Hello everyone, this is my first post and I've decided to undertake a pet project using an Uno and a Curtis CEM 3394 analog synthesizer voice on chip. I'm ultimately looking to build my own digitally controlled, analog synthesizer instrument.
I'm a software programmer with very little experience in dealing with electrical circuits, and have only worked on a few basic Arduino projects for self study. I'm obviously doing all the reading I can to get a grasp of things in working with components, circuits, and controllers.
For now I have a simple question, before I buy anything can anyone tell me if it's feasible to use a single Arduino Uno to control one or two of these chips to generate synth sounds. According to the CEM3394 documentation:
Ranging between -4 and +4 volts, all eight control inputs are provided with internal very high input impedance, low bias current buffers. Thus interface to a microprocessor system may be accomplished simply with a single DAC, 4051-type CMOS multiplexer, and 8 hold capacitors.
Requiring a bare minimum of other external components, the CEM3394 is ideal for low cost polyphonic or polytimbric musical instruments featuring rich, analog sound.
Here's a schematic of the chip:
I understand you need constant control voltages, which the Uno does not provide without some DAC conversion.
If anyone has any insight it would be greatly appreciated!