The RC Arduino site has featured a number of Audio projects recently, and while they all produce very different sounds they all use the same basic technique to generate their sound.
With this in mind an obvious development of these projects would be a modular synthesizer which allows the user to easily combine the techniques used by individual projects to produce new instruments.
Modular Synthesizer
A modular synthesizer is traditionally a large analogue device often including a mix and match of vintage components. Early models were often enormous DIY machines that could easily take up a whole wall of a room.
Current models are still large in comparison to digital synthesizers this is partly due to the physical user interface which is also what gives these machines their character.
A typical modular synthesizer user interface - Analog inputs to control the module oscillators and a patchwork of wires to direct the signals between different modules.
Arduino as a Digital Modular Synth ?
While the Arduino is a digital device, the Auduino and Illutron B projects both demonstrate the appeal of using analog inputs to control an Arduino based digital synthesizer.
More information and examples of both of these projects can be found here -
http://rcarduino.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-must-build-arduino-project-illutron.html
http://rcarduino.blogspot.com/2012/08/adding-audio-to-arduino-projects.html
Taking it further
The goal of this series of posts is to extend these ideas by -
1) Building a set of software components that will provide digital versions of the most common modules found in a modular synthesizer.
2) Building a simple, low cost simulated patch panel to direct how the digital sound will be built and processed by the software running on the Arduino.
Progress so far
Below are two examples of vastly different Arduino synthesisers built for this project with the same four oscillators connected in different ways - in effect this is a demonstration of the concept of an Arduino modular synthesiser.
The eXtremeley Limited Techno Toy or XLT2
As an initial experiment I wanted to build something that could be built from a few common components and that would be able to generate a reasonable range of new sounds.
The first result is the XLT2 - eXtemeley Limited Techno Toy.
An added bonus is that this synth and the Gated Grain Synth below are both directly compatible with the Auduino synth circuit, so if you have never built an Auduino before, now you have two more reasons to build one.
The XLT2 features two audio oscillators that are able to generate square, ramp or sine waveforms at audio frequencies.
These audio waveforms are then combined with individual low frequency oscillators ( LFOs ) which again generate square, ramp or sine waves but at much lower frequencies. These low frequency waveforms may not be audible on their own, but when we direct them to control the amplitude (volume) of an audio signal they can add a rythm, pulse or vibrato effect.
Each LFO also has an associated LED which reflects the LFO output both in frequency and profile - i.e. a squarewave will switch the LED hard on, then hard off whereas a sinewave will fade on and fade off reflecting the effect the LFO has on the audio signal.
A final control is provided to mix the two channels together according to a user selected ratio.
The Gated Grain Synthesizer
Once the XLT2 was up and running I wanted to try creating a similar sound to the Auduino using the same four oscillators as the XLT2, the grain synthesizer is the result.
This synth can produce a sound similar to the Auduino or even a passable violin if a sinewave is used as the output gate.
The main feature of the Gated Grain synth is that it sounds very different from the XLT2 but is built from the same four oscillators driving different aspects of the audio signal.
Proof of concept
The difference in sound between these two devices demonstrates the potential for an Arduino based synthesiser which allows the end user to configure the sound generation path using a simulated patch pannel. A follow up post will explore some of the options for implementing the patch pannel and how the relevant routing can be implemented at run time in software.
As the project stands, the user must select the waveforms at compile time however an obvious development would be to add a button for each oscillator allowing the user to cycle through the available waveforms. As my intention is to provide this function and others through a simulated patch panel, I will leave it to the user to add these buttons.
Note : The Audio output in the video is through a PC Speaker driven by the simple amplifier outlined in this post -
http://rcarduino.blogspot.com/2012/08/adding-audio-to-arduino-projects.html
With this in mind an obvious development of these projects would be a modular synthesizer which allows the user to easily combine the techniques used by individual projects to produce new instruments.
Modular Synthesizer
A modular synthesizer is traditionally a large analogue device often including a mix and match of vintage components. Early models were often enormous DIY machines that could easily take up a whole wall of a room.
Current models are still large in comparison to digital synthesizers this is partly due to the physical user interface which is also what gives these machines their character.
A typical modular synthesizer user interface - Analog inputs to control the module oscillators and a patchwork of wires to direct the signals between different modules.
 |
| Original photo by Nina Richards |
Arduino as a Digital Modular Synth ?
While the Arduino is a digital device, the Auduino and Illutron B projects both demonstrate the appeal of using analog inputs to control an Arduino based digital synthesizer.
| Auduino | Illutron B |
Auduino Features - A grain synthesizer which uses two triangle waveforms with independently controlled frequency and decay to create a more complex waveform. A fifth control is then used to set the pitch by controlling the repetition rate of the complex waveform. The tone of the waveform can be dramatically altered by adjusting the frequencies of the two component waveforms. |
Illutron B Features - A wavetable synthesizer which uses pre calculated waveforms stored within the program memory. These waveforms are played back at different speeds to produce sound at the required pitch. To further increase the musical quality of the waveforms, they are combined with an envelope, this describes how the sound developes over time and can provide an approximation of many musical instruments. |
More information and examples of both of these projects can be found here -
http://rcarduino.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-must-build-arduino-project-illutron.html
http://rcarduino.blogspot.com/2012/08/adding-audio-to-arduino-projects.html
Taking it further
The goal of this series of posts is to extend these ideas by -
1) Building a set of software components that will provide digital versions of the most common modules found in a modular synthesizer.
