Wilba

No, that picture is definitely a negative LCD with edge-lit white LED backlight. I have no idea why they call that a Poly-LED display.

I think the group buy issue isn't an issue... people in group buys should be connecting by email outside the forum, and if someone changes their nickname without informing people who they're in communication with then that's just being stupid and not a reason to prevent nickname changes. I don't have a problem with people changing their nickname just once if their first nickname wasn't quite right or to "unify" their nickname across multiple forums etc. I would even encourage it! I actually like the "unified nickname" concept, so when I'm looking at someone's Flickr page or a post in another forum, I can connect that to the same person I know on MIDIbox (and probably sold something to in the past ;)). I think we can all handle that sort of change with a minimum of disruption. And I guess I also don't have a problem with people changing their nickname often, because I probably would not care enough to keep track anyway. I guess I'm lucky to have used the same nickname everywhere for nearly 20 years... unfortunately it's not so unique that I can get my own domain name or end up on the first page of a google search ;)

They will be made by a different fab, and will be RoHS and knowing Smash, probably be the best quality materials and plating (I don't know specifics). Changes to the design included fixing missing tracks, fixing imperfect component placement, fixing imperfect via placement (D'oh!) and an improved footprint for the DIN sockets (extra pins). Essentially they will be the same, and work with the same parts in the same place to match the same panel designs, and they connect together the same way with the same pads in the same position. If you already have a base PCB, the revision 2 control surface PCB will match it. The wait now is not because there's anything that needs changing on the PCB, it's now just in a holding pattern waiting for SmashTV to regain some time and sanity and get an order made. (Although he would blame me for not sending the PCB files yet). Although the discussion about nILS keyboard MB-SID got me thinking that perhaps I should change the footprint for the menu encoder so you could use an encoder with switch and connect the switch to the "Shift" button functionality for those Slow Pot TurnersTM... The PCBs will be whatever colour SmashTV decides... but most likely red. Once you've seen and soldered a red PCB in your hands, it's very hard to go back to green. ;D

900 mil = 22.86 millimeters (or 0.05 cubits if you prefer)

OK, since you asked ;) Maybe the Config section (SID, Bankstick, Channel) could be rearranged so there's one horizontal row of SID buttons, then the Channel and Bankstick buttons underneath. It would look neater and make it easier to press all four at once (i.e. when you want to select all four SID engines). Maybe Bankstick is less useful than Ensemble up/down? Is the mod matrix bicolour (red and green) LEDs or single colour LEDs? (The picture shows red and orange, are these intended to be a mix of red and orange LEDs?) The mod matrix LEDs gets used for other things (meters, bassline sequence and step, etc). so a single colour of LEDs within it would be preferred... or use bicolour and add another DOUT for a second set of common anodes. BTW, I worked out a neat way of using the same LED footprint so you could use single colour 3mm LED (2-pin) or bicolour (common cathode) 3mm LED (3-pin). Volume and Filter (on the mod matrix) are the wrong way around (unless that is intentional).

Are you trying to control MB-SID V2 or V1? "5 analog pots for the assignable knobs" sounds like V2. As per the mbsidv2_parameter_chart.txt (look in "doc" subdirectory): and then in addition: I've had no trouble controlling the "knobs" via CC#01/CC#16/CC#17/CC#18/CC#19 with my shiny new Korg microKontrol :P but haven't tried NRPN yet. MB-SID V1 let you control all the synth parameters via CC. MB-SID V2 (I believe) only lets you control the five "knobs" via CC, which you then link to synth parameters in the patch. For the first SID engine (SID #1), you can see the "knobs" parameters change on the display, this doesn't happen for the other engines.

