Fates is a pcb add-on board for Raspberry PI 3 Model B+ and Raspberrry Pi 4 Model B that provides a stereo audio codec with headphone driver, 3 (or 4) encoders, 3 buttons, and a grayscale OLED display. It’s compatible with norns software and monome hardware (gird, arc).
Reminder - This is DIY
This is a Do It Yourself project and is not supported by monome. Please keep Fates related support questions in this thread.
status
No longer available. Not open sourced.
norns compatibility
Fates is now using a forked version of the norns codebase.
GitHub - fates-project/norns: norns is many sound instruments.
The norns code is only modified for minor hardware differences and update compatibility.
All scripts/engines written for norns should be fully compatible
Important - SYSTEM UPDATES
If you have system 200218 or later - run the on device SYSTEM > UPDATE from the norns menu.
If you are on a version prior to 200218, DO NOT USE SYSTEM > UPDATE
(it will brick your device and require re-flashing the entire system). You must update manually via SSH.
See the project Releases Page on Github for instructions
ORAC
ORAC 2.0 can also be easily installed. A system called Sidekick allows Fates users to switch between norns and ORAC 2.0. Sidekick details here.
github
For BOM, build info and disk images please see: GitHub - okyeron/fates: Audio and UI platform for Raspberry Pi
Fork of the norns codebase is here: GitHub - fates-project/norns: norns is many sound instruments.
Unfortunately PCB board files or gerbers will not be made available.
background
Work on this project began with hacking a Terminal Tedium pcb and adding encoders and a display. Since then a number of prototypes have been built and I’ve used those to work on norns scripts and to contribute to the norns codebase.
While this is aimed at running norns and ORAC, I expect this board will also be of use to anyone who might want a nice audio + controls solution for Raspberry Pi.
Specs:
WM8731 codec with headphone driver
NHD-2.7-12864WDW3 128x64 grayscale display (available separately)
3 buttons
3 encoders (optional 4th encoder for Orac or other software)
2x 1/8in inputs
2x 1/8in outputs
1/8in stereo headphone out
Fates was designed for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ and Raspberry Pi 4 Model B. It’s not been performance tested with earlier Raspberry PI models.
Availability
As of April 2020 - PCBs or kits are no longer available.
More images and whatnot of prototypes on my instagram: