Regarding DSP synths...

[Sean Costello]

Hi all:

This message just appeared on the Csound mailing list. If anyone is
interested in developing a hardware DSP synth, using Analog Devices'
XTCsound might be the way to go.  One warning: I've heard that the
performace of the current XTCsound evaluation board isn't that hot (i.e.
a 450 Mhz Pentium II running DirectCsound with no DSP board can
outperform the XTCsound on the evaluation board). However, they are
supposedly trying to iron out the bugs. Maybe the SHARC chips will be
used someday to produce a Nord Modular type device, that can also be
programmed in Csound, without the annoying hardware limitations of the
Nord (i.e. the Nord can't do any type of synthesis, like granular
synthesis, sampling, reverberation, etc. that requires delay memory).

Sean Costello

P.S.  I think that Scotty Vercoe is the son of Barry Vercoe, the MIT
Media Lab professor who originally developed Csound.

> Subject: RE: Linux Journal Csound article now on-line
> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 13:57:06 -0500
> From: "Vercoe, Scotty" <Scotty.Vercoe at analog.com>
> To: Richard Dobson <rwd at cableinet.co.uk>
> CC: CSOUND <csound at maths.ex.ac.uk>
> 
> 
> I'm not one to start rumors but...
> 
> ADI has been making a multi-processor version of Extended Csound (XTCsound) for
> a customer.  It's fairly stable now, and our deadline is in a few months, so it
> should solidify soon.  I'm not sure when ADI will make these boards available to
> the public though.
> 
> For anyone using our card, we'll soon have a 32-bit driver that crashes much
> less.  I'll post a message when it's on our site.
> 
> Also, for a few of you who were interested in porting XTCsound to Linux (Mac
> anyone?), I will be getting a shipment of boards week after next (only 7 months
> late!!).  Send me a note if you're still interested in a free card.
> 
> thanks,
> Scotty Vercoe
> XTCsound Applications Consultant
> Analog Devices Software & Systems Technology Division
> Tel: (781) 461-3569       FAX: (781) 461-4291
> Support: Csound.support at analog.com
> Website: http://www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/thinktank/2138/