2) Building a simple, low cost simulated patch panel to direct how the digital sound will be built and processed by the software running on the Arduino.
Progress so far
Below are two examples of vastly different Arduino synthesisers built for this project with the same four oscillators connected in different ways - in effect this is a demonstration of the concept of an Arduino modular synthesiser.
XLT2 - eXtremely Limited Techno Toy
 |
|
The eXtremeley Limited Techno Toy or XLT2
As an initial experiment I wanted to build something that could be built from a few common components and that would be able to generate a reasonable range of new sounds.
The first result is the XLT2 - eXtemeley Limited Techno Toy.
An added bonus is that this synth and the Gated Grain Synth below are both directly compatible with the Auduino synth circuit, so if you have never built an Auduino before, now you have two more reasons to build one.
The XLT2 features two audio oscillators that are able to generate square, ramp or sine waveforms at audio frequencies.
These audio waveforms are then combined with individual low frequency oscillators ( LFOs ) which again generate square, ramp or sine waves but at much lower frequencies. These low frequency waveforms may not be audible on their own, but when we direct them to control the amplitude (volume) of an audio signal they can add a rythm, pulse or vibrato effect.
Each LFO also has an associated LED which reflects the LFO output both in frequency and profile - i.e. a squarewave will switch the LED hard on, then hard off whereas a sinewave will fade on and fade off reflecting the effect the LFO has on the audio signal.
A final control is provided to mix the two channels together according to a user selected ratio.
The Gated Grain Synthesizer
Once the XLT2 was up and running I wanted to try creating a similar sound to the Auduino using the same four oscillators as the XLT2, the grain synthesizer is the result.
This synth can produce a sound similar to the Auduino or even a passable violin if a sinewave is used as the output gate.
The main feature of the Gated Grain synth is that it sounds very different from the XLT2 but is built from the same four oscillators driving different aspects of the audio signal.
Proof of concept
The difference in sound between these two devices demonstrates the potential for an Arduino based synthesiser which allows the end user to configure the sound generation path using a simulated patch pannel. A follow up post will explore some of the options for implementing the patch pannel and how the relevant routing can be implemented at run time in software.
Getting Serious and moving to the Arduino Due
While this project has lots of potential for development the limited processing power of the 8-bit 16Mhz Arduino UNO will only get us so far.
The soon to be release Arduino Due platform however will allow the idea to be taken much further.
The Due has a built in analog to digital converter giving a true analog output rather than the UNOs PWM output, this together with higher resolution should provide far better sound quality.
The higher processing speeds of the Arduino Due will also allow for more oscillators and more importantly - complex relationships between the oscillators. It should also be possible to implement some software filters.
Perhaps the most exciting possibility is the high sampling rate offered by the Due, it may be possible to capture samples directly with the due and use them there and then as part of the synthesizer.
While this project has lots of potential for development the limited processing power of the 8-bit 16Mhz Arduino UNO will only get us so far.
The soon to be release Arduino Due platform however will allow the idea to be taken much further.
The Due has a built in analog to digital converter giving a true analog output rather than the UNOs PWM output, this together with higher resolution should provide far better sound quality.
The higher processing speeds of the Arduino Due will also allow for more oscillators and more importantly - complex relationships between the oscillators. It should also be possible to implement some software filters.
Perhaps the most exciting possibility is the high sampling rate offered by the Due, it may be possible to capture samples directly with the due and use them there and then as part of the synthesizer.
As the project stands, the user must select the waveforms at compile time however an obvious development would be to add a button for each oscillator allowing the user to cycle through the available waveforms. As my intention is to provide this function and others through a simulated patch panel, I will leave it to the user to add these buttons.
