Analog DIY versus Digital DIY

[Martin Fay]

> My
> theoretical knowledge has progressed immensely by purchasing the
> complete Electronotes, but I still struggle with the math.

The mathematics doesn't necessarily go away, especially given that 
the normal way to create digital filters is to "convert" an analogue 
design.

> Personally, I would love to have the best of both worlds:  A
> stand-alone digital musical instrument that was FULLY
> user-programmable.

This could easily be an embedded PC running a real-time OS, as we're 
talking small quantities there would be serious advantages in using 
as many stock components as possible. If a 3u rackmount wasn't a 
problem then stock rack boxes, and PC components could be used. 
Because all the peripheral components can be minimal the total cost 
for a Pentium II based system could be well under $1000. Possibly not 
so far from the total cost of building an ASM-1?

I believe there is a platform that can run win32 dlls within limits 
so it might be possible to go with a system that was binary 
compatible with a windows-based prototyping environment.

I actually suspect the hardest part would be persuading a hardware 
company such as Event to part with low-level programming info so that 
drivers for sound hardware could be written for the selected RTOS.



Martin

  man(i)kin / 3 track demo now available on mp3
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| Email: martin.fay at umist.ac.uk                  |
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