Yoshimi Pi

[Folderol]

I've been investigating a slightly different, extremely lightweigh OS version for a while now, and have reached the point where it's a definite improvement. It is snappier in operation and can handle graphics quite a bit better, even supporting a Chromium browser.

Also it can run with the network continuously enabled, and auto-detecting when it has a connection, without any loss of performance. From cold (regardless of the network state) it takes 22 seconds to reach the desktop, and 26 seconds if set to autostart Yoshimi.

I haven't yet got it to auto-manage USB sticks, they can be a bit tricky when you're working from scratch

I've also been adding other utilities to it. There is a MIDI arpeggiator, a MIDI router (which can also modify incomming CC etc). Also a lightweight sequencer. As well as the very lightweight Audacious music player, it will run the Audacity recorder/editor/player.

I don't have a full-fat YoshimiPi to test on yet, just the basic Pi 4, but if anyone is feeling a bit brave and doesn't mind opening the box, I can send a programmed SD card for a tenner (the cost of a mid range 16G card).

P.S.
This will also have Version 1.7.2 of Yoshimi

[Eddy Deegan]

Money is in your account Will, along with an extra fiver for postage and shoe leather

[Folderol]

That was 'kin quick!
I should be able to get that sorted in the next day or two.
Things at folderol towers have got 'interesting' ... again.
My office machine has gone down most emphatically this time. Currently it can't even read a DVD so I'm working on my music machine using backups. I'm not sure how much damage has been done to the disk drives, but I'll pull them and stick them in a usb header and try and read the data off them to this machine.

The good news is that I do now have two working Pi SD cards. Just the quick document on them that's out of date.

[BJG145]

My office machine has gone down most emphatically this time. Currently it can't even read a DVD.

DVD? At least it hasn't run out of Tipp-Ex paper.

[Folderol]

If that was supposed to be humour it failed.
good morning.

[Folderol]

Issues now resolved. No YP images were harmed in the process

[Folderol]

For anyone wanting to upgrade their YP to V1.7.2, the following is what you need to do.

In the Apps directory, double click on the NetControl Icon, and enable the network.
Shutdown and restart the unit (obviously with a network lead plugged in).
Stop Yoshimi itself, if you have it set to autorun.
Click on the Terminal Icon, and wait for the prompt to appear.
Type in the following line:
cd /home/pi/Software/yoshimi/build

The prompt will change to reflect this.
Type in the following:
git pull

You'll see a lot of text running past. When it stops type:
make

There will be a lot more text. Only if there are no errors reported, type:
sudo make install

When this has finished, go back to the NetControl app, and disable the network again.
Shut the unit down and restart it.

Enjoy your shiny new Yoshi Pi

[Folderol]

A shout out to our happy owners
One of Yoshimi's little band of helpers has started developing a Yoshimi Pi website, so I'd be very grateful for any comments, short reviews and/or photos.
These would of course be acknowledged in whatever way you prefer.

If anyone can also produce a video that would be fantastic. I've a feeling the Internet Archive can host videos these days, and if so, I'd prefer to post these there (or make downloadable links) Youtube is getting really aggressive with adds and other intrusions

Also, a reminder.
There is still YP003 available at the original price of £260. It will be updated with the latest Yoshimi improvements too.

[Martin Walker]

Excellent news Will!

Looking forward to viewing the website when it's up and running, and I daresay I can provide some feedback and maybe even a tiny bit of user content in due course.

Martin

[Folderol]

Just an update.
Website could be up by Monday, but could still do with photos and or reviews.

[Folderol]

Just an update.
Website could be up by Monday, but could still do with photos and or reviews.

Ummm...

[Folderol]

Withe the help of people here, and some of Yoshimi's little band of helpers we now have a temporary hidden site here.

There are a couple of working links, but for fairly obvious reasons it can't go public yet.

[Drew Stephenson]

Site is looking nice, clean and simple - very modern layout with the full-width images and simple scroll.