Note : The Audio output in the video is through a PC Speaker driven by the simple amplifier outlined in this post -
http://rcarduino.blogspot.com/2012/08/adding-audio-to-arduino-projects.html
#define SAMPLE_MAX (65535.0)
#define SAMPLE_FREQUENCY (8000.0)
#define TIMER1_FREQUENCY 2000000
#define UPDATE_RATE 8000
#define MIDI_NOTE_MAX 127
#define MIX_MIDDLE 127
#define GRAIN1_FREQUENCY_INPUT A0
#define GRAIN1_AMPLITUDE_INPUT A1
#define GRAIN2_FREQUENCY_INPUT A2
#define GRAIN2_AMPLITUDE_INPUT A3
#define LFO_FREQUENCY_INPUT A4
#define LFO_AMPLITUDE_INPUT A5
#define GRAIN1_SHAPE_INPUT 4
#define GRAIN2_SHAPE_INPUT 7
#define LFO_SHAPE_INPUT 8
#define PWM_OUT OCR0A
// Will put this in progmem - eventually
/*PROGMEM*/
unsigned char sineWave[256] =
{
127 , //0
130 , //1
133 , //2
136 , //3
139 , //4
142 , //5
145 , //6
148 , //7
151 , //8
154 , //9
157 , //10
160 , //11
163 , //12
166 , //13
169 , //14
172 , //15
175 , //16
178 , //17
181 , //18
184 , //19
186 , //20
189 , //21
192 , //22
194 , //23
197 , //24
200 , //25
202 , //26
205 , //27
207 , //28
209 , //29
212 , //30
214 , //31
216 , //32
218 , //33
221 , //34
223 , //35
225 , //36
227 , //37
229 , //38
230 , //39
232 , //40
234 , //41
235 , //42
237 , //43
239 , //44
240 , //45
241 , //46
243 , //47
244 , //48
245 , //49
246 , //50
247 , //51
248 , //52
249 , //53
250 , //54
250 , //55
251 , //56
252 , //57
252 , //58
253 , //59
253 , //60
253 , //61
253 , //62
253 , //63
254 , //64
253 , //65
253 , //66
253 , //67
253 , //68
253 , //69
252 , //70
252 , //71
251 , //72
250 , //73
250 , //74
249 , //75
248 , //76
247 , //77
246 , //78
245 , //79
244 , //80
243 , //81
241 , //82
240 , //83
239 , //84
237 , //85
235 , //86
234 , //87
232 , //88
230 , //89
229 , //90
227 , //91
225 , //92
223 , //93
221 , //94
218 , //95
216 , //96
214 , //97
212 , //98
209 , //99
207 , //100
205 , //101
202 , //102
200 , //103
197 , //104
194 , //105
192 , //106
189 , //107
186 , //108
184 , //109
181 , //110
178 , //111
175 , //112
172 , //113
169 , //114
166 , //115
163 , //116
160 , //117
157 , //118
154 , //119
151 , //120
148 , //121
145 , //122
142 , //123
139 , //124
136 , //125
133 , //126
130 , //127
127 , //128
124 , //129
121 , //130
118 , //131
115 , //132
112 , //133
109 , //134
106 , //135
103 , //136
100 , //137
97 , //138
94 , //139
91 , //140
88 , //141
85 , //142
82 , //143
79 , //144
76 , //145
73 , //146
70 , //147
68 , //148
65 , //149
62 , //150
60 , //151
57 , //152
54 , //153
52 , //154
49 , //155
47 , //156
45 , //157
42 , //158
40 , //159
38 , //160
36 , //161
33 , //162
31 , //163
29 , //164
27 , //165
25 , //166
24 , //167
22 , //168
20 , //169
19 , //170
17 , //171
15 , //172
14 , //173
13 , //174
11 , //175
10 , //176
9 , //177
8 , //178
7 , //179
6 , //180
5 , //181
4 , //182
4 , //183
3 , //184
2 , //185
2 , //186
1 , //187
1 , //188
1 , //189
1 , //190
1 , //191
0 , //192
1 , //193
1 , //194
1 , //195
1 , //196
1 , //197
2 , //198
2 , //199
3 , //200
4 , //201
4 , //202
5 , //203
6 , //204
7 , //205
8 , //206
9 , //207
10 , //208
11 , //209
13 , //210
14 , //211
15 , //212
17 , //213
19 , //214
20 , //215
22 , //216
24 , //217
25 , //218
27 , //219
29 , //220
31 , //221
33 , //222
36 , //223
38 , //224
40 , //225
42 , //226
45 , //227
47 , //228
49 , //229
52 , //230
54 , //231
57 , //232
60 , //233
62 , //234
65 , //235
68 , //236
70 , //237
73 , //238
76 , //239
79 , //240
82 , //241
85 , //242
88 , //243
91 , //244
94 , //245
97 , //246
100 , //247
103 , //248
106 , //249
109 , //250
112 , //251
115 , //252
118 , //253
121 , //254
123 //255
};
// should pre calculate these and store them in progmem to save memory
// for prototyping, lets calculate them and use ram
unsigned char rampWave[256];
unsigned char squareWave[256];
// used to convert midi note numbers into the increments required to generate the note in the ISR
PROGMEM unsigned int midiNoteToWavePhaseIncrement[128] =
{
66 // 0,8.18,66.98,66
,70 // 1,8.66,70.96,70
,75 // 2,9.18,75.18,75
,79 // 3,9.72,79.65,79
,84 // 4,10.30,84.38,84
,89 // 5,10.91,89.40,89
,94 // 6,11.56,94.72,94
,100 // 7,12.25,100.35,100
,106 // 8,12.98,106.32,106
,112 // 9,13.75,112.64,112
,119 // 10,14.57,119.34,119
,126 // 11,15.43,126.43,126
,133 // 12,16.35,133.95,133
,141 // 13,17.32,141.92,141
,150 // 14,18.35,150.35,150
,159 // 15,19.45,159.29,159
,168 // 16,20.60,168.77,168
,178 // 17,21.83,178.80,178
,189 // 18,23.12,189.43,189
,200 // 19,24.50,200.70,200
