Abstract Generator idea

[TechnoCrafter]

Hello everybody,
I was wondering if there might be any interest in an abstract generator. I had one out a long time ago called the Lazermagic II. I was thinking of making an improved version with multiple oscillators, analog multipliers, etc. If anyone is interested I would really appreciate hearing it. I have been gone for a long time and would like to get going again.
Sincerely,
Rick

[flecom]

i was looking at various analog VCO IC's and circuits out there to make some 0-10v VCO's for abstracts... then you could get an easily obtainable 0-10v DMX board and use a DMX board for your abstract generator interface, saving you a significant challenge...

just a thought

[buffo]

Hey Rick;

There's been some renewed interest in some of the old-school analog abstracts from the 70's around here lately... I think there is a (limited) market for something like this, especially if you can get the price point down. It's something that people might be willing to add to their kit even if their current software already has an abstract generator built-in.

Probably need to build in some hefty filters though, so people don't end up killing their scanners. (For example, I've always liked the Aphalite abstract generator, but that baby can really tax your scanners if you're not careful!)

Adam

[Displaser]

Rick,

Yes, there are still a few of us that like to twist pots and flip switches...I'd agree with Buffo - there's interest if the price is favorable, otherwise I think most will stay the course of software for abstracts.

Glad you're here!

I'm an old GWS user from many years ago.

Greg

[DZ]

I think a nice knob box would be awesome. The only problem I see is the price. Trying to keep the price down on a decent console is going to be difficult. And to add on to what Buffo said, having an external manual abstract console augmenting you DAC's abstract console would be sweet! So whatever you come up with should have an ILDA in and ILDA out port. Either way, having manual control over abstracts is very cool, I've always wanted to come up with a console loaded with encoders programmed to interact with Pangolin's abstract generator.

[TechnoCrafter]

Dmx interface- yes that would work very well especially if 0..10 volts was used for control of all parameters, which could easily be done. Also, that way, all settings could be easily saved if the PC interfaced with it, and it had a multiplexed DAC and ADC. But then we need voltage controlled oscillators, filters, amps.. So the time, effort, cost... just gets out of reach for a starter system. I was thinking of just an analog board with knobs, sliders and switches. No interface involved.
Buffo, you're right about the freq response with the Alpha abstracts, they're a killer unless you use the Retrace sliders. They render any alpha abstract absolutely harmless.
I'm not sure if anybody knows about this feature, but a slider adds points between abstract points, and another adds points on top of the abstract points. With these, any abstract could be made to display at an amazingly slow pace. The same was basically done with retrace points for the sines. These sliders are on the 'Retrace' tab page.
Greg, I agree. And if you (or anybody) want your GWS to work with the Alpha, let me know, no charge.

[shrad]

a good idea for such a circuit would be to use these new analogic field programmable arrays... they consist of the same principle as FPGA with programmable gates, but contain operational amplifiers instead of logic gates

it might be dificult to find the dev tools though, but final product cost would be less than with equivalent discrete devices

[chad]

I think midi would probably be a better interface than dmx. The problem with dmx is it's low resolution. I think you will find locking in harmonics is going to be a pain. You could do 16 bit dmx and use one channel for coarse and another for fine....

I was thinking about using a dspic for this. They are cheap and should be fast enough to to the sin/cos, mult, sample and hold, chop, color mod, and you can do everything digital and be able to recall presets. and twiddle from there.

I can help with the board and enclosure/ encoders but I can't program to save my life.

chad

[dave]

I wonder if modular synthesiser modules would be useful? There is a goldmine of info on Moog, Buchla, Roland, etc DIY modules out there in the internetz. Hell, you could even go a step further and use CEM chips ( a little expensive and rare ) to make up all the modules, vco's, filters, vca's, etc

[FourDee]

I personally think this has dsp written all over it ...