Wilba

Good to hear you got it fixed.

OK so for all those pins which should not be connected to ground, you need to check the pads are not shorting to the ground plane (on the bottom)... and also check the tracks connected to that pin all the way back to the audio buffer. I've just uploaded new PDFs of the base and CS PCBs (I had not done this for revision 2 boards yet). So now it should be fairly easy to trace the top layer tracks using the PDF. For example, the short could be even at J3_SIDx/J23_SIDx, or J21B,J22B,J23B,J24B etc. (You're not grounding it by using a jumper on J3_SIDx/J23_SIDx? Jumpers should go between the left (IN) and middle (GND) pins only.) There is probably no harm in desoldering the joints from the audio sockets (but not removing it) and doing the same for any connected pads, testing for shorts after each desoldered joint. Maybe the short is in the joint, a tiny hole in the solder mask making a short to the ground plane somewhere. In an absolute worst case scenario, you could desolder and remove the audio sockets, but only if you really give up finding it elsewhere... even if you lift pads of the audio socket in the process, that's not the end of the world, you can just solder wires on the bottom side to replace the disconnected tracks.

I had something weird like this before, and traced it to using an adapter plug which was actually mono: (Damn Futurlec shipped me one which was stereo to mono, in among ones which were stereo to stereo). This is probably not your problem though, if you're using the same audio output cable and testing each audio socket in turn. Hmmm.... I would suggest plugging in a cable to that socket, but leaving it disconnected at the other end (i.e. not going into sound card, mixer, amp etc). Then test continuity between the plug that the other end, and pads on the PCB, and then also check for shorts between the pads and ground etc. I suggest the plug being in the socket because when the plug is not in the socket, the outputs go through the switch part of the socket into the passive mixer resistors, which might confuse the test. Explain more your symptoms as well... if you plug it in half-way, do you get audio only on the left channel?

It's quite ironic that here in Australia I needed to import practically everything to build the prototype MB-6582, but the feedback pots were found in the local electronic store. :) (No, I am not running a bulk order on feedback pots). You should be looking for ones with 16mm diameter housing: If the shaft is too long, that's fixable, as is cutting the pins to make it fit over the audio sockets... but obviously that threaded bushing needs to fit the panel hole, and the housings must be small enough so they fit next to each other. I'm not apologizing for anything :P but these feedback pots were a last-minute design addition that I put in just because I could... I have no idea why these are harder to find than the bigger ones, or why they bother making the bigger ones at all...

The best way to debug this now (and avoid confusion) is to debug the PICs separately from the Core modules. In other words, it doesn't matter which "Core" you use to upload, only that the PIC ID and the ID in MIOS Studio match. So, since the master Core module is known to work, try uploading MIOS and the application using J11 set to 1 and always putting the PICs in the master Core module (far right). Once you get MIOS 1.9f installed on each PIC, you can check it's working by looking at the LCD connected to the master Core module, it should show "READY." What's confusing me now is that you list PIC #0, #1, #3 and #4. The IDs should be 0,1,2,3 and go in Core modules 1,2,3,4 (my fault for labeling the Cores this way! I should have labeled them 0,1,2,3 like the PIC ID). FYI repeated upload requests (like what you're seeing for PIC ID#3?) means there is no MIOS installed. Once MIOS is installed, then it only sends out one upload request on startup. So what you can do now is try to upload MIOS and the testtone app onto each PIC in the master Core (Core 1). Then once you know all the PICs have the application, try (for example) PIC #0 in Core 2, 3, 4 (changing jumper in J11 to match) and then testing both MIDI Out (upload request), LCD, and MIDI In (try using the debug functions in MIOS Studio to send the LCD some text!) btw I think you are a bit confused about the PIC ID... this is "burned" into the PIC when you burn the bootloader and doesn't change by uploading MIOS or applications... it's totally separate from the Core that you plugged it into. The Core modules don't have an ID, they're all the same, connected to the same MIDI In, with J11 controlling which has MIDI Out, the only difference is three of them don't have LCD backlight and only the master Core is connected to the 8x Banksticks (patch memory).

