OPEN_SPECTRE

An open-source FPGA-based EMS SPECTRE video synth.

A project aimed at recreating the EMS SPECTRE VIDEO SYNTHESIZER in HDL

Open to donations and contributors with FPGA experience. 😀

✨The EMS SPECTRE Colour Video ✨

Synthesizer is a unique and revolutionary new product: an instrument capable of producing exciting graphic images on an ordinary television screen. The complete SPECTRE package consists of the synthesizer itself, plus a Sony Trinitron colour monitor, and a Sony black-and-white TV camera. The synthesizer is compact (38"x23.5"x7"), portable (about 35 pounds/15.9KG), and unequalled in its simplicity and versatility.

Design Info

🎉Aim 🎉

The aim of this project is to preserve this rare and unique video synth by recreating it in an FPGA, but also to use it as a building block to make a Spectre that is both true to the original and also a modern tool for creativity. For more info in this process take a look at: Cloning Hardware Ethos

🍣Want to Contribute?🍣

Amazing! If you have FPGA and or Verilog/VHDL skills we would love to have you involved. But, first, there are a few things you should know.

What to do first

• Look through the resources folder to get an idea of what the EMS SPECTRE is and how it works
• Look at the top-level diagram and the list of modules

Project Details For Contributors

• RTL in VHDL or Verilog (VHDL preferred, no system Verilog 😎 sorry)
• One module per file with a separate testbench (Verilog or VHDL test benches only, *not everything has one yet, but it should)
• Test benches should print out a message at the end confirming if they are successful or not
• No HSL or auto-generated code, no busses or interfaces for now (will be busses later)
• Use any software you like, but a Vivado project will be supplied
• Follow the template for file headers and comments 📑
• Follow the folder structure for the project 📂
• All code must be open source or MIT license 👍

If after all that you still want to be involved you can do one of three things:

• Email us at [email protected] and see what modules we need to make at the moment
• Branch the repo, make a module, and submit a pull request
• If you are not any good at git/GitHub, if you write any modules you can email them to us and we will integrate them into the project

🐙License🐙

Creative Commons CC BY-NC

Contributors

-Remi Freer -Jacob Stoker -Robert D Jordan

Donations

We are very thankful to have received donations from the following people: Chris Korvin, Jay Hotchin, Milton Grimshaw, and more amazing anonymous people.