[sdiy] analogDNA

[Seb Francis]

Hi Rob,

I would say that CAN is perhaps more complex than you need and somewhat 
data inefficient.  The advantage is that is designed to communicate 
without error in noisy environments (which a modular synth probably 
isn't really).  I'm sure it will work well for what you want to do, but 
equally I think you could achieve it with I2C a bit more easily.

What you describe does sound useful, but IMO it falls a little short of 
the dream concept of a modular synth with total recall in that you still 
don't store the patch lead configuration between all the modules, so 
having a memory with hundreds of 'patches' would be of limited use in 
recreating specific sounds.

Here's an elegant concept you might find thought provoking ...
http://www.modulus-music.com/concepts/digimod/
(written by Paul Maddox I think)

Seb



Rob wrote:
> 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
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