First post, by hard1k
- Rank
- Oldbie
Hello everyone,
While the modern replicas and newly designed soundcards projects are on the rise, I've decided to come up with an idea that I've had for quite a long time already.
So, what would be the degree of interest for a possible newly made WaveBlaster III daughterboard based on the less known EMU8030 chip?
The chip originally belongs to the OEM family of Creative chips, here you can find its official mention: https://www.creative.com/oem/products/chips/emu8030.asp
Fortunately enough, they have also published its datasheet:
While you can check its features by following the link above, the most important one would be its presumable native support for SF2 soundfonts - hey, that's what you've been after, haven't you?
E-MU itself produced at least 2 final designs based on this chip, those are the LONGboard 61 and SHORTboard 49 keyboards (source: http://www.creative.com/emu/media/pressreleas … /info.aspx?id=2). They were quite expensive and are a bit rare nowadays.
Apart from E-MU/Creative I've found 2 other designs produced by a Taiwanese company MIDIPLUS (http://www.midiplus.com.tw/), those are its original S-Engine (http://www.midiplus.com.tw/S-Engine.htm) and the (improved?) S-Engine MKII modules, feel free to check its manual (as it isn't even mentioned on the MIDIPLUS website):
Unfortunately I haven't found any NOS EMU8030 chips (I've checked eBay, AliExpress, Taobao - no luck). However what we do have, is some stock of those MIDIPLUS modules, they all tend to cost about $100 (a bit less for the original one, a bit more for the MKII), and the stock isn't that large - some 10-20 units discovered after the initial search.
So, some conclusions:
1. There is at least one integrated SF2 capable MIDI synth ready to be incorporated into a relatively not that complex design.
2. There are at least two readily available sound modules based on that chip that can be used for feature checking / prototyping / cannibalizing parts, including the EMU8030 itself.
3. The cost is rather high (the units cost about $100, so add at least $50 for a custom PCB and other possible parts, let alone the R&D).
4. The final product will be a niche one given its final price and scarce availability of parts.
5. However if the demand is high enough, we could address Creative directly to see if they still have some stock of those chips.
Given all of the above, should we go further?
DISCLAIMER: I'm not a hardware engineer, nor can I design it. What I can do is to fund the project up to some extent, and if the general interest is confirmed, I could contact some guys if they are willing to participate in the engineering phase. Moreover, if the interest is confirmed, I may choose this specific project as the one for my MBA studies, so I will kindly ask the interested public to respond to some questionnaires on the way. But if the idea is not that interesting, just disregard it and move along 😀
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