smashtv

whoop sorry about the bad docs guys......I don't know which gear stripped upstairs that day to cause this..... :-[ These boards are -almost- identical to the tested version, with only minor changes for manufacturing, so the layout is tested, and while i'm sure that only my docs are flawed if there is a larger issue rest assured that i'll replace your parts, boards,- and solder time-.... Unfortunately I wont be in front of my machine again for a few hours to correct things, so i'll try to just remove that page and replace it later. Also tonight I will build up an opl rig in hopes of fixing all of my doc errors...... best smash

-sometimes- crystals on battery power don't like to start oscillating.....something to do with the power source being so clean...... Crystals are like old dying electric motors in a way...... Bad motor: apply power, and it hums and heats up but does not turn, spin it (help it start) and it might run for years, as long as you don't stop it. Crystal: sometimes need to see a "glitch" before they start..... I know this sounds crazy but try touching (with your finger) various connections around the caps with it powered, the crystal might just start up for you (seen these symptoms with others). Best smash

Overwhelmed is not the word, "sucked in" is more like it..... ;D It's great to watch/help people learn about electronics, and the MIDIbox is the ultimate carrot-on-the-stick/bait for this..... :) Have fun, and remember there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers (like when I reply!) ;) Smash

Yes, and maybe not even then (I'll try to get my hands on the tiger release to see, but the talk on the developer board(s) about how broken java still is does not give me much hope) Hehe yes it's ironic, and more so when you realize how long Java has been broken on the Mac......for years I have watched this "inside joke" stay a thorn in every mac user's side. It's damn near impossible to write anything in pure java and expect it to work correctly on the mac, yet I can walk across the room and run it fine on a PC. I doubt apple is completely to blame for all this, Sun has a tendency to make licensees jump through too many hoops, and obviously does nothing to support the cross-platform claims that attracted -anyone- to Java in the first place. Unfortunately under 10.3.8 (last release before tiger) plumstone breaks the midi routing on MIOS Studio. While it will actually see the MIDI interface and list the ports in the routing window, it screws up the window draw (1/2 the time when you open routing it does not show the left list, or it's frame!) and you can't actually connect anything (and if you try enough times it will eventually crash)This might be something easy to correct, I don't know (plumstone's full source is available if interested). That's the bad thing, Most mac users don't upgrade. Since OS upgrade sales are not driven by hot new game releases on the mac side, most mac users stay with the OS that comes with the machine. Not starting any holy wars (I have mac, win and linux boxes here in use) the reason is that it will generally work fine for years without any tinkering. Not gonna happen: Mac users have been pushing apple to fix it since os 8.6, to no avail, and now that it's way past due it looks as if they are saving small steps of functionality to boost new os sales. (grrrr......) I can't afford that ($500 for a mini) but I might be able to dig up a loaner if you are interested......or a cheap enough old (slower but not painfully slow) machine. I'll help with this any way I can, but I have ignored java for many years (everything else aside, I wrote it off completely as soon as I realized Java is not cross platform in any real application way) and I'm not a programmer anymore (unless you want to pound out some basic, pascal, or 6502 ASM ;D) so I doubt I can be very helpful with anything but testing. Best! Smash

Hehe I did speak too soon, my 10.2.8 system that I was playing on had some of the java dev kit and plumstone installed..... On a "out of the box" setup everything wants to work, but it won't connect to any midi hardware. Another issue is that even with Panther (OS X 10.3.x) the java 1.4.2 update 2 is missing some key elements that make MIDI possible with Java.....But plumstone can fix that. I'm setting up a clean install of Panther now just to test this and give instructions on how to get up and running on a mac. With Tiger (next OS X release, out already or very soon) all of this should be fixed (proper java in the release) we'll see. I'll test on it too asap..... Failing this I'll dig up the info on how to make the CoreAudio MIDI calls (if you don't mind a mac specific release or bloating your code a bit).....The die hard java programmers seem to think the CoreAudio works like a dream, so it might be an option. Doing the MIDI I/O with CoreAudio calls would make it work on all but the earliest (10.1) mac os versions. Let me get it actually talking to a midi interface with OS X 10.3.x and I'll snap a bunch of screenshots.... Best! Smash BTW thanks again!

I ran into the same issue, the easy way is to stack standard sockets under the ZIF socket, get it up off the board and out of the way a bit. Best! Smash

Stellar work guys! Reporting on the Mac side: OS: 10.2.8 JavaVM.framework: 1.4.1 The only things I see wrong are a couple of tiny UI issues: 1) Window re-draw after moving the window: usually leaves a "ghost" frame where the window was. I have seen a lot of java apps exhibit this behavior on mac java, and I remember reading about how there are some mac only java redraw issues, so it's probably a known issue with redraw+mac java. (just mentioning it so that mac users will know that it's probably not an issue with MIOS Studio but with Java VM on the mac....) 2) The "X" in "TX" will be obscured by a tab on -most- macs (depends on what the user has done with the theme/skin on thier machine, this one is with the out-of the box UI look: These are such minor things that don't affect performance, but I don't know what level of "picky" you guys want with feedback reports..... :) I'll put it through it's paces tonight on the mac side, test with a few different midi interfaces, etc. tonight. Is there any need for me to test it under OS9? Any mac users out there still on 9? The whole MIDIbox concept just became a whole lot more fun! Thanks Wilba, Adam, and TK, great work. Best! Smash

