NanoEgg Music Synthesizer

Somebody on Facebook mentioned this knob from Radio Shack (they still exist!) but it is $3.50 each, adding $150 to the cost of the project just for knobs!

https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-hexagonal-control-knob-with-aluminum-insert

So the search for a cheaper knob continues:

~$2 each

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/TE-Connectivity-Alcoswitch/PKES90B1-4/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMuHTYi1bHPYECayaa7y75Zb

~$0.70 each

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Eagle-Plastic-Devices/45KN018-GRX/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMuiwDVLTMm01aFL1PAiRZjKJa8LwXcTuU8=

Got the cost down to $30 for all the knobs, but that is still kinda a lot. Hmmm. Can I do better?

Oh hey, AliExpress has for $0.26 if I buy 1000 of them...
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1000pc-lot-Replacing-Audio-Volume-Control-Potentiometer-Knobs-Black/32235472066.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_10,searchweb201602_3_10017_10034_10021_507_10022_10020_10018_10019,searchweb201603_6&btsid=7c70a736-cedd-4bcb-8399-ea5e2d0c3008

Today, after some conversation with the folks at 23B about various CAD programs, I tried to import the Solidworks assembly file into the Cloud-based semi-free CAD software "OnShape". It didn't work, even after I massaged it by making a new copy with all of the parts included as "virtual" (which saves them inside the assembly). It seemed to have trouble with sub assemblies and also with some parts that had been virtual in the original file but now no longer imported.
Solidworks "Pack-and-go" facility wasn't used because it had some sort of DLL missing and didn't work.

So, it looks like I won't be moving this project to the cloud any time soon...

Here are some kinda poor quality phone videos I took early on...

I've already been working on this for many months in various forms. Here are a few pictures of some of the early prototypes.

At the Hackaday Meetup:

I brought two of the early prototypes to 23b Shop for their "Music Hacks Night":

A close up of an early screen UI

Ever since I completed Rhythm Core Alpha 2, I've been wanting to create a more powerful synthesizer. Rhythm Core Alpha was limited by what the Nintendo sound hardware could do, I know I can do much better! So let's build the dream synthesizer!

Any synth head will tell you that having a single knob for each parameter is better than having menus or a small number of knobs that control multiple parameters by context. So let's try to put as many functions as possible on the control panel.

Let's make the case out of real wood for that classic early synthesizer look! A rotating control pod would be awesome!

While I've already got a lot of this running and it sounds great, I'd still like to manage expectations. Let's make it really tiny so that people don't expect it to be more than a cute toy, and then wow them with really awesome sounds!

Touchscreens are not expensive. Let's use one to handle everything that isn't handled by a knob.

Let's... have a look at the design so far!

I'm pretty happy with the first draft!

Sorry for the largely incoherent rambling.

Now, I am going to go to bed!