The World's Smallest Synth - Ingenious or Pointless?

19 Dec 2023 by Rob Puricelli |

3,6 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Mitxela Smallest USB-C Synth · Source: Mitxela

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Ignoring the maxim of “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should”, Tim Alex Jacobs’ quest to build the world’s smallest synth ever continues!

The World’s Smallest Synth

Mitxela Smallest USB-C Synth

The world is full of amazing yet seemingly pointless stuff. Wasps, for example. Or <insert name of least favourite politician here>. And I am sure there are many examples in the world of music technology. However, Tim Alex Jacobs does not see this as a stop sign. No, he sees this as an opportunity to stretch his grey matter and flabbergast ours.

(Not so) hot on the heels of his last attempt at creating the world’s smallest synth comes the ‘Smallest USB-C MIDI Synth’. You see, this isn’t Tim’s first foray into the world of synthesizer miniaturisation. He’s got form in these parts. But this might just be his biggest (or smallest) success yet.

Mitxela Smallest USB-C Synth

This tiny unit is more USB-C plug than anything else. On the other end is a teeny-tiny piezo buzzer. In between is where the magic happens. Tim has very cleverly designed a PCB that is the same diameter as the buzzer upon which sits the USB-C plug on one side and a 32-bit RISC-V controller.

A Chip, A Plug and A Buzzer

Tim has been able to code some USB-MIDI functionality onto this chip and then mount the USB-C plug directly onto it. I refer you to Tim’s excellent website for the exact details, most of which fly WAY over my head! This then attaches to the piezo buzzer and hey presto! A functional MIDI synth is born.

Now, to rein in your expectations, this is limited in its sonic capability. Tim goes out of his way to clarify this. It can produce a single, monophonic square wave voice. It serves almost no practical use whatsoever in the professional music world. Come to think of it, not in any music world. But let’s not forget that from tiny seeds grow mighty oaks. Who knows where clever development such as this could lead?

Mitxela Smallest USB-C Synth

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Looking at Tim’s website, awash as it is with utterly brilliant and similarly bonkers projects, it could lead to a great many things!

Check out Tim’s excellent video and make sure you watch it all. The finale is utterly joyful and equally silly.

Bravo Tim!

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Mitxela Smallest USB-C Synth: Mitxela
Mitxela Smallest USB-C Synth: Mitxela
Mitxela Smallest USB-C Synth: Mitxela

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5 responses to “The World’s Smallest Synth – Ingenious or Pointless?”

Jason says:

19 December 2023 at 18:35

Shouldn’t be long before Behringer clone this lol

Ed says:

19 December 2023 at 22:04

“Ingenious or Pointless?”

I vote pointless.

iixorb says:

19 December 2023 at 23:51

“Pointlessly Ingenious” I’d say 🙂 Not sure if it’s Digital or Analogue… or neither, or both?! Could get some interesting stereo dynamics and harmonics going with, say, 10 or more on both your left and right hand side. Bravo, that man!

die beastie boys says:

20 December 2023 at 19:31

A few better options would be to give kazoos to 20 daycare kids, take a tour of an apiary, or purposefully get stuck in the middle lane during rush-hour traffic. If there’s ever a lull in the chorus of honking, you can toot your horn to get it started up again. These would be pure, authentic, acoustic experiences, and totally unrivaled by any synthesized approximation.

Sardine Tina says:

27 December 2023 at 11:29

Great stuff. Try recording the sound of vowel movements – as a bonus they smell great too 🤪