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Hey everyone!
I've got a question today about the capabilities of a dsPIC for a specific project I'm planning. Here's a little background: I'm a huge music enthusiast, and playing the guitar and bass are my passions. But let's face it, pedals like overdrive, chorus, reverb, etc. can cost an arm and a leg!
I've already dabbled in making some "analog" pedals, like simple overdrive, with custom 3D enclosures. However, I'm now eager to dive into the digital realm!
I'm well aware of the limitations of regular PICs, and most standard microcontrollers just don't have the quality ADCs or DACs needed for musical applications. Upgrading to precision or music-grade components often led to disappointment when I discovered that either the PIC or the Arduino couldn't keep up with the demands, causing issues like audible delays (I did find a workaround using an ESP32, but that's a different story altogether).
My next attempt involved using an FPGA, which surprisingly worked like a charm (Nexys 4 DDR). Yet, a new hurdle emerged. While I could effortlessly run multiple complex effects without any noticeable delay, the noise level was... unbearable! I tried everything—filters, pausing the clock during ADC operations—but the darn thing still produced unacceptable output noise. Even though I considered an external DAC, an FPGA isn't a long-term solution for me due to my original intent for it.
So, here I am, a newcomer to dsPIC territory. I've only dealt with the "normal" PICs (16F, 18F) and lower-end ones previously. On paper, dsPICs seem like they should be capable of delivering performance similar to (or at least approaching) that of an FPGA, plus they're supposedly easier to program. With that said, I'm seeking recommendations for a dsPIC model that would be perfect for my needs, particularly focusing on the ADC aspect.
Looking forward to your suggestions!
I've got a question today about the capabilities of a dsPIC for a specific project I'm planning. Here's a little background: I'm a huge music enthusiast, and playing the guitar and bass are my passions. But let's face it, pedals like overdrive, chorus, reverb, etc. can cost an arm and a leg!
I've already dabbled in making some "analog" pedals, like simple overdrive, with custom 3D enclosures. However, I'm now eager to dive into the digital realm!
I'm well aware of the limitations of regular PICs, and most standard microcontrollers just don't have the quality ADCs or DACs needed for musical applications. Upgrading to precision or music-grade components often led to disappointment when I discovered that either the PIC or the Arduino couldn't keep up with the demands, causing issues like audible delays (I did find a workaround using an ESP32, but that's a different story altogether).
My next attempt involved using an FPGA, which surprisingly worked like a charm (Nexys 4 DDR). Yet, a new hurdle emerged. While I could effortlessly run multiple complex effects without any noticeable delay, the noise level was... unbearable! I tried everything—filters, pausing the clock during ADC operations—but the darn thing still produced unacceptable output noise. Even though I considered an external DAC, an FPGA isn't a long-term solution for me due to my original intent for it.
So, here I am, a newcomer to dsPIC territory. I've only dealt with the "normal" PICs (16F, 18F) and lower-end ones previously. On paper, dsPICs seem like they should be capable of delivering performance similar to (or at least approaching) that of an FPGA, plus they're supposedly easier to program. With that said, I'm seeking recommendations for a dsPIC model that would be perfect for my needs, particularly focusing on the ADC aspect.
Looking forward to your suggestions!
