An Old N64 Controller Becomes a Portable Synthesizer with the Synth Controller Cartridge

Chicago-based maker Thomas McDonagh built Console Pedals around a simple but unusual idea. Guitar effects live inside cartridges shaped like N64 game paks. A compact 3D-printed base unit accepts up to two of those cartridges at once, handles power and audio routing, and lets players swap sounds without touching cables. Battery operation removes one more thing to plug in during a session. The Synth Controller Cartridge sits in that same lineup yet does something different. It reads button presses and stick movements from a connected N64 controller, then turns those actions into real synthesized notes that exit through the base unit’s audio jack. No Nintendo console ever enters the picture. The cartridge supplies the sound engine and controller interface while the base supplies power, mixing options if desired, and a standard quarter-inch output ready for an amp or recording gear.

Setup is simple: insert the cartridge into one of the base slots and select which one. Connect any old N64 controller that still works in the cupboard to the base. Then connect a guitar cable from the base output to your amplifier or a suitable audio interface. When you turn on the unit or allow the battery to charge, the system is instantly turned on and ready for use. Instead of being game commands, button presses are now melodious notes. Pitches from A to G are miraculously assigned to the controller’s face buttons and other inputs. To get that G sharp in there on demand, simply slide the joystick to the side. Holding down L lowers the sound by one octave, while holding down R raises it by one octave. Finally, by holding down L and hitting Z, you may navigate backward through the various sound selections.

There are eight distinct modes packed into the cartridge. The sawtooth ones produce bright, sharp tones that pierce straight through, and you can play up to five notes simultaneously. The square waves are slightly thinner but equally focused, and they can still support several voices without trouble. Chord modes combine three notes with a single button press, resulting in quick harmony, you know? The two sine-based modes offer a particular ‘wow’ factor that sets them apart from the others. One type of sine sound continues to play even after you lift your finger, resulting in a shifting tone.

All notes are cut off when a button is released, which is ideal for precise rhythm management. In contrast, continuous sine options just continue the tone even after you release go, and everything is neatly contained within the cartridge. The output can be used as a standalone instrument or with a guitar sound from another cartridge slot; the choice is yours. To play, you don’t even need to turn on a computer or connect any MIDI gear; nevertheless, recording is really straightforward from there.

The Synth Controller Cartridge costs around $80, making it a reasonable investment, especially if you already have the base machine and a spare controller. The base is more expensive, and it is frequently sold out, forcing some consumers to wait for restocks. McDonagh is adding more options while keeping the core experience simple.
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