Alles
A distributed mesh synthesizer that uses UDP multicast over WiFi to control hundreds of additive synthesizer speakers in sync.
What is Alles?
Alles is a distributed mesh synthesizer that uses UDP multicast over WiFi to control hundreds of additive synthesizer speakers in perfect sync. It enables spatial audio performances where each speaker can be addressed individually or as a group, with support for up to 120 oscillators per synth. The project provides both open-source hardware designs and software versions that can run on computers.
Musicians, sound artists, and developers interested in creating large-scale spatial audio installations or distributed musical performances using networked synthesizers.
Alles offers a unique open-source platform for distributed additive synthesis with reliable WiFi synchronization, flexible control via a simple ASCII protocol, and the ability to mix custom hardware and software synths in the same mesh.
Overview
A many speaker distributed music synthesizer using UDP multicast over WiFi
Use Cases
Best For
- Creating large-scale spatial audio installations with dozens of synchronized speakers
- Experimenting with distributed additive synthesis over a WiFi network
- Building custom hardware synthesizers using ESP32 and open-source designs
- Controlling a mesh of synthesizers from environments like Max, Pd, or Python
- Developing networked musical performances with millisecond-accurate timing
- Educational projects exploring mesh networking and digital audio synthesis
Not Ideal For
- Real-time musical performances requiring immediate audio feedback
- Environments with unreliable or congested WiFi networks
- Projects needing simple, out-of-the-box synthesizer setup without networking
- Applications demanding sub-millisecond audio latency for interactive play
Pros & Cons
Pros
Synthesizers automatically form a mesh over WiFi using UDP multicast, allowing control of hundreds of devices as a group or individually, enabling scalable spatial audio setups.
Each synth runs the AMY library with up to 120 additive oscillators, each with filters, LFOs, and ADSR envelopes, providing rich, complex sound design capabilities.
Uses a compact ASCII wire protocol that can be sent over network links or UARTs, making it easy to integrate from any programming environment like Python, Max, or Pd without parsing overhead.
Supports both custom ESP32-based hardware speakers and software versions on computers, all interoperating in the same mesh for flexible deployment and testing.
Fixed latency ensures messages arrive in perfect sync across all speakers, enabling precise spatial audio performances with reliable synchronization over WiFi.
Cons
Designed with a default 1000ms latency to ensure sync over WiFi, making it unsuitable for low-latency, real-time interactive applications or live instrumental performance.
UDP multicast is lossy, and performance can degrade to 70% reliability in congested networks, requiring dedicated routers and mitigation like duplicate messaging.
Requires WiFi configuration via captive portals for hardware units, network tuning for optimal performance, and hardware assembly, which can be daunting for non-technical users.
Missing features like Bluetooth configuration or desktop USB flasher (mentioned in TODO), and relies on community support with potential gaps in documentation and tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
Squeezelite-esp32ESP32 Music streaming based on Squeezelite, with support for multi-room sync, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Hardware buttons, display and more
ESP32-RadioInternet radio based on ESP32, VS1053 and a TFT screen.
PedalinoMiniWireless and Bluetooth MIDI/HID Foot Controller
ESPuinoRFID-controlled musicplayer powered by ESP32
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