[sdiy] presets on a modular

[Paul Maddox]

Peter,

> No patch jacks, anywhere.  Instead, lit momentary buttons.  If you want to
> run an virtual patch cord from one point to the other (in this example
let's
> say the saw out of a VCO into a filter input), then all's ya do is depress
> the saw out button and then immediately press the filter input button.
Once
> you do this, I see them both blinking one and off together a couple of
> times, giving you a visual indication that the connection was made.  The
> patching matrix would need to be intelligent, not allowing you to connect
> two outputs together, etc.  It would also need to be programmed so that
each
> patch cord could be stepped through visually, so you could see what was
> going on in a complex patch step by step, one connection at a time.

you know whats scary, I've got a full set of plans for just such a system
(ask Tony Allgood, I've bored him to tears about this) schematics, notes,
problems to be solved, problems that have ben solved and so on.

Along with storing all the 'patch' data, it also stored all the front panel
data.
The idea was each module consisted of two boards, a digital one which had
DACs/ADC/Micro/Interface on and an analogue one, which could be taken from
any where, the only downside was, it requires that *every* parameter is
controllable by CV..
A system could have 64 Modules in (huge by anyones standard) and Each module
could have 4 patchable inputs and 4 patchable outputs (CV/Audio), here lies
another problem, things like CV controlled ADSRs are out, as you'd need 5
inputs (A, D, S, R, Gate)..

The plan was to do a 'proof of concept' with an MCU module (which controls
the whole thing), and a module with 4 audio ins and 4 audio outs., so you
can patch any in to any out.. Assuming it worked I planned to add something
like a VCF and 'grow' from there.
In theory you could use any existing analogue module but, as I say, provided
it has *FULL* CV control of every parameter, you would also have to replace
the 'analogue' frontpanel with one attached to the Digital board.

Its still on the cards for me, but it requires a substantial amount of
investment in both time and money to get it working.

But, at the end of the day is it something people want?
Also , bare in mind, it would add a lot of cost to building a modular
system.
Each module would typically need another £80 board, and then theres the cost
of the MCU module which would probably be around £200.

Paul