NorthernLightX
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Posts posted by NorthernLightX
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The magic of TK's SID implementation is that he added a few tricks in software, like 6 LFO's and 2 Envelope generators. Those are mapped via the modulation matrix to functions of the SID chip that can be controlled externally. It makes no sense to create a patchpanel for those functions, as they are not at CV/gate specs and as far as I know not compatible with anything.
If you want to build a SID synth that is controllable with CV/gate, it's theoretically possible to do so by combining the Midibox SID witch a CV/gate to MIDI converter; your CV inputs will have to be converted to MIDI and then forwarded to the SID chip(s). I don't know if such a thing exists yet. The SID is a nice synth, but I doubt it's special enough to develop something like I just envisioned. Probably more versatile to just build some analog VCO's, VCF's, LFO's, Envelopes and whatmore.
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I started midiboxing years ago, and it's a well kept secret that I never never finished even one box because I'm a feature creep; always looking to add features even if I might never use them , just because they're available. This time however I'm going to at least finish something.
To prove it I'll start posting pics. Here are some of the current state:
The housing with the exposed sides in a couple of layers of primer. Much sanding in between layers of paint.
The hacked keys in the housing, which is rattle can spraypainted matte black by the way, and the unfinished wooden sides and top. The wood used is eucalyptus, and it will receive an oiled finish. I need to visit my friend who owns a table saw to cut the top piece to exact measure though.
The box part on the left side will house the pitch and mod wheels and some joysticks, the panels will be mounted Minimoog Voyager style in a folding piece of the enclosure, that's not yet visible on the pictures though.
More pics will follow...
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Hi, I've not yet had the time to measure the keys. Will post here as soon as I do.
Your keyboard looks sweet! I'm basing the looks of mine on the Minimoog Voyager, with tilting panel and such. I also have kept the ripped up original PCB, but am inclined to upgrade to Midibox KB because I'd need a MIDI router anyway, so in that case why not let the LPC do the scanning of the keys too.
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Does your multimeter provide a "beeper"? Then you could compare if the connections are matching with (for example) this one: http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_kb/midibox_kb_scanmatrix_type2.pdf
I will look into that shortly :)
Pots: up to 4 pots can be connected to J5A
And I also read on the MBKB uCapps page (yes, I should have done that earlier :)) that "6 analog inputs of the core module can be used to connect pitchwheels, modulation wheels and aftertouch"; so with 2 pot inputs used for the pitch and mod wheels there are precisely 4 pot inputs left for the 2 joysticks without the need for additional hardware. Jay!
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Hello,
While cleaning up I came across a couple of old Midiboxing stuff I'm never going to use, so if you want it, you can have it :). Shipping not included by the way, but if it's not too expensive I'm sure we can work something out.
JDM PIC burner module. I've had some success burning my first PICs with it. Module is oficially obsolete. Comes with Serial cable to attach to PC. http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_jdm_expired.html
Cheers, Alex.
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I have cannibalized an old Midiplus 49 keyboard to integrate the keys into a midibox KB. I don't have schematics but I see there are diodes on the back of the keyboard already; is there any way I can measure how I need to wire this up? The keyboard is supposed to have velocity, the keys were connected with 2 16-wire flatcables.
The donor keyboard had a pitch- and modwheel, which are analog pots. I also have 2 joysticks (dual pots) I would like to use. I guess I need an AINSER64 module to wire these up, or is there an easier solution?
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PM'd you about the knobs ;)
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Just wanted to let you guys know that Reichelt sells some Mean Well PSU's now, among which the D-60A, which delivers +12v and +5v at a 54KHz switching frequency. Disclaimer: I have no experience with this particular model. It's about €17, might be worth a try.
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I think I have a spare set, but it was from the first batch and had some blemishes or defects in the silkscreening. Are you planning on customizing it (e.g. with lazertran) or do you need finished and ready to use panels?
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You just mean the filter IC's right? not an entire filter?
