Portable DIY Teensy Synth

Contributors: Chowdah

Final Thoughts

I hope this project has helped show off the capabilities of the Teensy 4.1, and inspired you to build something — whether musical, Teensy-based, or entirely different. You can find more of my writing here on SparkFun, along with Techadjacent.io, where I discuss technology, making, and... adjacent subjects, like my double-hurricane experience mentioned earlier! Additional build notes:

First, note that this should be considered a prototype, not a finished product. It's a lot of fun to play, but your results may vary and build at your own risk. If you decide to construct your own, below are a few more tips/tricks/notes that you might keep in mind to increase the chances of success:

• The Leftmost White Switch - may intersect the red power switch – I had to rotate the bottom of the button clockwise to avoid interference
• Use zip-ties and possibly heat-shrink – as strain relief methods
• Feed wires – through hole in USB breakout before connecting as a strain relief
• Rigid Case – While the case that I have is sufficient with the 3D-printed reinforcement fixture, a stronger case would help keep things even steadier during jam sessions. Note that the reinforcement fixture that I ultimately used and listed is an expanded version of what’s shown in the video.
• USB Power Bank - Many USB batteries go to sleep without any current draw, including the one listed. With this particular supply, you have to press a button on its side to wake it. When restarted, it typically resets once after a few seconds. It does not provide power when plugged in and charging. While rare, some power banks can provide power when plugged in, a feature known as pass-through charging.
• Lockable Teensy 4.1 – was used in this project, which was unintentional and shouldn’t affect the build process or functionality versus a standard 4.1 (unless you want to secure your code).