Present status:

The sound generating engine of the synth runs mostly on the DSP, that is, some of it is already written and partly hooked in, so the synth can already produce and modify sounds generated in real-time. And this is the amazing part - it is all done on our humble Amiga running on a `lowly` `030 CPU! A decades old dream... :-)

On the 68k side, most of the control window (see above screengrab), representing the user interface, as well as some other important functions, are already in place, though not yet properly connected to the DSP program's control points, or even to other functions. However, at this time there are only a few routines that still remain to be done: one of those is the timer-device control for the step-sequencer/arpeggiator, which is complete - see "tapedeck" buttons, BPM dial and the scrolling listview of note steps to the right of these, which work in manual single-step mode. This will also include some special effects like portamento, vibrato, emphasis, etc. which can be edited by clicking on the particular entry when it is on the "edit" line, or within the box. This will also be able to record live to quickly grab a riff `in mid-flight`, sort of, and click play to loop it on the next bar, running at the speed BPM is set at.

Presently the chillmachine can only work as a solo intrument, for simultaneous additional voices there will also have to be some method to record/edit the notes played on the computer`s qwerty-keyboard or on a connected MIDI keyboard, plus of course all patches/control-changes that are played on the synth`s user-interface. This also needs to grab the controls of DCOs, the DCF, the DCA or ring modulator, ADSR, etc., then replay them, just as if it were happening in real-time. As mentioned above, in the "Requirements" section, the plan is to eventually implement this recording via "ptools" in "Bars and Pipes" to utilise tracks in that program to record and then to edit all our data, and then to replay it. Each track can then spawn its own "chill" window for that exact purpose - which can be iconified on the screen and open on a private or any public screen.

To get a more professional look, an increased control-range, as well as better handling, it was decided that a custom gadget is needed, to replace the conventional and readily available sliders, and connected, so that it can quickly send its parameters to the DSP program. You can see these round buttons in the screen-grab of the "chill-machine". Unlike other examples, this is controlled by straight up/down or left/right mouse movement instead of having to drag in a circle, making for much smoother and easier control at any speed.

Some DSP code was originally written by a group of Motorola employees, who then published it as an example in a computer music related magazine, which was where a librarian girl friend of mine came across it and scanned for me, so I`ll never forget her. However, that appears to be its only use - an example - as when I asked Michael Henke (of DelfMPEG fame) if he could help me with it, he decided that most, or all of that code needed to be rewritten, since the published code was partly incomplete and it wasn`t doing everything quite the way it was supposed to. Sadly there is no C code or explanations for the host system, so lots of trial and error involved in how and when to call the DSP modules. As I was not familiar with DSP coding, or even logic, I had to accept his word for it. Obviously he couldn't resist the challenge, and fortunately for the project, he has done a fair job this far, having almost completed his own version of the synth engine that he had started in spring 2006, using only a DSP emulator on Windows.

Sadly at this point in time I managed to lose my A4000`s functionality - caused by the mobo SIMM sockets which I had to wire-fix some years previously, when the plastic retaining clips broke off - unfortunately at present only my A4000 has a Delfina card available for use. This means that completing the program and the DSP code will have to wait until I can replace that problematic mobo.

Update on 14-Jan-11: Having decided to get a replacement A4000, it came with a hacked mobo and had to be returned. But my old mobo worked in the desktop case, while neither mobo worked in my tower, so that narrows the possibilities, and maybe the project can go live again! Eventually!