| Author |
Message |
|
|
 Posted: Jan 16, 2011 - 01:37 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
Hello,
I'm julien.
I built the protodeck controller and a couple of things.
I begin a project of sound machine and I need your thoughts/advices, you experts!
I'd need to target the optimal micro-controller for this.
I'd probably build my PCB.
The project requires few buttons, few leds, 1 LCD and severa potentiometers. I/O aren't the main constraint ; I can use mux/demux too.
The main constraint is I want to use 2 sound creation mode:
- based on digital synthesis (algorithms making sounds rock !)
- based on audio samples stored inside a memory (?) and which could be replaced through an interface offered with the machine (interface would be a Max5 patch probably)
any ideas? thoughts? |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Jan 16, 2011 - 02:32 PM |
|
Joined: Feb 12, 2004
Posts: 44
Location: Spain
|
|
I can tell you my experience with AT32 on a audio board ( http://tolaemon.com/scorea/ ). AT32UC is a good option, not the best but It can do the work. If you want to work seriously on audio processing maybe you should use a real DSP, but DSPs tools are expensive, DSPs are not "general purpose microcontrollers" and usually are poor on peripherals. AT32UC has a good community suport here.
About your projects constraints:
"- based on digital synthesis (algorithms making sounds rock !)"
AT32UC has an audio DAC, DSP features and is powerfull enough to make real interesting things with audio ( it can decode mp3 by itself and has a usefull DSP lib )
"- based on audio samples stored inside a memory (?) and which could be replaced through an interface offered with the machine (interface would be a Max5 patch probably) "
The AT32UC has a wide sort of comunication peripherals like USB, USART, SPI, ETHERNET and this will make easier to connect your project to the computer. It can also use an external SDRAM which will allow you to store large quantities of data.
The programming enviroment is great ( Eclipse + gcc ) and works perfectly on Linux and Windows.It also has a free real time OS ( Free RTOS ), it has a lot of interesting features.
Hope that helps |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 20, 2011 - 01:43 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
Hello Tolaemon.
I'm sorry to answer you so late, but I've been very busy.
So, Thanks a lot for your answer.
Your design is very impressive.
I'm targeting more a little hardware a bit like this one, but better.
Firstly, I targeted arduino already made boards.
I wanted to order a bunch of them to decrease the price & to design/order little shields with audio/filtering and other stuff.
I'm not sure it is the most genius idea!
Watching AT32 features, it would be THE smartest option.
I'd like to begin to prototype that but before, I need to design the soft + hard architecture.
Would you be interested by helping me a bit?
I learn fast and this would be only several questions here & there.
Should I target a particular website for AT32?
Could the FreeRTOS be used with this processor?
It seems to be easy to use usb, code protocols etc with this FreeRTOS stuff.
oh, I may forget: this hardware will be an opensource hardware!
It is important for me.
Even if I release it under a CC licence or I dont know what yet, even if I sell the system, it will be opensource because I hardly believe in communities!
all the best, |
_________________
julien
http://designthemedia.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 01:47 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
Hello,
Yes the atmel software framework has support for freeRTOS and USB. |
_________________
Daniel Campora
http://www.lear.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 03:38 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
hello danicampora,
I'm a bit on arduino forums too, because I explore the feasability to use the arduino framework.
Opinions are not very all the same!
Some talks to use another "bigger" processor like the parallax 8x32
Some other wrote arduino 8bit would be VERY enough.
I'm still hesitating  |
_________________
julien
http://designthemedia.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 09:48 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
Hi gluontronic,
The atmel framework for the AVR32UC3 MCUs is way more powerful and flexible than the arduino framework, and the AVR32 has much more horsepower than the 8 bit ATmegas found in the arduinos. For example,the AT32UC3A3 has high speed USB, external ram interface, plenty of IO pins (believe you, won't run out of them) and can deliver up to 96 MIPS at 66MHz. The AVR32 also has DSP instructions and you have a very powerful DSP library in the framework. With the ASF (atmel software framework) you have FAT support, high speed USB, freeRTOS, etc. etc. (you can read more about the framework in Atmel's website), and is all very easy to integrate into your applications and to modify to suit your needs because is all very well structured and documented.
