Synth Programmer

[Matthew S. Padden]

Hi..

...We'd need to come up with a choice for an octal sample and hold -
  because the one they use is CEM and I don't know if it's cheap and/or
  available...

OnChip still have the octal s/h; $15.

Just to stick my oar in; all the ideas we've had about programmers are 
great, but there's a niggling little worry in my mind which won't go away. I 
think it's basically to do with the zipper noise that was discussed 
previously; so many synths I've used (digitally-controlled analogue AND 
digital) have audible side effects of using 8-bit controls. The filter 
cutoff is a good example; generally things at higher pitches seem to suffer 
more (Just try quick pitch bending over an octave at the top of the keyboard 
on a digital synth). Continuous (ie analogue) controls seem to have far more 
purity, again particularly at high pitches. I know that 12 or 16 bit control 
is going to be more expensive in terms of cost and implementation, but it 
would make a LARGE difference to the sound quality of the system as a whole.

	Maybe I'm wrong and I'm getting confused between resolution and realtime 
response of the uP... Still, as we're designing it, we might as well try it!

End of my two pennies worth |)

Later dudes

--
Matthew S. Padden
Computer Music Research Group
Music Dept.
Huddersfield University
Queensgate
Huddersfield
England HD1 3DH
p: +44 1484 422288 x2402
f: +44 1484 472656
e: m.s.padden at hud.ac.uk