,212 // 20,25.96,212.63,212
,225 // 21,27.50,225.28,225
,238 // 22,29.14,238.67,238
,252 // 23,30.87,252.86,252
,267 // 24,32.70,267.90,267
,283 // 25,34.65,283.83,283
,300 // 26,36.71,300.71,300
,318 // 27,38.89,318.59,318
,337 // 28,41.20,337.53,337
,357 // 29,43.65,357.60,357
,378 // 30,46.25,378.87,378
,401 // 31,49.00,401.40,401
,425 // 32,51.91,425.27,425
,450 // 33,55.00,450.55,450
,477 // 34,58.27,477.34,477
,505 // 35,61.74,505.73,505
,535 // 36,65.41,535.80,535
,567 // 37,69.30,567.66,567
,601 // 38,73.42,601.42,601
,637 // 39,77.78,637.18,637
,675 // 40,82.41,675.07,675
,715 // 41,87.31,715.21,715
,757 // 42,92.50,757.74,757
,802 // 43,98.00,802.79,802
,850 // 44,103.83,850.53,850
,901 // 45,110.00,901.11,901
,954 // 46,116.54,954.69,954
,1011 // 47,123.47,1011.46,1011
,1071 // 48,130.81,1071.60,1071
,1135 // 49,138.59,1135.32,1135
,1202 // 50,146.83,1202.83,1202
,1274 // 51,155.56,1274.36,1274
,1350 // 52,164.81,1350.13,1350
,1430 // 53,174.61,1430.42,1430
,1515 // 54,185.00,1515.47,1515
,1605 // 55,196.00,1605.59,1605
,1701 // 56,207.65,1701.06,1701
,1802 // 57,220.00,1802.21,1802
,1909 // 58,233.08,1909.38,1909
,2022 // 59,246.94,2022.92,2022
,2143 // 60,261.63,2143.20,2143
,2270 // 61,277.18,2270.64,2270
,2405 // 62,293.66,2405.66,2405
,2548 // 63,311.13,2548.71,2548
,2700 // 64,329.63,2700.27,2700
,2860 // 65,349.23,2860.83,2860
,3030 // 66,369.99,3030.95,3030
,3211 // 67,392.00,3211.18,3211
,3402 // 68,415.30,3402.12,3402
,3604 // 69,440.00,3604.42,3604
,3818 // 70,466.16,3818.75,3818
,4045 // 71,493.88,4045.83,4045
,4286 // 72,523.25,4286.41,4286
,4541 // 73,554.37,4541.29,4541
,4811 // 74,587.33,4811.33,4811
,5097 // 75,622.25,5097.42,5097
,5400 // 76,659.26,5400.53,5400
,5721 // 77,698.46,5721.67,5721
,6061 // 78,739.99,6061.89,6061
,6422 // 79,783.99,6422.36,6422
,6804 // 80,830.61,6804.25,6804
,7208 // 81,880.00,7208.85,7208
,7637 // 82,932.33,7637.51,7637
,8091 // 83,987.77,8091.66,8091
,8572 // 84,1046.50,8572.82,8572
,9082 // 85,1108.73,9082.58,9082
,9622 // 86,1174.66,9622.66,9622
,10194 // 87,1244.51,10194.85,10194
,10801 // 88,1318.51,10801.07,10801
,11443 // 89,1396.91,11443.33,11443
,12123 // 90,1479.98,12123.79,12123
,12844 // 91,1567.98,12844.71,12844
,13608 // 92,1661.22,13608.50,13608
,14417 // 93,1760.00,14417.70,14417
,15275 // 94,1864.65,15275.02,15275
,16183 // 95,1975.53,16183.31,16183
,17145 // 96,2093.00,17145.63,17145
,18165 // 97,2217.46,18165.16,18165
,19245 // 98,2349.32,19245.31,19245
,20389 // 99,2489.01,20389.70,20389
,21602 // 100,2637.02,21602.14,21602
,22886 // 101,2793.83,22886.67,22886
,24247 // 102,2959.95,24247.58,24247
,25689 // 103,3135.96,25689.42,25689
,27216 // 104,3322.44,27216.99,27216
,28835 // 105,3520.00,28835.39,28835
,30550 // 106,3729.31,30550.04,30550
,32366 // 107,3951.06,32366.63,32366
,34291 // 108,4186.01,34291.26,34291
,36330 // 109,4434.92,36330.32,36330
,38490 // 110,4698.64,38490.65,38490
,40779 // 111,4978.03,40779.41,40779
,43204 // 112,5274.04,43204.25,43204
,45773 // 113,5587.65,45773.32,45773
,48495 // 114,5919.91,48495.14,48495
,51378 // 115,6271.92,51378.79,51378
,54433 // 116,6644.87,54433.96,54433
,57670 // 117,7040.00,57670.76,57670
,61100 // 118,7458.62,61100.07,61100
,64733 // 119,7902.13,64733.26,64733
,3046 // 120,8372.02,68582.53,3046
,7124 // 121,8869.84,72660.64,7124
,11445 // 122,9397.27,76981.30,11445
,16022 // 123,9956.06,81558.77,16022
,20872 // 124,10548.07,86408.50,20872
,26010 // 125,11175.30,91546.65,26010
,31454 // 126,11839.81,96990.28,31454
};
class CSynth
{
public:
volatile static unsigned char* m_pWaveForm1;
volatile static unsigned char* m_pWaveForm2;
volatile static unsigned char* m_pLFOShape1;
volatile static unsigned char* m_pLFOShape2;
volatile static unsigned int m_nWaveForm1Accumulator;
volatile static unsigned int m_nWaveForm1Increment;
volatile static unsigned int m_nWaveForm2Accumulator;
volatile static unsigned int m_nWaveForm2Increment;
volatile static unsigned int m_nLFOAccumulator1;
volatile static unsigned int m_nLFOIncrement1;
volatile static unsigned int m_nLFOAccumulator2;
volatile static unsigned int m_nLFOIncrement2;
volatile static unsigned char m_sLFOType;
volatile static unsigned char m_sMix;
static void startAudio()
{
TCCR1A=0x0; // set the timer prescaler to 8 = 16/8 = 2MHz
TCCR1B=0x02; // set the timer prescaler to 8 = 16/8 = 2MHz
TIMSK1 |= (1<<OCIE1A); // Enable output compare match interrupt on OCR1A
TCCR0A=0B10110011; //-8 bit audio PWM
//TCCR0A=0x83; // Set timer waveform generation mode to FAST PWM, clear OC0A On match, set at bottom - OC0A = digital pin 6.