After reading and re-reading everything I could find on this issue I think: Sasha himself might know nothing of the MIDIbox heart of his controller, that little detail may not have ever been explained to him. Nobody but the people writing about the maven have made any statements regarding price, who actually built it, etc. When read precisely no indication that anyone is planning to produce more of these, ignore the terms of the license, etc. My hat is off to Peter Kirn for showing up here to explain/fill in the blanks about who said what. Not many independents show that level of responsibility. There are two ways to look at his writing on this, one is to judge it as slightly sensationalistic journalism, the other is to see it more like a conversation you (any of you!) and I would have if eyeballing/looking at the controller for the first time. When thought of more like a conversation and read carefully it looks less like wild speculation and more like best guess/open questions. This is after all a blog story, not a news piece prepared for Reuters. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but love for this whole community, but watching it degrade into a flame war about derivative talent does nothing to make our designs better, it just makes the next guy with a new idea afraid to post. Best! Smash Edit: 04.07.05 - Hostility removed - Smash

Link please! The people he paid to do this need a warning from my lawyers about the license....just in case they have plans to mass produce or get cloned by behringer. Even though it's a rather weak CS layout, there is now an instant market for it, so either we release it for free and get the word out or a company does it and gets rich, and could later use money (trash patents/litigation) to own the design by force. I really think it is important to let everyone know "maven" = MIDIbox, especially if these highly paid builders did not let even Sasha know. There is no "might be a MIDIbox" about it, unless they were able to completely redesign this controller in the couple of months between when I talked to them last and it's debut. It -is- a MIDIbox until someone shows me pictures of the guts without boards from my shop or even a PIC18F452...... I had no idea helping these guys would turn out like this, I should have told them to get bent like I do all the other profiteers. Comments? Smash

Ok, if that last post did not get your attention, maybe this quote from 365 mag will. or this quote from tranceaddict: Just Google "sasha maven" and see for yourself....... Best! Smash

Need to add these to the poll: stage lighting control robotics classic instrument restoration Best! Smash

Ok, tame the anti-talent sasha flames for a minute, I need links to any and all info/press releases/etc. regarding "his" maven controller. I got an email many moons ago from a guy "building a controller for sasha", and continued contact via email to sell him some boards and kits, and to help them through some technical issues during the build. My thinking was this would be a great thing to have some world famous people using the MIDIbox, so I helped and treated them with the same attitude I have with any customer...... Now that it's done and has it's own press release(s), I find no mention of MIDIbox or TK, and I have a problem with that while I watch sasha take full credit in the interviews for the controller. I know who's work it is, now you know who's work it is, now help me let everyone drooling over or bashing sasha's "maven" box know. Surely this is just an oversight, so let's correct it! ;D I have three goals here: 1) The ableton community should know that "maven" is a MIDIbox....Anyone a local there? 2) To let the whole industry know that "maven" is built on an open-source design, so that the manufacturers contemplating the new sasha controller lineup for guitar center will know that it's a DIY freebie for anyone who wants it, and commercial production is prohibited. 3) To help sasha and his builders better comply with the license by releasing a ready to go "maven" app. and docs (you know, the whole sharing your improvements with the community thing, good thing we can help them with that!) Thoughts/questions/comments? Best! Smash

Hey all! There is a short interview with these three in New Scientist magazine. Best quotes from the article: and Peter Vogel, Fairlight founder Read here: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/mg18524921.400

Hey all! These are not motorized, but would work for a MIDIbox as regular faders. (quite clunky ones IMHO) My advice to any MIDIboxer is to run screaming from these, unless you have one of these old MCI consoles parked in your garage. If that's the case, step out of the 70's (or early 80's) for a while and know that modern automation has come a long way... Save this good deal for the poor souls who are still keeping these old MCI's alive..... ;) Best! Smash

hehe....In my best "Great Guidance" voice: Don't kill the one they call TK, he's the only one who can repair the ship. Oh and by the way, You must kill Alice. ;D That movie is proof that they had much better drugs in the 50's. ;) While we are way left-of-center (or right of center for you guys in the UK) I'm on a worldwide quest for an English dubbed DVD of Inframan, Need something better to tease the wife with these days since putting in the Tron DVD when she wants to watch a movie just is not working anymore....... ;) Smash

http://www.techniks.com/index.htm Good stuff.....

