goyousalukis

Hi Seb - I too am building the MB6582 pcb from Modular addicts. I would love to see the schematic also, but I did some digging and found this: http://ucapps.de/midibox_sid/mbsid_v2_communication.pdf It shows the CAN bus between the four PICs. Unless I am in correct, this is what you are asking about. Regards, Justin

Hey guys, I'm working on a MBSeq, and right now I'm trying to get my STM32F407G-DISC1 to be recognized by Win10. I've installed ST-Link and successfully burned the bootstrap firmware onto it. I've also done the firmware update and it was successful. When I hit the black reset button, I get the green led flashing twice like the documentation states. I did the PA9-5V jumper, but when I connect via micro-USB, I don't get any MIDI devices installed in Windows 10. The larger LED to the right of the Mini-USB blinks red. Did I miss something? When I go into MIOS Studio, it doesn't show any midi devices. Thanks, Justin As usual, after I give up and post for help, I figure it out - it turned out to be a bad USB cable!

So, While I am impatiently waiting for parts for my bottom board, I thought I would show you my progress so far. Originally, I was going to mill my own control surface using Wilba's DXF on an aluminum panel. I ordered a panel from Mouser, but it turned out to be the back panel for the Pac10 enclosure, and the front panel is not stocked. So instead, I took a piece of 9mm baltic birch, and milled a pocket leaving about the .062" thickness that the original panel has. I then flipped the panel and routed out all the holes on the front. I was worried about chip out, routing such thin wood, but it turned out great. Then I decided to dye the somewhat boring plywood orange. The next question was the control labels. I have a laser module that I can mount on my CNC, but after some tests, I realized that the lines on Wilba's CS are too small for my laser. I really need to get another module with a smaller beam. So instead, I decided to try decal paper. I printed the control surface on a sheet of decal paper and cut out and applied each piece separately. In hind-sight, I could have tried printing the entire CS on a sheet and transfer it at once. Then I added a few of my own touches. I used a product called micro-set to dissolve the decals so that they would look better. This worked ok, but not as good as it does on pro decals. Finally, I sprayed a bunch of coats of lacquer, praying it wouldn't mess up the decals. So far so good. I also 3D printed a bezel for the LCD. I bought the Waldorf Knobs, but they don't fit so great on the Bourns encoders. I can push them on, but they are pretty much impossible to get off. I am thinking about 3D printing some knobs out of the same orange filament. We'll see. This takes me to where I am now - on the rest of the case. I have cut two side panels so far. I need to finish sanding them, and then I'll make the rest of the case to fit the control panel. Thanks for checking it out...

Well, if no one else chimes in, I might be able to help you once mine is done. I wouldn't say I am very known though. I built a version one MbSid and MbSeq many years ago, and now I am upgrading it to V2. I've made the panel, installed the buttons and encoders. I'm at the point where I am installing my LEDs. My components for the bottom board should be arriving in a day or two so I can start on that. One option would be to send me your bottom board, and I could troubleshoot that using my control surface.

How many times do we have to tell you that NO C coding is required to build and use a MidiBox? Thorsten has done all the work for us. Yes, there are members on here that edit the source code for their own purposes, but I would wager that that is less than 10% of the people who build midiboxes.

No, everything could be shown. It is all copyrighted, but as far as I know TK has released everything under one of the licenses for non-profit use. Nobody has the time/desire/drive to create video tutorials. Based on the thousands of Midiboxes that have been built, a video tutorial is not required to build a midibox.

Yes, there are tons of great videos out there now on all manner of things. You have to remember that the MidiBox goes back at least to 2001 when I first started building a verys simple midibox. Back then, youTube was in it's infancy. You say the guy doesn't have an economic interest, but the first thing to come up is an ad for his Patreon page where people can donate. I guarantee that he had an economic interest in the videos. I understand that you expect a video tutorial, but there isn't one. So what are you going to do now? Anyways, it is clear that we can't change your mind - good luck!

My first project was a midibox 8 with 8 analog faders back around 2001. My advice would be to order some parts and get started. If you wait for someone to make a step by step video, you will never start. Just get a core, a digital in and a digital out PCB and a couple of encoders, buttons and leds. Once you get started, you will either figure it out or get frustrated and quit. The initial investment is pretty small, maybe $100-$150. If you aren't willing to risk that to get started, then as others have said, this isn't the place for you. I will tell you, the moment when you first start it up and get midi signals flowing into your computer, is a pretty neat experience.

Well, now I see why BOMs aren't that helpful. I found a few references to mouser part numbers, but the majority of them are end of life. In the end, I found pretty much everything from Jameco. I found their website much easier to find the right items.

Hey guys, I am looking to see if there is a mouser parts list for the Wilba MB 6582 base board. I did some looking, and found this: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=wilba_mb_6582_parts_list It has a great breakdown of the parts, but I don't see any Mouser part numbers. It would save a lot of time if there is one available. The other reason is that I always goof and accidentally order some surface mount components. Thanks for any help! Justin

Thanks Peter - I found it: http://web.archive.org/web/20140518080526/http://ctrlr.org:80/nightly/ Maybe add this link to TK's first post so new users can find this version. Thanks again! Justin

Hi, any way someone can upload Ctrlr_ac6a3185.exe here? I can't find it anywhere. Thanks

Thanks so much Peter, I now have hours of entertainment while I wait for the parts to arrive. That build guide looks great - thanks for all your efforts!

Thanks Hawkeye - can you point me to the documentation? I've had a look around, but haven't found it.

Sorry for the multiple posts - it wasn't showing up. I can't find a way to delete it. If an Admin can delete, please do.