TCCR0B=0x01; // Set to clock frequency, no prescaler
OCR0A=127; // set in the middle - do we need this ? probably not.
DDRD|=1<<6; // Set digital pin 6 to output - channels 2 and 3
}
static void triggerMidiNote(unsigned char sNote)
{
if(sNote < MIDI_NOTE_MAX)
{
m_nWaveForm1Increment = (pgm_read_word(midiNoteToWavePhaseIncrement + (sNote)));
}
}
};
volatile unsigned char* CSynth::m_pWaveForm1;
volatile unsigned char* CSynth::m_pWaveForm2;
volatile unsigned char* CSynth::m_pLFOShape1;
volatile unsigned char* CSynth::m_pLFOShape2;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nWaveForm1Accumulator;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nWaveForm1Increment;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nWaveForm2Accumulator;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nWaveForm2Increment;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nLFOAccumulator1;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nLFOIncrement1;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nLFOAccumulator2;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nLFOIncrement2;
volatile unsigned char CSynth::m_sLFOType;
volatile unsigned char CSynth::m_sMix;
CSynth synth;
// iterate the grains and LFO
SIGNAL (TIMER1_COMPA_vect)
{
OCR1A += (TIMER1_FREQUENCY/UPDATE_RATE);
// cross fade between the two channels
unsigned char sAmplitude1 = 0;
unsigned char sAmplitude2 = 0;
if(synth.m_sMix < 127)
{
sAmplitude1 = synth.m_sMix << 1;
sAmplitude2 = 255;
}
else if(synth.m_sMix > 127)
{
sAmplitude2 = (255-synth.m_sMix) << 1;
sAmplitude1 = 255;
}
OCR0B = OCR0A =
(((((
(*(synth.m_pWaveForm1 + ((synth.m_nWaveForm1Accumulator+=synth.m_nWaveForm1Increment)>>8))) *
(*(synth.m_pLFOShape1 + ((synth.m_nLFOAccumulator1+=synth.m_nLFOIncrement1) >> 8)))) >> 8) *
sAmplitude1) >> 8) +
((((
(*(synth.m_pWaveForm2 + ((synth.m_nWaveForm2Accumulator+=synth.m_nWaveForm2Increment)>>8))) *
(*(synth.m_pLFOShape2 + ((synth.m_nLFOAccumulator2+=synth.m_nLFOIncrement2) >> 8)))) >> 8) *
sAmplitude2) >> 8)) >> 1;
}
void setup()
{
pinMode(GRAIN1_SHAPE_INPUT,INPUT);
pinMode(GRAIN2_SHAPE_INPUT,INPUT);
pinMode(LFO_SHAPE_INPUT,INPUT);
digitalWrite(GRAIN1_SHAPE_INPUT,HIGH);
digitalWrite(GRAIN2_SHAPE_INPUT,HIGH);
digitalWrite(LFO_SHAPE_INPUT,HIGH);
Serial.begin(9600);
for(int nIndex = 0;nIndex < 256;nIndex ++)
{
rampWave[nIndex] = 255 - nIndex;
squareWave[nIndex] = (nIndex < 127) ? 0 : 255;
}
synth.m_pWaveForm1 = sineWave;
synth.m_pWaveForm2 = sineWave;
synth.m_pLFOShape1 = rampWave;
synth.m_pLFOShape2 = squareWave;
synth.m_sMix = MIX_MIDDLE;
synth.startAudio();
}
void loop()
{
synth.triggerMidiNote(analogRead(1)>>3);
synth.m_nWaveForm2Increment = analogRead(2)<<5;
// the LFO Oscilators control the volume of the two waveforms, a low value
synth.m_nLFOIncrement1 = analogRead(3) >> 2;
synth.m_nLFOIncrement2 = analogRead(4) >> 2;
// this mixes the two channels a low value will shut off one channel, a high value will shut off the other
// anywhere in between will generate a proportional mix of the two channels
synth.m_sMix = analogRead(5) >> 2;
}
#define SAMPLE_FREQUENCY (8000.0)
#define TIMER1_FREQUENCY 2000000
#define UPDATE_RATE 8000
#define MIDI_NOTE_MAX 127
#define MIX_MIDDLE 127
#define GRAIN1_FREQUENCY_INPUT A0
#define GRAIN1_AMPLITUDE_INPUT A1
#define GRAIN2_FREQUENCY_INPUT A2
#define GRAIN2_AMPLITUDE_INPUT A3
#define LFO_FREQUENCY_INPUT A4
#define LFO_AMPLITUDE_INPUT A5
#define GRAIN1_SHAPE_INPUT 4
#define GRAIN2_SHAPE_INPUT 7
#define LFO_SHAPE_INPUT 8
#define PWM_OUT OCR0A
// Will put this in progmem - eventually
/*PROGMEM*/
unsigned char sineWave[256] =
{
127 , //0
130 , //1
133 , //2
136 , //3
139 , //4
142 , //5
145 , //6
148 , //7
151 , //8
154 , //9
157 , //10
160 , //11
163 , //12
166 , //13
169 , //14
172 , //15
175 , //16
178 , //17
181 , //18
184 , //19
186 , //20
189 , //21
192 , //22
194 , //23
197 , //24
200 , //25
202 , //26
205 , //27
207 , //28
209 , //29
212 , //30
214 , //31
216 , //32
218 , //33
