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Thread: Ether Dream: new Ethernet DAC

  1. #1
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    Default Ether Dream: new Ethernet DAC

    This is the evolution of the j4cDAC DAC project. I've been working on turning my new DAC into something I can produce and sell, and here it is.



    What's it got onboard?
    - 96 MHz ARM processor, 512kB Flash memory, 64kB on-chip SRAM
    - 100mbps Ethernet interface
    - USB slave interface
    - ILDA output:
    - 12-bit DAC for each of X, Y, I, R, G, B, U1, U2
    - TTL Shutter output
    - Controllable relay across interlock pins
    - microSD socket
    - Expansion headers:
    - Three six-pin headers for off-board DMX, MIDI, TTL, etc interface circuitry
    - One 12-pin header with high-speed serial I/O and extra microcontroller pins
    - 26-pin header with ILDA
    - Serial port and standard ARM JTAG debug header

    As for the software:
    - Embedded TCP/IP stack
    - Real-time streaming of points over Ethernet
    - Built-in geometric correction controlled over OSC
    - ILDA playback from SD card

    On the PC side, I'm working with drlava to include deep support for the Ether Dream in his multi-DAC interface library (and, therefore, ILD SOS and LSX). Additionally, there's an EzAudDac/EasyLase-compatible DLL that should work with any application supporting that API.

    I'm about to send out for the first production run of 25, and am taking reservations now; I'll accept payment once they're ready to ship. The price for the first batch is $275 per board. (I'm hoping that this will drop somewhat, but prototyping is *expensive* and I need to recoup my costs.) In the future I'll also be making available a kit with a case and power supply for something under $50, but that's taking a back seat to getting the first boards out the door.

    As before, the firmware is open source and the board is designed to be an expandable platform - I'm excited to see what other people can do with this. All the expansion headers are on a 0.1" grid and it should be quite easy to make add-on modules for TEC control, DMX, MIDI, and plenty of things I haven't even thought of yet.

    If you'd like one of the first 25 boards, send me a PM, and you should have it by the end of the month.

  2. #2
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    Default

    Awesome!

    Might well be interested here i think
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  3. #3
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    Nice. Do you have a GIT repository or similar setup for your firmware source? I would like to take a look.
    This space for rent.

  4. #4
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    It's all right here: https://github.com/j4cbo/j4cDAC

  5. #5
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    Thanks, I'll check it out and take a look.

    EDIT: Nice, well written. I can follow the code quite well.

    How do you plan to manage MAC addresses moving forward?
    Last edited by dnar; 10-10-2011 at 23:44.
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  6. #6
    gashead's Avatar
    gashead is offline Admin Verified: Best Accent Ever(Tm)
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    Thumbs up Brilliant.

    This is wonderful news!

    I'm very much excited about this project, it's somthing I've been dreaming of (no pun intended) for a long long time!

    I'll certainly be interested in buying a few when I actually get some budget for it

    Cheers,

    N.

  7. #7
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    Excellent Job ! I may be interested by 2, the Ethernet interface is really a good point !

  8. #8
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    mixedgas is offline Creaky Old Award Winning Bastard Technologist
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    Quote Originally Posted by kl79 View Post
    Excellent Job ! I may be interested by 2, the Ethernet interface is really a good point !

    I'm in if Drlava can supports it.

    ?

    Steve

  9. #9
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    i'm also in, pending LSX support
    "its called character briggs..."

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by dnar View Post
    How do you plan to manage MAC addresses moving forward?
    The current run of boards have an I2C EEPROM that I buy pre-serialized with a MAC address (Microchip 24AA02E48); that EEPROM will also be used to store a little bit of config info. The hardcoded address you see in the code is only used on the boards I built last year that don't have that chip.

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