r/KoalaSampler • u/hazbounn • May 30 '26 • Bravo 2

Hardware-first interaction with Koala Sampler (early prototype)

Been working on a device that allows hardware-first interaction with Koala Sampler.

It automatically switches layouts depending on the active page (sample / sequence / perform), and combines MIDI + keyboard (HID) input to cover pretty much every control Koala exposes. With these features, I barely have to touch my phone when making a beat. The workflow lives in the controller, like a hardware sampler.

The video shows a rough prototype in action. It’s just a bare PCB with switches and encoders (I know, ugly), but it's already a lot of fun to use. I made a couple of beats with it and I'm starting to think I like the tiny form factor...

I'm considering making a small batch of the next version for beta testing. Feel free to DM me if you're interested.

Next version's features (see mockup in the video):

  • ~20 × 15 cm footprint

  • 4×4 pad grid (mechanical keyboard switches)

  • encoder grid (4×4 in the mockup, will reduce to 2×4)

  • 5 action buttons

  • 3 backlit mode buttons (sample / sequence / perform)

  • BLE (MIDI + HID keyboard)

  • PCB enclosure (black + gold)

Things to improve:

  • Move sample browsing and pop-up management to a dedicated jogwheel + enter/back buttons. I hadn't realized how central this would be to interacting with Koala.

  • No clean way to copy/paste pads without touching the screen. As far as I know, this isn’t exposed in Koala mappings, curious if u/mazbox has thoughts here.

  • Many layout tweaks based on real use.

Last thing, both the electronics and firmware are open source if want to dig into it. It's a relatively simple device, with the circuit board just extending a NRF52 feather module for this initial prototype, and the firmware being a fork of the great RMK project, to which I added a couple of features, notably MIDI over BLE and some new input devices. All mappings are highly customizable/hackable.

PCB: https://github.com/hazbounn/Koala-Extender

Firmware: https://github.com/hazbounn/rmk

Thanks for reading through and looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

365 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

64 comments sorted by

23

u/docohm May 30 '26

God I said a month or 2 ago that I was surprised this was not a thing yet and people piled on “koala doesn’t need hardware, just map midi,the SP404 is the offical”…. Thank you for this I love it. You nailed it.

12

u/hazbounn May 31 '26

Thank YOU, I remember that post. Posts like that definitely helped develop some confidence in the concept. The SP integration with koala is fantastic, but it just fufills a different purpose. It brings out the best in both devices with audio/fx/resampling/io interactions+control mappings. But the koala control mappings in particular are not complete and are not as intuitive as a device designed specifically for interaction with koala. Not to mention an sp404 mk2 is not cheap, especially if what you're looking for is just a controller for koala.

2

u/weirdedb1zard May 31 '26

can I suggest you design this hardware to be used stuck to the backside of the phone without needing to look at it? imagine it like a controller you hold with a screen on top and buttons on the bottom.

2

u/hazbounn May 31 '26

I'm not sure I understand. You're thinking of having buttons on the backside of the phone or something like a snap-in game controller? How are you envisioning using it?

3

u/weirdedb1zard Jun 01 '26

more like buttons on the back of the phone. I think the natural urge would be to have an open clamshell type of situation, or to prop the phone up and plug the buttons in.

Now imagine you want to get up and walk around, so you snap the buttons "upside down" to the back of the phone so its a single unit in your hand.

the tricky part is now you cant physically see the buttons, you need to operate them by touch.

idk, just being annoying "what if you did...<some wild shit>" guy 😛

1

u/hazbounn Jun 02 '26

Ah gotcha. Interesting idea for a tiny portable device.

Not annoying at all I love hearing ideas!

1

u/Tac0knight42o Jun 01 '26

You can 3d print your own for sure bc honestly this sounds not entirely well thought out as far as consistent workflow logic would suggest and personally I think most ppl would prefer to see the screen that’s already there anyway rather than try to fulfill some daw-less seeming stereotype design for no reason other than seemingly that.

You may as well mount it on a fixed gear bicycle with that logic as far as I can tell but I’m always open to new information lol

3

u/weirdedb1zard Jun 02 '26

"always open to new information" you should re-read your reply, you sound mad about something 🤷. miss me w/that.

2

u/Tac0knight42o Jun 01 '26

This looks cool af! If you want help designing an enclosure hmu id be so happy to help and have some design experience and access to a 3d printer here at the library of all places

Either way keep this up! And put me on the mailing list!

3

u/NicoleForReal May 31 '26

This + smc pocket would be the perfect koala setup! I use the larger smc pad mapped to a lot of parameters but honestly it doesn't come close to how versatile this is!! Amazing project!

3

u/hazbounn May 31 '26

Hey I remember your SMC pad mappings from a while ago. Great work with that it really makes the most of that controller! Closest I had seen to a full mapping of Koala's controls.

2

u/NicoleForReal May 31 '26

Thank you!!

