Update:
Update:
Laatste stand van zaken
Last week I received my first OS update for the Solaris since Messe back in March! I felt this would be a good time to send all of you an update to things as well, since so many have been patiently waiting for some news.
This OS update adds hard sync effects to the Saw and Pulse Multimode Oscs, and implements the first pass of a proper CEM oscillator (used in Prophet 5, Pro 1, etc.), which features multiple simultaneous waveshapes.
While it may seem like this is not a huge leap, the situation is that, to do a really proper hard sync, Klaus told me he wanted to nail it as best he could, and that the hard sync code he had done for the standard Scope software oscillators back in the past wasn't really up to task. Therefore, he has taken a good bit of time focusing on this.
On my Forum, I have posted an initial set of audio demo files showing a hard sync sound, and some comparison files with a Prophet 5 and a Prophet '08 just for fun. I'd also like to make some short videos to watch, although the user interface screens will be changing now a bit from what I've been using on the proto.
While the Sonic Core guys have been working away on getting their XITE product ready to release, we've also had some discussions as to the final hardware configuration for Solaris. After looking at the various options, here's what we've decided so far:
1) regarding a ribbon controller - for expense, development time, and simplicity, I have decided to put in a connector for the Kurzweil Super Ribbon Controller. It's a fairly decent product, and gives a lot of control - and doesn't cost that much to purchase (around $50 in the States). I was told by their head engineer that they are going to continue making the product, and so this seemed like the best way to address this situation.
2) Memory expansion and storage - we had a choice to install some kind of flash RAM, or use a memory card format that is available and inexpensive. I also wanted to provide for a possibility to have a hard drive added internally at some point, if needed, to store larger sample sets, etc.. Three reasons have led us to decide on using the Compact Flash (CF card) format: (1) it's identical to IDE, so we can use CF or hard drive later, and (2) it's much less expensive than using SDHC cards, for the reason of a royalty that one must pay to use anything larger than 2GB cards (quite a surprise when I found that out - around $16,000!!), and (3) with replaceable CF cards, you can expand the size and/or change out cards for creation of your sample/wavetable library.
Now, this will still mean you will need to use the computer editor to manage the data of the card. Earlier on, there was talk of having a USB memory 'stick' as the preferred storage method, however, the hardware engineer pointed out that this would require additional code and intelligence to be built into Solaris, and also the need to have both types of USB connectors, the A type and the B type. This would mean a different USB processor part as well, and overall it would add complexity to the blackfin chip which is running the Solaris OS. The USB port on the Solaris will be the B type only, which means the Solaris is "downstream" from the computer (slave to the master computer in this case), and will not be able to initiate USB commands, only receive them.
One of the other reasons I want to keep a hard drive option is if there's any possibility in the future to license or code ourselves a method for audio streaming for Solaris. Also, this would be a provide a lot of storage for data, as opposed to the CF cards (however, there are now some 16GB CF cards that are fairly reasonable in price). Remember that this does not mean Solaris could load huge samples, but rather, lots and lots of smaller samples that are correctly sized to fit within the onboard RAM chips, so perhaps it's not so important an issue for now.
3) Which brings me to the onboard RAM discussion. I believe what we will be providing on the board is 32MB of RAM for each DSP. It's possible that as we near the initial production cycle, RAM prices will go down so that we can use 64MB parts, since they are pin-compatible, but for now, I've been told 32MB will be it.
4) Wheel box - we had some short discussion about changing the front panel so that it is folded all the way across, and would use a 'wheel box' in the same style as the older Prophet 5 (and the Prophet '08, PolyEvolver). While this might be nicer in terms of familiar looks, it also adds more cost, and those that I surveyed (you may or may not have gotten a question about this privately) as well as most everyone on the team agreed that the current design was fine. It's still possible I can offer something to have lit wheels with colors, etc (see below in discussion about Signature Editions).
5) I do still have a question for you - currently we don't have any programmable switches over near the wheels. Some synths have them, some don't. I'd like to hear from you what your preference would be, if these would really be needed (adds another small circuit board and connector mounting).
6) And finally, the state of the DSP chips to be used. It seems that, because of our delays, we will now have access to purchase an updated DSP chip with more power for the same cost as before.
This part will be running at 333 mhz, as opposed to the 266 mhz parts we had in there before.
So, speaking of delays, what does this mean for the current release schedule?
As I mentioned, the Sonic Core guys have been busy with a couple of things, Solaris and the XITE box. Once XITE is released, they will be able to focus a greater proportion of their time on finishing up the Solaris project. The latest discussions I've had with them now put us at October for a product release date. I'm sure this is a big disappointment for many of you, as it is for me. From all that I have seen and discussed, this will be the last delay for Solaris.
For those of you who did a full pre-purchase amount, I'd like to offer something special when the time comes. There's been some small requests for signature edition things, but I'd like to know what you think should be other items or aspects of a special edition which I could offer. Colored LEDs to light the wheels, signature pad or square affixed (instead of signing just on the surface somewhere)...please let me know!!
Thanks very much for your support,
Regards,
John Bowen
SCI P5:
http://www.johnbowen.com/MP3demos/Sync1.wav
JB SOlaris:
http://www.johnbowen.com/MP3demos/Sync2.wav
DSI Prophet 08:
http://www.johnbowen.com/MP3demos/Sync3.wav
