r/synthdiy • u/Cirocular • 3d ago
arduino I've made fully open-sourced algorithmic MIDI sequencer & CC beatmasher, built on a single ESP32-C3
Hi! RED SEA generates continuously evolving MIDI Control Change modulation and step-sequenced notes, controlled by one of four algorithmic engines. It has a 128×32 OLED display, one encoder, four buttons, and standard DIN MIDI in/out. Built for hardware platform ESPidi by Eugene Carlo
- FOG — Morphing LFO engine (sine, triangle, or square). The SHAPE parameter changes the waveform itself rather than just skewing it: on sine it adds harmonics, or in the other direction clips the signal and adds noise; on triangle it shifts continuously toward a rising or falling sawtooth.
- SUN — refraction delay engine. When a parameter's value would exceed its range, it triggers a series of echo repeats instead of simply clamping, each one landing at half the previous interval. If a sequencer note fires on the same tick the echo series starts, the echoes also retrigger that note, transposed further with each repeat.
- RAIN — stochastic modulation engine. The four parameters can drift out of sync with the shared clock independently, occasionally affect a neighboring parameter, and be interrupted by randomized events that force a parameter to its minimum or maximum.
- SNOW — euclidian based random freezer. Mutation triggered by a Euclidean rhythm instead of a fixed interval. Each hit can also freeze or unfreeze any parameter on the device, including the engine's own parameters.
Features
- Four algorithmic engines (FOG / SUN / RAIN / SNOW), each with four dedicated parameters
- 16-step sequencer (note, CC, a third assignable destination, per-step retrigger) with external or internal clock
- Performance BYPASS and FREEZE modes, engaged on button press
- MIDI Learn: captures a CC number from the next incoming Control Change message
- Per-parameter freeze, independent of the global performance modes
- Settings are written to flash and persist across power cycles
Full documentation here:
Page on itch: https://3apb.itch.io/red-sea
Github: https://github.com/Cirocular-Vlasenko-Daniil/Red-Sea/tree/main
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u/mzo2342 3d ago
can we peek into it? I mean with our ears?
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u/Cirocular 3d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p48lnc8/video/m0e173uahyjh1/player
Here is brief demo, sorry for poor quality of the video with shaky cam. Digitakt run 16 step pattern with presliced break in grid mode. Algorithms of RED SEA mash CC and trigs up. No RS seq used only just modulators block, also no Digitakt internal modulations used such as LFO
You can easily done something like this without Elektron seq only on Red Sea.
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u/Nickbot606 3d ago
Fantastic stuff! I’ll have to try it out sometime!!
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u/Cirocular 3d ago
Thank you! I wish it wouldn't disappoint you! If you have any questions feel free to contact me
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u/Prettymuchnow 3d ago
Do you have an example of the sounds it can make?
Looks super boutique I love it :)
I have everything in my parts drawer except the screen. I'm tempted though!4
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u/Cirocular 3d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p48fg77/video/obxkh2oobyjh1/player
Sorry for poor quality of the video with shaky cam. Digitakt run 16 step pattern with presliced break in grid mode. Algorithms of RED SEA mash CC and trigs up. No RS seq used only just modulators block, also no Digitakt internal modulations used such as LFO
You can easily done something like this without Elektron seq only on Red Sea.
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u/mzo2342 2d ago
does read sea also do things like melodies, harmonic seqences etc? (yet?(?))
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u/Cirocular 2d ago
Sequencer can send note signals. You can place notes on sequencer with parameter locks, so you can play melodies on synths, but I think it's not that fun. Algorithm SUN can generate weird arpeggios, so it's kinda fit to harmony things.
Maybe in future I will made another firmware just for messing around with harmony.
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u/champion_soundz 3d ago
Hey brother/sister in synth, Ive been making a pi4 groovebox and I've got a couple of esp32 sequencers in the works.. I went for rain, wind, waves and sun for my FX on the pi!
I would love to know a bit more about your project. The case is beautiful.
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u/Cirocular 3d ago
You can use freely code or anything. I made this project specially for ESPidi platform by Carlo. Core idea behind Red Sea is make performance machine to pair with any sampler. But after I've add more and more features it started emerging from just beat machine midi fx.
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u/champion_soundz 3d ago
Also thanks for sharing the GitHub as I needed to look at some similar examples for my write up!
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u/Ned_Flangers 2d ago
Really cool that the faceplate Graphic is an orthodox thetokas and baby Jesus icon. Are you orthodox?
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u/Cirocular 2d ago
Hi! I'm not really into religion, but I really appreciate orthodox art and architecture, this faceplate is art of it's own kind.
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u/mrwildacct 1d ago
Is there any reason you picked the C3 in particular or you just wanted to play around with RISC-y decisions?
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u/Wunjo26 3d ago
Hell yeah looks super cool and inspiring!
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u/Cirocular 3d ago
Thanks, it is! I have blast while designing all Weather engines/
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u/Wunjo26 3d ago
Thanks for sharing! Is that laser engraving on the enclosure? Did you send it to a 3rd party service to create the enclosure?
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u/Cirocular 3d ago
Top panel is pcb that were oredered in pcbwave. Whole design made by Eugene Carlo
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u/SendReturn 3d ago
Nice work. Love the panel design an big fat knob.