The question should be directed at whether "MB-SID V2" can do these things... MB-6582 is just one implementation of the hardware (MBHP modules) that can run the "MB-SID V2" firmware. I don't want people confused into thinking an MB-6582 PCB is the only way you can make MB-SID V2 with up to 8 SIDs, it's just one way of doing it. To answer the question, anything is possible... the question is whether TK wants to implement it ;D But I think 8-voice poly is a bit hard, because the Lead engine is one voice by design, not two voice (one per SID)... you could in theory configure the Multi engine to be 2-voice (one voice per SID, so 3 osc) but it would be more limited in what you could do (eg. no mod matrix)... maybe some magic code could allow four Multi engines to share a note stack like in Super Poly mode (which only works atm with Lead engine). Seriously, I think you should hear 4-voice Super Poly mode with 8 SIDs in four stereo pairs before you start wishing for more ;D

Damn... he found the loophole... I said no emails about buying spares, but didn't say no posting to this thread also. OK, Jaicen down for 1 set ;)

Yes. Refer to the first post in this thread:

Wo ist meine Oberammergaueralpenkräuterdelikatessenfrühstückskäse?

Silence! I concur. What they said. I think I learned the term from SmashTV ;)

I read this is "a Deli-style breakfast cheese with mountain herbs from the state of Oberammergau". I have no idea how English reads and sounds to people which don't speak it natively... but auslanders like me find German fascinating, complex, lots of interesting sounds... and unfortunately too hard to master in my lifetime. So please excuse the few jokes I make, it is only because I'm jealous that I can only speak the boring de facto lingua franca of the modern age, while most Europeans speak it in addition to a native tongue. :P And "The Awful German Language" by Mark Twain... very funny essay ;D http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/texts/twain.german.html

This is the upload request, indicating that the bootstrap loader is installed but MIOS is not installed yet. It should be occurring every 2 seconds. Every 20 ms seems very strange... are you getting 50 a second???

6582 SID MEGA-SALE #4 **FINISHED** This is #4 because: 6582 SID MEGA-SALE #1: 200 SIDs 6582 SID MEGA-SALE #2: 312 SIDs 6582 SID MEGA-SALE #3: 512 SIDs 6582 SID MEGA-SALE #4: 312 SIDs ;D I have ordered enough for everyone's preorders that were on the list here: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_6582a_sid_mega_sale It is now too late to add any new orders, sorry. People not on the list can wait until after the sale and buy any spares left over. Please do not email me about buying spares until after the sale is finished. THE GOODS 6582 (6582A) SIDs are just like 8580 SIDs and not like 6581 SIDs. They have the filter that works best for the MB-SID V2 Bassline mode, low noise, less bugs. Look elsewhere for whether 6582/8580 is better/worse than 6581. I use eight of them in my MB-6582 MB-SID V2 Synth: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_mb_6582 (but you already knew that) THE DEAL 6582 SIDs cost AU$25 each plus postage and handling fees. I add up the exact cost of SIDs and postage in Australian dollars, and then multiply by 1.0351966873706 to add the handling fee. This means 6582 SIDs now cost approximately AU$25.88 or US$23.18 or 15.67 EUR when including handling fees. Postage will be calculated as the actual cost to post, plus packaging. The PayPal invoice will include the handling fee in the postage amount. I am now collecting orders only from people on the list! I am now collecting orders only from people on the list! I am now collecting orders only from people on the list! HOW TO ORDER Running the MB-6582 PCB bulk order and selling SIDs has now made me intolerant of people who can't follow simple instructions, reply to their emails within a few days, or don't sent PayPal payments. So there are now three simple rules: 1. If you don't have the cash, don't waste my time with an order. An order means "I can pay now", not "I can pay when I get paid next month". If you are on the list and can't buy them now, just email me and I'll take you off the list. 2. After emailing an order, you are expected to check your emails daily and make a PayPal payment as soon as you receive a payment request. I try to do things as quickly as possible, but this stuff still takes time. 3. Fill in the order form exactly as described so I can easily copy and paste the details into a spreadsheet. Email your order to: Jason.S.Williams@ I HATE SPAM gmail.com The contents of the email should be (without labels!): MIDIbox username Real name + Postal Address + COUNTRY Contact Email Address (same one you are using to email me) PayPal Email Address Quantity of 6582A SIDs example: FunkyPunky Johannes Schmitt Oberammergaueralpenkräuterdelikatessenfrühstückskäse Str. 29 10997 Berlin GERMANY Johannes.Schmitt @gmx.de Johannes.Schmitt @gmx.de 8 DISCLAIMER All SIDs I sell are tested before packing to ensure the oscillators and filter work. These chips are new-old-stock, not pulls from Commodore 64, and are unused when sold, with absolutely no long term guarantee. However, considering these chips have been safely tucked away in antstatic tubes for 15 years, they are less likely to fail than one you find in Commodore 64 that has been power cycled thousands of times and been alternately cooked and frozen in a garage etc. From my experience, after testing over six hundred 6582 SIDs, only 3 were found dead. After salvaging about eight 6581s, all were found to have dead filters or dead oscillators. If you find any chips faulty through initial testing with hardware that is known to work, I might allow you to return them and get a refund or replacement if possible.

