Wilba

This thread is turning into a bit of a blog, so people can just post whatever comments they like from now on (even if it's not specific to arranging a bulk order of cases). For people who are interested, I've got quotes from Protocase for the case - they make great cases, and are willing to help design and produce a custom case, and the 50+ quantity quote is excellent - $103 each! However, that price is excluding setup costs. The cost of making the prototype is $425, plus total setup costs of $250, so $675 just for the prototype. So... if there are 50 orders for the same case after they've seen the prototype, then I would ask that these orders include a $10 contribution towards the cost to make the prototype and the setup fees... people pay $113 each to reduce my prototype's cost from $675 to $175 and so I get to benefit from the bulk order retroactively ;D These figures are rough estimates... the cost of the case might increase a little bit because I haven't included the mounting L-bracket for the ports at the back... and there's shipping to consider too. I'm thinking the best way to distribute these cases is to split the order into three shipments to people willing to distribute them within their geographical region - i.e. one for U.S./Canada, one for Europe and one for Australia/New Zealand/Asia. PCBs are a lot cheaper and easier to ship - I see no reason why I can't run a bulk order for these, pack and ship them flat like the MB-6582 PCBs, at a very cheap shipping price (like ~$6 worldwide). I don't have quotes yet but I'm guessing around $40-$50 each. I know talking about all this is a bit of a tease, but I decided recently that opening the idea up for discussion now is better than waiting. People can see what's happening and there will be more time for people to see this thread and decide they're interested, so by the time the prototype is finished, there might already be enough people ready to join a bulk order for the case, PCB and other parts. The whole MB-6582 phenomenon sort of took me by surprise and while bulk orders for the parts were well organised, the timing of them sort of sucked... in retrospect, there was no reason we couldn't have arranged bulk orders for encoders, knobs, switches, LCDs, PT-10 cases and panels at the same time as the PCBs. So I should make clear now: SmashTV has absolutely nothing to do with this MB-SEQ project - Do not expect him to be stocking MB-SEQ CS PCBs/parts kits, or ultracore PCBs/parts kits now or in the future. At most, he might be generous and sell you MIDIbox module kits without PCBs. Any PM or email to SmashTV relating to this project will result in being banned for any and all bulk orders associated with this project.

Retex do make some nice rack-mountable enclosures, but nothing that suits a desktop version.

I can run a bulk order for the PCB separately from the case. There won't be a kit, but there will be a few bulk orders arranged to make sure all the uncommon parts are distributed around the same time. Someone not wanting the case can still join those bulk orders too. I would prefer to limit the first production run of PCBs to 100, so that the associated bulk orders are limited in size.

Oh yeah, I suppose I should also mention, PCB uses the 16mm rotary encoders, same as the ones used on MB-6582 (i.e. SoundWell, ALPS, Voti etc.) Rotary encoders with switch are preferred, as the PCB supports this, all the step encoders have the switches wired in parallel for a "Fast" function, the datawheel encoder has a separately wired switch for some other possible function.

And since my 3D rendering skills are poor (and I'd rather spend my time designing than make pretty 3D renders), you'll just have to visualize what this will look like with button caps like these: as used on the x0xb0x... after seeing them in real life, I had to use them, they are very nicely shaped with a concave top and bevelled edges. They'll be sitting on top of the same kind of tactile switch used in the x0xb0x, a 12x12mm tactile switch from e-Switch. Both of these parts are cheap and plentiful enough (at least from Digikey). Knobs are black Re'an P401 Soft-touch knobs ... they are the ones recently bulk ordered by MIDIbox Legend nebula here, so there should be plenty of them around... and probably in the hands of people who might want to build this design. The datawheel I'm using came from ALBS.de and I think they have plenty. It's the same as the one on TK's original MB-SEQ, I think.

OK maybe that was a bit paranoid. Here's a picture of just the front side, the PDF contains more detail including the full design of the case. MB-SEQ_V3_snapshot_47.pdf

hehehe you can't please everyone I guess.... TK's 16x4 button LED matrix is not included. The PCB was originally designed to go with a matching Schaeffer/FPE 3U rack panel, so standard 3U rack enclosures could be used. These are a lot easier to find and a lot cheaper than larger sizes of rack enclosure. There's also a lot of other reasons I did not include the button LED matrix - complexity of PCB design, availability of cheap illuminated buttons, aesthetic considerations, total cost of finished box, compact/portable design, "experimental" nature of the button LED matrix circuit/firmware etc. I think people (including myself) see the button LED matrix and want it just for the coolness factor without having a real need for it. Yes, lots of blinky lights, but you can only edit one track's steps on the LCDs anyway. That's not a criticism of the idea, I love the idea, it just was too hard to fit in with the other design considerations. It would still be possible to add this as a plug-in expansion, a separate panel/case etc. The step LEDs will be bicolor though, so it will look like one row of the button LED matrix.... this addition of "coolness" was possible to do ;D There's a reason I'm not posting pictures yet... this thread would descend into design by committee if I did that ;) plus it shouldn't really matter to just get some numbers... it looks much like TK's original MB-SEQ... 16 knobs under two 2x40 LCDs, buttons underneath and on the left side, with all the additional buttons for V3 features (track group, trigger layer, etc). If you're going to be fussy about the exact type of switch, knob, LED, paint colour, artwork font, specific button locations etc. then you are "not interested". If your MB-SEQ has to match perfectly with the rest of your MIDIbox collection, then you are "not interested". I am sure there are many people who don't like the MB-6582 control surface design (it has its flaws, I know!) but they want one because it's convenient, quicker and cheaper to build than doing it entirely from scratch. The idea here is to get a rough idea of how many "potential" builders there are out there who are interested in a convenient, quick and (relatively) cheap construction for a very professional looking MIDIbox SEQ V3.

