A London-based software engineer, Alastair Roberts, has crafted a unique gift for his daughter: a 3D-printed synthesizer, named Alma. This innovative creation is designed to be a toddler-friendly musical instrument, featuring an onboard synth module and a speaker. The prototype includes sliders for tempo, volume, scale, pitch, and instrument selection, allowing for a four-step continuous loop of notes. Each slider controls a single note, which can be adjusted in pitch. The device also boasts an OLED screen panel with visual feedback and a dancing panda animation, all integrated into a custom printed circuit board and 3D-printed body. It runs on three AA batteries, making it portable and accessible for young musicians. The inspiration behind Alma came from Roberts' daughter's first birthday gift, a Montessori activity board with switches and LEDs. This reminded him of the control surface of a synthesizer, prompting him to create a musical version that is simple, tactile, and creative, without the need for holding down buttons to sustain sounds. With no prior hardware experience, Roberts embarked on a learning journey, delving into microcontrollers, CAD, PCB design, and 3D printing. The pink version of Alma, showcased in the demo, is a personal gift to his daughter, but Roberts aims to produce a limited batch if there is sufficient interest from the public. After observing children and adults, both musical and non-musical, interacting with the synth, Roberts believes there is potential for a real product. He envisions Alma as a playful gateway to electronic music for older kids and possibly even adults, with further development focusing on a better synth engine, audio outputs, and the ability to connect multiple units together.