221 , //34
223 , //35
225 , //36
227 , //37
229 , //38
230 , //39
232 , //40
234 , //41
235 , //42
237 , //43
239 , //44
240 , //45
241 , //46
243 , //47
244 , //48
245 , //49
246 , //50
247 , //51
248 , //52
249 , //53
250 , //54
250 , //55
251 , //56
252 , //57
252 , //58
253 , //59
253 , //60
253 , //61
253 , //62
253 , //63
254 , //64
253 , //65
253 , //66
253 , //67
253 , //68
253 , //69
252 , //70
252 , //71
251 , //72
250 , //73
250 , //74
249 , //75
248 , //76
247 , //77
246 , //78
245 , //79
244 , //80
243 , //81
241 , //82
240 , //83
239 , //84
237 , //85
235 , //86
234 , //87
232 , //88
230 , //89
229 , //90
227 , //91
225 , //92
223 , //93
221 , //94
218 , //95
216 , //96
214 , //97
212 , //98
209 , //99
207 , //100
205 , //101
202 , //102
200 , //103
197 , //104
194 , //105
192 , //106
189 , //107
186 , //108
184 , //109
181 , //110
178 , //111
175 , //112
172 , //113
169 , //114
166 , //115
163 , //116
160 , //117
157 , //118
154 , //119
151 , //120
148 , //121
145 , //122
142 , //123
139 , //124
136 , //125
133 , //126
130 , //127
127 , //128
124 , //129
121 , //130
118 , //131
115 , //132
112 , //133
109 , //134
106 , //135
103 , //136
100 , //137
97 , //138
94 , //139
91 , //140
88 , //141
85 , //142
82 , //143
79 , //144
76 , //145
73 , //146
70 , //147
68 , //148
65 , //149
62 , //150
60 , //151
57 , //152
54 , //153
52 , //154
49 , //155
47 , //156
45 , //157
42 , //158
40 , //159
38 , //160
36 , //161
33 , //162
31 , //163
29 , //164
27 , //165
25 , //166
24 , //167
22 , //168
20 , //169
19 , //170
17 , //171
15 , //172
14 , //173
13 , //174
11 , //175
10 , //176
9 , //177
8 , //178
7 , //179
6 , //180
5 , //181
4 , //182
4 , //183
3 , //184
2 , //185
2 , //186
1 , //187
1 , //188
1 , //189
1 , //190
1 , //191
0 , //192
1 , //193
1 , //194
1 , //195
1 , //196
1 , //197
2 , //198
2 , //199
3 , //200
4 , //201
4 , //202
5 , //203
6 , //204
7 , //205
8 , //206
9 , //207
10 , //208
11 , //209
13 , //210
14 , //211
15 , //212
17 , //213
19 , //214
20 , //215
22 , //216
24 , //217
25 , //218
27 , //219
29 , //220
31 , //221
33 , //222
36 , //223
38 , //224
40 , //225
42 , //226
45 , //227
47 , //228
49 , //229
52 , //230
54 , //231
57 , //232
60 , //233
62 , //234
65 , //235
68 , //236
70 , //237
73 , //238
76 , //239
79 , //240
82 , //241
85 , //242
88 , //243
91 , //244
94 , //245
97 , //246
100 , //247
103 , //248
106 , //249
109 , //250
112 , //251
115 , //252
118 , //253
121 , //254
123 //255
};
// should pre calculate these and store them in progmem to save memory
// for prototyping, lets calculate them and use ram
unsigned char rampWave[256];
unsigned char squareWave[256];
// used to convert midi note numbers into the increments required to generate the note in the ISR
PROGMEM unsigned int midiNoteToWavePhaseIncrement[128] =
{
66 // 0,8.18,66.98,66
,70 // 1,8.66,70.96,70
,75 // 2,9.18,75.18,75
,79 // 3,9.72,79.65,79
,84 // 4,10.30,84.38,84
,89 // 5,10.91,89.40,89
,94 // 6,11.56,94.72,94
,100 // 7,12.25,100.35,100
,106 // 8,12.98,106.32,106
,112 // 9,13.75,112.64,112
,119 // 10,14.57,119.34,119
,126 // 11,15.43,126.43,126
,133 // 12,16.35,133.95,133
,141 // 13,17.32,141.92,141
,150 // 14,18.35,150.35,150
,159 // 15,19.45,159.29,159
,168 // 16,20.60,168.77,168
,178 // 17,21.83,178.80,178
,189 // 18,23.12,189.43,189
,200 // 19,24.50,200.70,200
,212 // 20,25.96,212.63,212
,225 // 21,27.50,225.28,225
,238 // 22,29.14,238.67,238
,252 // 23,30.87,252.86,252
,267 // 24,32.70,267.90,267
,283 // 25,34.65,283.83,283
,300 // 26,36.71,300.71,300
,318 // 27,38.89,318.59,318
,337 // 28,41.20,337.53,337
,357 // 29,43.65,357.60,357
,378 // 30,46.25,378.87,378
,401 // 31,49.00,401.40,401
,425 // 32,51.91,425.27,425
,450 // 33,55.00,450.55,450
,477 // 34,58.27,477.34,477
,505 // 35,61.74,505.73,505
,535 // 36,65.41,535.80,535
,567 // 37,69.30,567.66,567
,601 // 38,73.42,601.42,601
,637 // 39,77.78,637.18,637
,675 // 40,82.41,675.07,675
,715 // 41,87.31,715.21,715