There is no backlight on Cores 2,3,4. You may need to adjust contrast pot to see something. That rather cryptic message is saying "Hey I expected a message from PIC ID #0, and got one from PIC ID #1". So basically, you're putting the jumper in J11 correctly, but not changing the "Device ID" in the upload dialog. Always use "Smart Mode", but you only really need "Wait for upload request before starting" for uploading MIOS... applications can be uploaded at any time (unless the current application is badly behaving and has stopped responding to MIDI events).

I don't think it's a cable issue. If a character LCD is showing things that are definitely not characters, it's probably broken, unless it's being weird because of insufficient current... there's no way that even garbage input can make it display per-pixel patterns.

Congratulations! I like the green LCD... it actually goes well with the red LEDs. All you need now is a piece of 3mm acrylic (pref. smokey grey) to put between the LCD and panel, it hides that gap really well. (I also used a black Sharpie on the LCD cutout edge to stop it reflecting the LCD). It's good to see I'm not the only one who can stick countersunk screws onto panels with JB-Weld:

Still 65 spare, so just send through an order as described here: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_6582a_sid_mega_sale This MEGASALE is closed.

I knew that back on page 2, you just like to argue. :)

I use 500K dual-gang linear pots, from local electronics shop. I think anything in the range 100K-1M would be OK. It's being used as a voltage divider so it doesn't really matter too much what the value is, but obviously you don't want to put too much load on the audio outputs or you won't get any audio going out the sockets. So MINIMUM 100K. Use smaller ohm at your own risk.

20.4mm body diameter... does not suit the default rear panel holes. The easy guide for you, if you don't have a rear panel yet, those pots are aligned with the sockets.

PayPal invoices are sent. If you did not receive one at your nominated PayPal address, please contact me.

PayPal invoices going out now.... still 100 spare, so just send through an order as described here: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_6582a_sid_mega_sale

NO!!!!! Don't believe him people! ;) (sorry, I'm just on a mission to sell 6582s as fast as possible to the MIDIbox community, before they get snatched up by other SID hardware makers) Maybe you should try super poly mode on four Lead engines with "Deep Bass 9" patch. That's so fat it will make your amp explode.

It could be temperature related... on a hot day, 8 SIDs overheat the voltage regulator (or transistor) inside the brick, but on a cold day it doesn't. Or maybe it works with 8 SIDs on a cold start, but not if you were already running warm for a while with less SIDs.

I've killed four 6581 SIDs with 14V. :-[ Shhh.... it happens.

There are 48 switches on the CS. The CS PCBs (R1) from the original bulk order had 48 diodes. The CS PCBs (R2) from SmashTV have 50 diodes. The extra two diodes are for optionally using rotary encoders with switches... the switches for the lower 14 rotary encoders (i.e. not the Menu rotary encoder) are joined in parallel, thus only two diodes. Find attached a picture showing which are the two extra (and optional) diodes. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Yep, that sounds like a weak C64 power supply, unable to deliver enough current on the 5V supply (i.e. less than the label says it can). Yell out if you need a good black one with ventilation holes.

After seeing this one develop over what seems like years :) it's great to see the finished box... Congratulations Rutger!

I'm starting to arrange this bulk order now. To allow for latecomers (and because I'm crazy), I'll add another 3 sets of everything. If you want to join in this bulk order (remember AUSSIES ONLY!) then send me a PM.

For the people who have send through orders already, I will be emailing PayPal invoices this week. There are still plenty of SIDs spare for MEGASALE #8, so if you send through an order, you might receive a PayPal invoice as confirmation. :)

MB-6585??? I haven't even finished it yet... you must be from the future, man... :)

BTW your roomate is wrong. All SIDs I've seen have markings on the underside, usually with location of manufacture (Philippines, Hong Kong, etc.) and some codes.

Since MB-SID V2, the compile switch for 6581 and 8580/6582 only changes the default filter range maximum, which is changeable with the control surface and stored in the ensemble. Since only the Lead engine utilizes stereo, a 6581 and an 8580/6582 connected to one Core is not that unusable - Bassline, Drum and Multi engines would work OK, you would only notice it if the engine was allocating voices across both SIDs, i.e. polyphony in Multi engine or drum voices in Drum engine... and even that would make for some interesting effects, if eg. a bass drum sound was occasionally sounding different (more noisy and distorted).