Soulbrixofficial’s GrooveDock: A Synth That Roars

Soulbrixofficial has always found DAWless gear appealing for its hands-on creativity and focus on performance. However, he felt restricted by the existing gear market’s limitations and high costs. Enter the GrooveDock—a custom-designed, 3D-printed MPC brought to life as a companion to DAWless setups. Using a €100 Mini PC bought from AliExpress, a 10-inch touchscreen, and a Focusrite Scarlett Solo for audio interfacing, Soulbrixofficial supercharged his setup. Built in collaboration with the Portuguese company Planeta 3D, this isn’t just a piece of gear; it’s a statement.

The GrooveDock maintains the heart of a mini PC while adding touchscreen capabilities to elevate its usability. While integrating gear he already had, like the audio interface, he managed to venture into a 3D design project to create a solid custom case. Despite a prototype with mismatched colours, dubbed “a block of cheese,” the design stands tall in form and function. Soulbrixofficial’s foray into crafting a DAWless companion exemplifies the engineer’s resilience and curiosity.

This project isn’t just about making music; it’s about revolutionizing how electronic artists can interact with their gear. What started with a mini PC now takes shape as a comprehensive unit that could redefine DAWless workflows everywhere.

In a world where DAWless purism often frowns upon using a DAW, Soulbrixofficial defies conventions. He introduces the GrooveDock as a device that transforms a DAW into a bridge between hardware and software. This cunning blend doesn’t dilute the DAWless spirit but enriches it by offering new dimensions of control and performance. Imagine controlling software synths straight from hardware gear, with slick feeds of processed audio recirculating in perfect harmony.

The GrooveDock excels at creating an interactive space where virtual and physical sounds blend with almost no latency. Thanks to the Mini PC’s powerful capabilities, it serves as a USB audio host for multiple USB MIDI devices—an epic setup for any live performer. Originally intended to be screenless, the need for a touchscreen emerged during conception, eradicating peripheral clutter like keyboards or mice.

Through his meticulously designed enclosure, Soulbrixofficial ensured the system’s ultimate robustness and managed to keep thermals at bay. The addition of a touchscreen revolutionized how parameters are controlled, making the setup intuitive and immersive. This segment of GrooveDock’s evolution highlights an artistic ingenuity, where the phrase “controlled chaos” becomes more than just a metaphor.

Boiling down the madness to pure sonic delight, Soulbrixofficial throws the GrooveDock into the live jam cauldron. Armed with a Digitone for drums and a Behringer Grind for bass, he showcases how even complex setups can remain streamlined and responsive. The quintessential rumble of beats, married to a wavetable synth powered by Ableton Live, forges a seamless bridge between digital precision and raw hardware power.

Strikingly, the system displays virtual touch manipulations of Ableton’s parameters, manifesting as real-time X-Y interactions. This is control at your fingertips—straight out of a sci-fi set, cradled in a DIY embrace. Despite Ableton’s limitations in touch-friendliness, the GrooveDock navigates its quirks with finesse, ensuring a dynamic workflow for artists without disrupting creativity.

Soulbrixofficial isn’t just jamming for the sake of it; this session is a practical showcase of GrooveDock’s abilities. By intertwining hardware’s tactile response with digital versatility, the GrooveDock offers a revolutionary approach to DAWless setups that turns performance into exploration. Bobbing your head yet? You should be!