I know nowt about the synth so I can't comment on that but I have taken the liberty of suggesting a couple of things from a quick proof-read:
- Typo on the start of the third paragraph though, extra 'is' in the first few words.
- Para 4, sentence two, would probably read better as "Everything is powered by a single standard IEC power cable so there's no risk of losing the interconnect leads.
- Para 5, last sentence, the opening phrase could be simplified to 'A single button switches the unit off and on, and...' etc.
- Para 7, you say it can be run as a single sound source, that implies (to me) an 'or' something else option? Is that what's covered in the next paragraph? If so i'd probably start that with 'Or you can...' etc.

Other things that might be nice to know:
- Portability is obviously a key factor here, so including dimensions of the box and screen would be good.
- It ships with 1.7.2 or later, is it possible for the user to update this when new versions are released?
- If I place an order and you're currently out of stock, how long might I be waiting to for the next batch?

Might be worth adding a picture in there somewhere with a keyboard (piano rather than computer) just to make it completely obvious that this is a musical instrument - for anyone who doesn't know what Yoshimi is, lands on the page and just scans quickly down. At the moment you could look at those pictures and assume it's actually a DAW-in-a-box* or something like that.

Feel free to ignore some, all or none of the above at your personal pleasure.

* Your next project?

[Folderol]

Thanks Drew.
Points noted, and a revision in place

P.S.
With some of the extra software bits I've been adding to the one I've got half built it's not far off a DAW

[Eddy Deegan]

Sent you a PM Will, and I'll follow up tomorrow!

[Folderol]

The site (same link above) now has considerable refinements based on comments here and elsewhere

[Martin Walker]

Well done Will - looking good!

I'm about to visit Mitt to hopefully sort out his PC audio problems, and I'll probably lose my Talk Talk internet connection some time tomorrow until Tuesday, so here are a few quick comments as they occur to me.

In the specifications, it might be more informative to add:

2 USB 3.0 ports (typically used to plug in computer keyboard & USB MIDI if required)
2 USB 2.0 ports (for inbuilt audio & computer mouse if required)

12V DC out @2A (powers Yoshimi Pi itself, plus any external gear connected to USB ports)

Need to dash now, and will hopefully be able to provide more detail when I return home, but hope this helps!

Martin

[Folderol]

Eddy has provided a fantastic review - now added to the site here.
Ideally there two others I would like to ask for (even if just a brief single paragraph) . Firstly from someone relatively unfamiliar with synthesisers, and secondly someone into sound design who can compare and contrast the Yoshimi Pi with other synths from that viewpoint.

[Folderol]

For the intrepid people, there is now Yoshimi version 1.7.3 available.
I've marked this as a maintenance release. It has no new features, but several bugfixes, and underlying code cleanups that should marginally improve performance.
I recommend updating fairly soon, as there are some (nice) changes coming in a few weeks time.

P.S.
Just a reminder that YP003 is still available, and I have enough bits knocking around for YP008 and possibly YP009

[Folderol]

Just come across some odd behaviour from half-built Pi 008.

If left for several days unused, then the next time it is started it gets to the desktop then immediately shuts down. Wait a few seconds then try again and it's fine. I didn't seen this with any of the others, so it suggests a dodgy timing cap. However, has anyone else had this happen?

If so I may need to revise the design (hope not).

[Eddy Deegan]

Definitely not seen that behaviour with mine Will. As with most of my studio gear there are periods of time when they don't get used and they've never had a problem booting reliably (and staying there) at any point!

[Martin Walker]

+1 with Eddy - mine boots up perfectly every time (just tried it yet again, and no probs)

Martin

[Folderol]

Thanks folks. That's most reassuring.
I'll leave it for now (doing 'other' things), but I'll sort it later.

[mutant0407]

Hi Will,

Hope you and yours are all well and sane!

Did you get my email a from a couple of days ago? I am super interested in getting hold of a YP....

Stephen