A Vacuum Tube Single Board 1-Bit Computer [video]

Re:A Vacuum Tube Single Board 1-Bit Computer [video] by TheCleric on Monday December 04, 2023 @11:56AM (#38519697)

> Do you really need tubes for guitar distortion?

Technically no. But most professional guitarists still swear by tube driven amps. Solid state is getting better every day, but I think we're still a long way out before most guitar players give up their tube amps.

I am perfectly happy with my Line6 Helix, but a few friends still turn their noses up at it.

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Re:A Vacuum Tube Single Board 1-Bit Computer [video] by kazinator on Monday December 04, 2023 @02:04PM (#38521562)

Solid state per se isn't getting better¹. Software simulation of tubes ("software state"?) is getting better, or has been (it may have plateaued).

Tubes are still the reference model.

All the DSP cores in a modern amp are just a cover band playing tube tones.

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1. I mean other than digital solid-state getting more highly integrated and faster, to run more complex software. The necessary analog audio paths in a DSP system aren't getting better.

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Re:A Vacuum Tube Single Board 1-Bit Computer [video] by TheCleric on Monday December 04, 2023 @08:15PM (#38525762)

Yeah, the transistors themselves aren’t changing. Just how many and how well we can throw them at the simulation.

It’s more “tube virtualization” is getting better every day.

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