Exactly, I only need the ICs. I have the PCB's from Seppoman. I look forward to hearing from you :thumbsup:
P.S. If you don't need SIDs I am more than happy to just pay for them, or trade some other electronic and/or music related stuff. For example I have a few populated Green Pre PCBs, 1176 compressor PCBs, and GSSL PCBs.
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Nice project :) I like the keys. Have been wanting such a solution for some time, but have so much to finish first befor I even allow myself to think about it :whistle:
I have a spare 8580 by the way. I'm looking for some SSM2044, if you have some of those and you want to part with them we could arrange a trade.
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It's been some time, but I still would like to buy 4 SSM2044 filters. A trade for some 8580R5 is still possible as well.
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I just looked up the part numbers I used in the past. Note: I take no responsibility if these are still coreect or not, it has been a while since.
3 pins connector: http://nl.mouser.com...y538-35977-0300
6 pins connector: http://nl.mouser.com...y538-35977-0600
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Hi analog monster,
sorry for the late reply, I'm having another one of those periods where I do not get to midiboxing at all.
The small connector I ripped off an old PC PSU. The larger connector I found @ mouser. I do not know the exact partnumber.
Cheers, Alex.
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OK so I found that the file with the DIN mappings is cs_menu_io_tables.inc. The normal functions don't look too complicated but the matrix section is more complex; too complex for my current skills. If I would try to implement the one-button-per-function approach via the one-din-per-button solution I would need much help
An other option would be to keep the matrix, but to try to use multiple buttons in that matrix. I looked at mbfm_din_default.pdf and mbfm_dout_default.pdf and I think it would be possible to adapt the wiring for multiple buttons; bear with me:
On mbfm_din_default.pdf each martix column has it's own button. Nothing special here.
On mbfm_dout_default.pdf J4 - D5 goes to the R1 button and then to the R1/C1 LED, but also to the R1/C2, R1/C3, and R1/C4 LEDs. you need to press 2 buttons to create the necessary link for a function.
If I were to wire DOUT J4 - D5 not to 1 but to 4 buttons instead (daisy chained), assigning each button for a differen function of C1 and then wiring that button to the corresponding pin on the DIN module, pressing that one button would produce the necessary link between the shift registers!
Please correct me if I am wrong!
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Hardware wise it would not be a problem.
I expected that, the only possible problem I could think of would be memory constraints.
But you need to make some considerable changes to the source code. Since its all in assembly it's not so n00b friendly.
Would I? It's only a remap of already available functions. I'll look into the link you posted, thanks.
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Where did you get it from ? I will consider to get one as well ....
I got it from a company here in NL. They only sell to other companies though. I paid €23,80 ex. VAT and shipping, shipping costs are high (€25 ex. VAT) so small orders are relatively expensive. If there's enough interest I could do a group buy. These things deliver +5v +12 and -12v, and therefore are suitable for a range of projects:
MBSID and MB6582 (with added 7809 regulator): leave -12v rail unused
MBFM: needs +12 and -12 so all rails are used
AOUT projects like MBCV: those that need a bipolar supply also benefit from the available -12v rail
Cheers.
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I sort of view it as the celibacy versus safe sex argument that often comes up around election time here in the States :)
All I said was that if you cannot tell the inside from the outside of the condom you should not f*ck around but masturbate instead, to keep with your analogy :tongue:
Anyway, to bring it up again, my MeanWell switcher works great, is virtually noise free, is pretty cheap (I guess it can be bought for under $50 including shipping), and does not involve much tinkering on the mains side of the unit. I rest my case.
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I have now lost one original PSU and luckily my MB6582 was not damaged. I am not going to risk my MB6582 with an old power supply any longer.
I understand this and I agree fully. I have had the same problem in the past, and also have abandonned the C64 brick method.
What I am saying is that you should either familiarize yourself with linear PSU's a lot more, or just buy a switcher. Both methods can be used to get a working solution. If you're unable to design your own linear PSU (which isn't that hard!) I would not advise to use a (modified) design you don't understand fully.
Except for a mains level electrical shock there is also the risk of fire and/or small explosion (electrolytical capacitors for example when used incorrectly) if the wrong components are used. Would you risk fire based on someone else's design? Someone you don't know all that well, and someone that might even have a bigger mouth than design skills?
