The Pianocade is a synthesizer designed to sound, look, and feel like vintage arcade games. It’s easy for people who want to dive right in, powerful and feature-rich for people who want to tinker, and fun to play for everyone.
Synthesizer
With synthesis hardware based off of classic gaming systems and a 128-note range, the Pianocade lets you perform the retro sounds you want, live.
MIDI
With traditional 5-pin MIDI and USB MIDI, you can use the Pianocade to control other instruments, or use external sequencers and controllers to play the Pianocade.
Customizable
Program the the sounds, customize the controls, decorate the case, hack the electronics. Make your Pianocade your Pianocade!
Open source
All of the Pianocade hardware, firmware, and software is open source and designed for easy hackability. If you’re really ambitious, build your own!
Community
Share your settings, sound patches, hacks, and music with a community of Pianocaders.
Technical specifications:
Electronics
- Powered by an Atmel AT90USB646e
- Monophonic square-wave synth with 4 bit digital-to-analogue converter
- All microcontroller pins broken out on PCB
Inputs and outputs
- MIDI In, Out, and Through
- USB MIDI (experimental)
- 5 watt internal speaker
- 1/4″ Amplified headphone out
- 1/4″ Line out
- Power via DC adapter or USB (automatically selected)
Enclosure
- Authentic arcade buttons and joystick
- Beautiful custom enclosure in powder-coated aluminum, designed by Andrew Kilpatrick
- By popular demand: strap mounts, so you can use it as a keytar!
- Dimensions
- One octave: 15.3″ x 6.3″ x 3.6″ (38.8cm x 16cm x 9.1cm)
- Two octave: 24.9″ x 6.3″ x 3.6″ (63.2cm x 16cm x 9.1cm)