The K Control Mini is a simple desktop controller that provides I/O and some useful interface options for the Ksoloti Core in a small form-factor.
K Control Mini features:
You can score a DIY kit from thonk(UK) or an assembled one from here(US).
I finished mine the other day! Though something looks off… Did I do it right?
Jk; using it as a pretty neat SPILink rig. Though it does feel like many features of the second Core are being wasted. The main strength of SPILink, besides the greater processing power, would be the additional GPIO and audio IO, which this setup doesn’t exploit
I’m kinda on the fence about the Ksoloti as it’s missing the audio and MIDI i/o.
Together with this shield I’d have to pay ~140€, which is twice as much as the Axoloti Core was. I’d have the i/o ports and some pots, which is good for prototyping, but I’m afraid I’d never take it further. Also TRS MIDI sucks as I’d have to get DIN adapters…
The other way would be getting the full package and buy the Gills, that would be ~218€. About as much as a Behringer Synth, which is fair, but I don’t like the interlocked case that much and there’s no more customization.
Are there any plans to release a version with audio and MIDI i/o or a board with that exposes the ports like the Axoloti Core did?
Totally understand the concern. You can think of the Mini as a compact axo and axo control basically.
Good point on the DIN adapters. I’ll see if I can source some quality inexpensive ones that I’ll put up on the store page. If I can get a good deal I’ll just toss them into the kit.
As far as a board with just I/O ports (I’m assuming full sized DIN and 1/4" jacks") I can probably put something together if there is enough interest in that type of board. Maybe bring up the core headers too so you can prototype your own controls. What would you like to see in an I/O only style of board @borututu_forte?
Agree with AltCircuits here! My aim in designing the Core without the headers was so people can find their own layout… You seem to want audio and MIDI jacks, but you also want headers for prototyping, a pre-made shield with pots is too expensive for you, the other one’s case is not to your liking, it is impossible to satisfy everyone’s requirements.
The days of the 65 EUR Axoloti are long gone, sadly. There was a pandemic, there is inflation, and from what I’ve read, Axoloti was subsidized by a tech grant, and/or too cheap to be sustainable to begin with?
Besides, the software and schematics are open source, so if you want to see your ideal design, you may need to help create it.
My point is, I’d like to make it easy for people to design their own daughterboards (or frontends, shields, hats, crisps, planks, however we may call it), so I (or AltCircuits?) will take note of your suggestions and try to incorporate them somehow. Check out the Kicad projects here, someone with a bit of Kicad experience could put together a shield that reproduces the old Axoloti layout.
Personally I always found the 1/4 inch stereo jacks a pain to connect with any synth gear I had, but YMMV of course.
Maybe we can create a “Ksoloti Classic” or so, with the exact IO of the Axoloti, but then other people would complain… and honestly I believe we should move on.
As to your comparison with B… We’re mostly people with day jobs who spend their free time on recreating things they like and trying to take the project further, B is a multinational company kissing an authoritarian government’s behind so they can build their devices cheap on local workers’ broken backs. Really no point in comparing prices or features there. But you’re right, if you want it cheap, go for B… I almost bought their 2600 clone thing… still thinking about getting one, or a Neutron.
@borututu_forte
I feel you man. I bought 2 bare ksolotis, but the lack of audio and midi IO made me not really use them so far. I’m also performing almost weekly with my axolotis, so the Idea of too many ribbon connectors making everything work makes me a bit anxious. The whole setup is quite DIY, so I feel hesitant to add another point that might fail.
I was thinking of that altcircuits kit too, but I don’t need the pots and dont like the trs midi and then it feels too expensive.
I have never dealt with kicad or making pcbs, so that feels a bit like a hurdle.
@Ksoloti You will never please everyone but I think you might see some common ground in the need of basic connectivity (audio, midi, dc) and then do the rest could be open to DIY.
Emulating that big stereo jack of axoloti doesn’t make sense, I agree, they were quite annoying. So I would say your designs pretty much nail it terms of IO.
It would just be nice if they were a bit more accessible, like being able to buy them as kits, as alternative to the other kits.
And maybe I would be nice to have the same connectivity in the form of a shield, so we don’t have to deal with too many ribbon cables.
I did some DIY axoloti builds and usually you will end up with plenty of spaghetti. Not really keen on adding more of that 
EDIT:
Also, I can see the appeal of a completely open design, but for me much choice or freedom can sometimes be overwhelming. I kind of like with axo that with the IO arrangement I always had clear start. I did wish for more pinheaders sometimes, so I could change the placing of 1-2 ports. Sometimes I would add another jack, just to split the LR inputs. But for the rest I was usually fairly happy to have the design as a start.
