Gingoko Grains-With RZ-1 Drums Firmware

Published on Aug 1, 2016 Ben Francis

"Just Uploaded The RZ-1 drums-(Firmware) V2.2 PCB v2 (updated user code by JGB; input 3 is trigger input. I could not find anything online to hear it ...so here it is ."

Grains is a DIY kit from Ginko Synthese. The RZ-1 is of course the Casio RZ-1.

via Ginko Synthese:

Interesting codes to upload in your Grains:

Grains V1 PCB v1 (basic code for PCB v1)
Grains V2 PCB v2 (basic code for PCB v2)
Fresh PCB v1 (user code By Rob Bothof)
KALLE STRAM PCB v1 (user code by Kalle Govertz H. Christensen)
Patternrain V1 PCB v1 (user code by JGB; input 3 needs a clock input to work)
Patternrain V2 PCB v2 (user code by JGB; input 3 needs a clock input to work)
Grainsring V1 PCB v1 (user code by JGB; input 3 needs a clock input to work)
Grainsring V2 PCB v2 (user code by JGB; input 3 needs a clock input to work)
RZ-1 drums V1 PCB v1 (user code by JGB; input 2 is trigger input)
RZ-1 drums V2 PCB v2 (user code by JGB; input 3 is trigger input)
RZ-1 drums V2.2 PCB v2 (updated user code by JGB; input 3 is trigger input)
Wave V1 PCB v1 (user code by JGB)
Wave V2 PCB v2 (user code by JGB)
Cereals V1 PCB v1 (user code by HRTL)
Cereals V2 PCB v2 (user code by HRTL)
falafel-raps-changed-v2 PCB v2 (user code by Falafular)
Resonance-like feedback (coming soon)
Short-wave radio-like warbles and whistles (coming soon)

"The sound is a PWM output routed via an (optional) low-pass filter and a 100uF capacitor – so no external DAC is required. The low-pass filter on the PCB can be bypassed if you want. Bypassing the filter provides more clarity and a slightly louder output but more artifacts in the sound.

Not bored yet?
Here comes more information about the synthesis technique on the basic code and you will understand why I called this module “Grains”.
The “Grains” code provided on your module is based on FOF synthesis or formant synthesis. FOF synthesis is closely related to synchronous granular synthesis. It uses two simple triangle-shaped grains. The grains are separated by the same amount of time. With granular synthesis, the spacing within the grains radically change the texture that is created. The FOF grains have very little parameters: pitch and decay. In the basic “Grains” code the 2 decay values are fixed to most musical sounding and can not be altered via potentiometers. So only the pitch of the two grains can be altered via pots (or the cv inputs) and the overall grains repetition which provides the pitch of the output."