Like I said, if you're running a bulk order it should be no problem, you either will get all the cash from people before you buy parts or you won't (and in theory everyone gets their payment returned). The people who are most often totally screwed are eBay sellers who still need their PayPal account to continue doing business... buyers are still sending payments expecting goods and the seller can't get the money out of their account. This scenario doesn't happen for bulk orders so it should be fine.

It is no longer proposed, it is real: http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php/topic,10477.0.html

THIS BULK ORDER IS CLOSED OPL3 (MB-FM) Chipset Bulk Order I have ordered enough for everyone's preorders that were on the list here: http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/wilba_opl3_bulk_order It is now too late to add any new orders, sorry. People not on the list can wait until after the bulk order and buy any spares left over. Please do not email me about buying spares until after the bulk order is finished. OPL3 “chipsets” (1x YMF262 + 2x YAC512) will cost approximately US$9 plus US$2 shipping to anywhere. This price is an estimate. This bulk order is being run as zero-net-profit, meaning I will work out exactly how much they cost and how much postage will cost (in Australian dollars) and invoice you the exact amount plus PayPal fees. I am now collecting orders only from people on the list! I am now collecting orders only from people on the list! I am now collecting orders only from people on the list! HOW TO ORDER Running the MB-6582 PCB bulk order and selling SIDs has now made me intolerant of people who can't follow simple instructions, reply to their emails within a few days, or don't sent PayPal payments. So there are now three simple rules: 1. If you don't have the cash, don't waste my time with an order. An order means "I can pay now", not "I can pay when I get paid next month". If you are on the list and can't buy them now, just email me and I'll take you off the list. 2. After emailing an order, you are expected to check your emails daily and make a PayPal payment as soon as you receive a payment request. I try to do things as quickly as possible, but this stuff still takes time. 3. Fill in the order form exactly as described so I can easily copy and paste the details into a spreadsheet. Email your order to: Jason.S.Williams@ I HATE SPAM gmail.com The contents of the email should be (without labels!): MIDIbox username Real name + Postal Address + COUNTRY Contact Email Address (same one you are using to email me) PayPal Email Address Quantity of OPL3 “chipsets” (1x YMF262 + 2x YAC512) example: FunkyPunky Johannes Schmitt Oberammergaueralpenkräuterdelikatessenfrühstückskäse Str. 29 10997 Berlin GERMANY Johannes.Schmitt @gmx.de Johannes.Schmitt @gmx.de 8 If you have already told me you wanted extra YAC512, this is already handled, just order the “chipsets” (1x YMF262 + 2x YAC512) and I will add the extra YAC512 One final thing: these chipsets are new-old-stock and so I assume they are all good and will work fine, but I cannot test them before shipping and can't guarantee that they will work. They are more likely to work than ones you salvage from a sound card. If you bought a sound card on eBay "as-is" and desoldered the chips and they didn't work, you couldn't complain and try to get a refund from the eBay seller. Similarly, these chips are sold "as-is" in good faith that they work, without any guarantee or ability to refund or replace if they do not. If you do not like these terms then please do not order.

