Wilba

If the two "columns" of the switch matrix are shorted, then that would also explain the LEDs in that top group of 8 also being wrong... as it's a combined switch/LED matrix... the LED above each switch in that group has common cathodes connected to the same "column" as the switch. I'm suggesting you look near the bottom row of the 8x8 LED matrix for shorts since that row of LEDs is also not working, but that could also be just a problem with the output for that row. You may be dealing with more than one problem here. Check that none of the switch/LED matrix "column" pins/tracks are shorted to each other. These are the far left outputs, what connects to the 8 transistors on the base PCB. If you find a short between these, it might not be in that area, it could be elsewhere on the PCB. oops I forgot to read your first post more carefully: shorts on JD1, JD2, JD3, JD4 <-- expected behaviour. These connect directly to the encoders, and depending on the position, sometimes one or both of the encoder pins will be shorted to ground, therefore you will sometimes see both pins shorted with each other, through ground. Nothing to worry about, especially if the encoders are all working. JD8 - D6 D7 <-- that's definitely the problem with the SID 1-4, Sync CC, Edit, Play switches/LEDs. Can you check that these are not both shorting to ground as well?

The "rules" which aren't clearly defined anywhere yet (we're working on it) are that MIDIbox is strictly non-commercial... meaning one-off sales of MIDIboxes built using "approved" PCBs/kits is OK. In other words, if you built it, you can do what you want. Common sense, really. But if you start producing many with the intent to profit, and then expect the MIDIbox community to support them, then that's "commercial" and against the "rules". Personally, though, I don't care what people do with their sammichSID, and I care even less about someone who thinks their SidStation is worth keeping over the sammichSID :tongue: I'd be the first to admit the case is more pro-looking than the sammichSID but from a synth sound perspective, MIDIbox SID V2 with two 6582A vs. SidStation with one 6581? No contest. :thumbsup:

US $224.10 shipping to Australia? WTF?

'Sync' button is supposed to open the Ens Clock menu. Also there's a symmetry to these effects.... Sync and SID 4 share the same DIN pin. CC and SID 3 share the same DIN pin. Edit and SID 2 share the same DIN pin. Play and SID 1 share the same DIN pin. These 8 switches are in two groups of four... each group sharing the same "column" of the switch matrix. See the two top-layer tracks connecting this group of LEDs/switches to the 8x8 LED matrix to the left... those are the two "columns" of the LED matrix being used. Check for shorts there. Combined with the fact that the bottom row of the 8x8 LED matrix doesn't work... this sort of suggest some short down there, between two pins of a LED. Note I've also heard of totally bizarre problems like this when a LED was shorted, or put in the wrong way. So check soldering around that area... perhaps also test all the LEDs are working in isolation (supply 5V through 1K res. to the LED leads) and are also correctly oriented.

I'm not so familiar with MBFM but I did have a lot of trouble because the cable between the Core and the OPL3 module was too long... it would pass interconnection tests but still not produce sound out of channels 3 and 4. It's probably not relevant, but something to check anyway.

It looks like nothing at the moment. I used a piece of translucent grey 3mm acrylic between the LCD and the panel. You can just cut it roughly and glue it to the back of the panel... no need to get fancy and laser cut it.

It is probably the LCD shorting against pads on the CS PCB. Detach the LCD and if the problem magically goes away, reattach using some insulation between the LCD and the PCB, such as sticky tape. If you have trouble finding sticky tape locally, I can post you some. :thumbsup:

lol I'll trade a built sammichSID with SIDs for a Slim Phatty. Just sayin...

Awesome! *glug*

They will work too. They probably use the "default" encoder pinout, not the "alternative" ALPS STEC16B pinout as seen in MIDIbox wiring diagrams.

