doc

Hi, you can leave some parts out. Just look at: http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_4xsid_c64_psu_optimized.pdf The regulators of the cores are replaced by a bridge. You can leave several parts of the core out, also. But If you already soldered it, it doesn't matter. ::) Your oxidation problem: I don't know how hard the oxid is. If it's not so strong, just clean it with pure alcohol (no, don't use your best brandy on that - just take "Spritus" ;D) After that you can spray it with Loetlack. In fact, the pertinax will never be eaten up (except you take a byte of it). But after using "Loetlack" your soldering is a bit easier. Hope this helps you ... DOC

[glow=red,2,300]- aber ihr wollt es ja immer billig [/glow] ...Entschuldigung, ich kann mir das Lachen kaum verkneifen... aber wo TK recht hat, hat er Recht ! ;D

Thank you TK, I don't have my SID at the hand to try it. Maybe d2k can check it ?

damned .. I think more people have problems with that... (I'm glad about that. This ensures, that I'm not a totally dummy on that midi stuff ;)) As mentioned before: I plug a midi merger between the yamaha and the SID. This works. It would be nice, if someone solves the problem. As asked before: Can someone tell me how to load pictures in the forum ? - Thanks. ??? doc

seppoman: A filter for DC domain would be not so easy to do (In fact, I have no idea on that. Perhaps somone else ?). I don't like a seperate box, too. I build my filter into the AC-Outlet with 5 connectors at the output. I'm pretty sure, you must have a AC-multiconnector somewhere to put all your equipment together. ;) The problem with the "sid-stop-working-when-disconnect" I had also. A tip from pay_c solved this problem. I used shielded cable for the midi-connections between the cores. I also have two 6581 SIDs who produce a low tone (rather quit so it doesn't matter to me). If you want to filter this you can build a filter, thats right. First of a all you have to discover on which frequency you want the filter to work. You can test the frequency by connecting a good equalizer between the audio out and trying to supress the noise. The filter will only work, if its a constant tone in a frequency range you don't use normally. Otherwise you will cut your signal also. Thats the main problem on that. Because the SID produces a great frequency range, even in the lower areas, it would be difficult to filter anything. For example: You'll recognize a hum at around 100Hz. Your filter takes this out, but your great bass sound is also gone. I'm sure theres a better way to kill that noise ! Regards doc

Your welcome

Hey .... are you never sleeping ??? :o Thank you again for all your replays. Let me try to answer all that stuff: To moebius: I'm almost sure now, that it isn't the active sensing message. Don't know if its a ground loop, because there is no metal for the case (C64 plastic). There is no Ground pin connected to the MBCORE. There is just one cable connected from the synth to the core. Still strange, but now I connect the midi-merger between it. This works for me (till I know something better ?!?). To seppoman: I have a good Idea for your fridge problem: Use a line noise filter before your AC-Adapter like this: IN --------L1--------L2------- OUT | C1 | IN --------L3--------L4-------- OUT C1 = 470n/250V L1...L4 = 100µH/5A (e.g. Reichelt No.: FED 100µ) This little circuit kills all that hum from dimmers, relais, fridge etc (under 50 Hz). You can use one circuit for more devices because it handles a current of max, 5 A (about 1000W) Shall I give the important notice about high-voltage ? - So be careful !! If somebody tells me, how to load pictures in this forum, I give you a better image of the circuit 8) To TK: Special thanks to the 'Masters-voice'. I check the ground thing again. At the moment no notes hang. So its hard to test this again. It seems the the TK midi-merger kills all that unwanted stuff. With the merger it works. Still don't know why. But: Never change a running system (exept: I find out why its not working when connecting a Synth direct to the cores) :-[

Thank you moebius, I also was thinking of grounding problems. Now I connected TKs Midi-merger between the yamaha and the SID. Even this works great. It really seems to be a poor midi-signal from my yamahas. If it would be a ground loop, it should stay when I connect the Midibox or the Merger beetween the devices, shouldn't it ? After using grounded wires between the cores, my second problem (missing sids) is gone ! Thanks Pay_c again :-* Still waiting for the 'masters' (TK) comment on the "Active sensing" stuff mentioned before.

Thank you very much pay_c, so far. :) Let me know, when you like to start your vocoder. I can give you then the connection diagrams of my adapters and some tips. Perhaps some photos... Doc

some day ! :P

The vocoder is worth to build even it's a little outdated. But it makes funny sounds when singin' through it. I use the vocoder for special sounds taken from a microphone, routed through the Vocoder and then plugged into the "External Envelope Follower" of the MSS. Sounds great ! :-* I only had the original elector articles for it to build. I took 2 x 3 HE 19" modul cases because I didn't get the original case. I made no backplane because you can get the plugs for the modules but no backplane that fits. So I made a little adapter pcb for every module. The pcb has two connectors. One for the module pcb and the other has a plug "50-pol Pfostenwanne" (don't know in english), just like the MSS connectors (20-pol) but with 50 pins. I connected all modules with a flat cable in parallel as a backplane. The caps from the original backplane I soldered on my adapter pcb's. The rest is almost original. If you don't make adapters you have to change a lot of pcb designs ! (that isn't worse it). If you're interested I can give you detailed information. But be warned: I'm a quick planless solderer. I don't document the projects very well 8) Back to my problem. I took your advice and connected my good old midi box beetween the SID and the keyboard. Now it works (almost). I don't get the randows squeeze sound anymore. But sometimes a note hangs. And (more complicated) sometimes a various slave SID stops working. When I press Link off and on it will work again. The midi in and midi out LED of the midibox are continious flashing (I think because of the "Active sensing" messages). Can you explain me, why it is working with a midi device between it ? ??? Doc

Hey. I read it already so I know you have a MSS. I builded the first one three years ago. I also "modernized" several original Formant modules and the elektor Vocoder. Damned great synth ! ::) Back to my damned problem. I try another device. Give you a replay in 10 minutes. Till then...

