From 76a94b629b90feb41c56ba8b4bd47f2ff5a689e4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Me Here Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 07:42:15 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] =?UTF-8?q?Redesign=20PM-=C2=B5=20Micro=20as=20an=20inline?= =?UTF-8?q?=20practice=20bar?= MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Reworks the Micro per the new brief: a long, narrow extruded-aluminium bar you patch into your signal instead of a little box. - Better display: amber 4-char 14-segment (Adafruit font) that shows BPM *and* short track names, replacing the 3-digit 7-segment. Off-segments kept very dim so the lit digits read clearly. - Roller instead of knob: a recessed, clickable horizontal thumb-roller — roll = tempo, press = start/stop, hold + roll = switch track. - New form/I-O: 1/4" TRS in on one end; USB-C + 1/4" TRS out on the other; USB-C or 2×AA power (battery gauge on the face). Click is summed into the signal in the analog domain (+ a small monitor speaker). info-micro, concepts and the landing card updated to match; BOM reworked (analog path + 2 jacks + 2×AA + 14-seg) → ≈ $38. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) --- concepts.html | 4 +- index.html | 4 +- info-micro.html | 47 ++++++---- micro.html | 244 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------ 4 files changed, 188 insertions(+), 111 deletions(-) diff --git a/concepts.html b/concepts.html index 5f6bad4..44cc69d 100644 --- a/concepts.html +++ b/concepts.html @@ -93,8 +93,8 @@
Hardware

PM‑µ — Micro

-

Minimal home‑practice unit: one push scroll‑encoder, a red 7‑segment LED, a speaker and USB‑C. - Spin = tempo · press = start/stop · hold + spin = switch track.

+

Long, narrow inline practice bar: instrument in one end, amp/headphones out the other, click mixed in. + Clickable thumb‑roller, amber 14‑segment display, USB‑C or 2×AA.

Open ↗Info & BOM ⓘ
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html index c39823d..b4e5a00 100644 --- a/index.html +++ b/index.html @@ -110,8 +110,8 @@
Hardware

PM‑µ — Micro

-

Minimal home‑practice unit: one push scroll‑encoder, a red 7‑segment LED, a speaker and USB‑C. - Spin = tempo · press = start/stop · hold + spin = switch track.

+

Long, narrow inline practice bar: instrument in one end, amp/headphones out the other, click mixed in. + Clickable thumb‑roller, amber 14‑segment display, USB‑C or 2×AA.

Open ↗Info & BOM ⓘ
diff --git a/info-micro.html b/info-micro.html index b4d778f..bc5ba11 100644 --- a/info-micro.html +++ b/info-micro.html @@ -48,42 +48,53 @@

PM‑µ — Micro

-
HardwareHome practice~$28 one‑off
-

The smallest possible polymeter unit for daily practice: one dial and a red LED, nothing to - learn. Spin for tempo, press to start/stop, hold & spin to flip through grooves — that's it.

+
HardwareInline practice bar~$38 one‑off
+

A long, narrow practice bar you patch into your signal: instrument in one end, amp or + headphones out the other, the click mixed in. One clickable thumb‑roller does everything, an amber + 14‑segment display shows tempo and track names, and it runs off USB‑C or 2×AA.

+ data-patch="v1;t120;kick:4;snare:4=.X.X;hatClosed:4/2" data-height="240">

Live widget (embedded). Open the full Micro page ↗ · embed this

Designed for

-

The practice desk. No screen to read, no menus — a single depressable scroll‑encoder does everything - (spin = tempo, press = start/stop, hold + spin = switch track) and a bright 7‑segment LED shows the BPM - (or the track number while you switch). It runs off any USB‑C charger, plays through a small built‑in - speaker, and ships with the editor's grooves built in. Synth voices only — no analog audio path.

+

Practising plugged in — at the desk or on the go. It sits inline in your signal chain: a 1/4″ TRS input on + one end, USB‑C and a 1/4″ TRS output on the other, with the metronome click summed into your signal in the + analog domain (and a small monitor speaker). No menus — a single clickable thumb‑roller does it all + (roll = tempo, press = start/stop, hold + roll = switch track), and the amber 14‑segment display shows the + BPM or the track name. Powered from USB‑C or 2×AA for portability; ships with the editor's grooves built in.

Bill of materials

-

Rough parts list — a USB‑C‑powered RP2040 practice unit. Ballpark one‑off prices (USD); cheaper at volume.

+

Rough parts list — a portable RP2040 inline bar (USB‑C or 2×AA) with analog click injection. + Ballpark one‑off prices (USD); cheaper at volume.

- + - - - - - + + + + + + + + + + - - - + + +
PartQty~$
Brain & display
RP2040 board, USB‑C — e.g. Waveshare RP2040‑Zero14
3‑digit 7‑segment LED (red) + driver — MAX7219 / shift register, or direct GPIO13
4‑char 14‑segment alphanumeric LED + I²C driver — amber; HT16K33. Shows BPM & track names14
Control
Detented push encoder (EC11) + knob — tempo / press / hold‑spin12
Audio
MAX98357A I²S amp + 8 Ω 2 W speaker — synth click (no analog in)14
Power & build
USB‑C bus power (on the board) + PWR LED11
Clickable thumb‑roller — EC11 encoder + roller wheel · roll / press / hold‑roll12
Audio — analog click injection
PCM5102A I²S DAC — line‑level click13
Dual op‑amp, NE5532 / OPA2134 — hi‑Z instrument buffer + summing mixer11
PAM8302A mono Class‑D + 8 Ω speaker — monitor14
Connectors & power
1/4″ jack — Inst In (TS) · Out (TRS)22
USB‑C bus power (5 V) + PWR LED — also carries config11
2×AA holder + boost/management + battery gauge — AA → 3.3/5 V for portable use13
Build
Custom PCB (or perfboard)14
Passives, headers, wire—2
Small aluminium enclosure — bead‑blasted, matte‑black anodised18
Total (one‑off)≈ $28
Passives, headers, wire — R/C for the analog stage + decoupling—2
Extruded aluminium bar enclosure + end caps — bead‑blasted, matte‑black anodised18
Total (one‑off)≈ $38
+

Like the Stage, the click is summed in the analog domain: a high‑impedance + buffer of the 1/4″ instrument input is mixed with the DAC's click and sent to the 1/4″ output and the monitor + amp — your instrument is never re‑digitised (no added latency).

VARASYS · Simplifying Complexity — v0.0.1-dev
diff --git a/micro.html b/micro.html index 2e9539d..1461d29 100644 --- a/micro.html +++ b/micro.html @@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ })();