Author Topic: New category for the SSLMixed Computer  (Read 8952 times)

Artur D'Assumpção

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 661
  • Karma: +23/-0
  • Sintra, Portugal
New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« on: November 05, 2013, 09:02:44 PM »
Hi guys,

I've been talking with Mattia and he suggested i'd write a post asking you what you guys think about creating a new Category in the forum that we could call "SSLMixed Computer (code name)" to deal with the threads for the developments of the future SSL Computer. The idea is too keep the information we'll gather and the threads totally separated of the rest because there will be a lot of "noise" that might crowd the other categories. This will also help to keep discussion and information organized in one place.

So the structure I suggest is:

- SSLMixed Computer (codename)
    - General Discussion

         * This sub-category will be used to have all type of project related discussions that are not related with the other sub-categories.

    - Research
        * This sub-category will be used to have discussions related with our research about the SSL console and computer operation. This will have related documentation, schematics, reverse engineer data, and others.

    - Hardware development
        * This sub-category will be use to hold discussions related to the design of the future hardware base for the new computer.

    - Software development
        * This sub-category will be use to hold discussions related to the design of the future software base for the new computer.

Please comment and give your suggestions.

Cheers,

Artur
« Last Edit: November 05, 2013, 09:07:51 PM by Artur D'Assumpção »

marcmozart

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 483
  • Karma: +29/-0
    • Frankfurt/Germany
    • Mozart & Friends
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2013, 09:10:13 PM »
Hi Artur,
looks great - this makes sense.

We might need to put a few "Stickies" on top of every section so that people who want to help the project get an idea of the bigger picture.
1992 SSL 4048 G-Series
Mix Engineer Blog
http://www.mixedbymarcmozart.com

Artur D'Assumpção

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 661
  • Karma: +23/-0
  • Sintra, Portugal
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2013, 09:19:24 PM »
Yaps thats the idea. We can also lock on top several threads that might be the most important.

Artur D'Assumpção

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 661
  • Karma: +23/-0
  • Sintra, Portugal
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2013, 09:28:01 PM »
Werner,

Don't post that here mate. This is a thread only for you to share your opinion if we should create a new category and sub-categories only for this project! ;) eheheh

Until we have a new "home" category just keep posting on the other thread so we can keep information in one place.

Cheers,

Artur

Konnektor

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Karma: +9/-0
    • London
    • SSL 4k automation to DAW interface
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2013, 09:41:59 PM »
haha :)
like i said, no forum experience - i'll move it

Matt Sartori

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 733
  • Karma: +21/-0
    • London
    • Solid State Logic Fanatics Database
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2013, 09:55:01 PM »
haha :)
like i said, no forum experience - i'll move it

done.
topic is really interesting, let's wait until tomorrow to have more feedback about it from all the members but I am more than happy to open a new section in the forum just for the computer.

Mattia.

retrocores

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
  • Karma: +10/-0
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2013, 10:45:39 PM »
Sounds great, hope I can help in some way. My day job is hardware and embedded software engineer, unfortunately not in the audio industry. My interest (obsession) with early SSL gear (especially the computer) is that I grew up 400 yards from SSL's Acorn studio in Stonesfield from about the time they where building the first B series consoles onwards, it was all very exiting back then and inspired my career in electronics :)

Konnektor

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Karma: +9/-0
    • London
    • SSL 4k automation to DAW interface
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2013, 12:30:49 AM »
i'm in the process of sketching more detailed ideas but will wait until a HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT section is online

Matt Sartori

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 733
  • Karma: +21/-0
    • London
    • Solid State Logic Fanatics Database
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2013, 01:43:48 AM »
Beautiful,
let's get it done then!

