SV: RE: RE: re: [sdiy] Freescale Soundbuite

[paul.maddox.mail-list at synth.net]

Karl,

> Well **they** (imo not I) tells *ME* C language are very simple?!
> I have only done assembler previously but now i try to learn C,
> so far i have actually done some code that works and C seams doable
> so if i can do it you can more then well do it! :-)

C isn't any easier than any other language to learn. The main advatnage is
that once you learn C, you don't need to re-learn when you choose a new
CPU.

> Personally i still hate C, actually i hate any dev tools suite from any
> vendor

:-)
To each their own I guess.

> Did you read what various people had to say in the stomp box forum link?
> The fine print are that if its going to be publically accepted no one
> wants to depend on HW that's linked to a company as it is their IP.

which I find kinda funny.
I mean, nobody depends on anything from a single vendor.
like say, Microsoft or Intel ;-)

> But i do agree to your major point, none wants to deal with multilayer
> PCB's.
> Its a drag both to design and to pay for!

that's what god invented auto routers for :-)

> The *major* problem are that *you* have to use multiple instances to get a
> product you can use, one vendor for making the PCB, another for populating
> the PCB with components, several vendors to buy the components from (well
> to
> be fair, many populator vendors can buy the components for you, still
> volume
> counts before they even lift a finger to assist you).

yep, so buy them from one place, ready made :-)
It'll be interesting to see how portable the code is from the TC to the
SB, only time and trial will tell.

> That's a strong point you have there.
> What i meant was that the line between a full blown Walldorf Blofeld for
> 299eu
> and a modular 32Wave, Trough zero, DSP based for 399eu are mighty thin.
> Why would i pay for the 399 module? Where are the incentive, stimulus?

It depends on your ultimate goal. Why people pay 1000's of pounds for a
monophonic synth is beyond me (think Moog Voyager and family). But, people
do, because they feel it gives them what they want.
It's about choice as much as cpu power.

> Anyhow its an interesting issue you brought up, i personally wouldent be
> suppriced if we would see in a years time a vendor that do all modular
> stuff entirely with a DSP.Paul S have said he's going to walk that way, i
> wouldent
> be surpriced if Tom and Bruce already have decided so, Plan B allready
> does
> MCU in their stuff. Doepfer seams a bit lazy!? .-) AS already has DSP
> modules.

I think it's a good idea, consider (aside form the front panel) that you
can use a common PCB and parts list for *ALL* modules, how much does this
drop your manufacturing costs by? I bet its a huge drop.

it also lowers development costs, who ever makes them could have one
'open' board and code/adjust/tweak until they're happy. then make a front
panel and sell the modules. again, lower cost to develop and build means
lower cost to the end user!

> Thats not a fair comparing!
> It's like compare a rowing boat and a oil tanker.

hehe, kind of.
But again, consider how much cargo both can hold.. and imagine the oil
tanker is less than the cost of the rowboat. If you want to move stuff
from one country to another, which are you going to pick?

> My experience so far with this outsourcing kind of bussiness are that
> it sounds fine untill you actually start to disscuss the end cost of
> the whole outsourced manufacturing. For instance we could refer to such
> a simple thing as front panels and what Grant once said about this
> manufacturing of front panels.

yep, I agree, but again. DIY isn't about money...
My monowave cost me around £450 each to build, you could buy a mass
produced monosynth for less. I don't do DIY because it's cheap.

> To make this happening under current tax system forget US,EU its going to
> be in ASIA, former est block countries or elsewhere, etc.

yep, a single PCB for Tempest was going to cost me around $1000 in the UK
for 100 of. In Taiwan, it was $125.

> You know actually i do agree to your points but this is not a very new
> tech,

neither is analogue synthesis, but people still seem to want it.

> Just look at Walldorf, they single handed has killed not only the
> aftermarket
> of the Bloofeld it self but every single synth they have made previously.

and?
maybe I'm missing the point, but what has a coroporate companies business
decisions got to do with DIY?

Paul