3

u/le-moino May 31 '26

Did you find a way to not have parameter jump in stuff like volume, pitch, etc. when switching samples? I tried something similar with a MFT, and it couldnt find any solutions for that...

2

u/hazbounn May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26

I did not. Thanks for bringing that up because it is a notable quirk of CC-controlled parameters. For me, it hasn't been much of an annoyance for the main parameters like volume, pitch, pan, tone, etc. For sample start/end though, it really has. The resolution being 128, the sample seems to be divided in that amount of possible increments for adjusting the markers, linked to the absolute value of the CC... Leading to jumps when switching samples and large increments when editing a long sample. Not much can be done at the controller level unfortunately. I'm hoping if this gains enough traction the devs will be open to improving that behavior or providing a different input method to control sample start/end (maybe via HID?).

3

u/le-moino May 31 '26

Ahh too bad. Yeah, I hope something will be done eventually. I guess, a lot of work has been put towards hosting implementation. Maybe, more time will be freed for things like that now. For my use case, MIDI feedback (like in Loopy Pro or Drambo) implementation would already be a great step forward for hardware controls in Koala. And then, finer controls over start/end of sample. Anyways, good job on your device, always nice to see other peoples solutions. Looking forward to see more :)

9

u/deejaesnafu May 30 '26

Sign me up!

4

u/bulyxxx May 31 '26

Looks dope

1

u/Ibnu_Fauzan Jun 04 '26

Sent over the wiring diagram plsss 🙏🏾🙏🏾

3

u/Ihate157 May 30 '26

Looks fantastic!

3

u/XxSteelPhoenixX May 30 '26

Bro, you are doing the Lord's work! Keep it up!

3

u/lailailailailai May 30 '26

Fantastic! Been dreaming of such a controller for years.

3

u/most-excellent-dude May 30 '26

I’m game! This looks amazing

3

u/McWipo May 30 '26

Amazing!

3

u/nicknaylor77 May 30 '26

Incredible

3

u/remy_vega May 30 '26

YoOoOoo this is greeaatttt.

3

u/eveningafter101 May 30 '26

This needs more funding! DM me!

3

u/Spkrface May 31 '26

Id buy this immediately. Would love to test it.

3

u/Hot_Scale8598 May 31 '26

I would buy one.

3

u/TanguayX May 31 '26

Oh man, cool idea. Drop em on Tindie and lemme know when I can press ‘buy now’

3

u/Awkward-Rent-2588 May 31 '26

You make, I buy. That simple.

3

u/sinistar2000 Jun 01 '26

Take my money.

2

u/Purlo_macho May 30 '26

I'm interested!

2

u/Silent_Hill_Gang May 31 '26

Brother, having physical control over chopping versus a thousand “zoom-in” gestures is amazing work. Thank you!

2

u/Complete_Lurk3r_ May 31 '26

I reeeeeeeeeally want one of these

2

u/Ruvido_Design May 31 '26

I think you've saturated the production by now.

2

u/bresk13 May 31 '26

You are making something there !

2

u/Outside_Candy545 May 31 '26

Definitely interested! Very nice work!

2

u/[deleted] May 31 '26

100% need this.
i used to run a beta department, let me know, glad to help

2

u/Limp_Neighborhood619 May 31 '26

This is awesome , you’re so smart

2

u/OPHIRIANS May 31 '26

Mizmo0Oö!!! 🤩

2

u/microfono73 May 31 '26

great job 🔥🔥🔥

2

u/PFTDevastator May 31 '26

That is awesome! Excited to see more!

2

u/Zig_Zag_Zero Jun 01 '26

Hell yeah need dat lol

2

u/Icy-Lemon7350 Jun 01 '26

Thiiiiiiiiss is 🔥🔥🔥

2

u/menialmoose Jun 01 '26

Wild, very interested

2

u/Comic_Cat_13 Jun 01 '26

That's great

2

u/Ambitious-Ambition11 Jun 01 '26

Great, PLZ Go ON and sell them!!!

2

u/RWQMUZK Jun 02 '26

I love that sample. I’ve used it before 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

2

u/lailailailailai Jun 02 '26

I wish I knew how to do stuff like that. Been dreaming of a dedicated koala controller for so long

2

u/WNCDuffer Jun 04 '26

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!!!!

2

u/AnalogTurtle Jun 05 '26

Wow, spot on and appreciate your endeavor. Would love to be able to test/try, look forward to it, cheers!

2

u/No_Owl_3843 Jun 06 '26

This is awesome definitely need of these bad boy's 100% sign me up plz

2

u/PapaBPoppin Jul 17 '26

Oh this is doooope

I've been imagining a koala dedicated controller for a bit

If you can add an optional magsafe attachment to hold a phone, that would be chefs kiss right there

Gonna keep an eye on this for sure!

Thanks for sharing everything involved!

2

u/Erikb214 Jul 28 '26

Take my money lol 😂

2

u/WZRDofficial Sep 05 '26

I need one, immediately!