AW: [sdiy] Patch Routing Idea...

[Ullrich Peter]

>Take a matrix of tri-colour LED's. Lets say 10 by 10. (Expensive
>already). Along one side is a list of outputs (audio and CV),
>and along the top is a list of inputs (again audio and CV). To the
>side of this is a cursor diamond (up down left right), or even
>better, 2 rotory encoders (one for up/down, the other for left/right).
>There would also be another button for "making" a connection, 
>and another for "disconnecting" a connection. So what we have
>is a patchboard ala VCS3, but with no pins!

Or you could put microswitches hidden under the LEDs that make 
a keyboard-matrix. A little push on the LED changes the state of
the connection (shown by color - simple red LEDs could be used).
A dark LED show an open matrix point - light shows a closed connection.

>Taking this a little further, and from what I gather with complex
>analogue synths, is that some sort of attenuation is required between
>connections. Most components would have either attenuators on
>their inputs of outputs, but in the cases there are neither it would
>be cool to assign a "free" attenuator where ever you like. So why
>not have 4 or even 8 assignable attenuators? There could be an
>extra button which turns on some sort of "assign attenuator" mode.
>The only problem I see with this is having to work out how each
>attenuator is assigned (up to a maximum of 4 or 8). Any ideas?

There are programmable gain opamps available from Burr Brown I think 
and also Analog devices. Route per analog switches to these opamps.

The solution:

Take a 8279 Keyboard/Display controller.
8x8 = 64 Keys and 8x8 = 64 LEDs - all controlled by this controller.
And take a matrix circuit for the audio matrix (MT8816 from Mitel or similar)

Ciao
Peter

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                   Ing. Peter Ullrich         mailto:ullrich at kapsch.net
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                   Hardware & Software Developer /  Electronic Musician
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