DSP and vacuum tubes (from Analog Devices)

[jackinnj]

Link to this story was in the email box this morning -- the Analog Devices "Shark" makes your 12ax7 go away:

http://www.analog.com/processors/sha...trolIndex.html

[SY]

I'd be interested in seeing them use an accelerometer as an enhancement to add the effect of tube microphonics.

[astouffer]

I find it amusing that it takes a complex DSP with probably half a million transistors to emulate the sound of 100 year old technology.

[janneman]

Originally posted by SY
I'd be interested in seeing them use an accelerometer as an enhancement to add the effect of tube microphonics.

What they DO have is what is called a "hot hand", an accelerometer wired to the hand of a guitar picker so the hand movements themselves can be turned into sound. Next step must be the "air guitar" I always wanted

Jan Didden

[aletheian]

i've seen those in person, the chip is just for the modulation and time based effects, there is a 12ax7 @ 250v in there doing some of the the voltage gain.

[EC8010]

Originally posted by astouffer
I find it amusing that it takes a complex DSP with probably half a million transistors to emulate the sound of 100 year old technology.

Amusing? I call that very satisfying.

[rsdio]

Originally Posted by astouffer

I find it amusing that it takes a complex DSP with probably half a million transistors to emulate the sound of 100 year old technology.

Same sound; a fraction of the power; no risk of broken glass or electrocution.
Those are the advancements in 100 years.

[tubelab.com]

i've seen those in person, the chip is just for the modulation and time based effects, there is a 12ax7 @ 250v in there doing some of the the voltage gain.

From the Analog Devices press release:

The floating-point processing, combined with dual 12AX7 tubes, ensures the highest degree of fidelity and musicality. The Glass Nexus also allows for preset storage and MIDI functionality.

OK, I figured that this thing would cost way too much so I poked the name into Musicians Friends web site and got this:

This product has been discontinued but may be available as a used item

So much for the cool technology.

My contribution to the DSP + vacuum tubes insanity:

Microchip 16-bit Embedded Control Design Contest

I wound up collecting a few $$$ for winning a prize in the contest, and a few more $$$ for writing an article about it in their magazine. Would I do it again? Well, there is another contest starting, this time the tubes and the silicon go INSIDE the guitar!

The chipKIT? Challenge

[GloBug]

Originally Posted by astouffer

I find it amusing that it takes a complex DSP with probably half a million transistors to emulate the sound of 100 year old technology.

I agree, just another stomp box, lol.

"Same sound" until you want to tube roll.

I bet it cost more then a tube amp too.

Their primary focus is selling dsp chips, not vacuum tube emulation. SHARC Processors | Processors and DSP | Analog Devices

I have heard this claim many, many, many times, no matter how hard I want to believe, they suck.

I about as stubborn as they get and owned a lot of "Tube emulation" effects. Nothing beats the real thing baby.