Build a Pikocore at Synth Library Portland

On Saturday, September 5, Pikocore is coming to Synth Library Portland for an afternoon of building a sampler and making noisy little loops. You will start with a kit and leave with a working Pikocore of your own.

And if you have never soldered before, you are exactly as welcome as someone who has been building synths for years.

your first build can be a Pikocore

It is completely normal to arrive without any electronics or soldering experience. Volunteers will walk through the build one step at a time and help with each new skill. They will also troubleshoot anything that does not work on the first try.

Lots of first-time builders have completed Pikocores at workshops like this one. The board may look busy when it is finished, but the build is a series of small, manageable steps. Nobody expects you to know what every component does before you begin, and nobody will be left alone with a hot iron and a mysterious bag of parts.

All skill levels are welcome. Experienced builders can settle into the project, while beginners can ask every question that comes to mind. That mix is part of what makes a group build fun.

what you will make

Pikocore is an open-source lo-fi sample mangler built around the Raspberry Pi Pico. It is easy to hack. Its eight buttons and four knobs turn short samples into chopped loops and happily broken breakbeats. The stretch control can pull those loops into rough textures. It is immediate enough to start playing as soon as the build is done, but open enough to keep exploring afterward.

The $49 workshop price includes the complete Pikocore kit and all supplies. Soldering irons and other tools will be available. Ticketing fees are added at checkout. A portion of the workshop price supports Synth Library Portland and helps it continue hosting community events like this one.

a friendly introduction to soldering

Curious about soldering before the workshop? Download Soldering is Easy: Here’s How to Do It, an illustrated eight-page introduction by Mitch Altman, Andie Nordgren, and Jeff Keyzer. It explains the basic tools and shows what a good connection looks like. The whole process feels much less mysterious afterward.

The comic is a great introduction, but it is not required reading. You can arrive as a complete beginner and learn at the workshop. The facilitators will explain current safety practices and provide hands-on help throughout the build.

workshop details

• When: Saturday, September 5, 2026, 1:30–4:30 PM
• Where: Synth Library Portland, 123 NE 3rd Ave, Suite 012, Portland, Oregon 97232
• Cost: $49 plus ticketing fees ($53.08 total at the time of publication)
• Included: Pikocore kit, tools, soldering irons, solder, guided instruction, and troubleshooting help
• Parking: Parking in the adjacent lot is free during the workshop; check the organizer’s pre-event email for the validation procedure

Tickets are required. Reserve your place on the Synth Library Portland event page.

Whether this is your fiftieth electronics project or the first time you have heard the phrase “through-hole component,” come build with us. You will have help whenever you need it. At the end, you will take home a playable Pikocore.

The event artwork was shared by Synth Library Portland and Infinite Digits.