[sdiy] Programmable Logic?

[Jaroslaw Ziembicki]

Hello Ryan and all,

I started some experimenting with programmable logics
months ago. I downloaded MAX+plus II from the ALTERA
site (www.altera.com). It's a free development environment,
very good and friendly in my opinion - at least for starting.
The hardware for programming is simple and you can build it
by yourself.
Till now I used some chips from the MAX7000 series,
which are low-density (32..512 macrocells), but non-volatile
(EEPROM array). I also have been playing with a FLEX chip
(EPF10K10; 576 macrocells, approx. 10000 gates). Currently
I'm trying to get a monophonic synth (4 DCO's + DCF + DCA)
out of this chip. I also ordered an EP1K100 for my experiments
(approx. 5000 macrocells = 100000 gates), which should allow
for much more advanced projects (perhaps a 16-voice synth with
3..4 oscillators per voice, multimode filters, FM, sync, ...).
The drawback is: these high-density chips are volatile and require
configuring (programming) each time after switching supply on
(it can be done from the PC, later on from a microcontroller in the
target circuit).
The next drawback is quite high power consumption.
Another drawback: even the smallest chips are in PLCC cases, so
you will need to use adapters if you used to build circuits on
perfoboards (like I do).
I hope it helps.

Regards,
Jarek


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ryan Williams" <destrukto at cox.net>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 1:11 AM
Subject: [sdiy] Programmable Logic?


> It's time for me to get started with digital design. Does anyone have 
> any reccomendation for devices to use? I'm looking for two different 
> types. one should be a simple small device (preferably in dip package) 
> that would have a few hundred gates I guess (maybe more), and I want to 
> start with a deccent FPGA soon also.