[sdiy] hobbyist hardware DSP - choosing a platform

[paula at synth.net]

Andy,

I think you're asking for the moon on a stick :)

> My main wish-list for a hardware platform + programming framework is:
> 
> 1.  should have ready-made DSP primitives, at least sufficient to make
> a subtractive synth (osc/filters/LFO/ADSR).  Ideally want real-time
> frequency-domain stuff.

So you want an open source set of libraries that are optomised for your 
specific CPU.

> 2.  should also allow for some patcher-style logical control flow,
> and, easy interaction with sensors, buttons, etc. producing control
> information.  (This is where I am less clear how e.g. Audio Weaver or
> SigmaStudio would rate.)

You want a nice "gui" based development tool chain written by someone 
else?

> 
> 3.  limited involvement in the details of hardware chips.  I am not
> opposed to learning more about hardware, in fact I'm enjoying E.
> Williams' book on AVR programming, but still want to be able to
> abstract away from too many details of this stuff.  Arduino and
> Axoloti seem like good examples of doing this well.  Other tools seem
> more aimed at professional electronics designers, which is a concern.
> 

similar to point 1, but to get the BEST out of DSP you really need to 
understand exactly how the chip works.

> 4.  finally, and no small thing, I would like to be able to make
> devices cheap enough to easily give away.  Let me not give a hard
> budget, but suggest that e.g. Axoloti is quite a stretch at 65 EUR
> (and also a bit bulky for toys).  A shame since I think it meets my
> other requirements.

never going to happen :)
DSP Power and tool chains come with a price tag.

Unless you skip 1 and 2, then you can write highly optomised code on a 
small cheap processor.

Paula