hardware DSP Elective?

[Julius Smith]

Hi David,

I think that's an interesting idea, and I think we could make it work.  For 
example, everyone interested in taking this elective could sign up for 
Music 220D under my section number, and we could meet as a group to 
brainstorm about all the various projects and help each other past hurdles.

I believe we already have a development system for the ADI SHARC platform, 
and I assume we can get others, especially if we start now to obtain 
them.  One question is how many people want to program in DSP assembly 
language?  In my experience, the great majority of students are content 
with C++ for real-time prototypes (with Matlab being used for a analysis 
and design work).  I find it hard to believe that there would suddenly be 5 
or 6 people wanting to work in DSP assembly language, but if I'm wrong, so 
be it.  I have years of experience in this area myself, so there is no 
problem supervising it from my point of view.

Let's get a firm number and try to secure the needed development 
systems.   If purchase is required, we'll need to convince Chris Chafe to 
spend the $.  I'm in favor!

Cheers,
Julius

At 04:31 PM 11/27/2002 -0800, David Lowenfels wrote:
>Hi Julius:
>   Some of us MST people have been complaining that we have so much
>coursework that we don't have much time for creative pursuits in personal
>interests (aka research). I had this idea last night to create an
>elective independent study, in audio DSP programming. Personally, I am
>interested in implementing a virtual analog synthesizer, and others I am
>sure are interested in making their own effects proccesors. Of course,
>these algorithms can be prototyped in matlab, or run in linux as C++. But
>for implementation there is nothing better than a dedicated DSP chip. Plus
>I think experience working with a DSP chip would give me valuable skills
>for the industry.
>
>http://www.soundart-hot.com/english/index.htm
>
>There is a very cool device called the Chameleon that is a development
>platform for the motorola coldfire DSPs. I'd like to propose that CCRMA
>purchase a few of these for general use. For talking with the MSTs, it
>sounds like about 4  or 5 people are interested. It would be ideal to have
>more than one Chameleon, so that people could . I wonder if we can get a 
>CCRMA discount
>or something, for better publicity for the company (Sound-Art)? I think I
>may have a contact there, who is on a few mailing lists that I am on.
>
>Let me know what you think about this idea.
>
>Thanks,
>David