Odp: [sdiy] New project idea: probability trakker !?

[Roman]

what's wrong with Microchip serial EEPROMs?
say 128kbits 1000000 rewrite cycles, data retention 200 years
or at least they say so. With 1000000 cycles it's hard to break
the chip. Say, 1 write per 20s, 8 hours a day, that gives 2 full
years of constant manipulation with no time to play the thing.
And you won't be writing all memory every time, so that time
rises to say 20 years.
And with 1000000 uses you'd have to replace "save" button
several times already.

If you're worried by data retention, you can rewrite whole content
of the memory once a year. Simple subroutine should do that
in couple of seconds.

BTW, I really like the idea of your "trakker". Kinda reminds me
MUSIC V and other similar stuff.

Roman

----- Original Message -----
From: Bret Truchan <clone45 at hotmail.com>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 5:00 AM
Subject: [sdiy] New project idea: probability trakker !?


>
> 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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