Componental Dubby is an ARM-equipped Open-source Beat Station
An open-source electronic instrument.
4,7 / 5,0 | 
Componental Dubby is a quadrophonic instrument with customizable algorithms and support for Rust, C++, Arduino, gen, and Pure Data.
The fledgling Danish company, Componental has taken a bold approach with Dubby. Rather than building a finite music-making tool, Dubby can be transformed from a synth to a sampler, sequencer, or effects processor to fit the unique demands of each user.
Componental Dubby
Designed with high-quality parts, Dubby is built to last with custom knobs and buttons, as well as an acrylic finish that comes in a range of different colours.
Dubby’s quadraphonic engine offers 24-bit 96 kHz AC-coupled processing, giving you an immersive 4-channel surround environment for audio exploration.
The interface is centered around a high-res OLED display, with a collection of buttons, a push encoder, and an XY joystick somewhat reminiscent of the SEGA Game Gear.
With its multiplatform support, the Dubby can use algorithms from Rust, C++, Arduino, gen (Max by Cycling ’74), and Pure Data. The term versatile is a vast understatement here, as the possibilities are virtually limitless.
Program and share your own algorithms
Although not every musician is a programmer, the idea seems to be leaning toward creating algorithms and sharing them with the rest of the Dubby community. While you might not find the exact tool you’re after, Dubby still has the possibility to have features beyond the reach of other more traditional instruments.
The unit powers via a standard smartphone charger, which means you can also use it with a portable powerbank. In addition, connectivity includes 2 analogue inputs and 2 outputs, MIDI, and USB-C for both MIDI and data transfer.
For processing, Dubby uses an ARM Cortex-M7 MCU, clocked at 480MHz. Meanwhile, it has 8 MB of external flash memory and 64 MB SDRAM, providing up to 10-minute audio buffers.
Overall, it does look like an inspiring device to dive into for different creative spark. To get you started, Dubby comes with a preloaded algorithm.
This allows you to choose from a dub delay, acid bassline generator, quad panner, saturator, and a few others. What’s more, you can have a custom algorithm developed by Componental, just for your Dubby.
Pricing and availability:
The limited pre-release edition is currently available for order from the Componental store for kr 2500, which is just over $360.
More about the Componental Dubby:
- Official Product Page
- More about Open-source
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