E&MM's most advanced project ever is a digital delay line and sound sampler in one unit. The second part of our constructional series includes the circuits behind the MCSI's operation.

As explained last month, the Powertran MCS1 is a digital sampling unit that can also function as a high-specification digital delay line. The pitch of the sound stored within the MCSI's memory can be controlled via either MIDI or one-volt-per-octave keyboards, and the kit itself, although complex, represents a significant cost saving over any other commercially-available ready-built product.

The following four pages contain the circuit diagrams that lie at the heart of the MCS1. The first of these incorporates the master clock generator from which the whole delay line is driven, the second includes the components used for memory address functions, the third includes the microprocessor, MIDI and BBC B computer connections, while the fourth contains the filtering and companding stages.

For the less technically-orientated, the table on this page is a block diagram that displays the MCS1's operating system in what are more or less layman's terms.

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Next month will see a full circuit description related to the diagrams printed on the following pages, so whatever you do, don't lose this issue before the next E&MM appears on the bookstalls!

Meanwhile, selling prices for the MCS1 in both kit and ready-built form have now been fixed at £499 and £699 respectively, to which VAT must be added at the current rate. Orders are now being taken by the manufacturers, Powertran Cybernetics Ltd, (Contact Details).

(Click image for higher resolution version)

(Click image for higher resolution version)

(Click image for higher resolution version)

(Click image for higher resolution version)