Wilba

There's absolutely nothing strange about someone with 1 post wanting to buy 6581 SIDs, in fact, it's more often the case (and very rational) that someone new to MIDIbox SID will want to get some SIDs before they start a MIDIbox SID, especially 6581 SIDs which are rarer and which I do don't sell by the hundreds every few months ;) Chewi is probably confused by all the attention; perhaps SLP would like to explain and apologize?

I can help you with that ;) It should be fairly easy to connect it via the 7-pin DIN socket and make a few changes to the PCB, so that you connect the 12V DC to where the 9V AC would normally go, so it goes through V1 (a 7809)... then depending on whether the 5V DC is regulated or not, it could connect directly to the 5V supply or be routed through an 7805. You'll have to check whether the 5V output is regulated or not. I'm assuming it is because it looks like a switch mode power supply, which could be noisy, I don't know.

Nearly all 6581s I've salvaged from C64s have had dead filters or dead oscillators, so any being sold on eBay will have a high chance of being faulty if the seller hasn't explicitly tested them. I'm sure there are a few SID fans who might want to sell their fully working 6581 SIDs, so choosing not to buy these or any SIDs because of some counterfeits is a bit overkill, when it's pretty easy to avoid 6581s with the datecode of the counterfeits, or request photos of the underside. Just because I've had bad luck salvaging 6581 SIDs doesn't mean everyone will, but I don't think salvaging 6581 is a better option in all cases.

Refer to the PDF of the PCB and check if you have already soldered D1_CORE1, D1_CORE2, D1_CORE3, D1_CORE4 (which are diodes, under each PIC, with cathode mark towards the LOWER pad)... and also R80 (which is directly between PIC 1 and 2). The CAN bus IS implemented on the PCB, and all four Cores are connected to MIDI In, you use a jumper in the J11 header to change which PIC is connected to the MIDI Out, allowing feedback from the Core during uploads, and thereafter MIDI Out from Core 1 only.

Since I don't share the layout files for reasons previously discussed, this isn't an option.

Incontheivable! ;) (obscure joke)

No special jumper, just a diode under each PIC and a resistor between PICs 1 and 2.

I can't believe it!!!

I think with a star configuration, you wouldn't need the 2200uF cap, this is intended to reduce digital noise when it's a single 5V supply to all SID PCBs. I actually do not use this 2200uF cap in the MB-6582 PCB which has one track for 5V through all the SID modules (like the optimized PSU circuit) and have not noticed digital noise from the rest of the circuit. Instead, you might benefit from separating the 5V supply to the SID from the 5V supply to the shift registers, and also separating the SID's ground from the ground of the shift registers, i.e. connecting it to an "audio ground" shared with the audio buffer circuits and the ground of the audio inputs/outputs.

The button to jump to a layer could also be used to toggle between two pages, so you could see the parameters without moving one of the knobs. i.e. pressing the Osc/Filter button if you're on another layer will take you to Osc or Filter page depending on what you were last looking at, pressing it while you're on that layer will switch between Osc and Filter pages.

Very nice, clean design. Some ideas from me: * rename layer "CUSTOM" label to "KNOBS" (it's called Knobs in the menu and manual)... then maybe label the encoders "1" or "#1" in bigger font perhaps? * the "ASSIGN 1" etc. knobs I assume are the same as the Envelope Assign layer, which currently change the first 5 displayed parameters on the screen, which is what your "LAYER" layer does already. Although you can reassign what they do in the firmware (i.e bind to a dedicated parameter). * label "ENV/LFO" doesn't make sense. The knobs are the Osc Misc layer. I suggest "OSC/LFO". * layer "LAYER" is a bit ambiguous ;) Maybe "DISPLAY" or nothing at all (you know what it does, it doesn't need a label!) * probably a bit too much of a suggested change (sorry, can't help it), but... I'd aim for the display and the select buttons to align with the knobs, so that the middle select button aligns with the 3rd knob. You could shift everything in the top half (except the keys on the left) slightly to the left... optionally moving the keys on the left to the right of the menu encoder. You'll have to decide if you prefer the knobs and display and select buttons aligned with themselves, or the display and select buttons centred on the panel... but it can't hurt to try out alternate arrangements.

Goblinz, if you (or anyone else) need the source files for the MB-6582 artwork, just contact me privately, I haven't bothered to upload the latest files to the wiki yet.

OPL3 orders that were paid (which is all of them) went out today. There are still five people who need to send through confirmed orders and pay.

No, refer to ALPS STEC16B pinout.

