MiniDexed VS mt32-pi

https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed this is also interesting looking

GitHub - probonopd/MiniDexed: Dexed FM synthesizer similar to DX7 running on a bare metal Raspberry Pi (without a Linux kernel or operating system)

miniDexed OpenSource Project: https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed Sounds and Performances on GitHub.: https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed/discussions/414

All Sounds from miniDexed out of the Box. https://github.com/probonopd/MiniDexed

Dexed has been ported onto microprocessors in projects like MicroDexed, MicroDexed-touch both on Teensy and MiniDexed on Raspberry Pi.

Well don't just sit there...

MiniDexed is the Pi based TX816 (8 DX7s in one)

If you're the scrappy type, maybe have a gander over here.

I LOVE my Vortex 2. Seriously, go that way. Play with Ableton, do the daw thing, or get any cheaper used polyphonic desktop synth like the Modal Skulpt (terrible build quality and support, but a great synth) a Korg Volca, or (if you're feeling frisky and already have a Raspberry Pi) check out the MiniDEXED project on GitHub for a real treat! You can totally go monophonic instead, but I think the keytar lends itself more to polyphony. Also, the Vortex is highly flexible and programmable, so if you want to, say, have one synth for bass, another for lead, and maybe even have a little drum machine hooked up, you could still play all that at the same time. JOIN US.

I have just seen https://github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pi but it doesn't seem as easy to play with and well-documented as the other software I've used.

Cool system. I'd see if you can get a hold of a Roland MT-32 type synth. If your sound card has a daughterboard connector (it does, top right corner) you can get a Serdaco Wavetable board which would let you have generalMIDI output. An external MT-32 or a mt32-pi will also greatly improve your music output.

Regardless the best option is a MT32-pi solution. https://github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pi/wiki/Custom-hardware

I think MT-32 and SC-55, at least, are wildly overpriced for what they are from a music perspective, thanks to the retro gaming bubble. If you want to mess around with one, I would recommend checking out mt32-pi. In addition to the extremely limited MT-32 sound palette, it can also load soundfonts, which really opens things up a lot.

Check out Mini-Dexed and MT32-Pi. I use both and they're great. They are built on the bare-metal "circle" platform, so they don't run on top of linux (so no faffing about with JACK routing, etc.).

its a CJMCU 5102 DAC Board, which is one of the supported soundcards. You can use the internal headphone jack of the Pi as well, however it only supports 12bit PWM audio there, which is usable but has a lot of artifacts and I would not recommend therefore

You can turn a Raspberry Pi into a Yamaha DX7 using MiniDexed or a Roland MT-32 using mt32-pi (which also loads soundfonts via FluidSynth). I use both of these regularly. They're great. Both work with USB MIDI controllers with no additional hardware required and boot headlessly in a few seconds to work like a true instrument.