Nomical

Hi, It's been a long time since i've been here. Just at the right moment I guess :) If anybody want the Eagle and PDF files I have on the pcb design for my own DB50XG standalone design just pm me. I'll check more regularly here from now. I had almost finished the pcb, but as always I had a lack of time to finish it. I needed far more time to implement all the stuff I wanted in MIOS and for the interface layout than I expected at the time. I just didn't have the time to dive into assembler to write the MIOS code. Also, once in a while TK added some very useful functionalities to MIOS which sometimes meant changing the hardware again, which also stalled things a bit because I'm the sort of person that wants to get the best out of it. Instead of deciding to finish the design, I kept on altering it forever. And with that never finishing it.... :) My final idea for it was to just make a simple midi/audio interface to plug the DB50XG into, no standalone box with LCD/Knobs/Buttons. This would be put into a 19" rack box. As I was starting to do things more 'in the box' I wanted to design a VST interface for it (using for intance Synthmaker) to control most of the parameters (sysex was not possible with that VST version at the time, only CC's etc) from within Ableton Live (or any other DAW). But I never finished it, because I was really simplifying my music setup and got to the point where I was completely doing things in the box. Well, here's my final attempt to make something out of it! This time I only need to make midi/audio interface, because soon Max for Live will be released, which allows me to make that 'vst' interface inside Live. So I'll look into my old design which will need some modification, because it's based on a older pic and midibox/MBHP projects.

I'm in for those AD75019's. I need a minimum of 2, perhaps 4 would be better if possible. 32x32 or 64x64, I'm still wondering...but having too much i/o's is better than not having enough :) Still one thing: The datasheet says it can connect any or all X to any or all Y in the crosspoint matrix. But does that mean it can also connect multiple X's instead of all X's to a certain Y or multiple Y's instead of all Y's as well?

WOH!! I go away for a couple of days and look what happens, 7 pages already! This is crazy ;D I could have never guessed that this would spark so much excitement among all of you. I do see that most of this is way out of my league. You guys are really good at this. Never crossed my mind this project could become this complex. Could someone help me out and summarize the current design/concept? There's so much to read. I can hardly understand what the current setup is. What is the design looking like at the moment? How much I/O's are we talking about? I see people posting numbers like 128x128.. ;D This is the part about scaling, isn't it? What's the current interface idea? I read people wanting a LED matrix, some wanting a display. I hope these things are still possible in the current design: - Multiple inputs to one output - No 'stealing' of inputs: Inputs can be routed to more than one output - All controls/routing from 1: frontpanel using display, encoders and buttons. 2: USB/RS232 connection to computer - A mixup of balanced and unbalanced connections - At least 24x24 would be nice. It would be possible to use some of the outputs to be fed to amps for headphones on the frontpanel, right? That would be nice, having a digitally controlled audio patchbay that also has headphone ditribution amp capabilities. I've seen some shematics for small headphone amp sections having level control and that's so easy even I can design and build it ;D How many people would want to control their patchbay from their computer? How would a connection to a computer be best made? I read a section of that pdf thesis someone linked to and it mentioned that the name's machine had a rs232 connection to a computer. Or should the USB module together with MIOS handle it through some IIC connection to the crosspoint switch matrix IC? Would that graphical interface need to be Java based? The majority of the people are using Windows I guess. I would belong to the minority as I use a Mac (Intel running Leopard) and there are Linux users as well. How much time does it take for the chip to reload when a crosspoint is changed? A few ms or are we talking about seconds? This should not be of any concern I guess as most people wouldn't do very fast connection switching during live performances and I can't think of any reason for doing so anyway. The only bad thing I can think of is if the chip can only reload one single crosspoint change at a time and this change would take a fairly noticable amount of time. And how about digital I/O's like SPDIF (RCA, BNC, or preferably TOSLINK)? My guess is that the only problem would be if there was a need for syncing like word clock. Digital outputs from simple player devices like CD/DVD players, MD players etc shouldn't be a problem would it? Well, it's good to see people are interested in the same thing. I guess with all that diy building comes a need for more I/O's ;D Thanks to all the people sharing thoughts and doing some fine work!

I need an audio patchbay and i was wondering how hard it would be to make the following: I would like to have/make an audio patchbay (having a yet to be determined amount of ins/outs due to any diy building difficulties) that has the option of routing any input to any output digitally. No hardware switches or anything, just hook up all the ins and outs and patch everything through a menu. Ideally, this routing should be done on my Macbook Pro using a software mixer (similar to the Cuemix software of my MOTU) and something like a USB or FW connection. As this connection would be far more difficult to build I guess, routing everything on the machine itself using a display would also be sufficient. Each output should just have individual settings for which input is routed to it. Outputs should also have the option of summoning/combining any number of the input signals to one single output. But the input should stay available to other outputs for making (sub)mixes on desired outputs. How is this summoning achieved? I guess they would all need an individual gain/level options or something to make sure that the summoned/combined signal doesn't overload the chosen output. Making it even better is to have the option of selecting balanced/unbalanced signal on any individual in/out. My setup is a mixup of machines having balanced/unbalanced ins/outs and it would be nice to have the option of using a mixup of both of them when desired. Thanks

I was a bit confused about what the index does. My ALPS encoders have 3 pins, but this S1 encoder has 5 pins... One thing I noticed is the fact that the ALPS don't have any type number on them for finding the datasheet etc, just the ALPS logo is visible. It has 256 CPR, the type number is S1-256-BM6. So i guess it won't give any problems.