Again? How many times is this? You're either here to learn or here to keep fighting the unwinnable fight (against us). And yet you're still here. Obsessive much? Please volunteer your experience here to everyone you can, tell them we're all assholes here, go rant in every other synth forum you can find, as there's no such thing as bad publicity and it might keep away lazy old farts like you with nothing better to do that pick fights they can't win. Be sure to post links to this thread, so people can see how nasty we've been. And yet you're still here. Obsessive much? It is if you're here asking for it to be done. Go find a poor electronics student on some other forum then who will solder for cash. Irrelevant. Explained many times. It's not about the money, it never was. If someone gave you that sequencer, you'd be in the same situation, just not bringing up the whole resentment towards Flavio. Offended again? And yet you're still here. Obsessive much? You expect other people to build your DIY gear because you're too old, stupid, blind or retarded to hold a soldering iron, and when we refuse because it's not our way, you spit your dummy and throw a big tantrum and call us elitist assholes. You've been so obsessed with getting what you want without lifting a finger and bothering to learn anything that you totally overlooked the help and advice that was offered. Instead, you would prefer to disagree with what we believe here than adopt the DIY ethic, and taking offence when people disagree with you. I tried playing nice with you, but it's over now. So fuck off yourself. This is my forum.

I don't know why people post here that they have paid... I do get emails from PayPal you know ;) The OPL3 orders that are paid will be posted tomorrow.

droolmaster0: I wish to apologise if I appeared hostile towards you. I think the community as a whole is not elitist, people volunteer their time all the time, every day even, to helping people get started with MIDIbox projects, or for advice on panel layouts, electronics, troubleshooting... People like SmashTV spend countless hours finding the best electronics components for the cheapest prices to make it affordable and as easy as possible to get started... People like TK spend countless hours making a humble little PIC microcontroller do things that the best sequencers you can buy (hardware or software) can't do... and yeah there are mad bastards like me who run bulk orders for things you can't buy in shops anywhere, as well as designing PCBs to reduce the learning curve and complexity of a MIDIbox SID project... Obviously you come into this group with a big stigma attached, having bought the forbidden fruit and feeling you needed to honour a MIDIbox profiteer who is hated by all here over the spirit of the MIDIbox community, a DIY community, with a much repeated attitude that "I can't DIY therefore it's OK to buy a MIDIbox", it's a well-heard tale that will fall on deaf ears. Therefore, you can't judge us all based on this one incident. Judge us by our responses to a newbie's first post asking for advice, being guided to the answers. Judge us by the help we give someone who's built a MIDIbox and it doesn't work on the first power-on... the amount of help, the detail of what to check, what might be wrong, etc. Judge us by our feedback of someone's proposed project, panel layout, PCB design, etc. Try jumping into any online community shouting out an opinion that goes against that community's opinion... it's like preaching Satanism in a Christianity forum. Most of the posts have been fairly indicative of the community's opinion: Flavio sold a MIDIbox against TK's wishes, TK does not want to support someone who did not build their own. A lot of ranting went on after you disagreed with this opinion, in which case why stick around to hear more? You either want to use a DIY sequencer or not, and that means involving yourself in its construction, and accepting that it is a DIY sequencer that requires some DIY on your part. Edit out all the ranting and raving that went on in this thread and that's the essence: join us in DIY and get all the support you need. Don't think we won't help you because of how you joined, as has been said many times already, we want to help you, but this is a DIY community... ...so just because we won't build something for you doesn't mean we're looking down on you, if anything, we're continually telling you not to underestimate yourself and that this stuff isn't that hard to build. Good point... if we really were so elitist and looking down on people who can't DIY electronics, why are we spending so much time and typing trying to change your mind and convince you to join us? Anyway, if you really want to keep coming back and disagreeing with us, then this is clearly just an amusing pastime for you... it's been well stated that you're not going to get what you want out of us and resorting to name calling and criticisms hasn't worked yet... and at this point I don't think it even matters... I took the bait, you called us elitist and I proved we are not. End of transmission.

The list has nothing to do with parts kit ordering. That is entirely within SmashTV's discretion. Goblinz, you're #90 cos you got the last set well after the bulk order finished. ;)

http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_mb_6582_builders_list ;)

The following users need to send through their orders as per the first post (I've noticed lately that I don't always get email notifications for forum PMs). raoulblues

Oh yeah... :-[

I am curious to know why it looks like there are 10 select buttons but only a 2x24 LCD... for a 2x24 LCD, there should be only 6 select buttons (6 x 4 characters = 24). ???

Looks awesome! What goes in the triangle shaped holes? Did you find some triangle shaped LEDs?

Everyone who sent through an order has been sent a PayPal invoice already. I have decided to pack the OPL3 chipset bulk order before the SID orders, because it's quicker (no testing of chips, quicker packing). That means the SID orders have to wait a bit more than usual. However, after testing and packing over one thousand SIDs, I have now perfected this process ;) I went and bought some adhesive address labels so I now can print labels, and also scanned filling out one customs form, extracted my handwriting and printed that onto a stack of customs forms. I may criticize Micro$oft often (having to code against their shitty API every day) but M$ Word's label printing mail merge wizard can get the data straight out of the same Excel spreadsheet I use to run the orders... *ahhh* Too easy! ;) Two labels per parcel adds AU$0.11 (although now I have 266 spare labels, I guess I'll have to do another bulk order to break even ::) )

I'm not pissed off! I was just making a joke... (I do not like Commodores getting destroyed for SIDs which are now reasonably obtainable). I'm still waiting for them to contact me.