[sdiy] analogDNA

[Rob]

Hi
I am designing a programmable analog modular synthesizer. Each analog module
has a digital PCB to store/recall pot and switch settings (as local
patches), along with a small 16x2 LCD. I am using PIC18F4680's and any
analog synthesizer design can be "digitised" using DAC CV's, digital pots
and software switches.

A Global patch facility is also supported, whereby all modules are
programmed from a central Patch module linked to the outside world via MIDI
and with unlimited patch storage via a memory card. I plan to use CAN Bus
technology to pass Patch data to/from the central Patch module to individual
modules. Data transmissions are therefore relatively small (32 bytes) and
infrequent.

Herein lies the question!

Is CAN bus technology a good choice, or are there alternatives I should be
considering for interconnecting PIC based modules within one or more
synthesizers? Anyone thinking about something like this yet? I know the
Buchla 200e is close to this design (I2C?) but has no local patch storage.

This design could easily be open source for SynthDIYers, enabling a wide
variety of programmable analog modules to be interconnected via an analog
Digital Network Architecture - analogDNA. 

Regards
Rob 
www.emulatorarchive.com