an idea ...

[Christopher_List at Sonymusic.Com]

  >> ...
  >>   There's a lot to work out - such as the classic program-able synth
  >>   dilemma - "how do we show knobs with values that differ from the
  >>   programmer's values?"
  >>
  >>   I've always thought the best solution is having an LED next to each knob
  >>   that lights up when a knob differs from the program. It would also be
  >>   need to have a LED/LCD to display the current program number.
  >> ...

  > Why not toggle with a push button between the memory CV and the knob
  > CV. If done with CMOS-switches and logic, you could reset the toggle
  > switch every time a patch is recalled from memory.

  Huh? No. You switch to a memory location. Now, how do you know which
  knobs match the current memory settings and which ones don't? It could be
  that none of them match - it could be that all of them match - how do you
  know? What happens when you turn a knob? Nothing? I guess that's OK, but
  I think it should be fancier - like a Juno.

  Basically for LED thing to work, you need a memory location that always
  matches the current knob settings - and it's just used for a reference.
  The knob CVs constantly update this memory location (call it the
  knob-buffer). The output CVs always come from a single memory location -
  the edit buffer. When you select a patch the patch is copied into the
  edit buffer. The settings of the LEDs are done by comparing each edit
  buffer value to the matching knob-buffer value. Whenever a knob moves,
  the knob-buffer AND the edit buffer are updated with the new value! When
  the next cycle is done to compare the values, the LED will go on for this
  knob because the two values will be the same. I don't knob, maybe all
  these extra outputs for the LEDs wouldn't be worth it....


  > And another thing:
  > Why use D/A-converters for CV-control ?
  > A 100 kHz variable pulse-width signal (or even better
  > a tri-state signal = double resolution) could be easily generated with
  software.
  > A microprosessor would update 8 of these at the
  > same time with one parallel port and 8 RC low-pass filters.

  Wouldn't a DAC just be a lot simpler? Especially for doing 32 signals? You
  just mux & s/h the output....
  I figured that since every synth I've worked on that uses internal CV (202,
  303, uWave and SyntechnoT303) did it with
  DACs there must be a reason for it. In my opinion, the cost of the parts
  shouldn't be an issue if they make the
  work easier.

  - CList