Micro-Zynthian V1. A Nts2 format-like device?

[bambalaya]

Hi all. I was reading on the Zynthian yt comment section, and one comment said, why so big?

I commented, that it’s very thin, and no wasted space really, but was thinking, maybe he wanted something smaller, like the Korg Nts2?

Making a Nts2-like Zynthian would require a super-high res smartphone screen, at least 720p….

So we are already at least twice the size of the Korg… The Korg has like 16 buttons that works for everything. Pattern, change this and that. Plus it has three or four encodersz too. (Or just pots?)

But I argued, that design wise, it would require to redesign the PCB, then you have to use all small minijacks, and even the Ethernet port, alone, is taller than the Nts2.

And at what costs? The Nts2 has no screen, just some led screen, to me that is no screen. It costs close to 200 Eur, the Nts3 almost 270 Eur for hust having 4 encs and an X-Y pad…. that is insane… it do not even have CV inputs nor outputs, at least it has Midi in and out, but for being an effect, it dont have an input gain pot… or a mix out pot…

Just the screen alone of the Zynthian V5 can cost around 80-100 Eurs…

A Micro-Zynthian could work with a Micro-screen like a 60p-240p or something like that like the EuroPi? It would need a LOT of UI work…. bc nothing would work out of the box…

Every graphical asset would need to be rewritten.

But it’s an idea.

I’m not sure many people would like it, especially if they have to choose over the full Zyn V5 and a Micro-Zyn… why one would bother going with the small one???

[tunagenes]

Zynthian Pocket

Some months ago had the idea of building a Zynthian for my purse/bag/backpack that I can easily take with me on vacation. This together with a QuNexus and a power bank and headphones makes a good toy for in-flight entertainment and spontaneous improvisation/jam sessions when connected to a local PA. So here it is, as small as 129 x 74 x 38 mm: Pi5 8GB homemade thermal block made from the cheapest possible armor case u-bent aluminium tread plate as base and sides, providing enough cooling surf…

[bambalaya]

Cool!

It’s basically the easiest thing that can come to mind, but it’s inherently different from using a Europi 260p small Black and white screen, and the pattern/sequencer, even a small keyboard like

the Kord Monotron… that is a completely different design choice…

Now, I doubt that that small Zynthian with the rotaries could be made into a DIY Zynthian product, but I love it, as a DIY thing is just beautiful executed, just not enough polished to pass for a final quality inspection.

PS: I reached 5 post limit, please delete this thread at this point it seems there is alreadhy everything I talk about already covered in multiple other thread, so nothing new to the table. Cheers riban.

[riban]

See this topic for adventures with small displays. My first zynthian had a 1.8” display and mostly worked. I haven’t looked at that for many years so the current firmware (Oram) may be suboptimal on such a small display but it does show that you can pack a lot of info into a small display.