The SquishBox is a stompbox enclosure for the Raspberry Pi (not included) that provides a stompbutton, a rotary encoder, a high-quality sound card with 1/4" stereo, mono, and headphone outputs, and a bright and easy-to-read 16x2 character LCD display. Its name comes from the fact that it's a stompbox that runs on software, so you can customize and change it to do whatever you need.

You're free to come up with your own use case for a Raspberry Pi in a stompbox, but I created the SquishBox because I wanted a portable and super-customizable software synthesizer. As a keyboard-playing musician, I love being able to use software instruments to produce any sounds/effects I want, but to use them you usually need a tablet or laptop, an audio interface, extra cash to buy DAW software and virtual instruments, and tons of time to figure out how to get everything to work together. Also, you have to drag all that stuff on stage, set it up, and be poking a screen/touchpad and/or typing while you're trying to play - which does not, to my eyes, rock.

With the SquishBox and Geek Funk Labs' FluidPatcher software, the Raspberry Pi becomes a compact, all-in-one synthesizer module. You just plug in the SquishBox, plug in your MIDI controller(s) and audio cables, and start playing. The rotary encoder lets you change sounds and navigate menus on the LCD, and the stompbutton can be set to control various effects. FluidPatcher uses the soundfont sample format, allowing you to create your own sounds and draw on the vast array of soundfonts available on the internet. FluidPatcher lets you create your own performances that split and/or layer sounds in endless ways on your instrument's keys or controls, activate and control built-in effects, arpeggiate notes, trigger sequences, play MIDI files, send and route MIDI messages, and more. I've created a series of lesson videos that teach you how to use all these features.

The SquishBox works with a Raspberry Pi 3/4 or a Raspberry Pi Zero - just make sure to choose the correct lid when purchasing. The SquishBox and your Pi can be powered by a 5 Volt/2 Amp power supply plugged into its 5.5mm x 2.1mm DC barrel jack, or you can use your existing Pi power supply plugged directly into your Pi's power port by threading the plug through one of the ports in the side of the enclosure. You don't have to do any soldering to install your Raspberry Pi in the SquishBox - it just plugs right in, and when you screw on the lid the Pi is held snugly in place. If you use FluidPatcher you don't have to wipe your Raspberry Pi or install a new OS to use it in the SquishBox, and it's easy to take it out and use it for something else if you need to. There is also a kit available if you want to solder it together yourself. Setup instructions are in the Documentation link below. For additional information, support, and tips on customizing your SquishBox, visit Geek Funk Labs!

SquishBox Features:

• Durable 3D-printed PLA case
• Rotary encoder for selecting patches/options and opening menus
• Stompbutton for triggering effects, sustain
• Indicator LED for stompbutton
• 16x2 character LCD
• 1/4" jacks that can provide mono, stereo, or headphone connections
• A built-in sound card for high-quality, low-latency audio output