Yes, you're right (if you have a LTC). Just take care of the header-Id programmed to the PIC. Just read the mios / bootstrap section of the ucapps. There it is explained how to change the id. Good look for your project ! Doc

Thank you for your prompt answer !! I tested it with two different keyboards. (Both from YAMAHA if this matters). It doesn't work. I don't know where this tones came from. The only difference to play the sid by midi-ox is the "active sensing" massage. This message doesn't appear, if you play the sid with the pc-keyboard. Thats why I thought it is this message causing my problem. I connected the keyboard exactly right. From midi-out of the keyboard to the midi in of the SID. I even tested various midi-cables. This can't be the reason. **confused** When I connect the keyboard to my midi-cv converter of my MSS2000 (yes I have two of them !!) everything works fine. *** still confused *** ???

.... I think I'm better in that electronic stuff than in the midi thing ... :-[ My Sid step C is ready an works *fine* when connected via midi to my PC. I can play tones by pressing keys in midi-Ox. So far so good... When I'm connecting a keyboard to my SID station I get a kind of high squezzzy constant sounds until I press a key on the keyboard. The note will sound and when I release the key I get that squeezy sound again. When I connect the Keyboard to the midi-ox PC I get constand messages from the keyboard. The midi-OX "Monitor-Input" Window tells a lot of messages like this: 0003A5C8 3 -- FE -- -- -- --- Active Sensing (fills the screen after a while). I also get the note on/off events when I press a key. But then the Active sensing messages come again and again. Now my (dummy) questions: 1.) Can anybody tell me, if this "active Sensing" messages are causing my "squezing" problems and 2.) if so: what can I do, to stop them. Can I change the SID software, so that it will ignore those messages ? Help ! ??? please ! someone ! Thank you

... and again ...

Hi defred, don't know if this helps you with your problem, but I think the type B10K means 10K - logarithmic Poti. If I'm right the A is for LIN and B is for LOG. You can finaly test this by measurement. But, as mentioned before, I don't know if this is a problem. Perhaps ask TK on this issue: Can you use LOG Potis in the MB64 ? ???

Hi defred, don't know if this helps you with your problem, but I think the type B10K means 10K - logarithmic Poti. If I'm right the A is for LIN and B is for LOG. You can finaly test this by measurement. But, as mentioned before, I don't know if this is a problem. Perhaps ask TK on this issue: Can you use LOG Potis in the MB64 ? ???

There's no specific rule on this. Just think about the highest voltage your cap. can get. If its close to the specific voltage eg. 15V you shuold take a higher one (25 or 35 Volt). The only rule is: Never go under the specific voltage eg. a 10V type for 15V applikation. This could burn the caps. ;D

biologic

Yep ! This layout looks a little better... And the switch is connected the right way ! (-> Eric) I already finished the SID Box C... but for the next time ! 8) Have fun folks ! DOC

Hi Zzzz.. ... was just surfin' through Forum and wondered why your question wasn't ansered yet. If it's still actual, I'll try my very best ... (except my bad english...) First: Your 79L09 is placed the wrong way ! Thats why it's gettin hot! ;D You've changed the 'in' and the 'out' pin. Just turn the regulator 180°. 2.) You've connected the switch in the wrong way, I think. The two front pins whre you've connected pin 1 of the power plug are usually the ground plane of the switch. Just go a row higher with your connections. The other two connections are the two middle pins of the switch. The upper ones are left out. (They have connection when the switch position is OFF). 3.) I recognized a little error in TK's psu design. The original LED has to be connected in the following way: the red cable must be the one where the 220 Resistor goes to. The black one must be wirered with ground. So change the pins of the connector and your LED will do it again (in fact you didn't blow it really). Perhaps there are differences between the orignal C64 wiring of the original LED. Just check it. 4.) The Bankstick could be used, but I did a little board with 8 EEPROMS on it (just on TKs page illustrated) and wired it directly to have 8 banks (A0...A7). Just pay attention to the Ground and +5V connections. Works fine and you don't have to change/plug the banksticks. I didn't check your power plug. Just measure the outputs. Hope this helps. Note: I didn't make a pcb. I just sawed the original pcp and screwed a little breadboard with the PSU on it together. So all connectors have their place. You just have to pay a little attention on the two layers of the C64 Board.

... to the hills ...

You're almost right ! 1.) I think you only can use USB or LTC. But if you connect your box via Midi you don't need LTC or USB 2.) With bootstrap on the PIC you can program everything via MIDI-OX. You don't need a JDM. What do you mean with header ? Do you mean the ID ? - You don't have to care about the ID, if you just use one CORE with a LCD and MIDI. If you want to use a LTC (serial communication) you have to change the ID. Just take a look at www.ucapps.de, especially the MIOS / Bootstrap Loader section. There it is explained. 3.) Just plug it ! ;D 4.) You're right 5.) Don't know. One Tip: Read a little more in detail the ucapps - Pages. Hope this helps you (excuse my bad english :P).

You're almost right ! 1.) I think you only can use USB or LTC. But if you connect your box via Midi you don't need LTC or USB 2.) With bootstrap on the PIC you can program everything via MIDI-OX. You don't need a JDM. What do you mean with header ? Do you mean the ID ? - You don't have to care about the ID, if you just use one CORE with a LCD and MIDI. If you want to use a LTC (serial communication) you have to change the ID. Just take a look at www.ucapps.de, especially the MIOS / Bootstrap Loader section. There it is explained. 3.) Just plug it ! ;D 4.) You're right 5.) Don't know. One Tip: Read a little more in detail the ucapps - Pages. Hope this helps you (excuse my bad english :P).