MINIMO is a €25, 8-Bit Modular Synthesizer that Won’t Break the Bank

A bargain at twice the price, miniMO is bringing affordability (and adorableness, am I right?) to modular synthesis. These tiny and inexpensive units contain a programmable module that’s based on an ATtiny85 8-bit processor. From the makers:

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All miniMOs are identical; you load them with different programs according to the system you want to make. If you have three modules, you can program them to be three oscillators, or two oscillators and a filter, or a sequencer, an oscillator and an envelope generator, or any other configuration that suits your fancy.

And if €25 is too rich for your blood, you can get a DIY kit and solder that ish yourself for €15. Here’s a complete list of specs, courtesy of Ask.Audio:

miniMO Specifications:

  • ATtiny85 processor with 8K flash, 512 bytes of SRAM and 512 bytes of EEPROM
  • Runs at 8MHz (configurable)
  • Powered with cell battery or an external source, from 3 up to 5V
  • Four configurable external I/O ports
  • Programmable via ISP, compatible with Arduino IDE
  • Size: 38x40x30.5 mm (assembled)
  • RoHS PCB and components/Lead-free solder (when ordered assembled)
  • Mounting holes for legs or covers (or a keychain!)

There’s a whole playlist on YouTube dedicated to showing what these are capable of if you’re curious. But seriously, this would be a low-cost and fun experiment, even if you went in blind. For ordering info and more, check miniMO out at their home right here.

Written by

Gear Gods intern Maxwell studied English at Cal Poly Pomona and has since realized life ain’t all about semicolons and syntax. He’s studying audio now, and will probably judge your music taste before your grammar.

Latest comment
  • Nice, would make for a fun project, arduinos are fun to mess with!

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