AW: Re: an idea ...

[Magnus Danielson]

> 
> > But maybe this is a bit above what Juergen originally thougth... but let'=
> > s
> > brainstorm first...
> 
> Yes. Of all these things:
> 
> > CV Storage (input/output)
> > CV Processing (nonlinear CV processing)
> > Autotuneing of VCO's and VCF's
> > Sequencing w editing
> > Arpegator
> > Sync interfaceing
> > MIDI Interfaceing (to/from MIDI as well as "patch" storage)
> > MIDI/CV processing
> > Storage and editing of "normalized" patch
> > and the great MMP - Mystical and Magical Processing
> > Disc storage
> 
> I really have only CV storage in mind. And for a good reason, as
> I think: *Reusability* !
> I mean, if you build a *special* system (synth etc.) commercially,
> you want to stuff as much functionality as possible into one
> uC. (This was even more important in a Prophet 5's days than
> now ...)
> But the idea was *not* to build another highly specialized
> system, nor one who is fit for any thinkable application, but
> I just wanted a *reusable* building block that handles storage and
> parameter editing. Just as I used these Doepfer Midi/CV interface
> board as a buildig block. Or a PSU unit. Plug (solder) and play.

Well, one of my points was that if we select an CPU such that we dont limit
ourselfs too much on how much memory and IO units and let there be some bus
expandabillity (a bus contact basically) we could have a CPU module and then
add the necessary hardware modules as we please later on. I *never* said we
should do all at once, just leave the necessary "hooks" in there.

If you pick a 68000 chip for instance you will have quite enougth of memory
available for most hardware and software setups. The chip is fairly cheap and
there is allready lot's of people that knows how to hack it. There is good
compilers and assemblers for it as well. If more raw CPU power would be needed
by someone there is allways the possibility of creating a new CPU card.

Trowing together a CPU card haveing CPU, EPROM, SRAM and possibly a small MIDI
interface should not by itself become a problem. A PIO circuit and you can have
a keyboard there to control it.

Does that sound too far out of your horizon Juergen?

Besides, I haven't hacked 68000 in a long time.... must do it again soon :)

> > Is we heading only for this CV memory unit or do we long for a bigger and=
> >  more
> > expandable system?
> 
> I'd like to have some choices, of course. Number of parameters would
> determine the cycle time, so it would be good to choose between
> 32, 64, 128, ... MUX channels by setting some jumpers. And switching
> between relative editing mode and jump mode would be nice, again
> with a hardware switch (jumper), not with menues. You got the idea:
> building block. Buy it once, connect it to your analogue parts and
> then forget that it is there - just use it.

Well, I could not really agree more... I too like stuff which just sits there
and keep doing what it's supposed to be doing....

And sure, modules, modules, modules....

Juergen, I think we just comes from two diffrent angles on this one... let's
see where our traces cross.

Magnus