Help Bring Back Beat707 — Reimagined with Raspberry Pi Pico 2!  

Hey everyone! It’s time to bring back Beat707, my DIY MIDI drum machine — this time powered by the much more powerful Raspberry Pi Pico 2! The original Beat707 ran on the humble Arduino UNO, but this new version will feature more RAM, more features, and more creative potential. I’m reaching out to ask for your support. With your help, I’ll be able to purchase materials, design and build a working prototype, and kick off the next chapter of this exciting open hardware project. The image above is the older original V1 board using the Arduino Uno.

🎯 Why This Matters

Beat707 isn’t just a drum machine — it’s part of a community of DIY music hardware lovers who believe in creativity, customization, and open innovation. With your contribution, this project can evolve into something even more powerful and accessible.

💡 What’s New in the Next-Gen Beat707?

• Based on Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (tons more RAM!)

• Expanded features and MIDI capabilities

• A fresh take on the original concept, inspired by the DIY music hardware movement

• 20 x 4 LCD

• 16 Step Buttons With RGB LEDs

• 16 Extra Track Buttons

• Shift and Function buttons

• Winbond Flash Memory to store up to 99 Projects

• Buttons are not in a matrix, so multiple button presses works correctly

• New interface features thanks to the extra function button

• New MIDI CC and Note Tracks

💡 List Of Features (may be changed):

• 16 Drum Tracks (each with MIDI Channel # and Note #)

• 6 Note Tracks (each with MIDI Channel #). Note tracks can send monophonic notes.

• 6 MIDI CC Tracks (each with MIDI Channel # and CC #) 

• up to 64 steps (in banks of A B C D x 16 steps)

• Drum and Note Tracks:: Each 1/16 step also has a 1/32 option, for flams

• 99 Patterns

• 99 Projects

• Each pattern has a next-pattern and repeat options

• Accent track with up to 7 accent values

• Track and Pattern Processing options, such as Fade In and Fade Out

• Mirror Mode. This allows you to edit all steps at the same time, in the A B C D banks

📺 Watch the Original Beat707 in Action

Get inspired by what Beat707 was — and imagine what it can become:

• Beat707 Demo #1

• Beat707 Demo #2

• Beat707 Demo #3
   

Just search “Beat707” on YouTube for more videos and related projects!
 

🛠️ Bonus: Check Out My Pi Pico Sampler Project

Here’s another project I made using the original Pi Pico:

Wusik Sampler Pi Pico

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Thanks so much for checking this out and helping me breathe new life into Beat707. I’m really excited about what’s coming — and I’d love for you to be part of it 💖
 

Cheers,
WilliamK