In accordance with the license for the PCBs, I give my permission to sell them at cost (US$20 per PCB). I don't care what you do with the panels. I will buy back the PCBs from you if no one else wants them ;)

The rule should be, treat PayPal with caution. Let's consider a typical bulk order. The bulk orderer collects money from everyone prior to buying the parts. If the PayPal account is frozen before the bulk orderer withdraws that into their bank account, then it should in theory be possible to sort it out with PayPal, or if PayPal is being nasty, at least refund everyone's payments and cancel the bulk order completely. A bulk orderer with a frozen account should not be expected to fund the bulk order themselves and ship parts to people. If PayPal is trying to prevent fraud (their apparent reason for freezing accounts), then they should have no problem with fully refunding all the payments for the bulk order. After a bulk orderer withdraws the money to their bank account, the only risk to the bulk orderer is if a person participating in the bulk order decides to complain to PayPal and get a refund on their payment, which is not likely to happen amongst MIDIbox people, and even if this does happen, the bulk orderer is only risking the amount the complaining person paid, so PayPal might take that amount out of a linked credit card or bank account, and the bulk orderer could dispute this or take action with their bank to reverse this. Perhaps this can be totally avoided by putting no specific information about what the payments are for, i.e. sending no PayPal invoices and just accepting payments from people. If PayPal has no information that goods are supposed to be sent, then a person cannot complain that they never arrived. All payments could therefore be considered (from PayPal's point of view) as non-refundable donations and no exchange of goods is taking place. For people like me, who buy stuff with their own cash first and then accept payments via PayPal, there's a window of high-risk, where goods are shipped but the money hasn't been withdrawn into a bank account yet. So from now on, during any future "big sales" I have, I will withdraw amounts to my bank account weekly and only ship those orders that I have received "real cash" for... so any PayPal balance that might be frozen isn't technically "real cash" yet and can be refunded without me taking a loss. It's sort of like running a typical bulk order on a weekly basis, and I sort of "bulk buy" the parts from my own stock with "real cash" ;D I've learned from phineus' experience and will NEVER leave thousands of dollars in my PayPal account anymore, especially payments for orders that I've already shipped!!! I must have been crazy!!! :-[ As soon as I can use something better, like Google Checkout, I will stop using PayPal immediately, until that day, I will just use PayPal with caution and try not to worry about disaster scenarios.

6581 gets hotter than 8580/6582. I would say 8580/6582 get "warm" and 6581 get "hot". It should not be a problem if you have a ventilated case (i.e. some holes to let warm air escape). On the topic of heatsinks, in one C64C (beige case, not the old brown case), it had a 6581 in it and a huge metal sheet that made contact with the SID (and some other chips I think) with some thermal compound.

Yeah the issue is that you need to set up a proper MIDI event stream if you want MIDI events to be sent in a timely fashion (instead of queued up in the MIDI buffer and flushed whenever the stupid library thinks it's a good time). Coding up a double-buffered MIDI event stream thing is low priority for me, since ASID XP works well enough for a bit of fun... I've had to also pass on doing the MB-SID V2 patch editor... too many things to do, not enough time...

A new PayPal account that receives money might attract more attention from PayPal but a long-standing account is in no way safe from being frozen... it can and does happen to eBay Power Sellers and trustworthy merchants. In that respect, a PayPal account that's been used for years to buy stuff from eBay etc. is probably just as safe to use as one like mine that's received over $25,000. Please remember that PayPal decides to freeze accounts to steal their money, so any account with money is a target.

I have considered a semi-permanent solution... PC RAM heatsinks (conveniently 8 per pack) http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43&products_id=21310 Theoretically, you could solder a piece of copper wire to two edges of the heatsink, then wrap the wire ends around the SID and twist together underneath to tighten it. Use of a thermal compound is required, but I would not bother with the expensive silver stuff.

Now would be a good time for everyone to show their appreciation of Twin-X's efforts and donate to the webhosting fund. There's no reason he should be spending his time and money to satisfy our MIDIbox addictions... Go click on the button in the top-right corner that looks like this: Everyone who visits this forum daily should be donating at least US$10 Everyone who got help with their MIDIbox via the forum or chat should be donating at least US$5 ... and just for fun, the person making the biggest donation in the next 7 days will receive a set of four 6582 SIDs. This is not a joke, I really do have four SIDs left from a recently cancelled order. (In the case of more than one person donating the highest amount, the winner will be randomly selected from those people). ;D

*phew* PayPal sucks. Google Checkout is a good idea, less fees, infinitely more trustworthy. It's only for the U.S. and U.K. at the moment, not Australia, or I would change in an instant.