**edit** just skip to the good stuff starting here: Everything between this post and that post is all design blog and "me too" posts. Â :) ---------------------- I am curious to know how many people would be interested in using an ultracore PCB with a custom-made MB-SEQ V3 control surface PCB and a matching custom-made, laser-cut, power coated, silk screened, sheet steel sloping keyboard/desktop style case, which could have optional wood endcheeks or optional rack mounting "ears" and alternate port cutouts on the base so it can be mounted in a 3U rack space (just like the Access Virus Desktop Ti). Â At a 50 quantity order, this case would be cheaper than a 3U rack panel from Schaeffer/FPE. I can't give actual prices of the PCBs and case, my best guess would be that the PCB should be under US$50 and the case under $200. Other parts like encoders, knobs, switches, switch caps, LEDs, LCDs etc. would be typically priced (nothing too exotic and expensive and should be easy to acquire in stores or through bulk orders). So... this thread is to collect names of people interested in the idea. If it's at all relevant, the control surface layout is done and the PCB layout is done, I'm currently designing the case and getting a prototype made.... so it's not going to be a year wait before it's ready.

*edit* This post has been moved here: http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php/topic,11802.0.html

I wonder why is there a spike in requests to be notified when MB-6582 PCBs become available. Maybe this demo was blogged somewhere. Hmm... http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2008/07/midibox-sid-v2-bassline-demo-5.html ;D

Since I am running the bulk order for the SSM2044, I should also add the following disclaimers: 1. I believe I can get the SSM2044 cheaply in bulk, but there is no guarantee. However, there seems to be quite a lot around, so they're not especially rare, I'm just pointing out that I haven't actually bought any yet. 2. Payment is by PayPal only, unless you live in a country that can't use PayPal. 3. I am no longer tolerant of people who put their names on a list and then do not reply to PMs or emails or do not pay a PayPal invoice. This is not going to be another "SID MEGASALE" where I end up with 200 spare SIDs because people stuff me around. If you do not regularly check emails more than three times a week, or if you do not have PayPal, or if you do not have the money now then please don't waste my time.

Do you have a spare one? ;D It looks like it might just work as-is, connected to DIN inputs. The DIN would not need the pull-up resistors but it will work with DIN inputs with the pull-ups there. Look at the encoder types here for reference: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/encoder_types and note that "peaks" on those graphs are when A and B make contact with C, which in MIDIbox land is connected to ground, which makes the DIN input go low (0V), whereas on this encoder's diagrams, "peaks" are highs (5V) which will make the DIN input high. Might be relevant if there are detents. So plug it in, it should work!

Sounds like 5V supply is having trouble. Try running it with only two SIDs, which will be far less load and in theory the C64 supply can handle this and not "brownout" (drop below 5V).

Dream on. 1.5mm aluminium is pretty tough, as used in the PT-10 case and MB-6582. You could not dent it through normal use. I would probably choose 3mm for a rack case though.

Don't worry, there will be plenty of spares, quite a few people on the waiting list are not going through with orders. As of right now, there's 52 spare, not counting people who haven't sent through orders or cancellations.

What? My solution is the smartest! :P For what it's worth, there's nothing wrong with soldering those 100mil spacing cables, it's a very stable solution, the joints are not stressed and the overall effect is like a hinge. You can open the case as many times as you like and not worry about the connections getting broken. I only recommend using headers if you have a specific need to remove the control surface (i.e. you plan to make a new control surface, or use a different case). If you plan to build a "stock" MB-6582 and never open it again, then why bother with headers?

Now that's champagne stryd.

There is almost always someone who is on the waiting list and doesn't go through with an order. People can add their names to the list of people who will buy any spare SIDs. http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_6582a_sid_mega_sale

Fair enough, all those interested, put your name on the list then: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_albs_waldorf_knob_mega_sale

wtf did I do?

Too bad that this song did.

Wow. That's worse than what I previously thought was the worst song ever.

Maybe it would be better to send them to me instead. Postage to other people in Australia will probably be $1 each, and I have a stack of padded envelopes left over from the OPL3 bulk orders. I probably won't even bother asking for postage costs, it's going to be that cheap.

I'm aware of "the show must go on" principle... but does Van Halen have such a big ego that couldn't stop the show and sort out what's wrong? Don't these guys do rehearsals, mic checks? I'd be mighty annoyed to pay for a concert when the musicians are this unprofessional.