[sdiy] Using 8051 to build a synth

[Theo]

IMO AVR is a nice micro, nothing like a 8051 though!
The AVR are RISK, but with plenty of opcodes to go around.
If you plan programming in assembly, the AVR may be a good choice cause it
is a bliss compared to PIC or 8051.
One of the AVR main points is the 32 registers on which instructions can
operate.
With that many registers it is possible to give often used variables their
own register, never push, never pull, never swap. (me like to do this for
midi input routines)
Newer models come with a hardware mult too, never tried but "einfach DSP"
should be possible.
Down side of the AVR is maximum clock speed, tops out at 16 Mhz or so.

Cheers,
Theo


----- Original Message -----
From: <synthplayer88 at spymac.com>
To: Synth-Diy' <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 5:04 PM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Using 8051 to build a synth


>
>
> On Mon Aug 16  7:52 , 'Paul Maddox' <P.Maddox at signal.qinetiq.com> sent:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >> I was wondering if anyone could direct me to a source/schematic that
uses
> >a 8051
> >> as a OSC and a VCA plus envelope generator?
> >
> >ambitious...
> >Why not use something faster like one of the AVRs, these are 8051 based,
but
> >much faster.
>
>
> Hi Paul,
> Thanks for the suggestions!!! :) Is there any other advantage that AVRs
have over
> 8051s?
>
>
>
> >> I have heard some of the old Roland synth are built on an 8051 eg JX10
but
> >can
> >> not find any schematic to see how that it done.........
> >
> >they may have done, but only to control the hardware, certainly not to
> >generate and modify.
>
>
> Right, don't think DSP was quite up to it back in those days? However, I
don't
> think my programming skill is quite up it yet by a long way to do all that
DSP
> stuff. Still trying to grasp the concept of Fourier Analysis ......
breaking a
> complex waveform down to a single sinusoidal in mathmatical terms that
is........ :(
>
> So generating clock rate and control voltage using the 8051 is more of
what I can
> handle.....
>
>
>
> >> Also, I am very puzzled about using 8051 to create an VCA and a
envelope
> >> genrator. Can anyone shed a light on that?
> >
> >Multiplier is your VCA, the EG, well in its basic form, just an up/down
> >counter with start and end points.
> >
> >Paul
> >
>
> Do you mean a seperate multiplier chip or use write the machine code to
use 8051
> as a multiplier?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Scott
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