Snazzy FX ARDCORE - Manual (Page 9)

The purpose of the ARDCORE is three-fold:
- To allow programming-savvy artists to pursue synthesis options that aren't
currently available (either because they are too difficult or too idiosyncratic).
- To allow for temporary-use function that are not often needed (and hence
not worth the expense or space) but may be important for a specific
composition.
- To provide a simple platform for functions that are much easier to
accomplish in the digital domain than in the analog domain.
SNAZZY FX ARDCORE Design Decisions
1. focus on CV generation and manipulation, and low-fidelity explorations of audio output. If you
don’t mind dirty, the Ardcore can do plenty of audio.
2. produce output with 8-bit resolution, and do so by the direct manipulation of digital output pins
(one pin per bit). This makes programming quite a bit easier as everything is immediate.
3. limit both input and output ranges to a 0-5 Volt range. This is the most useful range for control
voltages to affect oscillators and filters, and is therefore our main targeted connection.
4. fit the module into the Eurorack format
These decisions were made for a number of reasons. Part of it is to simplify the programming of
Arduino sketches that would make for useful output. Finally, we want this module to be usable in
a lot of different environments (performance, studio, installation), so having a minimal space
footprint was very important.
Some may question the use of 8-bit output, but it is a compromise that we ended up appreciating once we
saw that a) it made programming very easy, and b) the resolution was sufficient (especially if paired with a
slew limiter) for every sort of output we needed. Test results have been very positive, and the result is used
in our systems every day.