ones… YMMV 😉

[https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2220561](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2220561)

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**Author:** ![MaxMaxis](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@MaxMaxis](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/MaxMaxis)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/99 "2018-01-01T01:16:09Z")

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One more option for creating a low profile version.

The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3

> **[Compute Module 3 Launch! - Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/compute-module-3-launch/)**
>
> Way back in April of 2014 we launched the original Compute Module (CM1), which was based around the BCM2835 processor of the original Raspberry Pi. CM1 was a great success and we’ve seen a lot of uptake from various markets, particularly in IoT...

Intended for embedded industrial applications, the 67.6mm x 31mm board seems to bring out all the normal Pi functionality, and some additional processor pins to a DDR2 SODIMM socket, except USB and WiFi/Bluetooth which you my have to recreate. It lists for $35 US, perhaps you can get by without the expensive developer parent board professionals would use.

 ![](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3d8ca075273160a168030cba3aead5f1bfd73ab5.jpg)

You (and your crew?) also would have additional work replacing the 40 pin GPIO connections for Audio and Display boards (not needed anyway if adapting lower cost generic Chinese boards like this $3.77 I2S PCM5102A DAC)

 ![77 Dac Board](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/5/525d9c40d2961dc4591954e56e32f8e83eb050db.jpg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Aleksi](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aleksi)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 10:15am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/battery-powered-zynthian-with-build-in-keyboard/1356/100 "2018-01-02T10:15:52Z")

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That would be one option but I have received raspberry pi 3 already.

Sorry for time off from this project I am easily distracted and got distracted by ukulele, modular synths and physics of mechanical flying device that flies by flapping its wings. I got pretty good at playing ukulele and learned lot of synths but was not able to calculate forces I wanted to because of lack of calculus skills. I will post link to that physics problem when I post it to some physics forum if anyone of you is interested in it.

I think here is everything that I need to build my Zynthian except, force sensors, wood, face plate, Zynthian PCBs and RGB rotary encoders. Oh and keyboard and few connectors are missing too. I forgot to include them in picture.

 ![IMG_2147](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/8/87bae6a8451dc106fbda0d00201a268879860b44.JPG)

Rest of this week will be spend prototyping rotary encoder part of pcb so that I know do I need to use external pull up resisors or can I use teensy’s internal resistors. After I get answer and have done modifications if there needs to be some, I will send files to PCB manufacturer.

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