[sdiy] Verniers for Patch Recording

[john mahoney]

Some people wrote:
>
> >Together with the counter knobs this will cost
> >20$ per dial, ouch!
>
> >But you are right, this unacuracy is the reason why
> >finding an old patch is near to impossible.
>
> I think that 7-bit resolution on all your controls (except pitch) would
> make it possible.  But it doesn't sound like anybody really cares.

[paste]
> Must be that people aren't interested in saving patches.

I'm totally interested in saving patches! I just don't think verniers are
the answer, certainly not for $20 per knob.

I think we need a programmable digital potentiometer with high precision,
fine-grained variability, and the proper electrical characteristics for an
analog synth. We discussed the Analog Devices digital pots about a month
ago, and people seemed to agree that they were not the answer. Or, at least,
they are not a drop-in replacement for regular pots.

Could digital pots could work in conjunction with VCAs and inverters? I
don't have the engineering knowledge to say for sure, but... The current
crop of digipots (had to shorten it!) can only handle a limited range of V.
However, can't that limited V can be used to control the gain of a VCA? If
so, then we're basically there, in my oh-so-humble opinion.
--
john (thinking that ignorance is not bliss)