Rowan

Hi I've found some LCD's that are 40x4. Not cheap though. $110 NZ (approx $65 US). The same distributer has 40 x 2 for $20 NZ each. http://www.pmb.co.nz/ Rowan

Hi I'm having some problems with the filter in my SID. I'm using MIOS 1.3 and SID 1.5 with step B control surface. I've tried 3 different SID chips: 6581_4982 6581_2084 6581_07?? (this one is currently in my SID) The filter does not work at all with the first two, and has a VERY limited bandwidth with the third (I'm gussing approx 100Hz too about 1kHz). I've tried filter caps from 47pF too 4.7nF, with 470pf giving best results (ie widest badwidth) on the SID which the filter works. LPF works as expected but the HPF sounds more like notch filter to my ears. I've disabled the filter fix in the main.asm file. I built the SID modual on Veroboard and has tested it for shorts/opens without finding any fults (Every thing works fine apart from the filter). Any Ideas Rowan

Hi I've used 20K pots on my MB64 which works fine. Don't go for 100k's!!!. 47k maybe alright, but is most likley the upper limit. If I remember corretly TK once told me that he used 47k pots on his first MB. The reason that lower values are prefered is that "pot jitter" can become a serious issue with large values. Have you finished your core yet? If so you could head off to your local electronic shop and buy a 47k pot to test. If you can find a surplus electronics store near you i suggest that you try there first. Word of warning. It pays to use well known brands such as Alps. They are well made and have "good feel" to the movment. Almost every console i've every serviced use Alps pots, faders and swithchs, so that has to say something about the quality. Hope some of this info is helpful Rowan

Hi I'm using a 16 x 2 LCD for my SID with step B control surface (I'm using 4 encoders with push buttons instead on regular buttors). You will have to change the LCD settings within the "main.asm" for the SID app too "4" then assemble and convert to upload to the core. All Should Be well from there on. Rowan

Hi The PIC is ready to rock! P 1 C 1 1--- <empty> This is the defult display when MIOS runs the SID app. Try using jsynth to load a patch in to the PIC. If all goes well it should display the patch name where "<empty>" is on the LCD. You can also send MIDI programe change to the core. This should change the "P 1" value (ie send programe change 5 and the LCD should display "P 5"). With jsynth you can also change the MIDI channel and device ID ("C 1 1---"). "C" = midi channel number, and "1---" is the device ID for each SID if you are using a multi SID setup. 10 minutes is a VERY long time to load the SID app into the PIC. Mine takes about 20 sec. Go thru all the instructions regading using MIDI-Ox word for word, This should cut the upload time to less then 30 sec. Best of luck Rowan

Hi Good luck with alltronics. These are the Alps faders that I was trying to sort out for us a few months back. This company is hopless. I placed an order and was never billed, sent several emails with no reply. The model number is in the post "Alps Vs Panasonic, fight of the night". These faders are the same as used in a O2R console. Rowan

Hi I wish I was in the UK. I followed some of the links on the home page and found this: http://www.soundart-hot.com/english/chameleon1.htm This is the coolest product I've seen in a long time. I've got to have one. Rowan

Hi Here is a link to the best windows audio treaks I've ever found http://www.opusaudioprojects.net/ Go to <Support> then <articles> It got OS specific tweaks for 98, ME, 2000 and XP I've been using the XP tweaks for about 4 months now and my computer has NOT crashed ONCE!!!!!20 audio tracks in Cubase SX does not even register ANY disk access in the performance window!!!! This is pretty intence tweaking, starting from a clean install thru to editting the hell out of the registry Rowan

Hi Just Uploaded MIOS to one of the cores. It was a little tricky to get the iron between the pins, but hey take less time than starting from scratch. It looks quite cool with the IC's on one side and the passives etc on the other. It gives you a lot more room to move when it comes to soldering the SIL's etc. I could also mount the crystal on the non track side too. In hindsight It could have advantages. One happy camper Rowan

Hi Just tought I would share an experiance with you all. I made some PCB's a few months ago (not just on or two PCB's, half a square meter worth of various modules). I did this because I figured that if I'm going to make 1, I might as well make LOTS to save the effort in the future. So I etched all these boards.I had not used any because I wanted to get through the last lot with I had made for me, until few days ago when I decided to build a few core modules. So I set about drilling the PCB's, soldering the components. Last night I went to test them, All voltages were fine. I plugged a PIC with the bootstrap loader burnt into each one, Started up MIDI-OX to upload MIOS and NONE of them sent out the "Ready to recive" Sys-ex message. This didn't concern my too much at the start. I thought I must have made an error with the MIDI I/O wiring. I then checked the wiring, and it was fine. After several hours of trying to figure out what the hell was going on I compared My PCB's with the Eagel layout. I had found the problem. For some reason when I printed out ALL the PCB artwork I decided to mirror the image. Now I have lots of PCB's where the only way I can use them is by soldering ALL the IC's directly to the track side of the board. It's times like now I realise how such a small error can have huge a impact. Word from the wise, don't make the same mistake I did if you are going to make your own boards. Better yet, them pre-made. Rowan

Hi Steve PC at home, Mac's at work. Best of both worlds (ie I didn't have to pay for the Mac's) Rowan

