This is the kit version of the SquishBox. Once you assemble it, install a Raspberry Pi 3B+ or 4 computer, and run the install script to install the necessary software you will have a super-customizable software synthesizer in a stompbox-sized enclosure with 4 USB ports for you to plug in MIDI keyboards/controllers or upload new sounds, stereo 1/4″ outputs to your mixer/amp/headphones, an LCD display, a rotary encoder for switching between patches and changing settings, a programmable stompbutton, and wifi for you to upload sounds and edit patches. It comes with a large selection of sounds and patches, and it allows you to 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.

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 or tapping keys while you're trying to play - which does not, to my eyes, rock.

So, I built the SquishBox, an all-in-one sound module built around the Raspberry Pi that adds a high-quality sound card, some simple controls to change settings, a little screen to tell you what it's doing, and fits in a cool stompbox-sized case. It runs the versatile, open-source, and free FluidSynth, which lets you choose from the tons of soundfonts available on the internet, so you have access to instruments such as pianos, organs, and guitars that you can play right out of the box, but you can also create your own synths and effects that you can model and tweak. I wrote FluidPatcher, a customizable synthesizer interface, and created a series of lesson videos that teach you how to create complex performance patches.

This kit can be constructed to be powered by 5V or 9V. The 5V version is the most power-efficient and reliable. The 9V version can be run off the kind of power supply often used in a guitar pedalboard (i.e. 9V center-negative), but really needs to be built into an aluminum enclosure for adequate heat dissipation. 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. Assembly instructions for the kit, as well as lots of other information, can be found at Geek Funk Labs!

Included components:

• SquishBox printed circuit board
• 16x2 character LCD
• momentary stompswitch
• rotary pushbutton encoder
• decorative knob
• 1K Ohm resistor
• 10K potentiometer
• 330 Ohm resistor
• LED blue 5mm
• 2x20 female header
• 1x20 male header
• PCM5102 DAC sound card
• LM7805 voltage regulator
• 10uF capacitor (2)
• thermal conductive pad
• 1/4" TRS audio jacks (2)
• 5.5x2.1mm DC barrel jack
• 26 AWG ribbon cable