[sdiy] Sal-MAR Construction?

[Paul Perry]

Wiki has a succint description:

"In 1969, Salvatore Martirano along with a group of engineers and musicians 
at the University of Illinois began work on the design and construction of a 
musical electronic instrument. The instrument, named the SAL-MAR 
CONSTRUCTION, is a hybrid system in which TTL logical circuits (small and 
medium scale integration) drive analog modules, such as voltage-controlled 
oscillators, amplifiers and filters. The performer sits at a horizontal 
control panel of 291 lightable touch-sensitive switches (no moving parts). 
The two-state switches are used by a performer to dial sequences of numbers 
that are characterized by a variety of intervals and lengths. A sequence may 
then bypass, address, or be added to other sequences forming an interlocked 
tree of control and data according to a performer's choice. The unique 
characteristic of the switch is that it can be driven both manually and 
logically, which allows human/machine interaction. The most innovative 
feature of the human/machine interface is that it allows the user to switch 
from control of macro to micro parameters of the information output. This is 
analogous to a zoom lens on a camera."

Operating the machine was much like programming in real time - including 
macros.

The electronic design was by Sergio Franco.
I highly recommend his book "Design with Operational Amplifiers and Analog 
Integrated Circuits." http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~sfranco/Books.html

paul perry Melbourne Australia