Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!uunet!ingr!b11!phil
From: phil@b11.ingr.com (Phil Johnson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Amiga DSP Boards.
Keywords: DSP
Message-ID: <9522@b11.ingr.com>
Date: 29 Nov 90 22:49:01 GMT
References: <944.27477729@weyr.FIDONET.ORG> <1990Nov20.161034.25281@sisd.kodak.com> <1653@fornax.UUCP>
Reply-To: phil@b11.UUCP (Phil Johnson)
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, AL
Lines: 31

>seen or used one of these?  There was also somebody on the net about
>6-12 months ago soliciting feedback on a DSP board in the works.
>Anybody know what happened to the project?
>

I had solicated input for a Zorro-based DSP board last year and had some
interesting discussions with several people (three if my memory serves).
I was planning to design the board (Motorola 56001-based) as a personnel
edification project (versus commercial venture).  I designed and built
the DSP side but did not have the time or patience to decypher the Zorro
bus interface.  I wrote a VERY crude DSP56001 assembler to test the board.

I believe that adding DSP (both single and floating point) capability to
the Amiga would open areas such as audio sampling and reproduction, and
voice recognition and generation that would put the present Amiga cap-
abilities to shame.  Try to imagine you Amiga with a voice that is clear
an completely understandable.  Also, imagine using voice rather than your
mouse to navigate through applications.

I am NOT suggesting that the Amiga will wither away without DSP.  I am only
saying WHY NOT expand the horizons of the Amiga.  I will not get into a
religious war over the pros and cons of the Amiga, but I will say that I have
seen a number of Amiga user sell their Amiga and buy IBM clones or Macs for
the simple reason that they can get their work done on clones and Macs and
can not wait for Commodore to spend another two to three years promising
great things and delivering more promises.  I owned an A1000 and now own a
2000, so I am not a non-Amigan dumping on Commodore, but rather a slightly
frustrated Amigan.