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Hardware Project, 2024

This documents my efforts to bring a RaspberryPi computer (using external power) in a Eurorack panel. This is based around my raspberryPi for ORCA project and extends this idea.

Table of Contents

1. Setup
2. Recommended Software
3. Part List & BOM
4. Examples & Videos

Setup

Hardware

You can find the Bill of Materials at the bottom of this page. If you’re only interested in using a RaspberryPi to send Midi signals you can skip the Hardware section and use your own configuration.

Prototype panel made from 2mm hard foam.

RaspberryPi OS

1. Download and etch Raspian OS to the SD card
2. Use the new ‘Raspberry Pi Imager’ to download and mount an operating system to the Pi. I decided to go full Command line and only installed the lite version (this is also called headless installation). If this is all too nerdy for you, make sure to download the full version with Desktop.
3. If you go with the limited version. write a file called ssh on the root of the Pi before putting the card inside the Raspberry Pi. This will enable you to connect to the Device over network with SSH.
4. You can setup wifi on the SD card, too. There are a lot of instructions available.
5. Either plug in a standard display or use a small display case for full effect. These small displays often come with some caveats. The one I described earlier turned out to be great value for such a cheap module, but will only work in single display setups.
6. Some displays will ship with drivers, some without. Others will only support some of the operation systems that can run on raspberry pi. But for what we do most should work.
7. Optional: Connect a Keyboard via bluetooth. It’s a little rough when working in the console but if you follow these steps with patience it’s possible to connect a bt keyboard for less cables.I found this guide to be reliable and straight forward

Recommended Software

ORCΛ-C a C-fork of ORCΛ esoteric programming language. For creating generative Midi or OSC signals.

HIDI a flexible HID to Midi translation layer for using keyboards and game controllers for musical purposes.

midiTracker my own Midi arrangement tool in the style of older Music Trackers which is exactly made to fit this device.

krait a free running Midi looper with a minimal interface and a very fun way to create drones, phase music and other unconventional arrangements

Examples & Videos

TBD

Part List / BOM

1×	PCB panel
1×	Raspberry Pi 3b or newer
1×	Raspberry Pi USB power
1×	Waveshare 4" IPS display
1×	Panel mount USB jacks
1×	Panel mount USB C extension
3×	USB plugs with solder leads
1×	USB jack with solder leads
1×	USB 2 Midi
3x	Thonkiconn Stereo WQP419GR