I'm not positive but I think d2k passed the pcb layout chores on to me, but that's no problem except for time (I'll be out of town from tomorrow night until the weekend). TL if you want a look at what I have in mind send me a copy of the most current .sch and I'll knock it up as a "throw-away" design, meaning this is just a preliminary design to look at (proof of concept) but -not- etch, as there might still be needed changes or errors in the design. Or I can wait until the weekend or for your final .sch, your choice. ;) No need, send me what you have and I'll do the math..... :) On multiple chip support: Pick one chip based on these criteria, in this order: 1) availability 2) performance 3) price In other words pick the one that makes the most sense, if others are pin compatible cool, if not no big deal. I can do variants for as many different ram chips as you guys can make .sch files for if they are really needed..... Could you please be a little more sarcastic without offering any real help? Please? Sarcasm here makes people scared to post (who wants to be flame bait?) and is difficult for people struggling with english to understand....... I still love ya but this is not synth-diy and we -will- keep it fun here..... ;) Best! Smash

I -think- I have shipped there before, I'll check later today ..... They are probably talking about a group of toxic substances with the same initials/name. (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) See: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/pcb/ In short: Once used in and created by the production of electrical, plastics, rubber,dye, etc. Was used like a filler chemical in a lot of things...Coolant in large mains power transformers, all the way down to catalyst binder in common electrolytic capacitors. In the 70's it was found to cause a whole host of health problems ranging from cancer to genetic damage. It's use, creation, and disposal are now tightly regulated by most countries. Digging around on the NZ customs site, in this list of prohibited imports it lists "PCBs and crayons - Control the importation of toxic substances - Environmental Risk Management Authority - Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996" Complete info about that specific law: http://www.hsno.govt.nz/index.html After encountering this misunderstanding with many people and talking to some nice people at the EPA and US postal service, I can safely say they are talking about the bad chemicals, not my friendly little (but fairly toxic in thier own right) circuit boards. ;D Also proof that politicians are mostly a lazy bunch that can't be bothered to write clear legislation...... :o Best! Smash

I'm thinking of a socket-stack type daughter card where you remove the PIC, plug the PIC and sram into sockets on the daughter board, then plug the board into the pic socket on the core. That way we eliminate several issues: Differences between the location of connectors on the various version(s) of the core. No need for feedthrough connections for the LCD, etc. Would work fine for people who have soldered wires to these pinheader connections. (SIL sockets won't mate good with pinheaders that have been soldered too, even with all the solder removed the leftover tinning of solder would make a sketchy connection) The only funky part needed would be a wirewrap 40pin socket. Great to see more MIOS dev from someone besides TK! ;) For some of us hardware is the easy part, coding is difficult, and for others the coding is easy but fighting with eagle for hours is not. Anyone tempted to code anything MIOS should know that all the HW help you need is just a post away! Smash

DIY fuel injection controllers with bankstick ports are cool..... ;)

Whoop I forgot to mention that the OPL boards are now (finally!) available at my store. Preliminary documentation, parts list, etc are available in the info section. These OPL boards match the released boards on ucapps.de, except the parts are numbered to match Thorsten's schematic/my parts lists, etc. They are pro quality boards with silkscreen, HASL plating, and most importantly soldermask (makes the surface mount parts much easier). Please let me know if you notice any errors on my infopage..... :) Best! Smash

Hi Robin I really have no idea about a time estimate on this, but I do know that it probably won't happen with single sided boards. The real estate vs. density just does not work, the boards would have to be much larger to use dual row connections (and still remain single sided). All is not lost though, double sided boards don't cost a whole lot more to have done, and the benefit (and lack of jumpers) is worth the relatively small difference in cost. It all comes down to time, I'm barely up to speed with the OPL3 module and there are quite a few other things that need my attention before a redesign/test cycle. Not to mention the hours upon hours it will take to build new documentation for new boards..... :o Best! Smash

The missing C8 (from TK's schematic) is actually C13 on my boards, and C6 and C7 are switched between TK's schematic and my layout. The parts lists on my SID info page fits the boards you have, and these changes are on the list for the next SID PCB revision. Best! Smash

I can split some up in the US, and some other countries that are relatively cheap to ship to (like Mexico, Canada, parts of the UK, etc.). Just let me know what I can do to help..... :) I would love to take part in the bulk order also, if possible. (Time to build a couple of 24ch boxes....need more faders...) ;D Any good leads on conductive fader caps to fit these? I -had- a decent apem rep but he moved on and that distributor quit carrying the line....... Best! Smash

Did you just flatten the kink or remove the spring completely? The encoder will skip values like this if there is not enough tension between the contacts and the wiper disc. This spring serves double duty providing this tension as well as the detent "clicker": It's possible to mash the "clicker" bend flat on the spring and bend it slightly so it gives enough tension between the wiper disk and the contact tracks/pads. Did you clean the lubricant out of these encoders? Without it they will have a much shorter life and won't feel right, they are engineered with that lube in mind.....they feel really tweeky and cheap without it...... Keep in mind that the menu encoder is setup separately from the others, and is in different detent mode than the others by default. Have you changed the menu encoder from the defualt setting yet? Best Smash