DrBunsen

From the brief reading I did last night of the second link above, it looks like it would be simpler to map some RAM (Banksticks? ;D) to the VIC and use your micro to bit bash images into the RAM.

Sparkfun have some interesting little ARM9 dev boards for not too expensive, and a range of add-on breakout boards. By which time you might as well go for a GP2X, which has already had a fair bit of MIDI and synthesis work put in to it, and comes complete prebuilt, display, the works, for about US$199 Somehow I don't see that happening; they've sunk a lot of R&D into it, they're about to release a second version, and the forums seem pretty active.

The sparkfun button sets don't come with the button contact PCB - that's extra. And the monome ones don't come with LEDs - you could use RGBs or bicolours, but the single diode per button would be a limitation you'd have to work around.

I just scored a book called "Crash Course In C". It's a few years old, and I haven't got into it yet. I'll provide some feedback when I do.

Darn it stryd, you had me thinking someone had cloned the K5k itself ....

MUAhahahHAHAHAHAHAHahahahaaaaa

Well, the Parallax Propellor looks interesting, and there's already been some work on music synthesis for it. It's an 8 core, 32 bit multiprocessor microcontroller, with each core doing 20 MIPS, for US$20, and development boards start at US$20 as well. But it doesn't use C/C++; rather it has it's own languages for both high level and assembly work. I've noticed some synthesis work on AVRs as well - if you check the Cornell University microcontrollers end-of-year project page for the last few years, various forms of music synthesis crop up there pretty regularly. Dunno what the deal is on getting hold of source code from those projects, but there should be other AVR synthesis projects around. Like AVRsynth, for example. If you want serious grunt you might go for an ARM platform, although I think you are looking at pretty pricey dev boards for them. Unless you pick up a cheap ($100) ARM based NAS box or other appliance and reflash it to run Linux or ucLinux. Then you could install a stripped down Linux with a wide choice of already written synthesis applications. But then it's more of a "real computer" than a uc. Other suggestions: Shifty's Death Synth (based on a discontinued DSP dev board), dsPIC. All of the above could be wildly inaccurate. Your research is advised.

You know, hardware plugs in too ...

There's an $11 USPS flat rate worldwide satchel. It's 9.5"x12.5", flat (like an envelope) and rated to four pounds weight. I've squeezed many components into these to save on shipping to Australia. Bubblewrap the components and put some wide clear tape over the bits where it looks like it might tear.

Envelope follower, not enveloppe ... I'm just putting that in so this thread will show up in searches. Meanwhile, this is a great idea.

If you had opaque white or clear, couldn't you just use whatever colour LED you want underneath?

I voted for option 3. My Korg Electribe EA-1 stores a grand total of ONE sequence per patch, so 8 is just luxury. Mind you, they're four bars (64 steps) with sequencing of all synth parameters. If the multiple user selected partitioning turns out to be reasonably do-able, I'd love one option similar to the above. ie one longer seq per patch, with lots of assignable parameter tracks.

Maybe a bunch of us could approach SmashTV about getting parts kits made up? Perhaps he could package them similar to the existing kits, ie to build one or two SIDs at a time onto your board.

I would imagine, as these supplies are commonly rated for a couple of hundred watts, they should supply all the cores you can throw at them pretty happily :) If in doubt, add up your cores (as well as LCDs, LEDs etc) and check the individual current ratings for the 5V, 12V etc marked on the PSU. One watt per core is more than generous at my GUESS. You can probably get away with a small one from a FlexATX or server case rated around 100W with no problems.

Out of his ... hat?

Oh I see what you mean. And that's right given the audio example. 6 monophonic voices would be 6 different single OSC patches. Could there be (or is there already) an option to route this to an external VCA or DCA? (or indeed an integrated VCF/VCA like the SSM 2045 or CEM 3372)

Is that a VST or a hardware input channel salvaged from an old desk? If it's the latter, you should post a query in the MIDIfication forum, and check out the MIDIbox FX Wiki page

A small erratum at http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_sid_manual_hw.html ... should be 6 mono?

But a MIDI looper is

I'm interested in a base PCB, and possibly a CS PCB as well. Any idea on prices as yet? Also just checking - anything not implemented in your PCB (compared to the standard MBHP design) can be added by the user, right?

Hell yeah ;D ... and CV?

I've had the 2-bit AOUT_LC idea as well. Just a series of 2-resistor "ladders". That would give 24 channels of 4-level (well 3 and off) triggering. You could use trimpots or tweak the resistor values to match each module.

In most eBay listings, the "keyboard" is the computer.

I am interested in this use case as well. Recently I did a search and found an IC which takes a single serial input and gives 12 channels of PWM. I will have to re-trace my steps and dig it up again if you're interested.

Yeah I know. Just clarifying in case anyone attempts a search.