Daisy Dub: a modular and updateable real-time audio effect for music production and performance Rasmus Kjærbo Aalborg University, Copenhagen rasmus@componental.co Leo Fogadi´ c Aalborg University, Copenhagen leo@componental.co Oliver Bjørn Winkel Aalborg University, Copenhagen owinke17@student.aau.dk Stefania Serafin Aalborg University, Copenhagen sts@create.aau.dk ABSTRACT This paper presents the development of a versatile and mod- ular real-time audio effect unit called the Daisy Dub for music producers, performers and DJs. The device utilises the state of the art Daisy Seed development board by Elec- trosmith and comes with a custom-made PCB and hard- ware case. It features a range of real-time audio effects, with an emphasis on creative delays and includes a range of modulation effects and filters in its feedback path. In addition, the unit is compact and portable, with an interac- tive graphical interface, four knobs and two arcade buttons for performance control, an encoder for menu diving, and an OLED screen for spectrum analysis. It features quadro- phonic audio processing in real-time and is portable and powered by USB Type-C. DSP is developed with Gen by Cycling ’74 and took inspiration from state of the art hard- ware audio delay units and modular real-time audio effect processors. A series of DSP and hardware evaluation tests were performed along with two usability tests, from an early cardboard prototype to the final manufactured device, to evaluate the effectiveness and usability. Our research demonstrates the feasibility and potential of creating a ver- satile and modular real-time audio effect for music produc- tion and live performance. The Daisy Dub offers a modern take on contemporary real-time audio effects, emphasising a delay effect, and we believe it contributes to the field of audio effects and music-making in general. 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years, the rapid advancement of microprocessor technology has greatly impacted the audio processing and sound design field [1–12]. The use of microprocessors in musical devices has enabled a new level of modularity, flexibility, and real-time audio effects. The development of compact and portable devices, such as the Daisy Seed mi- croprocessor by Electrosmith [8], has made it possible for musicians and sound designers to create high-quality au- dio in a wide range of settings, from music production to Copyright: © 2023 Rasmus Kjærbo et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Figure 1: Daisy Dub prototype. live performance. This research paper focuses on the fur- ther development of the Daisy Dub [6]. The original Daisy Dub paper submitted to the 2nd NordicSMC conference by Rasmus Kjærbo showcased a prototype built using a card- board box, the Daisy Seed development board, and com- ponents connected to a breadboard. The report outlines the efforts made in creating the initial version of the Daisy Dub and conducting its initial user testing. The report ends with the findings from that user test as a basis for improve- ments for the next iteration. The first task performed was evaluating and testing these improvements. The key dif- ferences compared to the final version include the mate- rial (cardboard vs robust casing), construction (breadboard vs custom-made PCB), aesthetics (rudimentary vs refined design), user experience enhancements, and improved sta- bility and durability. The cardboard box prototype served as a proof-of-concept for functionality but lacked the func- tionality and reliability of the final version. This research paper will examine the technical and design challenges en- countered in further developing the Daisy Dub (see fig. 1), including using the Electrosmith Daisy Seed platform and Cycling ’74 Max Gen software, as well as exploring vari- ous audio delay units and their design principles. The re- search results demonstrate the feasibility and potential of creating a versatile and modular real-time audio effect unit for music production and live performance. The music industry is constantly evolving, and there is a Proceedings of the Sound and Music Computing Conference 2023, Stockholm, Sweden 49