Real-Time Simulation Software for Analog Waveshaping Circuits

Abstract

Even though a number of circuit simulation software exist, very few of them offer the functionality addressed in this paper. This is not only to mathematically calculate the behavior of a circuit with respect to virtual stimuli but to use an input signal captured from the physical realm and produce the circuit response in real time. Two possible ways to create such an application are analyzed: by modifying an existing open-source simulator and by creating one from the ground up. It takes a close look at latency and afterward proposes solutions on how to improve on this factor. Input latencies as low as 3 ms were obtained, which is below the human perceivable delay, thus proving that real-time is something obtainable.