video upload by The White Tornado
"This video gives an overview of the SquishBox, a super-customizable software synthesizer in a stompbox that runs on a Raspberry Pi. The SquishBox has great audio with low latency, uses soundfonts that you can find for free on the internet, and can be controlled by up to 4 MIDI keyboards/controllers."
0:00 Intro
1:05 Internal Components
2:18 Assembly
3:40 Software Installation
4:15 Demo
5:45 Editing Sounds and Banks
6:40 Reasons
via Tindie
"The SquishBox is a super-customizable software synthesizer in a box. It has 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 unique ways on your instrument's keys or controls, activate and control built-in effects, arpeggiate notes, trigger sequences, play MIDI files, 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. What is needed, I decided, is an all-in-one sound module that fits in a cool guitar-pedal-type box, is easy to customize, has some simple controls to change patches and settings, and a little screen to tell you what it's doing.
So, I made the SquishBox, a Raspberry Pi computer tucked into a stompbox-sized case that runs the versatile, open-source, and free FluidSynth and uses soundfonts - a widely- and freely- available and editable software instrument format - to produce whatever sounds you want, in whatever way you want, so you can own your sound!
The SquishBox runs off a 5V power supply with a 5.1mm x 2.1mm plug. You can purchase the assembled unit without a Raspberry Pi computer, if you want to use a Pi 3B+ or Pi 4 you already have. 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
Momentary button that can trigger patch-specific actions (sustain, effects toggle, etc.)
16x2 character LCD
4 USB inputs to connect MIDI keyboards/controllers or other devices
2 1/4" jacks that can provide mono, stereo, or headphone connections
A built-in sound card for high-quality, low-latency audio output
Onboard WiFi with web interface for configuration/uploading additional soundfonts
Cross-platform software for editing patches and banks from your computer"
