Zenpho.co.uk


:: Updates ::
- 30/05/15 - xdrum
- 01/06/14 - WAV loopinfo
- 11/11/11 - 11-11-11
- 28/06/10 - Satsymph
- 23/09/08 - Tape machine mod
- 18/03/08 - Kaossilator
- 21/08/06 - 100 ambient tones
- 29/06/03 - Site launch

Sections


:: Home
:: Curriculum Vitae
:: Contact
:: Posterous blog archive

Music


:: Film and video
:: Download/Buy my music
:: Satsymph collaboration
:: Free music blog
:: More of my free music

Software/Hardware


:: Nozenphoion xdrum synth
:: Sound and video on paper
:: WAV instrument loopinfo
:: Synthbox rack computer
:: Mauritz Escher chord progressions
:: Poor-man's kaossilator
:: Maths and music summer school
:: Toshiba tape machine mod
:: Chipwave
:: Chiptune synthesis
:: ZX Beeper
:: DIY midi footswitch
:: JACK, PD, Ableton Live tutorial

Synthbox rack

Video here: Youtube video
Photos here: Image gallery

There are a few commercial products available that host VST plugins on hardware. The Muse Receptor is a very popular solution. I have built a similar device (a kind of "DIY muse receptor") by combining off the shelf components into a 2U enclosure.

Some sample screenshots/photos:
These are just a few example images - you can also view the full image gallery
The case outside:
outside of the case looking at the back
The case inside:
looking at the electronics inside
Running sotware:
using a video monitor to view the software that is running


My device has:

  • A modern operating system
    • Full WinXP installation (SP3)
    • Solid state harddisk with faster-than-usual boot time (typically ~25 seconds)
  • Comprehensive pysical connections
    • 6 outputs (4 XLR + 2 Jack)
    • 2 inputs (Jack)
    • 6 MIDI channels (1 DIN input, 1 DIN output)
    • 1 USB 2.0 port
    • 1 Composite video output
  • A very flexible audio configuration
    • Hardware-based realtime Digital signal processing (Emu10k1 DSP)
    • Hardware-based soundfont playback with 2 independent synthesisers
    • kX project audio environment
  • Complex routing and processing of audio connections
    • All audio signals (physical and/or ASIO channels) are routable through hardware DSP effects
    • Hardware DSP is fully MIDI automatable (with a nice GUI), and open-source (with Emu10k1 assembly opcodes)
  • Comprehensive set of freeware/shareware demo softsynths and hosts
    • kX project audio environment
    • Numerous free soundfonts and VST plugins
    • Herman Schrieb VSTHost
    • TobyBear MiniHost
    • EnergyXT (demo)
This is all housed inside a 2U rack case (previously for a power-amplifier). More photos and screenshots are available in the image gallery along with a Youtube video

(c)2010 zenpho@zenpho.co.uk - Phill Phelps