I recently obtained a 'keyboard' for a Bruker NMR system at my work, which suffered water damage. This is what it looks like: As you can see there's a large dial knob at the bottom. It's an optical encoder, this one: S1 Optical Shaft Encoder and the datasheet. I think it's quite a durable one because it has a ball bearing and has a very long smooth spin time. I was wondering if i could use it for my MB project which uses that same Bruker keyboard case/housing. The case has a wheel on the bottom which makes the dialknob spin more or less freely/easily, a nice feature if i say so myself ;D Here is some info, copied from the website: 2-channel quadrature,TTL squarewave outputs 3rd channel index option Tracks from 0 to 100,000 cycles/sec Ball bearing option tracks to 10,000 RPM If this encoder can be used, what would be the use of having two channels sending the same data? I found this info somewhere: Quadrature encoders have 2 IR sensors reading two slightly out of phase patterns to determine if your wheel is rotating clockwise or counterclockwise. Is this what the two channels are for? Or can i just use one channel? And what is the index channel for? The +5V can be taken from any +5V pin left unused on the core/DIN/LTC modules, right? I can wire it using the normal method and mix it up with standard ALPS encoders on the same DIN board, right? Thanks!

simple Google search results Here's software that's still supported: http://algoart.com/softstep.htm http://www.discointellect.org/stepwerk.htm

Or maybe this one: Revolve 100m Additional info: Harmony Central Quote from Harmony Central: Both the 103 Bassline and 109 Drummer offer MIDI/Computer Remote Control But Revolve isn't supported anymore either like the Technotoys software. But once again it's still around there on the internet and maybe i have it on cdrom too if i start digging betweeen my cdroms ;D

Although it's not supported anymore, maybe the old TechnoToys software can help you out like XG909 or SEQ-303 and software like those. Technotoys have quit making software, but if you look around for it you'll probably still find it. And i got it on cdrom somewhere with all the cracks and stuff like that. I guess it doesn't matter if you search for cracks and stuff like that for this particular software, because the software isn't supported anymore anyway. It's always worth to try...

I'm sure there's software that has a step sequencing function, but i guess it's not that common. Since the days of music software we're getting used to programming visually. Allthough i like step sequencing, i also feel it's out of date and i guess a lot of software developers think the same. All VST compatible host software have graphic interfaces which provide a far more faster workflow and even simplified editing like a simple function as deleting notes. The step sequencer on the TB303 is hell compared to the the step sequencer of the SR-16. Some can't even go back the change your arrangement and you simply have to go to the end of the pattern and redo the sequence. With graphical interfaces there's no need for all this. But when i read your second post, i get the idea that you want the same (realtime) sequencing style as on a MC303/MC505/TR707/Electribe and similar machines, which is not the same type as used on the TB303. Maybe it's possible with Rebirth? I'm not sure though. You could also write the needed software yourself ;D

Lets build a PCI slot extension for MIOS... ;D

Indeed looking very pro like :D Good stuff!!

Looking at this picture makes me wonder if it is worth the effort of making it: Both sample signals don't even come near resembling the real signal. Isn't sampling about recording a signal as how you hear it? What is the use of sampling something when it comes out all shitty in the end. It seems to me when using speech, it comes out like Stephen Hawking's voicemachine. This could be bad as well as good fun though. Also, the used sample rates are very strange. Maybe i overlooked something but i can't find any specs of the sampler. Quote from the site: I think this software and algorithm may be very useful as it allows a convenient conversion from a sound file into bitstream data or PIC assembler code. I hope if you need to add sound to your project or product you will make use of this work and that it may save you some effort. I know many PIC (and other embedded micro) developers make products for the handicapped and visually impaired. It should be very easy to add speech or sound to your products. I see the advantage now of the system, press a button and you'll hear a sound. That's a cool addition. But i still can't believe that it would be very usefull to make an actual sampler out of it that can sample high quality violin strings or something similar.. Correct me if i'm wrong.

Very impressive. If i would be rich i would get one just for the fun of it.. ;D

I just recieved my Loetlack too ;D I got the same problem with some pcb's that have all the parts already soldered onto, but i haven't tried the pencil eraser idea yet. I will try it as soon as possible. I think using acidic solutions wouldn't be wise because of possible problems with the pH.

Two questions: 1. Will there be enough space (or even be an option at all) to change the code (by myself, i know you don't need it TK) to a 16 track sequencer? 4 tracks is by far not enough for me. 2. How about pattern/song loading? Is it possible to load/change patterns/songs in sync, in other words without having to stop the sequencer? This project is looking very good TK!!

Lenny Kravitz

Here's the topic: Check this out!!

The E-drum man....

Software

passport

Channels

Insecticide

Greets to everyone, Tk espacially for making this all possible. Everyone have a nice Christmas, New Year and holidays!

That Zendrum seems to be used by some important and interesting people.