XFM2: Prototype
Happy 2020!
The first 80% of any project takes the first 80% of the assigned schedule. The remaining 20% of the project then, takes the… other 80% of the schedule. Any designer knows that.
The good news is, XFM2 is complete. The first prototype is working nicely, so the release is expected soon.
Stepping up from XFM’s DAC, and after more than a dozen DAC chip tests, I implanted an extremely power-efficient I2S 24-bit DAC (UDA1334A), which is conveniently available as a small board.
The complete module build requires less than 10 components:
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Digilent CMOD A7 35T
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Adafruit UDA1334
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24LC1025 (I2C 1kbit memory, for user programs)
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4N36 (Photocoupler, for MIDI in)
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2 resistors (220 and 470, for MIDI in)
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1 diode (4148, to protect photocoupler)
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DIN connector (MIDI in)
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Small breadboard
Schematic is very simple, going up soon.
Basic Specs: FM synthesizer with built-in effects processor, 2-part, 64-voice, 6-operator, 2 independent oscillators with multiple waveforms, seven-segment loopable EG, LFO per operator, stereo mixing bus (operators can be freely panned in the stereo), poly/mono legato operation, portamento, microtuning scales, extensive MIDI implementation including sysex for all parameters, powerful effects processor including bit crusher, decimator, filter, chorus/flanger, phaser, amplitude/ring modulator and delay. Each part unit has its own effects (so there’s two of each of the above), and they can work all simultaneously, master reverb unit, arpeggiator.
