Steven_C

I will be ordering a few parts from PMB shortly (LCD price too good to refuse!) so if you would like me to get a pic18f452 for you while I'm at it, let me know asap.

looking good!

Yeah, I think I remember TK saying he already had one.... not sure if he built it himself or not...

Farnell sell pic18f452 for around $30Aus, just ring their tech support, and ask the part number, or find it on-line, then make a phone order (you can pick up at the trade counter if you don't have a credit card) much cheaper is a company in NZ, who will mail order to Australia, I think they were called PMB. (correct me Rowan, if you see this) anyway, do a forum search on "Australia" to find more local info useful to you! ;) Which area are you from? (I'm in Sydney) ps I have the farnell p/no. here somewhere, if I find it soon, I will post it here...

http://www.synthdiy.com/view/filecat.asp?type=4 I found some info here, they also have info on the SID chip! (6581)

;D this thread is turning into a nice reference! ;D

If this power supply is for the core (?) then it should be fine, as long as you have installed the bridge rectifier. What is a del? Have you read the recent posts on solutions to programming the pic16877A? If you still have problems, then I can program the firmware for you. I have a spare pic16f877, so I can program it, post it to you, and you can swap me your pic16f877A (saves time, you sending to me and then back again ;))

Hey Lall, Thanks! I'll check this out!! :)

;D Well Done! are you using it as a sequencer, or as a controller?

Edit: Some of the links in this thread are broken (I am considering re-building my MBLC, in which case I will write up a how-to document for beginners... stay tuned!) Note: A lot of the info on this thread is based on the MIOS8 version. Note: I'm a noob again so please correct me if I make any mistakes! (Edited 11 April 2010) OK guys, it is well enough time for us to commence a group assignment.... The tutorial for building a logic control emulation!!! ok heres the first chapter... parts required. Basically, this project consists of a number of modules, connected together, and controlled by a main module, called "The Core Module" or "Core" for short. You can find instructions on Thorsten's site, on how to build each of the individual modules, links to each of the modules are in the left hand column of the www.ucapps.de page. You will also need other parts, such as a power supply (a plugpack/wallwart is the only option I am going to reccommend, for safety reasons) of about 12V, 2A will be plenty, but you may get away with  something smaller, maybe 1500mA (1.5A), but anything less is a bit wimpy for this. Modules required for full emulation... Now, you will need another DOUT module for the upcoming feature that allows both LEDrings and Meters at the same time the other main bits are (to quote Ian) actually, I just realised that Ian was quoting Thorsten! anyway to build the straight out clone, you will need more buttons than Ian's suggestion, I think it was about 104. (FIX this later) You will also need a JDM module to program the PIC in the core module, unless you find out that we are quite friendly, and one of us will probably be able to program the PIC for you!! anyway, time for someone else to have a turn, in the meantime, have a look at this... (how to connect modules) http://www.midibox.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=concepts;action=display;num=1051235215;start=2#2 (Thanks Mr Musicman) also, download, and read the LC manual, from EMagic. Be nice, register your software! now it's time for someone else to have a go... Topics.... build case, program PIC, maybe modifying code to suit user? building the Hex file?? links to Thorsten's IC Prog page, Midi-Ox page? Lets make a rough guide on this thread, modifying it as we go, so people can read it as it progresses, until we get it finalised, and then make a pretty website out of it???

If you didn't get what the guy said he was selling, then you should explore what action you could take.... (yes, there are a few dodgy people using ebay :'() or see if you can sell them to someone else! (but don't lie about the specs!!) These displays are much too small for an LC clone.... have a look at the thread "get inspired" under midibox of the week, to see how axel used 2x40 LCD's.... It worked out quite well.... or look at the photos of midibox LC clones in the midibox gallery! good luck, from Steve

I am interested, but I need sponsorship :-[....only joking ;) nah.. I'll have to wait till next year, when my studies are over!!

