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Piano Expander based on Pianotec and Odroid-N2

Revision as of 15:07, 11 June 2020 by B.Naegele (talk | contribs) (→‎Intention)

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First-Test-Setup-2.jpg

Intention

  • The intention behind this project was to bring the best piano emulation software together with the best fitted application processor module to build a real rugged high quality piano expander for stage usage.
  • While reading in the Pianoteq User Forum I have seen some interrest in running Pianoteq on Raspberry PI.
  • For my opinion the Raspberry Pi 4 is a nice application processor module, but it is really not good suited for audio applications. You have to add an expensive extension board for getting good audio performance.
  • Some other application-processor-modules (maker boards) are not so well knows as the Raspberry PI, but have sometimes better CPU performance and much better audio peripherals integrated on the silicon or on the board. Therefore there is no need for cost sensitive components to get a usable audio device.
  • The Hardkernel Odroid-N2 seems to be such a CPU board. It seems to have better CPU performance (6x ARM 64bit Cores running up to 1.8 GHz) in comparison to the Raspberry Pi 4 - is thermaly integrated into a well designed heatsink which prevents the cores from thermal throttling even at high cpu load.

odroid-N2.jpg Benchmark Odroid vs Raspberry-Pi.png

  • The benchmark shown on the picture above is without guarantee of correctness - it is so shown on the Hardkernels Odroid-C4-Web-Page. Always have in mind: it's a marketing picture!
  • In addition to that it is equiped with a high performance audio DAC.
  • So - why not using an Odroid-N2 in conjunction with Pianoteq 6 to design an High-Performance-Piano-Expander with as few as possible external components?

Hardware

The "Easy-Solution"

  • For those who don't want to have a robust "Stage-Solution" and for those who have an external HDMI-Monitor for desktop-usage there is the possibility to use the Odroid N2 module just out of the box with few additional cost.
  • This solution could look like this:

ODRO CASE N2 BK 01.jpg

  • The only additional components which I would recommend are:
  1. Odroid-N2 2G, about 80 Euro, e.g. at Pollin
  2. Odroid-N2 eMMC storage with min. 8GB, 17 Euro (better for flexibility is 16GB, 23 Euro), e.g. at Pollin
  3. Odroid-N2 Case, about 7 Euro e.g. at Pollin
  4. 12V/2.5A power-supply (maybe wall-socket adapter)
  5. Odroid-Batterie for the RTC (Real-Time-Clock), about 4 Euro e.g. at Pollin
  6. optional USB-to-MIDI adapter
  • That's it!
  • Compared to a Raspberry-Pi 4 where you need an additional HiFi audio board + heatsink + SD-card + power-supply + suitable housing + USB-to-MIDI-adapter you get a very cheaper and more performant solution for audio purposes.

The "Stage-Solution

  • If you want to use Pianoteq on stage it is reasonable to place the Odroid-N2 into a housing with an integrated Touch-Display. Such a solution will be described in this project.
  • This solution is just the solution that was the best for me - if you are interested in building something similar please feel free to use the components which you have in your component-pool.

Block Diagram V.0.3

Blockdiagram-Piano-Expander V.0.3.png

The Module "Odroid-N2"

The Power-Supply

  • description coming soon
  • If a single-supply solution is prefered you can use e.g. these Step-Down DC/DC-Controllers for the display:

Amazon: tinxi LM2596 DC-DC Step Down Spannungswandler Schaltregler + LED Spannungsanzeige or Amazon: DC-DC LM2596HV Buck Converter 5V-60V bis 1,25V-26V Step-down-Powermodul 48V 3V / 5V / 12V Spannungsregler Sunlera or similar....

The Headphone-Amplifiers

  • description coming soon

The 40-pin Expansion-Connector on the Odroid-N2

The MIDI-Interface

  • description coming soon
  • The MIDI-Breakout-Boards used on my Expander are based on this article in the Elektor-Magazin: MIDI I/O Breakout Board supports DIN and TRS connectors
  • Attention: Never try to drive the MIDI-Out directly from an Odroid-N2 GPIO-Pin!!! These Pins can only drive a load up to 2mA

Mechanical Design, still work in progress

Software, still work in progress

This tutorial will explain in detail how to setup the Operating System on an Odroid-N2, how to 
make the suitable change which are needed for running Pianoteq 6 and how to install and setup 
Pianoteq 6 Stage in a Odroid-N2. This process is very similar to the installation on a Raspberry PI.

Pianoteq 6 running on an Odroid-N2 is just one way of getting a standalone piano expander at 
high audio quality while keeping the price relatively inexpensive.

Operating System installation

  • it is planned to provide here a ready-to-use Operating-System-Image for download

Pianotec on Odroid-N2

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