Synth Labs Solo Macropad

Synth Labs Solo
A IIDX-inspired Macropad




Interest Form:
Please fill out this form if you are interested in this macropad - doing so will help inform purchasing logistics.
https://forms.gle/7LzZujByGWDW1kgy5


Inspiration:
The Synth Labs Solo is a 7 key macropad with a rotary encoder. It is inspired Beatmania IIDX cabinets, and is intended to be usable as a mini-controller for those games on PC simulators. The design also draws inspiration from turntables, such as those from Pro-Ject audio.




Details:
The Solo is a sandwich-mount macropad. It is designed so that it can be assembled with the keys either on the left or right side of the knob.

Switches will be hotswappable. Rotary encoder will also be hotswappable with any Bourns EC11 encoder.

All 7 keys and the rotary encoder will be programmable in QMK / VIA. Rotary encoder will show up in VIA as 3 mappable keys (representing CW turn, CCW turn, and click-in).

What's Included
Currently, I'm intending on selling this as an entire pre-assembled built-to-order macropad, including:
- 1x Aluminum Base Chassis
- 1x Aluminum Bottom Chassis
- 1x Brass or Aluminum Knob
- 1x Brass Plate
- 1x Aluminum or Polycarbonate Sidewall
- 7x SLK 1.5u blank keycaps
- 7x Switches (options will depend on what I can get my hands on)
- 1x Bourns EC11 rotary encoder (detent w/ button, detentless w/ button, detent w/o button, or detentless w/o button)
- 1x Custom-fit carry case
- 1x Braided USB-C to USB-A cable
- 1x set of Poron case foams
- 1x PCB

A cheaper, unassembled kit, which will not include switches, keycaps, carry case, or the cable, may be available depending on demand.




Color Options
- The Base chassis will be available in E-White, Dark Gray Ano, or Silver
- The Bottom chassis will be available in E-White or Dark Gray Ano
- The Sidewall will be available in E-White or Dark Gray Anodized Aluminum, or Frosted Clear Polycarbonate
- The Plate will be available in PVD Silver or PVD Rose Gold
- The Knob will be available in PVD Silver (brass), PVD Rose Gold (brass), E-White (aluminum), or Dark Gray Ano (aluminum)
- Keycaps will be available in White or Dark Gray


Pricing/Purchasing Logistics
- Currently, the estimated target price is ~ $150.
- # of units available is tentatively ~200 units total
- Results from the form will be used to determine quantities of color options

More details TBD.


Current Status / To-Do
I have done two rounds of prototypes. The first round went well - but I decided to make some aesthetic design changes and try out some more elaborate surface finishes. I have just received the second round - which I'm very pleased with - but does have some room for minor improvements on the e-white finish, which I plan to iterate on.

Here's a gallery with some quick photos of the prototypes:
https://imgur.com/a/0uoJcym

Will have some nicer photos when design/manufacturing choices are finalized.

These items still need to be finished:
- Determine purchasing model / logistics
- Update firmware to support flipping the layout in VIA
- Mold production for 1.5u SLK blank keycaps
- Working on finalizing the carry case design
- Packaging

More Renders:
https://imgur.com/a/s5TPInp

Discord
Join the Discord, if you'd like to follow with more frequent updates:
https://discord.gg/NGu9Xk3Ek7