TK.

Beta8 is now available: http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php?topic=9457.msg67779#msg67779 Changes: I've replaced the simple clock divider by a BPM clock generator. This leads to minor incompatibility issues with WT and bassline patches, but the "speed" values can be easily adapted... The advantage: sequences will now run with exactly the same speed like your external gear when the internally generated BPM is matching, even when MBSID is not clocked via MIDI. The BPM can be changed within the ensemble (-> CLK menu) I've overworked the appr. preset patches which are using the WT or bassline sequencer, just upload the new preset bank under presets/v2_vintage_bank.syx Please note that the new BPM generator requires a MIOS update (MIOS V1.9f or higher) - the update needs to be done for master and slave cores! Another change is the sustain (hold pedal) feature as proposed by Rutger. It currently only works for lead patches, and I'm not happy how it behaves with WT sequences - some improvements can be expected in later versions. Best Regards, Thorsten.

Since I've already overworked the note stack handling to realize a hold function for the arpeggiator, it shouldn't be a big problem to control "common notes" the same way when the sustain pedal CC is active. I will add this to the next release. Thank you! :) Best Regards, Thorsten.

The "unsorted order" function is now available in v3.2a It has to be selected within the "Track Mode" page. Best Regards, Thorsten.

The firmware has been updated -> MIDIbox SEQ V3.2a See also the ChangeLog http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_seq_changelog.html Best Regards, Thorsten.

Thanks for pointing out this issue! There is no reason why only 240 columns are cleared, so I did the change in MIOS V1.9f (just update to this version) Best Regards, Thorsten.

MIOS V1.9f is available for download: http://www.ucapps.de/mios/mios_update_v1_9f.zip Especially MIDIbox SID V2 users are recommended to update MIOS (on master and slaves!), because the new Timer0 feature allows me to add a BPM clock generator to the firmware. Older MIOS versions could malfunction when you are uploading future MBSID V2 releases! Therefore please don't ignore this update, and if somebody reports issues with the MBSID V2 firmware, ask him first if he already did the MIOS update. ChangeLog: o Timer0 now free as resource if the AIN driver is not enabled. A special interrupt hook is not provided, but this timer can be used for 16bit time measurements o AIN driver now working correctly on PIC18F4620/PIC18F4685 o backup function now properly working for >32k flash devices like PIC18F4620 and PIC18F4685 (see also doc/mios_backup.txt) o a new rotary encoder mode "MIOS_ENC_MODE_DETENTED3" is available, which works similar to MIOS_ENC_MODE_DETENTED2, but increments the value "during the click", and not "after the click" [/code] Hint to users who want to try the new MIOS_ENC_MODE_DETENTED3 function: just copy the migration/mios.h file into the directory of the application, so that the new mode is selectable within the encoder table (usually located in mios_tables.inc, or in setup_*.asm) Best Regards, Thorsten.

I fear that much more modifications have to be added (I cannot write them down "blind" without trying them out by myself) First of all, DEFAULT_EXT_CLK_PULSEWIDTH is a constant value, which will be compiled directly into the firmware. In cv_clk.inc, it will be loaded with "movlw", but if you want to use it as a variable, it would have to be loaded with "movf <name>, W", where <name> is a free register address defined in app_defines.inc (e.g., 0x60 is free, you could use it) Second issue: the pulsewidth is a 8bit value (0..255) which allows you to vary the width from 500 uS... 127.5 mS. The delay counter in cv_clk.inc has to be changed to 16bit in order to achieve delays >= 128 mS Accordingly, also the PULSEWIDTH variable needs to be 16bit (PULSEWIDTH_L, PULSEWIDTH_H, assigned to addresses 0x60 and 0x61) Best Regards, Thorsten.

No, the Rx/Tx LEDs wouldn't be assignable via DOUT table, the refresh cycle is too slow. This Rx/Tx feature costs too much CPU time... I don't really like this option, and I don't understand why I ever added this to the firmwares, as there is a much better working hardware based solution... Best Regards, Thorsten.

Hi Rutger, the MBSID V2 firmware only supports 5 7bit CCs: #1 (Modwheel), and #16...#19 (General Purpose Controllers) They have to be assigned within the KNB menu page. In future there will be an additional possibility to access all sound parameters via NRPN with full resolution (up to 14 bit). However, this won't help in your particular case - sorry. 2: The MIDI Tx/Rx feature has been removed from the firmware, as it conflicts with other features. I would propose to add a hardware based MIDI Tx/Rx LED based on the LTC module Best Regards, Thorsten.

The MB-6582 hardware is running with the MBSID V2 firmware. All hardware variations are documented at Wilba's page - I think that there is no need for writing an additional documentation. Best Regards, Thorsten.