TK used ALPS STEC16B a long time ago... so this exact model has been used in MIDIboxes for a long time. The same design has been made by other manufacturers... e.g ECC (available via Voti.nl) and Soundwell (available through bulk orders from me). I was selling the Soundwell ones wholesale in MB-SEQ/MB-6582 parts kits and then using them in sammichSID kits (until they ran out). Now Bourns make them (or at least they are new to Mouser), and are FAR cheaper than the Alpha brand I'm currently buying for sammichSID kits. AFAIK this one (Mouser p/n 652-PEC16-4220FN0024) is the exact same design as I've used and made available... it's a good size for using 10mm gap between PCB and a 1.5mm-3mm panel. This doesn't have a switch. Mouser p/n 652-PEC16-4220FS0024 is the same design but with a switch. Note that I haven't actually got samples of these yet, but I'm pretty confident they're exactly the same as the ones I've been using in my control surface designs, therefore I'm going to buy 50 for the last batch of sammichSID kits. As for connecting to a DIN pin... I haven't connected my last revision of MB-SEQ PCB (with support for encoders with switches) to a Core32 and configured MB-SEQ V4 to use the switches. Maybe someone else has and can comment. What you should do, though, is wire all those switches in parallel and connect them to a single DIN pin. It doesn't really matter which DIN pin, because you can configure that in the DIN table. There is already a "FAST" button on the standard control surface, but I don't think you'd want the encoder switches to be the same as this button... maybe instead you only want a temporary "fast" function which increases the speed only while the encoder switch is pressed... that might require a bit of coding somewhere if TK hasn't implemented that feature (though he typically does implement cool features like this if you ask nicely!)

btw this was just an amusing diversion from packing sammichSID kits... if you don't want to use the logo I won't be offended. also, just noticed the blind threaded mount holes... nice...

I exported to .hpgl (not .plt) from Inkscape... imported into FPD. This is using the original three-stroke vector engrave artwork used on acrylic. I couldn't get Inkscape DXF output into a CAD package... I don't know what went wrong. But I do agree with nILS... the best way to get vector art into FPD is by using a CAD package and "plotting" to an HPGL file... that's how I usually do the optimized versions of my FPD panels (MB-6582, MB-SEQ). If you want, I can get the labels to match the original sammichSID panels. sammichSID_Top_Panel_With_Logo.fpd

What am I supposed to do? Someone please remind me...

I'm sure there's some way we could convert the sammichSID logo into an HPGL file and import into Front Panel Designer...

Ooops.... I meant this one: :whistle: sammichSID CS.pdf

This might be easier to work with than the SVG... sammichFM CS.pdf

Great score! If you want to use "the full 8", you might want to consider this: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_mb_6582 You could build it "stock" or use just the base PCB and build your own control surface/case, perhaps in a C64 breadbox case, i.e. like what this guy did: http://www.subatomicglue.com/sidl0g/ Also, I strongly recommend hanging on to all your C64 PSUs until you test which ones work well in a MIDIbox SID with all 8 SIDs... 8 SIDs draw a lot of current, some C64 bricks don't handle it well, or are noisy (on the audio or buzzy transformers). You might as well pick the least noisy of the lot!

Woot :frantics:

I would suggest replacing the big 470uF cap... it might not be working and sufficiently smoothing the voltage after the bridge rectifier. Oops. I assumed there WAS a bridge rectifier... looks like it's only a diode. http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_sid_c64_psu.pdf It is relying on AC->DC rectifying on the SID module, and the big 2200uF cap there. I think this circuit is better: http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_8xsid_c64_psu_optimized.pdf I can't say this is going to fix your noise problem, but it might be easier to diagnose what is wrong. It's doing the opposite of the other circuit... it powers the 5V/ground of both modules with the already regulated 5V DC/ground... then the separate 9V AC from the C64 PSU is rectified/regulated into 9V DC, and this 9V DC is added to the 5V DC (note 7809 middle pin is connected to 5V, not ground like most PSU circuits, therefore it's output is going to be 9V higher relative to the middle pin). Something to consider anyway. Try replacing the 470uF first.

Sorry, can't send bankers draft overseas... it will have to be via Western Union. :D

Nein.

I concur with TK, I've had this "every 2nd patch is crap" problem before with patch upload via SysEx dump when the delay was not high enough.

Der Ober zu einem Ostfriesen: "Ihr Glas ist leer, soll ich ihnen noch eins bringen?" "Unsinn, was soll ich denn mit zwei leeren Gläsern?" Und die Moral von der Geschicht: Hör auf nILS, den Klugscheisser.

LOL BTW If you're not happy with the red LEDs in your kit, you can send them back for a full refund ($3).