i like dealing with discrete components myself, due to simplicity/cost, but i wouldn't be opposed to an easy to learn microcontroller either.
that being said, you could run the signal through a diode and drop some voltage. a lot of the more common signal diodes would drop .7 volts, though there may be a suitable diode out there that would drop close to 1 with the current load you would pas through it. that is the only real issue that pops up for me, the voltage drop vs current characteristic.
__________________
|