[sdiy] "Synth design questions" or "Learning from Dave Smith"

[Samppa Tolvanen]

Hi Tom, all.

On 10/18/07, Tom Wiltshire <tom at electricdruid.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Ok, now my questions:
>
> 1) Should the main control processor talk to the voice board
> digitally or using control voltages?
>
As Eric already said CAN it is. Or midibox uses it at least.

>
> 2) Should the front panel of a programmable synth use pots or rotary
> encoders?
>
<snipety>

> Korg Polysix, I always have the 'manual' button pressed, so that the
> sound I hear is the one I can see on the panel. And that's a simple
> instrument.
>

Tom, You have missed one point of that instrument (?!?): Once You have
selected a sound, controls only affect it when it's moved past the
previous setting. Damn important for "live" stuff, not as some Roland
"move and I jump" programmers.

Dedicated pots, I say, that's my preference. uC controlling analogue
circuits - that's so Yesterday, Why not FPGA or DSP? ;)

Samppa