Plinky Synth is back!

This popular DIY/ready built digital synth from three years ago was another victim of chip shortage. However, the designer has graciously made the hardware open source.

This version from Electrotechnique is based on V2 and has the following changes:

• USB is now a type C connector (but still USB 2.0)
• MIDI in and out TRS jacks are added (MIDI in supports type A and B TRS)
• Duplicated USB, headphone and audio in jacks are removed.
• Expander panel socket is also removed (modular Eurorack power socket is still present)
• Comes in a case for desktop use

Removals were made as they cramped the other jacks too much without any real advantage, and the extra USB sockets (including the expander panel) were a poor design decision from a USB signal reliability and safe equipment connection, point of view. After the changes, the expander panel only really added A, B, X, and Y outputs, plus it had another USB socket on it and reports of audio noise on the sampler when connected to Plinky, so it was deemed less useful.

It is ready built, tested and runs the latest Plinky firmware, which is can be found on the Plinky Github. It comes in a case but can be mounted in a modular Eurorack system as usual, with power into the 16 pin socket on the main PCB.

Note The hardware is built and guaranteed by Electrotechnique. The firmware is by the original designer and collaborators.