[sdiy] Using 8051 to build a synth

[synth1 at airmail.net]

>
> Hi Guys,
> 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?
>

Use a Cygnal (now Silicon Labs) part. They have $99 developer's kits
(cheap!!) can run blazingly fast (50 *million* instructions/second) and
have on-board 10-bit ADC (great for reading front panel pots!) and SPI
interface (easy to connect to out-board DACs, EEPOTS, etc). In the USA,
www.mouser.com has the fill line. The "top-of-the-line" part is the
8051F127, with 128K FLASH memory, 8K internal SRAM (as opposed the normal
256 bytes!), 64 (!!) I/O pins and costs $34ea. The 'mid-scale' part is the
8051F310 with 16K Flash, 1K SRAM, 29 I/O pins but is only $10.

Paul S.