Hi Smash 4x4 sounds realistic with DIP devices. I didn't think about the possiblity of using it for the quad sid, good idea! 4x4 could be done with 4 x SSM2404 or 8 x SSM2402. Both seem reasonable numbers. Two 4x4 could be run from a single DOUT. It's all starting to fall into place. Rowan

Hi sidysm I to use the generic remote within SX, which to be honest I can not fault. There isn't any thing that I want to do with it I can't. I haven't tried this within Nuendo so I can't comment on it, though I can imagine it's on par with SX if not better. If you or anyone else has any ideas about the monitor section and features, let me know. Many hands/heads make light work so to speak. Rowan

Hi sidysm I'm currently working towards a monitor section (and hopefully some other useful audio features) for the MBHP, It's still a few months for compleation. The great thing about MIOS is that If MIDI is involved chances are MIOS can do it. What you need to do is get hold of the Pro tools MIDI spec (I'm assuming you are using pro tools) to see how it comunicates with the outside world. Once you know what MIDI message Pro tools uses for various functions all you have to do is tell MIOS how you want it to react. Rowan

Hi Jim I have seen a post in the forum about a drawbar controller for the B4. I can't remember where it is but it's here somewhere. Rowan

Hi Smash Thank you very much for the offer. I have made my own boards in the past. If I can avoid etching again, I will. The chemicals involved have caused more than one dispute in my household. The major issue I face at this stage is that the IC I would like to use (AD8113JST) will require at least a double sided board to achive good crosstalk ( a separate ground plan would be nice too). This chip is also a LQFP surfacemount package (100 lead), which complicates things further. All these issues make this chip unsuitable for a DIY project. Therefore I'm tending towards smaller DIP devices, such as the SSM2402/SSM2404. Both of these chips will interface directly with the DOUT and MIOS can handle the switch controls as if they are LED's, which should make it compatable with 16F based designs. By using these smaller chips, a large matrix would be very expensive to build due to the number of ICs needed (still possible). Another advantage is that the circuit should be able to be used without a MIDIbox at all. Instead of using the DOUT to supply control logic, regular switchs can be connected to a +5V rail then to the control input of the IC. At this stage I don't have a circiut on paper, it still flying around in my head. Once I recive the ICs (due in the next week or two) it will be time to dust off the breadboard, test out my ideas and put it on paper. Rowan

Hi ilmenator You are right, There is no point in relaying on obsolete IC's. I've got a comprable relpacement: SSM2404P simlier specs, but has 4 switches rather than 2. Findchip.com turned up about half a dozen suppliers with plenty of stock. It's also a RS stock item, therefore avalible worldwide. Rowan

Hi Once again I've got another possible solution to the switching problem. Once again Analog Devices have come up with the goods. The IC is: SSM2412 It's designed for Audio (Cool), has excellent THD and channel isolation figures and can handle a massive +30dBu. And direct interfacing with the DOUT. This IC is look very good for small scale switching. I've almost finished the inital report on the project (approx 2500 words at this stage) which I'll try to post here if it is not to big (what is the limit on the size of a post???). Till next time Rowan

Hi Stryd: I prefer my MISO with 4051's from Japan (traditional recipe), They are a bit easier to swollow than LCD's ;) ;) Rowan

Hi uclaros If you download the datasheet pdf, a good simple design is featured in fig 12. I'm yet to test the design. Power supply desing is VERY important with these type of circuits because any fluctations in the supply voltage will be imposed on the audio output of the op amp. When I get a chance I'll test it. I plan on intergrating these Mic pre's into the matrix I'm developing. Rowan

Hi Guys I may give my friend at Mackie NZ a call to shead some light on this issue (what kind of controller chip is used is used). Rowan

Hi Steve I'm using the MB64 PCB, so that explains why this is happening. Rowan

Hi Something strange is going on with My MB. When I'm using a 16F with MB64 firmware the backlight on the LCD works, but when I use an 18F with MIOS and any application the backlight doesn't work (the MB works fine with either PIC, just no backlight when i'm using the 18F). Has anyone else had this problem? Rowan

Hi Has anyone come across LCD's larger than 40x2, like 60x2 or 80x2 ? I was looking at the logic control at my work and it looks like the LCD is approx 60x2 (I couldn't be bothered counting the characters). Does anyone know what the limit MISO can handle is (I should read the MBHP LCD section, no doubt that holds the answer) The reason I ask is just a matter of aesthetics. One LCD per 8 faders would be nice. Rowan

Hi d2k Here is a "easy" way to MIOS to control these: Use duel track motor faders (eg alps RSA0K12V9001). One linear track for regular MIOS control voltages and a second log (I think) track to supply the CV to the VCA. These duel track MF's are out there, but are expensive (used in flying fader type systems). Using the VCA's in this manner sould give total automation of the volume of analog signals via MIDI. Like I said this would be expensive. Therefor using a DAC connected to the PIC would cost less. The trade off is the code that would have to be written to control the DAC's would be far more complex than the minor (if any) changes to MIOS by using duel track MF's stryd_one: you should get your self a copy of a Farnell or RS catalog. It's a wealth of info. Rowan