Milkmansound

Hey - I think I finally have all of the problems solved :)! - the display was acting up because (I think) it was shorting against the case when I pushed a button on the control surface.... I put some spacers in there and have not had the problem again (I also reloaded Mios and the app, which may have something to do with it as well) - both my C64 power supplies died at the same time! I cracked them open and fixed them - what a pain in the ass!!!!! They filled them with some toxic plastic...so I cut in with my dremmel and soldered a new fuse directly to the old fuse (the quick and dirty solution) However, now I have a backup supply in case I need one, which is going to come in handy. I still need to pop in a few more things, and then I will post some pictures! Thanks again - Tim

My Midibox Sid has been working great! However, after like 20 minutes the display starts going haywire - but the synth is still responsive to Midi, and you can still tweak the encoder and change parameters. I just rechecked the LCD cable, and everything is solid. When I turn it back on after this "crash" I get the bootstrap, and then hear the SID program initialize - but then the display is still the bootstrap (blocks across the top) screen. If I leave it overnight I get the MIOS readout again. I am confused....has this happened to anyone else?

encoder question - (and maybe a stupid one) How do I make the encoder go up and down - it seems like either way I hook it up it only increases the amount when I turn it...I am probably missing some basic point, but I am confused nonetheless - Tim

I checked the data sheet and found out that yes, my tranny has a different pinout. I switched it around and now the reg runs cool with the backlight. thank you - now I am at 100%

wait - the transistor that is on the PCB? It is in there the way it is supposed to be - do you suggest that I reverse it? I am not sure if my Fluke has HFE on it, I usually use the diode tester to check trannys. I did turn the Luminance all the way down, which helped a little. But as I said, the reg still gets hot - too hot to hold your finger on. - T

I have not put a sink on it yet- that was going to be a last minute thing. I may extend the leads, and attatch it to the case that I am assembling with a large sink and a glob of silicon compound. (and of course, an insulator). For now though, I am going to leave the lamp out of circuit, and push forward - T

well, I disconnected the backlight and everything fell into place. The regulator gets warm, but never too hot (you can hold your finger on it). Also, the SID has become tempered, and does not stay on after a note is played (however, there is some oscillation still, but no more than any 20 year old synth) So once again - thanks to all those who helped me out - it seems like just a few weeks ago I was totally bamboozled looking at the ucapps website, now I have my very own SID! My only remaining question is: how do I use the backlight without overloading the regulator? - Tim

Thanks - that was great info - I got the confirmations (I had the cables reversed polarity wise) and am able to boot Mios, and the Sid app! However: a) the regulator still gets hot b) the SID is not tempered properly (as in, when I play a major scale it sounds pretty strange, and it seems to also be stuck in "note on") for b, should I reload the app? for a - I am not sure what to do about the regulator - I may be able to fit a sink on it, but it gets really hot (like too hot to touch) is this how it is supposed to run? I am really close guys....thanks for everything so far - Tim

ok - that is good to know - I have been using Midi monitor, and it never registers the requests, so it looks like I need to get back to just the core to get Mios in there. Thanks - Tim

ok, I just spent some more time dealing with my issues. Here is where I am at: 1 - I can't tell if Mios is on there or not because I am a mac user and can not use Midiox - I have no way of linking my midi in/out that I know of, and I can't tell if my core is sending requests (the LED test still suggests it does though) 2 - My LCD is displaying only blocks on the top line 3 - The regulator is still getting really hot, only when the LCD is in circuit though (I think) 4 - when using my C64 as a powersupply, there is only 9V going to my SID I can use the lab supply to get it back to 12v, but that only leads to: 5 - There is some audio coming out, but it sounds like a slow square wave noise thing, and it is non responsive to Midi I apologize for the laundry list of problems, but I really want to get this thing going, and there is absolutely nobody in my entire state (Vermont) that has any clue about the midibox (I will change that once this thing works properly!)

we have flicker! There was a bad solder joint - most likely I accidently wicked it whenI removed some connections from the other modules. I will load Mios, and re attatch the SID module! Thanks for the help - Tim

ok, I went through the troubleshooting procedures, and there was no flicker in the midi out LED when I tried that. All other voltages/grounds are ok. Did I fry the optocoupler or PIC by accident? I was working with a wriststrap, but maybe when the regulator overheated it took one or two things out with it. How sensitive are these IC's? Or, maybe you know of something else that I should check? This bums me out :-[ - Tim

here is some more info - the core draws about 30ma on its own when I add the LCD it goes up to about 180ma when I add the SID (no LCD) it also goes above 100ma the reg stays cool until either one of these boards is added... what should I expect to draw with them attatched? (btw these tests I did with my labratory supply, not the C64 supply) - T

ha! it sounds like I did not get the pinning right on the LCD. The regulator runs cool when the LCD is out of circuit. Here is the new dilemma though - my LCD pin names are a little different than the ones in the schematic - maybe I confused them because of this - here are mine: (btw, this is an HD44780 standard LCD) 1 - A 2 - K (these are the power supply to the lamp) 3 - VSS 4 - VDD 5 - VL 6 - RS 7 - RW 8 - E 9 - 16 - D0-7 they read as follows on the schematic: 1 - B+ 2 - B- (power supply) 3 - VS 4- VD 5 - V0 then they appear to be the same after that Has anyone else run into this before? Bosone - how did you pin yours?

no - I get nothing on the display, no request, nothing. I made sure to get one with the standardized pinout as well. What makes me nervous is the regulator getting hot - however, all of the voltages are fine. Should I try using a labratory supply instead of the reused 64 supply? Could the LCD be drawing too much current for the regulator to handle? Or does it always run hot? I may put a sink on it just in case. The bootstrap was loaded by SmashTV - I ordered my PCB's from him. - Tim

I just finished putting my midibox sid together, with the minimal control unit (6 buttons, encoder, and LCD). I powered it on, and there was no readout on the LCD - also, the regulator on the core module gets super hot. I just finished doube checking everything, including voltages. All seems fine- however, after loading the sysex files there was still no response, and the regulator still gets pretty hot. I am reusing the PS from a 64 - and have been keeping my eye on votlages the entire time. Has anybody had this same misfortune? Is there something obvious that I am missing? ??? -Tim

Hello all! I have been really excited lately, since I have decided to build a Midibox Sid into an old ammo case. With the help of SmashTV's site, and the midibox site I am just about ready to begin designing, and my 64's are on the way. I have one question though - has anyone loaded the firmware with OSX? Or from a mac? Is there a standard midi file version of the firmware? (and I guess the Sid app...) Thanks in advance for any info! - Tim

Hello all! I have been really excited lately, since I have decided to build a Midibox Sid into an old ammo case. With the help of SmashTV's site, and the midibox site I am just about ready to begin designing, and my 64's are on the way. I have one question though - has anyone loaded the firmware with OSX? Or from a mac? Is there a standard midi file version of the firmware? (and I guess the Sid app...) Thanks in advance for any info! - Tim