One command. No soldering, no config files, no DAW. The same box takes touchscreens, multitrack USB interfaces and more MIDI gear. The ceiling is the platform's ceiling.

An eight-channel generative groovebox on Zynthian, played entirely from a Native Instruments Maschine MK2 - pads, encoders, both displays, LEDs. Five euclidean drum channels and three Turing-machine voices, all eight always alive; nothing is created or torn down while playing.

The generator owns the pattern.

You do not draw a beat. You set hits, rotation, chance and swing, and the driver writes real notes into Zynthian's own sequencer. Because they are real notes in the real sequencer, patterns persist in snapshots and the touchscreen pattern editor mirrors exactly what the pads show.
The five drum channels are euclidean: hits spread as evenly as the grid allows, then rotate. Four hits in sixteen is four-on-the-floor; five is the clave.
The three voices are Turing machines. Each owns a shift register, clocked once per pass and mutated with probability RANDOM, and the register's value becomes pitch. Set RANDOM to zero and the loop you are hearing freezes bit for bit, for as long as you leave it there - the display reads LOCKrather than a number, because a number could be a coincidence.

It is built on Zynthian, a maintained open-source synth platform with an active community and official hardware kits if a boxed version is ever wanted. Every line is readable, every part swappable, all of it yours to fork.

Alpha Release:
I am currently actively working on it, expect changes. Also not all features are documented yet, there are more Features in the pipeline like Maschine Display supported Synth Engine & Effect loading. Midi Output via DIN Jack etc.

Feels free, to raise issues or Feature requests.

https://preview.redd.it/wv35nxjk9mih1.jpg?width=3226&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=365f6f20f208c1d33a447b469885611156bffdec

Like many people here, I spent years looking at Eurorack systems, Elektron boxes and various grooveboxes trying to find the perfect setup for live techno improvisation.

What I eventually realized is that I wasn't really looking for another synth. I wanted an instrument that could continuously generate evolving rhythms and melodies, expose all important parameters directly on the surface, and let me perform without staring at menus all night.

The problem is that achieving that with hardware gets expensive very quickly. By the time you've bought a sequencer, synth voices, drum machine, effects and a mixer, you're often deep into Eurorack money.

So I decided to build my own.

The current prototype runs on a Raspberry Pi 4 using Zynthian as the audio engine and a Native Instruments Maschine MK2 as the control surface. I started writing a Linux Device driver that turns it into something completely different from the original Maschine workflow. The hardware buttons, pads, encoders, LEDs and even the built-in displays are now driven entirely by my adapter.

One of my favourite parts of the project is the display integration. The Maschine's two LCD displays no longer show NI software information. They now render custom screens showing channel states, pattern parameters, synth controls, sequence settings, FX values and performance information. The displays change dynamically depending on the selected track and page, effectively turning the controller into a dedicated hardware groovebox rather than a generic MIDI controller.

My design philosophy was simple:

Everything important gets a dedicated control. Nothing should require menu diving. Nothing should require a touchscreen during performance.

The machine always has eight active channels: five drum tracks (Kick, Snare, Clap, Closed Hat, Open Hat) and three melodic voices (Bass, Lead, Pads). There is no loading tracks, browsing projects or building arrangements while performing. You turn it on and start shaping a living groove.

Instead of programming step sequences manually, the instrument is built around generative processes. Drum tracks use Euclidean sequencing, while the melodic voices are driven by Turing-machine-style shift registers. Rather than creating patterns step by step, you're steering systems that continuously evolve and react to parameter changes.

When a melody suddenly reaches that perfect sweet spot, you can instantly lock it in place and keep it forever. If you miss the moment, there's even an undo mechanism that lets you recover previous Turing states.

Current features

Drum section

• 5 independent Euclidean drum sequencers
• Adjustable hits, rotation, length and clock division
• Per-track probability
• Per-track swing
• Velocity control
• Real-time regeneration
• Manual pad editing

Melodic section

• 3 Turing-machine voices
• Adjustable mutation amount
• Phrase locking
• Multi-level undo/history
• Variable register lengths
• Octave and range control
• Gate control
• Scale quantization

Sound design

• Instant drum kit switching
• Instant sample switching
• Multiple classic drum machine kits
• Synth preset browsing
• Filter cutoff
• Resonance
• Envelope modulation
• Decay/attack shaping

Performance workflow

• Channel mute
• Momentary mute
• Additive solo mode
• Instant restart/re-sync
• Snapshot recall
• State persistence
• Dedicated LCD feedback
• Color-coded channel system

FX

Every channel has dedicated reverb and delay controls, while global parameters include reverb size and type, delay timing and feedback, BPM and master volume.

The whole thing is still a prototype, but it's already become the most inspiring techno machine I've owned because it was designed around a single idea:

If generative techno was the primary goal, what would the ideal instrument look like?

Future plans include scene snapshots, ratchets, performance macro layers and a dedicated keyboard extension.

Curious what the synth DIY community thinks.

https://imgur.com/a/maschine-SvOXnxq

Hi Folks,

i want to get started on Hardware for (Semi)Modular-Techno-Live-Rig ASAP.

Option1 - SemiModularLowcost:

• Behringer Spice
• Behringer Proton
• Behringer Grind
• Behringer RS9
• Behringer SY-1

If i order today, i will have all the stuff on Friday (for about 900 Euro) - Adding Edge and Crave as soon as available (3-9 weeks) (+280€)

Then afterwards get a Eurorack Case&PSU and adding modules.

Option 2:

• Start with modular case & PSU
• Plaits clone
• Korg SQ1
• Behringer 4 Play
• Filter / Mixer / VCA Combo Module
• Reverb/Delay
• Touring Machine
• Sequencer

Option 3:

Get a Döpfer Doepfer A-100BS2-P9 PSU3 for 2300€ now and extend with futher modules later

Price:

Option 1 < Option 2 < Option 3

What are your toughts? I dont want to play Gigs, dont want to create tracks - just sitting arround, patching stuff i listen to to satisfy my ADHD brain.

What i already have:

• DIY Zynthian Box
• Midi Keyboard

If Option 2 or 3 - pls give a recommendation for Module Combinations available for EU-customers

Greetings.

I am into electronic music since decades with a focus on Deephouse, Techhouse, Chillout, Downtempo.

I started playing with Tracker Software, Rebirth, Reason, Reaktor, Ableton - but i never finished any tracks it was just something to relax to.

I got into VCV Rack a few months ago. loved it instant and now thinking on getting into Modular.

Hardware i own:

• SMC Pad (USB Midi)
• Self-build Zynthian Box

Problem: I dont know, where to start. Should i start with a empty case and adding modules? Is there some "Market overview" that i dont have to visit multiple shops to compare stock and pricing? Should i get a used System?

What are your thoughts?

No real Goal in Mind, just have a piece of hardware for experimenting. I think most likely generative stuff or „evolving beats“

Playing on Geforce Now - so i can only use ingame mods.

Looking for a DeLorean DMC 12 (Back to the future car).

Could not find anything close. Anything similar with just the logo missing? :) recommendations?