,757 // 42,92.50,757.74,757
,802 // 43,98.00,802.79,802
,850 // 44,103.83,850.53,850
,901 // 45,110.00,901.11,901
,954 // 46,116.54,954.69,954
,1011 // 47,123.47,1011.46,1011
,1071 // 48,130.81,1071.60,1071
,1135 // 49,138.59,1135.32,1135
,1202 // 50,146.83,1202.83,1202
,1274 // 51,155.56,1274.36,1274
,1350 // 52,164.81,1350.13,1350
,1430 // 53,174.61,1430.42,1430
,1515 // 54,185.00,1515.47,1515
,1605 // 55,196.00,1605.59,1605
,1701 // 56,207.65,1701.06,1701
,1802 // 57,220.00,1802.21,1802
,1909 // 58,233.08,1909.38,1909
,2022 // 59,246.94,2022.92,2022
,2143 // 60,261.63,2143.20,2143
,2270 // 61,277.18,2270.64,2270
,2405 // 62,293.66,2405.66,2405
,2548 // 63,311.13,2548.71,2548
,2700 // 64,329.63,2700.27,2700
,2860 // 65,349.23,2860.83,2860
,3030 // 66,369.99,3030.95,3030
,3211 // 67,392.00,3211.18,3211
,3402 // 68,415.30,3402.12,3402
,3604 // 69,440.00,3604.42,3604
,3818 // 70,466.16,3818.75,3818
,4045 // 71,493.88,4045.83,4045
,4286 // 72,523.25,4286.41,4286
,4541 // 73,554.37,4541.29,4541
,4811 // 74,587.33,4811.33,4811
,5097 // 75,622.25,5097.42,5097
,5400 // 76,659.26,5400.53,5400
,5721 // 77,698.46,5721.67,5721
,6061 // 78,739.99,6061.89,6061
,6422 // 79,783.99,6422.36,6422
,6804 // 80,830.61,6804.25,6804
,7208 // 81,880.00,7208.85,7208
,7637 // 82,932.33,7637.51,7637
,8091 // 83,987.77,8091.66,8091
,8572 // 84,1046.50,8572.82,8572
,9082 // 85,1108.73,9082.58,9082
,9622 // 86,1174.66,9622.66,9622
,10194 // 87,1244.51,10194.85,10194
,10801 // 88,1318.51,10801.07,10801
,11443 // 89,1396.91,11443.33,11443
,12123 // 90,1479.98,12123.79,12123
,12844 // 91,1567.98,12844.71,12844
,13608 // 92,1661.22,13608.50,13608
,14417 // 93,1760.00,14417.70,14417
,15275 // 94,1864.65,15275.02,15275
,16183 // 95,1975.53,16183.31,16183
,17145 // 96,2093.00,17145.63,17145
,18165 // 97,2217.46,18165.16,18165
,19245 // 98,2349.32,19245.31,19245
,20389 // 99,2489.01,20389.70,20389
,21602 // 100,2637.02,21602.14,21602
,22886 // 101,2793.83,22886.67,22886
,24247 // 102,2959.95,24247.58,24247
,25689 // 103,3135.96,25689.42,25689
,27216 // 104,3322.44,27216.99,27216
,28835 // 105,3520.00,28835.39,28835
,30550 // 106,3729.31,30550.04,30550
,32366 // 107,3951.06,32366.63,32366
,34291 // 108,4186.01,34291.26,34291
,36330 // 109,4434.92,36330.32,36330
,38490 // 110,4698.64,38490.65,38490
,40779 // 111,4978.03,40779.41,40779
,43204 // 112,5274.04,43204.25,43204
,45773 // 113,5587.65,45773.32,45773
,48495 // 114,5919.91,48495.14,48495
,51378 // 115,6271.92,51378.79,51378
,54433 // 116,6644.87,54433.96,54433
,57670 // 117,7040.00,57670.76,57670
,61100 // 118,7458.62,61100.07,61100
,64733 // 119,7902.13,64733.26,64733
,3046 // 120,8372.02,68582.53,3046
,7124 // 121,8869.84,72660.64,7124
,11445 // 122,9397.27,76981.30,11445
,16022 // 123,9956.06,81558.77,16022
,20872 // 124,10548.07,86408.50,20872
,26010 // 125,11175.30,91546.65,26010
,31454 // 126,11839.81,96990.28,31454
};
class CSynth
{
public:
volatile static unsigned char* m_pWaveForm1;
volatile static unsigned char* m_pWaveForm2;
volatile static unsigned char* m_pLFOShape1;
volatile static unsigned char* m_pLFOShape2;
volatile static unsigned int m_nWaveForm1Accumulator;
volatile static unsigned int m_nWaveForm1Increment;
volatile static unsigned int m_nWaveForm2Accumulator;
volatile static unsigned int m_nWaveForm2Increment;
volatile static unsigned int m_nLFOAccumulator1;
volatile static unsigned int m_nLFOIncrement1;
volatile static unsigned int m_nLFOAccumulator2;
volatile static unsigned int m_nLFOIncrement2;
volatile static unsigned char m_sLFOType;
volatile static unsigned char m_sMix;
static void startAudio()
{
TCCR1A=0x0; // set the timer prescaler to 8 = 16/8 = 2MHz
TCCR1B=0x02; // set the timer prescaler to 8 = 16/8 = 2MHz
TIMSK1 |= (1<<OCIE1A); // Enable output compare match interrupt on OCR1A
TCCR0A=0B10110011; //-8 bit audio PWM
//TCCR0A=0x83; // Set timer waveform generation mode to FAST PWM, clear OC0A On match, set at bottom - OC0A = digital pin 6.