Just in case anyone is interested, http://www.modulus.synth.net/synthdiy/synthdiy_2003.htm there looks to be quite a few of the 'famous' diy synth gurus attending... pity the UK is on the other side of the planet to me!!!

yeah, but look at the price!! I had a simple design on my old hardrive, I'll have to dig out those old backup cd's... thanks pilo, from Steve (I think I'll put this on hold, as I think my Nova synth can be used as an analogue filter (VCF but digitally modelled))

I'm wondering if anyone knows of an easy to build diy VCF, designed primarily for injecting a line level signal into it, and doing cool filter sweeps, as I would really like one, as the studio I use at college has no such effect available!!! (we have a dedicated DAW, which has no plugins! it can't use any of the standard formats... vst, au, rtas, tdm etc, so I need a hardware solution!!) oh yeah, buy Australian made DAW's, help our economy! (but it won't be a flexible solution! But then again, it is cool using a hardware based studio, more 'real' knobs, and expensive boxes to play with!!) oh yeah (2) I have some ca3080 chips lying around, waiting to be used!!

My first ever midibox went like this... I was too lazy to drill the holes, so I drew the layout of midibox 8, with another board for the 16 pot extension, using an 'etch resist pen' after I bent the IC pins out flat, and traced around them with a pencil, then I soldered all the components onto the copper side!! Talk about butchery! Maybe you could try flattening out the pins like this, Rowan, and not drill the holes...

Hey Rowan, don't throw them away!! just be patient, and solder on the other side... you will need a really fine tip to get between the ic sockets and the PCB though! (I'm sure you will manage) I'd hate to see all that work go to waste!! After all the work, yes it isn't really worth making your own unless you can't get them anywhere else!! I will be ordering all my future MBHP boards!! good luck, and if you don't want your boards, then I'm sure someone else will have them!! bye, from Steve

Hey, I have some sort of smpte/midi box, but I'm not sure what it can do, or how to use it, as I don't have a manual!! (Its made by Aphex... "Studio Clock 800 series" I think) But I wasn't really thinking in terms of timecode, but in actual midi data, like recording a sequence of sysex data or whatever, to set up a device, prior to playing it, in a situation where there is no computer nearby, and my devices have no memory of their own. Maybe you could also record your sysex MBHP dumps and keep them on CD, so you don't need a computer to change setups... eg MB64 sequencer/controller setups, though most people would use this in conjunction with a computer anyway!! Maybe I've just been thinking too much about midi!

Thats great that you were able to solve this problem Thorsten! ;D

The removal of a part is to make the encoder smooth, like the feeling of a normal pot. If if it is left normal, it will have a 'clicky' feeling, which will not improve accuracy, but it will make it easier for menu selection, and selecting an exact value. nice purchase!! Does this seller post outside US/ Canada?

That's really clever!! I will try my midi idea, when I finish my TB3030! (any tips Steve?) (Other Steve) ...Steven_C

You could also get your friend to swap you some parts, in exchange for helping them, just a suggestion, thats all... But building midiboxes takes a long time!!!!

I meant this is required to get the pulses onto the CD in the first place... BTW, its great to see so many new ideas coming onto the forum lately!

Just had an idea, it is kinda bodgy, but might work... It goes like this... You want to sync an audio track to midi, to play live patterns (without carrying a PC with you), or whatever, or even just to set up your bit of gear, before playing it, if it dosen't have a memory or whatever (like my crappy Yamaha keyboard and drum machine... watch out for entry level yamaha gear... it is not what they make it out to be!!) using midi commands... the device would go like this... A CD player, (or DVD if you have lots of cash! though if you did, you would have done this the proper way instead!) use one audio channel as per usual (you prepare your tracks on PC/CDR) and one channel is connected to an LED/optocoupler triggering circuit, with the threshold set at a level to trigger LED when an audio pulse comes off this special channel... then you can play mono sound, and midi, in perfect sync, if you want to! (You will also need a circuit to modulate midi output into an audio pulse) Does anyone know if 20kHz is a fast enough sampling rate for encoding midi data? If you think I'm a loony, then tell me to be quiet in future! (I probably won't take any notice though! I love non-conventional/innovative solutions!! :+) ) tell me what you guys think...

Yes, it appears as if it is faulty, I just checked one of my chips, and it is not a short between pins 11, 12.