Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

a) the reality is: there are just a few things left to design using op amps
and OTAs (and OTAs are disappearing fast). And those designs tend to have a
LOT of individual parts. Which, quite frankly, I'm a little tired of :)

b) In the past, the "missing link" in what I will call 'digital core'
modules is the lack of inexpensive, but accurate, ADC and DAC ICs. If you
want to control MOTM VCOs accurate to pitch, you need a minimum of 14 bits
with about +-2LSB of INL. A 12-bit converter just is not accurate enough
(you need uV of error, not mv). And, you need accurate, non-drifting voltage
references to drive these.

Such parts have been around 5 years or so, but just ∗recently∗ been at a
price point that makes them a "no brainer". The ADC used to be the limiting
part, but now the ADC technology has surpassed the DAC side. Analog Devices
is touting (but not yet delivering) a family of 16-bit parts priced where
the 14-bits are now (that is 8 ∗times∗ better accuracy). I have been closely
following ADC/DAC price/performance trends (like I like to follow USB thumb
drives. I predict 16GB at $39 Christmas 2008).

The other factor is the introduction of literally 100s of ARM-based uPs.
These 32-bit, single-cycle parts can run up to 90MHz while having huge
on-chip memories (512K Flash for programs, 32K for data) and still be $10 in
100pcs. For $35 you can get ARM parts that run 220Mhz and can boot Linux :)
Smaller ARM parts are < $2! Gone are the clunky 8051 8-bit parts with
12-cycle instructions running 20Mhz (and costing $6). MicroChip PICs?
Meh......In fact, if one decides to play in "Buchla space" ($850 for a noise
generator? cough) then for $99 you can get an ∗entire∗ IBM PC clone on a pcb
that is the same size as a busines card and it runs 400MHz. With Ethernet,
USB and CF card reader.

c) It is easier to be 'clever' in SW than in HW. Check out the bazillions of
VST plugins. Look at the Buchla 200e.

d) My new tag line for 2008: 'Digital Done Right!' If you pick the ∗better∗
parts, and do a ∗careful∗ pcb layout (6 layers is a good place to start)
then no one will "notice" what is behind the panel. Also, you need ∗good DSP
programmers∗ that understand how not only to code the product, but how to
code it ∗well∗.

Paul S.