Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
New to propeller — Parallax Forums

New to propeller

VacoLocoVacoLoco Posts: 1
edited 2010-12-13 05:22 in Propeller 1
Hi,

I'm new to propeller and I'm hoping to use the chip to make a synth. initially probably monophonic initially, but polyphonic later.

I've built various synths before and I'm looking at using the Propeller as the basis for a synthesis.

I wondered if anyone here has anything they're currently working on in a similar vein? I'd hate to duplicate work, but I'm also keen to look at how to get the best from the propeller.

Paul

Comments

  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2010-12-12 12:29
    Well, you really should take a look at the SidCog project.

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?118285-SIDcog-The-sound-of-the-Commodore-64-!
  • bytedude1bytedude1 Posts: 9
    edited 2010-12-12 12:45
    I have had a bs2 for quite a while and i wanted to move on to something bigger do you guys suggest the propeller chip?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-12-12 12:48
    Don't hijack threads like that, it annoys people.
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2010-12-12 15:35
    initially probably monophonic initially, but polyphonic later.

    Sounds fun. I spent a lot of my youth building an analog synth.

    I don't have anything working exactly like this on the propeller, but I'm sure others will chime in soon. What I do have though are some of the building blocks for a polyphonic synth. Store wave samples on an sd card as binary files. Load these binary files into an external ram chip for quicker access. Combine multiple notes together on the fly from those wavetables. The 'almost ready to go' code to do this exists in both Spin and C.

    The prop also should be able to do the simpler things too - sine/square/triangle, envelope, mixing.

    Are you using a MIDI keyboard?
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-12-12 16:52
    @VacoLoco: Welcome to the prop forum. Yes, I am sure you will find others chime in here to help you do that. I think there has been some form of work done in one of the threads. SidCog is a great start.

    @bytedude1: Welcome to the prop forum. Yes, the prop would be a great way to start. However, please start your own thread to ask different questions in future. Having said that, if you search the forum you will find lots of threads from beginners asking exactly the same questions and there is a lot of detail in those answers - answers to questions you haven't yet asked.

    @Leon: Could you please tame your post a little for others who read. TIA and I will remove this line too.
  • ElectronegativityElectronegativity Posts: 311
    edited 2010-12-12 19:50
    Leon wrote: »
    Don't hijack threads like that, it annoys people.

    Wow Leon, maybe you should back off a little.

    The title of the thread is "New to propeller" and you stomp on someone for posting " I have had a bs2 for quite a while and i wanted to move on to something bigger do you guys suggest the propeller chip?"

    Maybe you should just have a drink or something.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-12-12 20:13
    The actual topic of the thread was synths, notwithstanding the title. The message in question wasn't relevant, he should have started another thread.

    Perhaps a moderator could adjudicate.
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2010-12-12 20:18
    Seems to me, the whole thing is a loser.

    If it were me, I would have said, "deffo the prop! Do you have a project in mind? Start another thread, and let's see what people have to say."

    Done, next.

    It's entirely possible to get the right things communicated without putting anybody in a low value position, that's all. Trust me, almost all of them would get the idea, and be motivated to join the conversation. Given what just transpired here, the chance of that is significantly less. All I'm saying is think the end game through, that's all.
  • AribaAriba Posts: 2,690
    edited 2010-12-13 05:22
    bytedude1 wrote: »
    I have had a bs2 for quite a while and i wanted to move on to something bigger do you guys suggest the propeller chip?
    This is the Propeller forum, so everybody here (exept Leon) will suggest you the Propeller chip :smile:
    VacoLoco wrote: »
    ...
    I've built various synths before and I'm looking at using the Propeller as the basis for a synthesis.

    I wondered if anyone here has anything they're currently working on in a similar vein? I'd hate to duplicate work, but I'm also keen to look at how to get the best from the propeller.

    Paul

    I've also built some synths in the past, analog, DSP based and hybrid ones.
    The Propeller has the advantage of the 8 processors, this makes it easy to separate the synthesis from the human interface and also add a sequencer for example.

    The big problem for sound synthesis with the Propeller is the missing hardware multiplier. Mainly all synthesis algorythm need a lot of multiplications.

    See my synthesizer object here:Music-Synthesizer-object-with-General-MIDI-sound-set
    The goal of this object was to pack as many voices in a cog as possible, and not to find a fancy sound synthesis.

    Andy
Sign In or Register to comment.