[sdiy] New project idea: probability trakker !?

[Bret Truchan]

OK!  Here's my new project.  It's another analog modular module, and I think 
it's within my meager capabilities. :-)

The module will function like trakker software (or like a Roland 
MicroComposer MC-4).  It will have an LCD screen and let you input note 
values and durations.  It will automatically save the note values to 
non-volitile ram.

However, there's a twist!  There will be "blocks" of notes.  So, a typical 
block might look like:

BLK 4     // block 4
CV1 90 5  // output 90 on CV1 for 5 clock ticks
CV1 12 2  // output 12 on CV1 for 2 clock ticks

You string together these blocks using a 'JMP' instruction, such as:

BLK 4     // block 4
CV1 90 5  // output 90 on CV1 for 5 clock ticks
CV1 12 2  // output 12 on CV1 for 2 clock ticks
JMP 5     // jump to block #5 <------------

Ah!  But the fun doesn't end there!  You can have "probability" jumps, such 
as:

BLK 4     // block 4
CV1 90 5  // output 90 on CV1 for 5 clock ticks
CV1 12 2  // output 12 on CV1 for 2 clock ticks
JPP 5 30  // jump to block #5 thirty percent of the time <--------
JMP 5     // ... otherwise jump to block #5

My main worry is the serial ram that I'll probably need to find.  Does 
anyone know of any good serial non-volitile ram (DIP, probably a few 
kilobytes)?  Other than that, it *should* be pretty simple stuff.

This brings up a question.  All of the books I've been reading have 
mentioned that non-volitile ram eventually dies out.  That's pretty 
annoying, isn't it!!!!  What's the philosophy in the DIY community about 
components that only last, say, 20 years??  It seems lame to me, but I can't 
think of any way around it.

Any comments?
Cheers!
- Bret

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