Mattia.

pascal.verdet

  • Guest
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2013, 08:54:07 AM »
Hi Artur,

Please, Can you clarify the project?
I spent the evening to put the system architecture back to my memory  ...
Is the goal of the project is to provide a retrofit of the existing computer, or to propose a new system that handles the existing hardware?
I worked on 80xx, Z8X, LS-11, and frankly speaking , any PC today is 50 times more power than the processors.
Thank you for your feedback,

Cheers.
Pascal

Artur D'Assumpção

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 661
  • Karma: +23/-0
  • Sintra, Portugal
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2013, 09:47:07 AM »
Hi Pascal,

The idea is to develop a totally new and modern system that handles the existing console hardware. This new system will replace 100% the old computer and interconnect directly with the console through the already existent cables. So no circuit customization on the console side will be needed. We've been discussing the old computer because it will be much easier to build the new system if we understand and know before hand how the old computer interacted with the console (bus lines, input/output format, scan modes, frequency, logic safe/guard times, etc.). If we can understand this be looking into service manuals and some disassembled code it would be less painful than spending long hours reverse engineering the system through trial and error. It's not the idea to reverse the implementation of the features provided by the old computer software, rather only understand how basic communication was implemented so we can access, retrieve and write at every possible data from the console hardware.

It's important to clarify that the "SSLMixed Computer", that's the codename for the project, will be a community project and owned by all of us. It is the idea that we all can contribute to the project with what we are capable and know best, greatly easing the task of 1-man project. Also the project will stay open to the community, this meaning that all schematics, firmware and software will be developed as an opensource project and licensed with a community license (we will eventually choose from an already available license or draft one customized to our needs to protect intellectual property).  Anyone which is a member of the community will have access to all documentation and can build by himself the system (once the system is designed we can also provide bulk manufacturing programs so we can have access to cheaper prices for the hardware manufacturing). One also can contribute for the system development throughout its future. The idea for this computer is to  be an evolving project that will surpass the need of just a new computer, and offer modern features that meet today's workflow requirements. The beauty of this is since we own the project and we base it on a modern platform we aren't limited by start and can do it as we please regarding its development.

This will be clarified on its appropriate section that will be created soon so we can start organizing all this information in one place.

Please refer to this post I did earlier on a different thread regarding this hole idea:

http://forum.sslmixed.com/index.php?topic=426.msg2428#msg2428

Hope I've helped clarifying the project and that we agree! Comments and suggestions are welcome anytime! ;)

Cheers,

Artur   
« Last Edit: November 06, 2013, 09:53:57 AM by Artur D'Assumpção »

pascal.verdet

  • Guest
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #11 on: November 06, 2013, 10:14:05 AM »
Hi Artur,

It's ok for me.
After my period of 80's aspro audio hardware technician, I worked as a Unix specialist for IBM, until my recent retirement.
It is with great pleasure that I will bring my knowledge of hardware and software.
I totally agree with open source and developer community.

Cheers,
Pascal

Artur D'Assumpção

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 661
  • Karma: +23/-0
  • Sintra, Portugal
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #12 on: November 06, 2013, 10:35:42 AM »
Good to hear that my friend!! We're are counting with your expert help.

Actually it will be nice because we almost for sure will be adopting an *NIX based system with Real Time properties for our computer. Here is one that has a very small footprint and a rich set features for embedded systems: http://ecos.sourceware.org/

If in a later stage if we reach to the conclusion that we won't need a RTOS, basically because the adopted chips is 10000000x faster for our I/O bottleneck on the console side, we can always go to a minimalist Linux system.

Cheers,

Artur

Konnektor

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Karma: +9/-0
    • London
    • SSL 4k automation to DAW interface
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2013, 12:03:25 PM »
great to see so many skilled and motivated people!
i too agree with open source and community

i've actually been thinking of such an interface before i designed the konnektor and found that there's some parts in the old computer that could come in quite handy
i'll explain why when the hardware development section is online

kilmister

  • Global Moderator
  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 252
  • Karma: +11/-0
    • Hellsinki, Finland
    • 5 by 5 Audio
Re: New category for the SSLMixed Computer
« Reply #14 on: November 06, 2013, 06:35:36 PM »
I agree totally konnektor, it's very great to see loads of folks sharing their passion.
An idea that software would be open source is just fabulous. I'm an hobbyist linux admin in meanings I have couple of servers up and running and which wouldn't be possible without open source communitys.

On the other hand, running forum like this ain't free. My suggestion is that some parts of the system might be subject to a little charge to ensure existence of the forum. That's reason why I gave service manuals to the forum ;-)

Btw, new areas are open now :)

Cheers,
Paavo
« Last Edit: November 06, 2013, 07:00:40 PM by kilmister »
-- Too much amp power is just right --

-- 5 by 5 Audio
-- 5 by 5 @ Facebook