Don't worry, development is still in progress; Swinkels sends me a new firmware almost every day!!! :) I'm sure that you would be frustrated, if you would have build the circuit based on the schematic of two weeks ago, just to notice that it isn't compatible with the future firmware anymore. I can already bring you down from the illusion, that a 100% accurate SID emulation cannot be expected. An AVR is not a Pentium, sample rate is low and it is impossible to oversample the sounds often enough to eliminate alias effects. So, for everybody who wants pure SID sound, keep searching for the original... ...and use SwinSID in addition! :) Main advantages of SwinSID: - you will be able to access a wavetable synth with the mighty MBSID V2 engine! - no ADSR envelope bug - more waveforms - Swinkels is planning to add FM and Morphing effects - a fat and --> dirty <-- filter! - nobody prevents you to add analog circurity in addition! Since I'm currently more busy with testing SwinSID than writing demo tunes, I'm not able to give you some typical chip effects and tunes which can be realized very easily and which sound very similar to the SID. Therefore I will just give you an untypical bassline (created with the Lead engine) just to demonstrate how cool the filter sounds since about 3 hours :) -> http://www.ucapps.de/mp3/swinsid/swinsid_preview1.mp3 Note that this is not a representative demo - SwinSID is not just an "additive synth emulation", the potential is much higher! Some hardware related info: please wait before buying the stuff - as mentioned above: specs are not stable yet. Meanwhile I've switched to a PCM1754, which is a pretty good audio DAC (normaly used in CD players). I especially like the de-emphasis options, which adds some crunchyness But this chip has two disadvantages: like the TDA1543 it isn't produced anymore (Farnell and Digi-Key has some in stock see findchips.com), and it's a SMD part. But it shouldn't be too difficult to solder, even for beginners. So - if you want to support design, please help to find alternative solutions. Second fact: yes, there will be a PCB. Swinkels just suggested today to use two AVRs instead of one, since it would only cost you 2 EUR more, but would bring so much more... Of course, everybody who is interested could already join the beta testing process - just build the circuit given at Swinkels homepage. If you are not able to find the TDA1543, search for the PCM1754. The pin mapping and audio output circuit is described in the datasheet. Another tip: the 24 MHz crystal "24,0000-HC18" from Reichelt cannot be used (it's a 3rd overtone crystal) - just use an integrated oscillator like "OSZI 24,000000" instead. Please be patient, and don't bring us into pressure - something really cool is growing up, and this needs time! :) Best Regards, Thorsten.

please do this! :) Best Regards, Thorsten.

The father of the SidStation passed away :-( Best Regards, Thorsten.

Hi, unfortunately MIDIbox FM uses dedicated OPL3 specific features, such as 4 OP FM sounds. Backward compatible 2 OP FM sounds are not supported, as they are too boring anyhow, and would lead to an inconsistent synth architecture. Best Regards, Thorsten.

Yeah! I like this style even more! Perfectly performed as always - new food for the car CD player! :) Best Regards, Thorsten.

Interesting, how my words are interpreted four years later. The intention of this sentence was to motivate you for sharing your layouts with others. It's continuous improvement - others might feel inspirated to make your work even better. You interpreted my words as I would have requested it the following way: "don't forget to publish your layout when it is up and running! " However, this was four years ago. Many things happened until then. Similar things which happened with certain other SDIY people, and which forced them to remove layouts, schematics and other sources from their websites, and to share them only in private circles to prevent commercial cannibalization. Best Regards, Thorsten.

Source code transfered to Wilba - in the hope to have a windows version available soon :) Best Regards, Thorsten.

It was the reason... the Makefile which is generated from resid-0.16-p2.tgz is not complete, "make install" doesn't copy the new include files + library to /usr/local/... Workaround: generate a Makefile with the resid-0.16.tgz package and use this one Best Regards, Thorsten.

After one hour of additional work, .sid tunes are replayed much better now: :) http://www.ucapps.de/tmp/sidplay2_via_midi_try2.mp3 I will clean up the code and thereafter release it as is - due to my low C++ knowledge, I don't know how to realize certain functions, e.g. passing the MIDI device via command line (currently it's hard coded), or writing the ASID routines more object oriented. Great that you want to help out, Wilba! :) Best Regards, Thorsten.

Just tried it again - it works. What is different in your setup? Or is it just the fact, that the SID volume register has only a 4bit resolution, but the editor handles it with 8bit resolution (for the V2A option - same as for resonance) Best Regards, Thorsten.

With 6581s, digital background noise is much more present than with the 6582/8580 Even with your PCB, Wilba Best Regards, Thorsten.

ok, something was wrong - I applied the .patch file over the original release, maybe this was the reason. So, it should work fine when the resid-0.16-p2.tgz package is used Best Regards, Thorsten.

Instructions for Linux users: I compiled the CVS release - under Linux the compile order is important (don't remember which directories I compiled first, but you will find this out...). It's required to execute "bootstrap" in each directory in order to generate the "configure" file - the rest works as usual. resid is not part of the CVS for some reasons - the patched version is important. On my PC, the builder/resid-builder was not compilable due to an unknown mute() function in resid-emu.cpp - I commented this out, thereafter it worked. Best Regards, Thorsten.

Did you enable the V2A option? It disables the SID volume control for good reasons (because some people are planning to control an external VCA with this option). thats an issue with the 6581... or a feature? The DC offset changes depending on the volume, filter and oscillator assignments. Believe me, I tried a lot to eliminate this click (e.g. slow fade out/in of volume), but clicking sounds were still present, so that I removed all this experimental stuff, as it only added some additional delays (up to 1 second) on patch changes, which people probably would report as a "bug" (what is a bug???) as well. Best Regards, Thorsten.

it should be this one, but if you want to ensure, just put unique values into the TMP registers (like 1, 2, 4, 8 ) and check the logic levels on the 74HC595 output pins. This test maybe takes 5 minutes, but it saves a lot of time :) Best Regards, Thorsten.