A touch-friendly controller for the Roland P-6 (AIRA Compact sampler). It also bundles a software sampler and step sequencer, so it works without the hardware too.
Runs on Linux desktop, in the browser (experimental), and on Android. Built with Fyne.
Talks to the Roland P-6 and the Adafruit Macropad over USB MIDI.
Note: RP6 is alpha quality. It works best on desktops and larger Android screens (tablets); the UI doesn't adapt gracefully to small resolutions yet.
- 48 pads, banks A–H — a grid paged A–D / E–H (or a dense single-page view). Tap to trigger; the last hit is highlighted.
- Step sequencer — up to 8 tracks, each 1–4 bars and looping at its own length (polymeter), 16 steps/bar, tempo-synced, with per-track mute. Assign a pad to a track with a tap, program steps, press play. Save/load 16 sequence slots; your work autosaves and reloads on next launch. (sequencer guide)
- Transport & tempo — illuminated Play/Stop, a TEMPO knob and a PATTERN selector, driving the P-6 over MIDI clock.
- Effects — a per-pad effects rack (tempo-synced Roll) and global Delay / Reverb controls.
- Built-in emulator — no P-6 needed: RP6 bundles a playable "modular-hits" sample kit. Tap the device badge to switch between the emulator and a connected P-6.
- Shared jam sessions (experimental, desktop only) — play together over the internet. See the setup guide.
- Activity / VU meter — a level meter on the right (real USB-audio VU on desktop builds).
- Amber hardware-style UI — backlit rack panels, knobs and 7-segment readouts; works entirely by touch.
There are pre-built Android APK and Flatpak packages in releases.
Plug in the P-6 or an Adafruit MacroPad over USB and it connects automatically. Unplug it and RP6 falls back to the built-in emulator, reconnecting when it reappears. With no hardware at all, it just runs the emulator.
For full control, set these on the P-6 (MENU):
- MIDI Clock Sync (SYnC) = USB — so Play/Stop and the TEMPO knob drive it.
- Rx Program Change = On — so the PATTERN selector switches patterns.
Pads always trigger by note, so you can play all 48 pads from the grid, a connected controller, or the sequencer regardless of the above.
Without a P-6 connected, RP6 uses a built-in software sampler.
The bundled kit is one-shot hits from the “Modular-Hits” pack by publicsamples (https://github.com/publicsamples/Modular-Hits).
You'll need to set up your Macropad with the CircuitPython code here.
MIT — see LICENSE. RP6 is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Roland.