A Synthesizer in VHDL emulating a Roland JP 8080

(c) 2010 Jürgen Schuhmacher

 

A special setup of the VHDL Synthesizer together with a virtual MIDI controller is used to emulate a vintage Roland JP 8080 Synthesizer.

 

Virtual MIDI Console

Roland JP 8080 Synthesizer Emulator with FPGA

A Computer ( PC or NOTEBOOK) is used to run the virtual console and drive the VA-Synthesizer via MIDI.

Common 8 Bit MIDI is used in this case. Control is performed with MOUSE or attached physical MIDI controller via routing. The GUI-MIDI is joined with the MIDI-Controller' data from the master keyboard. An M-Audio Axiome is used here. For further details of the function see also the Microwave Console: MicroWave XT-Emulation

 

Front End for Keyboard Control

Roland JP 8080 FPGA Emulator

Cinema 4D Software is used to reproduce the Roland JP 8080 Surface of the real Synthesizer. Knobs are dynamic during rendering phase and thus can be recorded at various angles to show 3D-behaviour from within the PC-program.

 

VCO - Synthesis Unit

The synthesis uni is an enhanced version of the VA-Synth Module as shown below:

Virtual Analog Synthesizer for Spartan 3

Logical representation of the main part of the FPGA Design (one VA Oscillator)
 

FPGA - Design Spartan 3

FPGA Design of the VA Synthesizer

Physical FPGA Design of the VA  wrapper.

 

 

2D-Virtual Roland Console

2D-Console to emulate Roland JP 8080

MIDI - Data is sent to the FPGA board which produces the sound. VA Synthesis and Wave Table Synthesis is possible. See the Audio DSP pages for details.

 

Download a full resolution example of the screen:  JP 8080-Screen

Download an example sound file produce with the audio workstation in Roland MODE:  SAW LEAD