[sdiy] Dream ... Anybody?

[Tom Farrand]

I was curious if anybody here has done anything with Dream synth and
effects ICs.  Anybody play with these?

http://www.dream.fr/about.html

Click on "Devices" and then scroll to SAM2553.  That looks interesting to me.

Supposedly these parts can be had for less than $6 which is a decent
price point but a source eludes me.  Some of these parts were possibly
designed by Atmel.  At one time in the past, I think the SAM2195 was
officially known as an ATSAM2195 which looks a lot like an Atmel part.
 Now, Dream seems to be leading the charge.  The SAM2195 comes in a
QFN package which is pretty hostile to home-brewing but other parts
come in QFLP packages which are very hackable into a home-brew
environment.  A quick search on Atmel's website comes up with nothing,
by the way.

Making a downloadable ROMpler synth would be kinda cool.  I am
thinking that sampling a monophonic analog synth and using these parts
to play back in polyphonic terms would be interesting.  Am thinking
that throwing a micro of some sort on the board would allow a USB
download of samples that would be stored on a SDHC card and conjured
up on demand.  A 32GB SDHC card would hold a ton of samples that could
be downloaded to the ROMpler IC on demand.  Might be interesting for
gigging as a beast of a modular synth isn't very portable but sounds
excellent.  Or making a XOX box using these chips as the sound
generators would be interesting as well.  Don't like the sound ...
change it.  Re-sample it and download something to your liking.
Anyone for a 2011 version of a SID?

I see potential for a cottage industry here.  I might not be the guy
to do it but it is interesting all the same (unless of course I could
earn enough to buy health insurance).

Peace.
Tom Farrand