Hey Guys, I went ahead and ordered the control panel PCB from Modular Addicts, along with the assorted encoders, etc from Mouser/Amazon. I have an old Midibox Sid, and I am upgrading to V2. I have the new PIC on the way. My MBSid only has 2 Sids. The website didn't have a photo of the back of the PCB. I assume I can just hook my existing Core and 2 SIDs up to the control panel. Is this correct? Also, is there a DXF of the panel somewhere? I have a CNC and Laser engraver, so I want to cut my own panel. At some point, I might go whole hog and purchase the 8 sid main board. Thanks, Justin

Hey Guys, a few quick questions. I went overboard, and ordered the MBSid control PCB from Modular Addicts, and all the associated components from Mouser/Amazon. I am converting my old MBSid to a V2. I want to use my existing MB Core, SID, and DOUT/DIN, etc. I only have 2 Sids/cores. The Modular Addict webpage only shows a front view of the PCB. I assume I can connect my components to the panel no problem right? Is there a layout/schematic of the pcb somewhere? I didn't see it. If I get this up and running, I may go nuts down the road, get the mainboard PCB and make an 8 SID version. Finally, is there a DXF for the panel somewhere? I have a CNC and a Laser engraver, so I plan to cut it myself. Thanks,

Rio, I have an 18F4685 - I/P

Thanks Rio, I agree that PICS are pretty robust, that's been my experience. No matter what I try, I can't get the second half of the program memory blank. I've tried every possible way.I can burn the boot loader, and then load MIOS, but it won't load MBSID V2.

Juggle, Thanks for the links - I sorta got MIOS v1.9 up and running. I wasn't able to erase it with my PICkit2. I kept getting code protect turned on, even if I erased it and unchecked it, so finally, I went back to the old parallel port and erased it there. After that, I was able to load the bootloader, and then MIOS. Success!!! or not.... I must have messed up the PIC trying different chip types in the parallel port. It works great until I try to load the MBSid hex. The upload crashes at about 65%. I went back to PICkit and no matter how I erase it, it always has 0000's starting at address 10000, instead of FFFF's, and the code protect check mark keeps coming up. Once MIOS Studio gets to that location, the upload crashes. I can reload MIOS, and get back to the ready prompt, but I get the same result when I try to load the SID hex file. Oh well, I guess I need to purchase a new PIC. At least I know I can burn them now. If you want to risk my PICkit2, I'd be happy to burn your PICs for you. Thanks again, Justin

By the way, my last post prior to this one was 22 August, 2006! :)

Hey guys, Over 10 years ago, I discovered Thorsten's site and had tons of fun making several of his projects. I haven't touched my midibox stuff in a long time, but I have the bug again. I was amazed to find my username and password still work for this forum! I built a 2 SID MidiBox Sid back then. I want to upgrade it to the latest version. I purchased the PIC 18F4685. So, I have two options to program it. Back in the day, I used the EpicWin programmer from MicroEngineering, and I still have it. Luckily, I still have a winXP machine with a printer port that I can use. I tested it on one of my spare 18F452's, and it burns and verifys correctly. The problem I have is that the dropdown for chip type does not have the 18F4685. It does have the 18F4680, and the 18F4585. I tried both of these, and it programmed and verified. When I go to MIOS Studio 2.4.6 to burn the MIDI Hex, it never detects the core. It tells me to reboot the core, which still doesn't work for me. The strange thing is that I am getting midi information every second, like I remember the old bootloader doing. I get two FF's and an a0 c0 81, every second. So what am I doing wrong? Is there a better chip choice to try and use? I also have a USB PICkit 2 that I never used, but it has the 6 in a row header vs. the 40 pin ZIF that my epic has. I'm not sure how I would hook that up. Thanks for any advice, and it is great to see MidiBox still kicking! Justin

Hey thanks for the congrats! - no problem Stryd_one, I couldn't spend much time trying to get it to work. I'll let you guys know what the error is when I can get a little free time. I'm thinking about bringing a laptop to work so that I can work on this stuff during my breaks - I'm not getting any time at home as you can imagine. Michael, I agree that you shouldn't be able to fry the chip with just code. Hopefully the guys at magnevation can reset it back to the default - then I'll have two speakjets. I can make them sing harmonies, or perhaps just detune one a little- might sound cool. I have tried resetting it, and controlling it via the PC, but no luck. It won't even go into demo mode, thats what worries me the most. I look forward to your code - I have some ideas for a user interface - I just need some time... Justin

Well, I went ahead and got another one, and got it running fine. I made some changes to my phrase storage routines, and then ran my program again, and crashed the new chip, same behaviour as before - no output at all. I made sure that I didn't go anywhere near those chip control registers, so I know it wasn't that. I tried getting your debugging sim running with the help of Stryd_one's instructions, but when I try to step into it, it doesn't work. I can't remember the exact error, I'm at work right now. The tech guys at magnevation offered to take a look at the chips, so I'm gonna mail them to them. Meanwhile, my wife gave birth to our first child, a baby girl, so I've been too busy to do much.... Justin

Hey everyone, check out http://www.soundgin.com . They designed the speakjet, but they are selling this one through savage innovations. The computer software screenshots look a lot better than the speakjet software. At a quick glance, it looks like the synth options are better. Also, I think you could bypass the 16F88, and control it straight from the midibox. My source says it will cost the same as the speakjet, $25, and will be available 31 August. I wish they had a more detailed manual for it, hopefully one will be available soon. I also wonder about the baud rate, it only does 2400 and 9600. Would this be fast enough? Justin