VARASYS PM‑1 · as‑built (real components) Idealized ↗ Editor ↗
VARASYS PM‑1 Polymeter Player
PWR
2.0″ 320×240 IPS TFT (ST7789) — beat & subdivisions on‑screen
TEMPO
Prev
Play
Tap
Next
Trig In
Inst In
Out TRS
9V DC
USB-C
Trig in · 1/4″ inst pass‑through (click injected) · shared 1/4″ balanced‑TRS out · 9 V DC or USB‑C power

Load a configuration onto the device

Same firmware as the idealized unit — only the panel hardware differs. Paste a patch (e.g. v1;t120;kick:4;snare:4=.X.X;hatClosed:4/2), a set‑list code, or a #p=…/#sl=… link.

or pick a built-in or saved set list:

Bill of materials

Rough parts list for the device above — a pedalboard‑friendly RP2040 build (9 V DC or USB‑C) with analog click injection. Ballpark one-off prices (USD); cheaper at volume.

PartQty~$
Brain & display
RP2040 board, USB‑C — e.g. Waveshare RP2040‑Zero / Pico‑clone14
2.0″ 320×240 IPS TFT, ST7789 — SPI18
Controls
Arcade pushbutton, 24 mm — Prev · Next · Tap34
Arcade pushbutton, 30 mm — Play12
Detented encoder (EC11 / PEC12) + side‑mount thumb‑roller — recessed; nothing to snap off12
Audio — analog click injection
PCM5102A I²S DAC — line‑level click13
Dual op‑amp, NE5532 / OPA2134 — hi‑Z instrument buffer + summing mixer11
Balanced line driver, DRV134 — (or cross‑coupled op‑amp) → 1/4″ TRS out14
PAM8302A mono Class‑D + 8 Ω 2 W speaker — monitor14
Connectors & power
1/4″ jack — Inst In (TS) · Out (TRS) · Trig In (TS)33
USB‑C bus power (5 V) + PWR LED — same port carries config; no battery11
9 V DC pedal jack (2.1 mm centre‑neg) + 9 V→5 V buck + reverse‑polarity protect — pedalboard power13
Build
Custom PCB (or perfboard)15
Passives, headers, wire — R/C for the analog stage + decoupling3
Die‑cast aluminium enclosure (Hammond 1590‑style) — or folded stainless — pedal‑grade112
Total (one‑off)≈ $59

Audio is summed in the analog domain: the DAC's click is mixed with a high‑impedance buffer of the 1/4″ instrument input, then fed to the balanced line driver (1/4″ TRS out) and the monitor amp — so your instrument is never re‑digitised (no added latency).