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Any inexpensive synth chip currently being maked, usable with basic stamp? — Parallax Forums

Any inexpensive synth chip currently being maked, usable with basic stamp?

CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
edited 2013-04-18 15:52 in General Discussion
Hello. I'm doing a simple project, for specific process controller device. I want to add an easter egg to it, which will play some arcade tunes when activated. The bult-in capabilities does not produce required quality and also cant do polyphony. I don't need or want mp3, i want old school synth. So far what I only found is sparkfun offerings for mp3 codec with midi, which is exactly not the right thing I need. I even thought salvaging old nes to get ay chip, but having 40 pin dip case in compact device does not feels ckmfortable. Any ideas?

Comments

  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2013-04-15 09:45
    Use a Prop in a QFP package that emulates a AY2149 or the Commodore SID. That would be the easiest since using any old school chips are out of the question because of size constraints. Or simply go with a real Commodore SID(they are in a 28 pin package, about the same size as the Stamp you are using.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2013-04-15 12:12
    Yes, a Prop with a simple D-to-A circuit on the output pins is exactly what you want. As Rod mentions you can get it in the QFP package and put it on your board. Very small. Write some software to play a specific tune when pins, or combination of pins, are activated. You can create polyphony in numerous ways. There are a number of programming examples of using the Prop as a SID chip in this forum, and on the Propeller OBEX site.

    -- Gordon
  • CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
    edited 2013-04-15 12:39
    using prop means additional programmer, software, learning.... while sparkfun midi codec costs $9.99 and needs very few in terms of learning and additional hardware. Wish it was FM synth, that would make things a lot easier:-)
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2013-04-15 15:17
    You didn't mention these other objections at the top, and this IS a forum for Parallax after all, so making Parallax alternatives is a given.

    You can forget the VLSI Solutions chips Sparkfun resells. They aren't FM sound chips and at best could reproduce crude SID-type effects through hacking the available instruments in its two sound banks. In real time mode it supports a modest subset of common MIDI statements -- NoteOn, NoteOff, volume, and a few others. They require either SPI or a faster baud rate than the regular BS2 can provide. Have you programmed in MIDI before? It's harder than learning enough Spin to go through the examples other people have already created for you.

    -- Gordon
  • Prophead100Prophead100 Posts: 192
    edited 2013-04-15 21:42
    Would the SoundPal accomplish what your looking for? Its has some good capabilities and works well with the Stamp.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2013-04-15 22:02
    Other than his desire for polyphony, the SoundPAL could well fit the bill. It's monophonic, though.

    -Phil
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-04-16 07:08
    See arcadechips.com for a variety of vintage sound chips.

    Specifically http://www.arcadechips.com/index.php?cPath=27_22
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2013-04-16 17:53
    This thread is giving me the desire to do another soundPal project. The Christmas one was fun, but we haven't had a musical holiday since then.
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2013-04-16 18:26
    CuriousOne wrote: »
    .. So far what I only found is sparkfun offerings for mp3 codec with midi, which is exactly not the right thing I need. I even thought salvaging old nes to get ay chip, but having 40 pin dip case in compact device does not feels ckmfortable. Any ideas?

    If you do not want to use a Prop, and are not in a hurry, then maybe this ?
    http://www.ftdichip.com/EVE.htm
    This has Audio synth in one corner, and PR claims $2.75/100k, so likely similar in price to a Prop
  • CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
    edited 2013-04-17 04:07
    Just for curiosity, I did a simple "synth" using picbasic pro and pic16f628a. One "channel" is played via hardware PWM abilities, and 2nd - via statement SOUND. It's quite funny, so far did pacman intro music, now working on super mario underworld theme. May post video later :)
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2013-04-17 06:31
    It's not inexpensive, but the fluxamasynth (http://shop.moderndevice.com/products/fluxamasynth) uses Atmel's ATSAM2195. It might be possible to use it directly in your application.
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2013-04-17 09:22
    CuriousOne wrote: »
    Just for curiosity, I did a simple "synth" using picbasic pro and pic16f628a. One "channel" is played via hardware PWM abilities, and 2nd - via statement SOUND. It's quite funny, so far did pacman intro music, now working on super mario underworld theme. May post video later :)

    It's clear you already half way there to your own solution and don't need anyone's advice.
  • CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
    edited 2013-04-17 10:31
    Well, I just try to use what I have at hands 1st, but only if that does not requires additional learning and study.
  • John A. ZoidbergJohn A. Zoidberg Posts: 514
    edited 2013-04-18 09:17
    CuriousOne wrote: »
    using prop means additional programmer, software, learning.... while sparkfun midi codec costs $9.99 and needs very few in terms of learning and additional hardware. Wish it was FM synth, that would make things a lot easier:-)

    If I'm not mistaken, some person/company is selling the chip named UM3567/U3567 in ebay which is a clone of a Yamaha YM2413 FM synthesizer chip. Not that expensive, it's quite ok for that price. To wire it up, check out the pinouts for the chip in that website. It is in Portuguese, but the diagrams are self-explanatory.
  • Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL)Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) Posts: 1,720
    edited 2013-04-18 15:40
    re:If I'm not mistaken, some person/company is selling the chip named UM3567/U3567 in ebay which is a clone of a Yamaha YM2413 FM synthesizer chip. Not that expensive, it's quite ok for that price. To wire it up, check out the pinouts for the chip in that website. It is in Portuguese, but the diagrams are self-explanatory.

    Here's a English Version of the website:
    http://translate.google.ca/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http://www.msxpro.com/fm.html&authuser=0
  • Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL)Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) Posts: 1,720
    edited 2013-04-18 15:52
    re:If I'm not mistaken, some person/company is selling the chip named UM3567/U3567 in ebay which is a clone of a Yamaha YM2413 FM synthesizer chip. Not that expensive, it's quite ok for that price. To wire it up, check out the pinouts for the chip in that website. It is in Portuguese, but the diagrams are self-explanatory.

    Here's a English Version of the website:
    http://translate.google.ca/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http://www.msxpro.com/fm.html&authuser=0
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