Synth Chip?

[Benjamin Blundell]

Hello all. Can anyone recommend a circuit or chip that has some kind of basic input (serial, spi, i2c) etc and outputs an analogue wave I can then amplify? I'm basically trying to build a small synth of sorts. I have, as the basis, the arduino due ( the emf badge from 2014 to be exact) and I'm wondering about the best way to go? I know the badge itself has a couple of DACs and might be programmable for this on its own; I'd just need a small amp and jack socket. I don't have too long to build it so it doesn't need to be great.

Cheers
Ben

[Paddy Duncan]

Hi Ben,

 

You may like the AD9833 waveform generator...

I presume you're not looking for polyphony?

Paddy

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[Adrian Godwin]

If you just want one tone, you could use Nick's Tsunami -

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nickjohnson/tsunami

There's an implementation of the atari punk synthesisizer for arduino -

http://makezine.com/2007/09/18/arduino-punk-console/

That's using PWM output but the Due has a real DAC which could improve it.

If you want more ready-made sounds, the SAM2195 is a midi synth on a chip. I initially got one from the Avecsynth kickstarter

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/24311020/avecsynth-an-arduino-form-factor-midi-music-synthe/description

This was pretty good, but didn't go into full production.

There's another version, fluxamasynth. But reading the web page it seems the chip's no longer produced. You might find an old stock one somewhere. I found it noissier than the avecsynth (not as much power decoupling).

https://moderndevice.com/product/fluxamasynth-shield/

For something more complicated, there are synths based on raspberry pi and BBB

See https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-high-performance-interactive-audio-systems-with-the-bela-platform-tickets-19637256563

http://sonic-pi.net/

The BBB needs an external DAC. The Pi is better with one but will do low-quality audio without.

Hello all. Can anyone recommend a circuit or chip that has some kind of basic input (serial, spi, i2c) etc and outputs an analogue wave I can then amplify? I'm basically trying to build a small synth of sorts. I have, as the basis, the arduino due ( the emf badge from 2014 to be exact) and I'm wondering about the best way to go? I know the badge itself has a couple of DACs and might be programmable for this on its own; I'd just need a small amp and jack socket. I don't have too long to build it so it doesn't need to be great.

Cheers
Ben

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[Egor Kraev]

There's a recent Make Magazine howto article on just that topic

http://makezine.com/projects/make-a-wave-shaper-multifunction-sound-synthesizer/

[chrisbob12]

Check out the SpeakJet chip. Although, it's pitched as a voice synthesiser, its synth functions can be accessed too. I've got one driven by a PIC chip.

[Benjamin Blundell]

ooooh wao! Thanks all! Quite a few different choices there - I'll take a good look at them all and see how far I can get. Not got a lot of time (Dec 5th) but just need something a little silly to mess with :)

Cheers

Ben

On 23 November 2015 at 15:55, 'chrisbob12' via London Hackspace <london-h...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Check out the SpeakJet chip. Although, it's pitched as a voice synthesiser, its synth functions can be accessed too. I've got one driven by a PIC chip.

[Alex McConnachie]

I have used the Mozzi synthsis library for arduino. It is decent if a little noisy and needs some simple filter circuitry to get it nice and clean sounding. I'm not sure if its compatible with the Due but I have had no problems with it for the Uno or Nano. 

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 8:15:53 AM UTC, Oni wrote:

[Henry Best]

I've some PGA 2311 on order from China. They're stereo amplifier chips with digital volume control.

They've only just been shipped, so I don't know if they'll be here in time for you.

I ordered 5 but only need 2, so when they arrive, you are welcome to one.

[Benjamin Blundell]

Alex, that Mozzi Library looks quite interesting. Wonder if I can compile it up for the badge? Pretty cool mind! Cheers

Henry thats very cool of you - thanks :) 

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