Monday, 31 December 2018

(bad) Digital Filter Simulator

This module is based on ideas presented in a 1969 IEEE paper titled - Hybrid Implementation for Sampled-data controllers. The paper presents the canonical form of a generalised digital filter made using analogue elements.....yes this is an analogue circuit; all CMOS and op amps. I played around with various versions for a few years and, as usual, settled on the simplest and cheapest version.

Incoming audio signals (or CV if you want to use it as a pattern generator) are fed to a 4 bit A/D stage, these 4 bits then go thru a 4 stage delay (shift registers). Each delayed bit is re-united with its siblings via four D/A stages and the stepped signals are then fed back to the input via an attenuator/inverter stage and are fed to the summed output, again via an attenuator/inverter stage.

The circuit is controlled by the clock input that ticks over the shift registers. CV controlling the VCO that supplies the clock signal will in turn control the filter. The Range pot needs to be set to a suitable level, I like it when the peak LED is flickering. Range can also be controlled by CV which will allow you to shift from a 1 bit signal to a 4 bit or overdrive the crap out of it and lock everything up. It is interesting to supply clock signals that are multiples or divisions of the audio signal, but like all NLC modules, feel free to do whatever you like. As mentioned, supplied with a gate and a CV it will perform as a complex pattern generator as well.

I will get a demo up soon, but will promise this doesn't sound like a filter......it is very noisy and splatty.

PCB set = USD22
Panel = USD22
Assembled = USD220

Wiki page with build guide








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