I am not calling anybody incompetent, but please consider the risks a bit more before tinkering with mains voltage. If you understand what it involves: go ahead and have fun. If you don't: there are other, faster, safer solutions :thumbsup:
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Hi Guys,
while I am trying to finish my projects that have been boxed for years I run into some stuff I have no experience with. I can choose two paths:
1. Abandon my funky wishlist and just stick with the default configs, or
2. Go ahead and try to build it like I originally wanted it.
I'm investigating if option 2 is within my skillset. I layed out an alternative control surface in FPD, it consists of 34 buttons and 5 encoders, totalling 44 inputs, so I would need a DINX6 module (or 2 DINX4 of which one can be half-stuffed). I have some experience in laying out PCBs so creating the DINX6 is not the problem. I on the other half have no experience in editting Midibox firmware yet, so I need to ask this:
Is it possible (without too much touble! I'm still n00b) to make MBFM support 2 extra DIN registers?
Thanks in advance!
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Guys, TK has stated in the past that there will be no official MB PSU module, as tinkering with mains voltages is dangerous and he will not take responsibility. If you cannot design a simple linear PSU you should definitely not try to solder one. You have to understand what you're doing.
(/disclaimer)
Linear PSU's that output multiple voltages (e.g. +9v and +5v) look simple on paper, but are more difficult practically. The easiest way to do this is to use multiple transformers. I have tried to use a single transformer to output multiple voltages in the past and this project failed due to heat production when creating +5v from +12v (even when using properly rated power resistors) and the addedd stress on the 12v rail this caused. It is also not all that easy to find properly rated (toroid) transformers for these projects that are also moderately priced.
PC switching PSUs are notoriously noisy and I would never recommend using one for any synth or audio project.
There is some positive news though: I have used the Mean Well RPT-60B for my MB6582 (which is now a lot closer to completion) without problems. The synth is very quiet, as far as any SID based synth can be quiet.
These type of switching PSU's are not all that expensive and most are equipped with Molex connectors, so integrating these in your synth (or in an external enclosure) should not prove too difficult. It doesn't have to be Mean Well at all, just pull up the spec sheet and look at the switching frequency, if it's above 50KHz you should be fine. Higher than that should mean the existing noise wouldn't even be recorded on higher settings than 48KHz.
So, if you want to design a linear PSU just go ahead. It's fun and it will help you understand electronics a lot better, just don't expect it to be cheap and/or a one shot solution. If on the other hand you want to get it over with; go and find yourself a proper switching PSU.
Cheers.
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Thanks for all the response guys :)
Am afraid I won't have too much time to watch the forums, but will try to pop in now and then.
Cheers, Alex.
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...but (mostly) my girl and I just completed our 9 month project :baby: :laugh:
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Secondly, the gate on the 8580 doesnt seem to work properly... As soon as I select a waveform, the chip will start to make sound. I know I can write in the Control Register since I can mute/unmute the chip by selecting or unselecting the saw wave. But writing on the GATE bit doesnt seem to do anything... Are the registers mapped exactly the same way on both chips?
I seem to recall what you trying to do was possible only on the 6581 due to a VCA bug, which made noise when turned on or off. This "feature" was later used to reproduce digitized sound. The bug was fixed in the 8580 so this functionality was lost AFAIK.
Then again I could be wrong, or I could be talking about something completely different.
MB SID with patchbay -> semi-modular Korg MS-Style Synth?
in MIDIbox SID
Posted · Edited by NorthernLightX
The expression pedal is probably a MIDI function, but I don't know for sure. The "Paddle" inputs on the SID are indeed analog inputs, and were designed to be able to accept analog Pong style joysticks on the C64. I'm pretty sure these analog inputs are NOT used in the MBSID though.
I would suggest reading everything on ucapps.de. I just looked at the feature list and found this:
So apparently the software (not the SID itself!) can handle 5 CV inputs, freely routable. These are directly connected to the CORE module. Look at the KNoBs menu section of the MBSID manual for more info.