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Technical Notes

roberthjack edited this page Jul 27, 2020 · 6 revisions

Notes on inputs and outputs

Pepper is a passive breakout interface for Bela, with passive components used to protect Bela's I/Os and amplification only on the audio output.

  • Only positive voltages (0-12V) can be read from the analog and digital inputs although Pepper is +/-12V safe.

  • External voltages (analog, audio, digital) are scaled down to fit the input range of Bela.

  • Analog outputs are not amplified and therefore 0V-5V.

  • Analog outputs have ~1k output impedance in order to protect from damage from other outputs being plugged in inadvertently. This means that using passive multiples could lead to voltage drops.

  • When powered from 5V or USB, the potentiometers will not cover the whole range of the analog input when there is no external input signal connected.

Pepper vs Salt

Salt and Pepper are two ways to bring Bela into the modular domain.

Pepper is a DIY approach, with more limited input and output ranges, 10 input channels and 10 output channels, and that you build yourself. It is open to hacking to customise it to your needs.

Salt is a fully-fledged Eurorack module, with full-range voltages, 14 in and 14 out channels, and that comes to you pre-assembled and tested. It is a music machine ready to go. Just plug in and start programming.