About a micro processor subforum

blue hell · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject: About a micro processor subforum

At http://electro-music.com/forum/post-146152.html#146152

the subject was brought up that it might be useful to have an embedded controller subforum or something in DIY. I asked for opinions and the reactions seem a bit lame, should there be something like that?

EdisonRex · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:01 pm Post subject:

you know, I know absolutely zero about the subject, as far as practicing it is concerned. Are there people who want it? I'd be interested if we had people willing to teach in the forum.

I don't think it is typical DIY fare, though.

I could be completely wrong.

blue hell · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject:

blue hell · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:13 am Post subject:

The subject came up again in http://electro-music.com/forum/post-154313.html#154313

Paul seems to be be in favour ... no one else got an opinion?

EdisonRex · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:41 am Post subject:

yes, I am now in favour. It's a whole area I know nothing really useful about. It looks like some folks who do know what they're talking about are starting to play here more.

frijitz · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:56 am Post subject:

I like the idea, but I see a problem with there being so many different processor options. Do we want yet another PIC vs AVR war?

A strong specific project with a lot of folks working on it would be a great way to go IMO. Maybe a uC Klee?

Very Happy

Ian (known to occassionally work with PICs)

blue hell · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject:

EdisonRex · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:56 pm Post subject:

One of the first topics could be "what's your fav project"... that'd at least get people to throw out their favourites, so you'd gauge the interest. But considering other sparsely populated niche forums like the Metasonix and DSI Evolver forums, I can't think DIY could support a programmable device subforum.

Scott Stites · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject:

The way things are moving in the electronics business, I see this as the future of Synth DIY. I think there are a fair number of people actively into this - I'm not sure how many forum members are, though I bet the number would be surprising.

A common project would be something to get people fired up on. A uPC version of the Klee would be fun, though the interface would have to change in order to make it much easier than it is now (IE, the boards, as many parts as they have, are the easy part - it's all the panel wiring that's the big chunk of building a Klee).

Better yet, a project that's just plain out of the question for discrete components is what would trip my trigger. For example, I became obsessed over the Synth KS keyboard Sequencer about this time last year, and decided to design a more capable CMOS version of it. I spent a couple of months on it - my entire Christmas vacation was dedicated to drawing out schematics for it. It finally dawned on me that what I wanted was just out of the question for discrete components - I was at several pages of schematics, and it was still growing. A uPC and some DACs could handle it with no problem. I'm not talking just a single channel of "You enter the notes and it plays them back", but something like a couple or four channels, with editing capability and lots of nonvolatile memory. For example, you see a lot of TB303 clones that emulate the analog portion, but not the controller portion. That's the part I'm more interested in. An LCD, maybe a small TB303 type keyboard on the front (and a MIDI input so you could enter notes with a MIDI keyboard) and memory for storing notes and event data. Oh, yeaaahhh.......

Cheerio,
Scott

EdisonRex · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject:

So, Scott, we take that as a yes? ^_^

State Machine · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:37 am Post subject:

I would like to see this also. I would like to make a suggestion to also throw programmable logic into the mix as embedded processes can be further enbedded into FPGA's and Complex PLD's.

There are lots of very reasonably priced develop boards for microcontrollers and FPGA's with free design software thrown in also.

So, I think this is a good idea ..... Very Happy

Bill

Tim Servo · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:20 am Post subject: About a micro processor subforum

Me three...

I would think a single subforum would do the trick. Individual threads would probably take care of the various AVR, PIC, DSP, ETC. discussions (as long as the subject is a three letter acronym!).

Tim (still working on my AVR ABCs) Servo

blue hell · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject:

So no FPGAs ... I was just about to propose "programmable logic" as the name fore the new section Very Happy

State Machine · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject:

blue hell · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:

Comments? yes actually, I agree, it's a better title Very Happy

State Machine · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject:

blue hell · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

maybe we should just do it then, I mean when that's all it takes to have you back as a moderator, that's a bargain Wink

Will do so tomorrow, as it takes some mental capabilities that I don't have at the moment; still recovering from a couple of late nights earlier this week & working again ...

State Machine · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject:

State Machine · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

Scott Stites · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject:

Got my vote on a forum, fer shure.

I could never get the streaming to work the other night. Even when I piggy-backed on my hapless neighbor's wireless connection. Ah, well....

blue hell · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject:

Bill, may I invite you to open the new forum with an introductory message?

State Machine · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject:

State Machine · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject:

Had to start splitting the topic a bit since everything started to get rolled into one BIG post .... Not what I want so, as per suggestions, I have split the original WELCOME topic in two and encouraged our members to start new topics instead of just posting in the original message.

Also moved Scott "G"'s FPGA synthesizer project (GATEMAN STUFF) over to the new forum. I know there are a few more. I also want to see how I am going to work in the Integrated Keyboard Controller project Dan and I are working on. It's a touch subject since the thread started talking about Thomas henry's original controller but then it became a thread about an entirely new controller based on CPLD technology and then added MIDI and automated octave shifting, etc ........

OK, I will get the hang this Embarassed

Bill

blue hell · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

State Machine · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:22 pm Post subject: