The Chameleon is a truly multi-functional rack unit. It can be completely reprogrammed to be anything you need: an analogue or digital synthesiser for pre-production, an amp modeller for a guitar session, a creative delay unit/chorus/reverb for mixdown, a dance music machine for a gig... it's up to you. If you are a bit smart with computer code you can even write your own software for it - we are giving away our software development kit to all those interested.

Extended information

This is a revolutionary concept. We designed it so that you can wipe its brain and load a completely new program into it, just like on a PC. However, unlike a normal computer, the Chameleon hardware and operating system was designed for the special requirements of studio and stage users. It is portable, stable, quiet, starts up instantly and its code is highly optimised. So it combines the best of both worlds.

Nearly all of the applications for the Chameleon that we develop (which we call "sound skins") will be available free for download from this website. As we and other developers continue to create more "sound skins", you can download them too, making the number of possible uses for your Chameleon continually expand. In a market where hardware equipment depreciates rapidly as the technology advances, Soundart will continue to add value and functionality to the Chameleon.

Technically, the Chameleon delivers 24-bit audio over a crystal-clear signal path and it uses the same industry-standard chips found in the most advanced DSP synthesizers. We even resurrected the MIDI engine from the Atari ST to give the Chameleon the tightest timing.

For those interested in developing applications for the Chameleon platform, download the following multimedia presentation. It describes the Chameleon hardware in more detail.

Technical specifications

Audio Input Connectors 2 x unbalanced 1/4" TS jacks
Output Connectors 2 x unbalanced 1/4" TS jacks
Headphones 1 x stereo 1/4” TSR jack on front panel
Input Level (0 dBFS) +3dBu
Input Level (Max.) +8dBu
Output Level (Max.) +3dBu
Input Impedance 10 KOhm
Output Impedance 100 Ohm
AD Conversion 24 bit, 48kHz, 256x oversampling
0.6ms delay from in to out

Dynamic range (unweighted) 97 dB, 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Signal Noise Ratio (unweighted) > 90 dB @ 1 kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion < 0.0025% @ 1 kHz
Channel Crosstalk 90 dB @ 1kHz
Frequency Response +0/-0.5 dB, 20 Hz - 20 kHz

MIDI Input/Output Connectors 1 x Midi In, 1 x MIDI Out

DSP Processor Motorola DSP56303, 24 bit @ 100 MHz
Internal Memory SRAM 8 KWords (24 bits per word)
External Memory DRAM 4 MWords

Microcontroller Processor Motorola ColdFire MCF5206e, 32 bit @ 40 MHz
Internal Memory SRAM 8 KBytes
External Memory DRAM 8 MBytes
External Flash 1 MByte

Panel LCD green, 16x2 characters
LEDs 5 x green, programmable
1 x red, hardwired to power switch

Buttons 12 programmable
Potentiometers 4 programmable; 1 marked for use as 'Volume'
Other controls 1 rotary encoder

Communications Connector RS-232 compatible interface (DB-9)

Power Supply Connector Standard DC plug 5.5 x 2.1 x 11 mm (center +)
Adapter 9VDC/1.2A (supplied)


Mutimedia presentation recommended system requirements:

Macintosh
PowerPC processor G3 at 600 MHz
128 MBytes of RAM
MAC OS X & 9
Optimal viewer 1024X768 pixels at 32 bits


Windows
Intel Pentium processor at 1.3 GHz
128 MBytes of RAM
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
Optimal viewer 1024X768 pixels at 32 bits