BitByBit Synths

2nd prototype done! I've corrected the bugaboos so I think this might be what the production version ends up being. Wrote up a blog post about this on our website for folks that wanna know more: www.bitbybitsynths.com/2026/10/retr... #Pedal #GuitarPedal #RetrogradeOrbit #Delay #SampleCrusher

Whipped up a better 3D printed enclosure for the prototype! #RetrogradeOrbit #Delay #Pedal

First prototype fully assembled and working! New PCB revision is almost done but this version is fully functional (just with some workarounds) for my band-mate and a few other folks to test. I found a potential partner for making printed and cut enclosures too! #RetrogradeOrbit #Delay #Pedal

Retrograde Orbit testing has been a glorious success I would say! A few issues which will require another prototype PCB but generally it's kicking ass! Here's a peek at the next prototype PCB. #RetrogradeOrbit #Delay #Pedal #Guitar #Lofi #WaveBoy

(Dynamic volume warning) Behold! Retrograde Orbit! I need to make some tweaks to the firmware from the WaveBoy version and will deffo need a PCB revision for a few oopsies, but it's working pretty awesome for a first prototype! #RetrogradeOrbit #WaveBoy #Delay #Pedal

Initial power tests for #RetrogradeOrbit! No magic smoke came out and the voltages seem to be correct in the right places!

Not my cleanest prototype but here's the bottom half of Retrograde Orbit's PCB minus the jacks (and C8). I'll do initial power testing soon. I still need to start work on the pedal-specific firmware, but things are coming along well enough! #WaveBoy #RetrogradeOrbit #Pedal #PCB #Prototype

WaveBoy 0.72 firmware is now out: waveboy.bitbybitsynths.com/firmware/ Mostly a bugfix release. No more crackles when overdriving the input on Retrograde; re-implemented startup-where-you-left-off for many modules. To save the state of the current module, press left knob before power-off.

Latest MixTape PCBs came in! While I'm not 100% I felt well enough to put it all together and try it out! Sounds great, I think we have a winner! So much so I went ahead and made a ModularGrid listing for it: modulargrid.com/e/bitbybit-s... #MixTape #TapeDelay #Eurorack #Modular

Running a bit behind on 0.71. It's coming! I was fighting a small bomb going off in my mouth this week which ended up in a root canal which wiped me out for most of this week. It's not too far off though! #WaveBoy #Firmware #Soon

Speaking of MixTape, 2nd batch of prototypes have been ordered along with a few front panel options!

Whee Retrograde Orbit on the WaveBoy plus Mix Tape is a pretty wild combo!

Looking already at WaveBoy firmware 0.72. This will have the Retrograde Orbit fix though I want to also reintroduce starting up in the last module that was being used. This was removed for stability for refactoring but I'd like to bring it back.

WaveBoy 0.71 is now out! Details here: www.bitbybitsynths.com/2026/09/wave... In super brief, delay has been renamed to Retrograde Orbit (and works properly now); and Sampler patches have been reworked. #WaveBoy #Chiptune #Eurorack #Modular #Lofi #Sampler #Delay #RetrogradeOrbit

New blog post up with detailed information about the MixTape module: www.bitbybitsynths.com/2026/09/intr... #MixTape #BlogPost #Eurorack #Modular #TapeEcho

I'm using #WaveBoy in Jenny PWM mode for this!

MixTape in potato phone picture form. The final version is likely not going to have a green front panel or grey knobs. I haven't decided on the colors yet though. I'm quite excited for our first analog module and am very glad I was able to jam this into 4HP! #MixTape #TapeEcho #Eurorack

A few oops resistor substitutions but here's the first bake! #MixTape #Eurorack #Prototype #ReflowSoldering

Time to solder up a Mix Tape prototype!

The PCB fairy arrived and dropped off these goodies! #BitByColour #RetrogradeOrbit #MixTape #Prototypes

Playing around with a Video 8 camcorder. Mostly for seeing if this might be what we wanna do for the band's socials. But since I'm using a WB here, I thought I'd share. Video 8 onto tape, then played back on my Sony PWM CRT and re-recorded on my phone. #Video8 #Scanlines #WaveBoy #AnalogVideo

In addition to planned features for 0.71 of the #WaveBoy firmware, a couple bugs have been found with Retrograde Orbit (the delay mode), and the LFO which I'm working to sort out.

Been pretty productive with the upcoming projects, but with all that stuff ordered, now it's back to working on 0.71 firmware for WaveBoy! Wanting to finish up the JSON file format conversions.

Project 3 of 3: Presenting Retrograde Orbit - the WaveBoy-based guitar delay pedal (well the PCB at least). Huge thanks to my bandmate John for coming up with the name. It's a play on words as it uses a ring buffer (orbit) and a variable clocked DAC the WaveBoy uses (retro). #GuitarPedal #Delay

Project 2 of 3. Mockup of the front panel for the Colour carrier. I'm debating whether or not I should order a front panel at the same time since I'm not quite certain about the PCB alignment to the panel yet. A little BOM work and then this one will be off to the fab! #DIYRE #Colour #Modular

Rare case where I call something by what it is? MixTape. PCB is routed, BOM done, and now the front panel is done. I even made a silly tape logo! I'll be putting in all the parts and PCB orders today for the prototypes. Wish me luck! That's 1/3 projects down! #TapeEcho #Eurorack #MixTape #Modular

And finally, here's my 4HP sized tape echo interface module. I had to go SMD to fit it all in. It needs a cool name (and of note the delay pedal and WaveBoy delay mode now DO have a name while I'll announce soon). 3 designs in a few weeks, not bad! #Eurorack #TapeEcho #4HP #Modular

Latest update on the delay pedal! #WaveBoy #GuitarPedal #Prototype #Delay

0.70 in action. Showing off the new Jenny mode with Internal Slew into the other WB running the realtime delay. Yummy! #WaveBoy #Slew #PWM #Folding #Modular #Chiptune #Eurorack

0.70 is out! Considering this a bit of a soft launch for eager early adopters: waveboy.bitbybitsynths.com/firmware/ Docs are updated but I need to add more photos, probably update the tuning video, write a blog post, etc. But it's here! #WaveBoy #Eurorack #Chiptune #Modular

There's more I wanna do, but I there's enough changes for firmware 0.70 that I'mna pause, check on bugfixes and things, and get ready for release! Jenny, Slew, bugfixes, audio improvements, performance improvements, tuning improvements, bugfixes are all in there. It's a lot! #WaveBoy #Eurorack

Fancier photo of the case I shared that we'll be using in the band. Skiffy 42 with neon green acrylic and sparkly purple 3D printed plastics. #Eurorack #Donatello #Skiffy42

Tim's Chipsurf Live Eurorack build! Using 2 of his own WaveBoy's, Univer Iter MIDI-CV, 2HP LFO, Befaco Slew, Veils VCA, and Doepfer Wasp filter in a neon green acrylic case with purple 3D printed plastics. We're calling it the Donatello. #WaveBoy #Chipsurf #Chiptune #Eurorack

Another 0.67 update! A new generated classic waveform mode is now available (currently called Jenny). Working on slew as well. And there have been lots of performance improvements everywhere. It's shaping up to be really good hopefully! #WaveBoy

Testing out some new features and bugfixes! #WaveBoy #Eurorack #Modular #Chiptune

Planning out a 42HP case if we decide to add WaveBoys into our live set. WB can do slew, LFO but since I haven't made a "WB Advance" yet, I can only modulate 1 thing via CV and being able to control those from my keyboard is important. 2nd WB is for the bassbomb because of course. - Tim #WaveBoy