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SquishBox User Guide

27. Mar. 2021

Contents

Overview....................................................................................................................................................1
Hardware....................................................................................................................................................2
Usage..........................................................................................................................................................3

Navigating Patches/Menus....................................................................................................................3
Main (Right Button) Menu....................................................................................................................4
System (Left Button) Menu...................................................................................................................4

Wireless Connection..................................................................................................................................5
Editing Files...............................................................................................................................................6

Bank Files..............................................................................................................................................6
Config File.............................................................................................................................................9

Updating Software.....................................................................................................................................9
Technical Notes........................................................................................................................................10
Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................................................10
Credits......................................................................................................................................................10
License.....................................................................................................................................................10

Overview

The SquishBox is a synthesizer running on a Raspberry Pi built into a stompbox. It will take MIDI 
input from controllers plugged into its USB ports and output instrument sounds on its 1/4” outputs. The
sounds come from

 soundfonts

, a widely-available sample-based sound file format that can contain 

multiple instruments (referred to as

 presets

).

The buttons on the SquishBox allow you to switch between 

patches

, which activate one or more 

instruments and can also specify how the keys, buttons, knobs, and pads on your controller should be 
routed to the instruments, turn on effects, send CC and SYSEX messages, and more. Patches are stored 
in 

bank

 files, and the number of patches and banks you can have is more or less unlimited. A selection 

of soundfonts and bank files are included, and you can write your own bank files and add soundfonts to
suit your specific performance needs.

SquishBox User Manual

page 1

Summary of Contents for SquishBox

Page 1: ...The sounds come from soundfonts a widely available sample based sound file format that can contain multiple instruments referred to as presets The buttons on the SquishBox allow you to switch between...

Page 2: ...with a long thin cross head screwdriver USB Connections You can plug up to four MIDI controllers into the SquishBox s USB ports Controllers should be auto detected when plugged in even after the unit...

Page 3: ...isible to other operating systems Usage Navigating Patches Menus Tap the buttons to switch between patches Long press hold 2sec the right button for the main menu long press the right for system relat...

Page 4: ...make them permanent System Left Button Menu Power Down To protect the memory card of the SquishBox this option should be used before unplugging Allow 30 seconds for complete shutdown MIDI Devices This...

Page 5: ...your computer and enter the IP address in the address bar The file manager login is squishbox and the password is geekfunklabs You can use the file manager to upload new soundfonts or banks or edit yo...

Page 6: ...ribed in plain text bank files A patch consists of a batch of settings that are sent to Fluidsynth when the patch is selected This includes soundfont bank and program settings for any number of MIDI c...

Page 7: ...starting with channel 1 the way they are on virtually all synthesizers controllers DAWs etc This is in contrast to FluidSynth which numbers channels beginning with 0 Patcher handles all of the transl...

Page 8: ...n the to range par2 controls how the parameter values are modified e g the note velocity or continuous controller value fluidsettings a mapping of FluidSynth settings to values cc a list of control ch...

Page 9: ...also in YAML format It sets the root location of banks soundfonts and effects plugins the current bank file and FluidSynth settings The config file has the structure shown below soundfontdir root pat...

Page 10: ...x php to something like index php block You can set your own unique password and port for the remote link feature To do this add a remote_passkey item with a six character password and or remote_port...

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