I can assure you that the AVR32 is the way to go. Of course there are other options (ARM for example), but you won't find that hardware/software combination in any other platform. |
_________________
Daniel Campora
http://www.lear.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 09:54 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
Hi,
I think it will be very easy to port MIOS to the AVR32 since it runs on top of freeRTOS. |
_________________
Daniel Campora
http://www.lear.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 11:25 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 02:47 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 03:02 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 07, 2003
Posts: 4580
Location: Oslo, Norway
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 03:10 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 03:14 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 09:01 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 09:18 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
hi danicampora & thanks for your motivating interest
it is very expensive.
My purpose is to prototype, but because I'm quiet sure it can be done, the final purpose is to sell it.
I don't need screen, sensors etc. |
_________________
julien
http://designthemedia.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 11:05 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
| Yeah, is expensive because is an evaluation tool. For a commercial product is better to design your own hardware, but you can use the EVK1104 for your prototypes and firmware development. |
_________________
Daniel Campora
http://www.lear.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 25, 2011 - 11:26 AM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
I'll buy an evaluation board (it is expensive,OMG)
But I have to figure out how I will make my own PCBs already mounted with these SMD...
If I already made my own pcb (with eagle, kicad ; for the http://designthemedia.com/protodeck controller), I never ordered pre-soldered board and cannot know if it is expensive, reliable etc
if you have any ideas, I'm interested |
_________________
julien
http://designthemedia.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 25, 2011 - 12:25 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
Presoldered boards in low cuantities are expensive indeed, it should be easy to find many PCB assemblers in Germany.
On the other side the QFP-144 chips aren't hard to solder, you can even do it with a fine tip solering iron. (The AT32UC3A3 comes in BGA and QFP packages) |
_________________
Daniel Campora
http://www.lear.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 25, 2011 - 12:48 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
Ok dani
which presoldered boards providers would you advice to me?
It is hard to find because I don't even know which term to use on search engines :p
Ok for QFP.
I'd love to do it myself (I only did the big protodeck, but it contains full DIP basic package...)
About quantities, I won't order only 2 or 3. I'm targeting aroung 100 boards when I'll be ok.
and ... I found those:
http://www.alvidi.de/shop/index.php
Don't know yet which I will buy, but this afternoon, at least 2 will be bought
I need couple of DACs, buffers too. |
_________________
julien
http://designthemedia.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 25, 2011 - 12:59 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
Hi,
I know many PCB assemblers here in spain, but it will be better for you to do it in Germany. 100 boards is still a low quantity but you might be able to get a good deal. Use the words PCB prototype assembling, etc. to search for it.
Regarding the boards you found, I would choose the first:
AVR32 Modul
Modul mit AVR 32-Bit Controller AT32UC3A1512-AUT von Atmel mit internem Spannungsregler 3,3V, 2 x RS232, 12 MHz Quarz, 32.768 Quarz, USB & JTAG Buchse
However, if you need high speed USB and external ram you should go with the AT32UC3A3 instead. |
_________________
Daniel Campora
http://www.lear.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Feb 25, 2011 - 04:08 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mar 01, 2011 - 07:52 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
| Great, let me kow how it goes whe you start prototypig... |
_________________
Daniel Campora
http://www.lear.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Apr 10, 2011 - 12:55 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
now, I have it in hands.
I finally decided to use it to make a "little" soundmachine (the great one will be ARM9-based)
Daniel, would it be possible to discuss a bit via email or chat ? |
_________________
julien
http://designthemedia.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Apr 11, 2011 - 03:48 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Apr 11, 2011 - 03:49 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Apr 11, 2011 - 08:59 PM |
|
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 395
Location: Valls, Spain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Apr 11, 2011 - 08:59 PM |
|
Joined: Jan 16, 2011
Posts: 27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Register
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Maximize
RSS