TCCR0B=0x01; // Set to clock frequency, no prescaler
OCR0A=127; // set in the middle - do we need this ? probably not.
DDRD|=1<<6; // Set digital pin 6 to output - channels 2 and 3
}
static void triggerMidiNote(unsigned char sNote)
{
if(sNote < MIDI_NOTE_MAX)
{
m_nWaveForm1Increment = (pgm_read_word(midiNoteToWavePhaseIncrement + (sNote)));
}
}
};
volatile unsigned char* CSynth::m_pWaveForm1;
volatile unsigned char* CSynth::m_pWaveForm2;
volatile unsigned char* CSynth::m_pLFOShape1;
volatile unsigned char* CSynth::m_pLFOShape2;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nWaveForm1Accumulator;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nWaveForm1Increment;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nWaveForm2Accumulator;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nWaveForm2Increment;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nLFOAccumulator1;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nLFOIncrement1;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nLFOAccumulator2;
volatile unsigned int CSynth::m_nLFOIncrement2;
volatile unsigned char CSynth::m_sLFOType;
volatile unsigned char CSynth::m_sMix;
CSynth synth;
// iterate the grains and LFO
SIGNAL (TIMER1_COMPA_vect)
{
OCR1A += (TIMER1_FREQUENCY/UPDATE_RATE);
// cross fade between the two channels
unsigned char sAmplitude1 = 0;
unsigned char sAmplitude2 = 0;
if(synth.m_sMix < 127)
{
sAmplitude1 = synth.m_sMix << 1;
sAmplitude2 = 255;
}
else if(synth.m_sMix > 127)
{
sAmplitude2 = (255-synth.m_sMix) << 1;
sAmplitude1 = 255;
}
OCR0B = OCR0A =
(((((
(*(synth.m_pWaveForm1 + ((synth.m_nWaveForm1Accumulator+=synth.m_nWaveForm1Increment)>>8))) *
(*(synth.m_pLFOShape1 + ((synth.m_nLFOAccumulator1+=synth.m_nLFOIncrement1) >> 8)))) >> 8) *
sAmplitude1) >> 8) +
((((
(*(synth.m_pWaveForm2 + ((synth.m_nWaveForm2Accumulator+=synth.m_nWaveForm2Increment)>>8))) *
(*(synth.m_pLFOShape2 + ((synth.m_nLFOAccumulator2+=synth.m_nLFOIncrement2) >> 8)))) >> 8) *
sAmplitude2) >> 8)) >> 1;
}
void setup()
{
pinMode(GRAIN1_SHAPE_INPUT,INPUT);
pinMode(GRAIN2_SHAPE_INPUT,INPUT);
pinMode(LFO_SHAPE_INPUT,INPUT);
digitalWrite(GRAIN1_SHAPE_INPUT,HIGH);
digitalWrite(GRAIN2_SHAPE_INPUT,HIGH);
digitalWrite(LFO_SHAPE_INPUT,HIGH);
Serial.begin(9600);
for(int nIndex = 0;nIndex < 256;nIndex ++)
{
rampWave[nIndex] = 255 - nIndex;
squareWave[nIndex] = (nIndex < 127) ? 0 : 255;
}
synth.m_pWaveForm1 = sineWave;
synth.m_pWaveForm2 = sineWave;
synth.m_pLFOShape1 = rampWave;
synth.m_pLFOShape2 = squareWave;
synth.m_sMix = MIX_MIDDLE;
synth.startAudio();
}
void loop()
{
synth.triggerMidiNote(analogRead(1)>>3);
synth.m_nWaveForm2Increment = analogRead(2)<<5;
// the LFO Oscilators control the volume of the two waveforms, a low value
synth.m_nLFOIncrement1 = analogRead(3) >> 2;
synth.m_nLFOIncrement2 = analogRead(4) >> 2;
// this mixes the two channels a low value will shut off one channel, a high value will shut off the other
// anywhere in between will generate a proportional mix of the two channels
synth.m_sMix = analogRead(5) >> 2;
}
Wow, what ambitious project ! Im impressed.
ReplyDeleteheeya
ReplyDeleteverry interesting project and i woud like to clone it (for triggering with a electric drumkit)
do you maybe have scematics of your synth projects
thx
N.
Hi, The Arduino UNO that I based this project was too limited to progress the project. I am now developing something similar using a much more powerful Arduino Due. The Due will probably be a better platform for you also. This is an example synth built by Gaetano Ro that uses the Due - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqI2hEVbMPI
ReplyDeleteDuane B
Man, maybe you can help here: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=179408.0
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
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