1. An application specific instruction processor comprising: a fetch unit for fetching instructions from a memory; an instruction decoder connected to said fetch unit for decoding instructions fetched by said fetch unit; a data register file including a plurality of data registers; a load/store unit connected to said instruction decoder, said data register file and an external memory, said load/store unit operable in response to a decoded load instruction to transfer data from an instruction specified address in external memory to an instruction specified one of said plurality of data registers, and in response to a decoded store instruction to transfer data from an instruction specified one of said data register to an instruction specified address in external memory; at least one general purpose functional unit connected to said instruction decoder and said data register file, said at least one general purpose functional unit operable in response to at least one instruction to recall data from at least one instruction specified data register, perform an instruction specified data processing operation and store results in an instruction specified one of said data registers; and at least one special purpose functional unit connected to said instruction decoder and said data register file, said at least one general purpose functional unit operable in response to at least one instruction to recall data from at least one instruction specified data register, perform an instruction specified special purpose data processing and store results in an instruction specified one of said data registers.