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Parts & BOM

ComponentPart NumberQty on HandQty NeededStatus
PSoC 1 voice chipCY8C29466-24PXI100+16–32In stock (discontinued part, full supply on hand)
Master controllerESP32-S3-DevKitC-1TBD1Available from Espressif / distributors
I2C multiplexerTCA9548ATBD2Available, ~$1.50/ea
PSoC programmerCY8CKIT-002 MiniProg311On hand

The CY8C29466 is discontinued by Cypress (now Infineon). No modern equivalent exists with comparable dynamically reconfigurable analog fabric. The 100+ unit inventory represents the full supply for this project — enough for development, production of multiple instruments, and spares.

These were acquired specifically because this chip represents a capability that hasn’t been replicated. Field Programmable Analog Arrays (FPAAs) from Anadigm are the closest modern alternative but lack an onboard CPU and add system complexity that the PSoC 1’s integrated M8C core avoids.

ComponentPurposeNotes
Decoupling capacitorsPSoC power supply filtering100nF ceramic + 10μF electrolytic per chip
Crystal oscillatorPSoC clock source24MHz, if external clock needed (internal oscillator may suffice for PoC)
Level shiftersTOS divider input (optional)Resistor dividers or BSS138-based bidirectional level shifters
Op-ampOutput summing mixerTL074 or similar quad JFET-input op-amp for low noise
Output filterSC clock noise rejectionContinuous-time 2nd-order Sallen-Key LPF, cutoff ~40kHz

Voice board PCBs will be designed after Phase 1 characterization is complete. The target is 4 CY8C29466 chips per board with:

  • Individual I2C address selection (jumper or solder bridge)
  • Per-voice audio output header
  • Onboard summing bus
  • Power regulation (3.3V for PSoC digital, 5V for PSoC analog)
  • Expansion connector for daisy-chaining boards

The output stage topology will be determined after Phase 2, based on noise measurements and mixing requirements. Options under consideration:

TopologyProsCons
Per-voice individual outputsMaximum flexibility, Eurorack-compatibleRequires many jacks, complex panel
Stereo mix bus onlySimple, conventionalLoses per-voice spatial control
Both (normalled)Individual outs available, falls back to mix bus when unpluggedMost hardware, most flexible

The “both with normalling” approach is the likely outcome — each voice has a jack that, when nothing is plugged in, routes to the stereo mix bus. Plugging in a cable breaks the normal and gives direct access to that voice.

ToolPurposeNotes
PSoC DesignerCY8C29466 firmware developmentLegacy Cypress IDE, Windows only
Arduino IDE / PlatformIOESP32-S3 firmwareStandard toolchain
KiCadPCB designVoice boards, output stage
LTspiceCircuit simulationOutput filter, audio stage