A Bird in the Hand (PolyModular)

[Chris MacDonald]

WeAreAs1 at aol.com wrote:

> Please keep in mind that Ingo Debus has *already* designed and built the
> hardware for his polyphonic MIDI converter (based on the 6502), and has
> already written all the code for it, and has very generously offered to allow
> the DIY community to use his design and code.

Absolutely, that's why I included the phrase "but if a 'start from scratch'
design is decided upon" in my previous message.  Yikes, no disrespect was meant
to Ingo's design or generous offer, I apologize if it seemed so!

> There are probably a hundred
> different microproccesor chips that would be faster, groovier, sexier, and
> more elegant than the 6502,

Certainly true, my point was only that, *if and only if* a new design was deemed
necessary (and I'm not saying that one is), that, in my opinion only, perhaps
another CPU might be a better choice to start with, and that I happen to like the
68000, that's all.

Perhaps I shouldn't have started the thread.  This is synth-diy, not comp-diy or
whatever.  It seemed relevant to the discussion, but I don't want to start an
endless debate of processor virtues and faults that leads nowhere.  I guess my
thinking was that, by posting what I thought was relevant content, I was helping
to promote the polymodular idea in general.

> but before you jump up to extol their virtues,
> think about whether you are also willing (and capable) to make the same kind
> of offer that Ingo has made.

Well I am certainly willing to offer my meager skills with coding software,
laying out PCBs etc. for a polymodular project in general, and have stated so in
a previous message.  No, I don't have my own MIDI converter design to offer,  I
wasn't implying I did, nor would I want to "compete" against a design that had
already been decided upon.  Sorry Ingo!

The polymodular seems like a great idea and I would like to participate, that is
all.  If I can help, let me know and I will.

-Chris MacDonald