[sdiy] The future of synth DIY

[Dan Gendreau]

Heavy title, but I think this could be big...

With ongoing complaints about discontinued ICs, I thought it might be nice
to see some good news for synth DIY's future...

The ppl over at www.slashdot.org are having a dicsussion about recent
developments in "printable" computer technology:
http://slashdot.org/articles/01/03/01/2058229.shtml

It seems that a few companies are developing a technique based on inkjet
printer designs that would allow inexpensive custom IC fabrication. Its the
same technique they are developing for the new Light-Emitting Polymer
displays by printing semiconducting polymers onto a plastic substrate. The
circuits are fairly slow thus far (you probably cant make a 1MHz CPU), but
audio-frequency range circuit designs are probably quite feasible.

If it develops far enough, personal chip fabs could become very affordable
and people on the net could start Open-Sourcing their own analog synth IC
designs!

I know, I know... its all still vaporware, but I can dream cant I? :)
-Dan Gendreau