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Metrophage

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About Metrophage

  • Birthday 01/01/1

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MIDIbox Newbie

MIDIbox Newbie (1/4)

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  1. Thanks for the input! What I suspect will happen is that I will do all the hard, expensive work of drilling out an enclosure and wiring LEDs, only to want to re-do them once I am using the box. So I suppose I should try breadboarding something first to understand something of how it works. Antichambre: That was another reason I was thinking about 360 degrees - it is easy to start from "compass point" orientation while keeping 16 LEDs. Hawkeye: Is that how the MB code defaults to working, within a range? If so, does the indicator just stop at the end if the encoder rotates further? I guess that this makes more visual sense. If I advanced one LED per value, there would be no visual indication of what cycle I was on. Unless they changed color after 16 or something. Thanks for the help!
  2. Hello all! I have been away for a while, and looking forward to revisiting some of my projects this winter. I had avoided making an MB64 type controller because I wanted to use encoders but felt intimidated by discrete wiring of LED rings. Now I am more confident, and might just make a PCB for this. What I am wondering is - why do all of the examples I see have the LEDs of the ring spaced with a similar approximate 270 degree rotation, like with an analog pot? My Bourns encoders (I bought for a SEQ3 ages ago) have continuous rotation, so it seemed obvious to me to have continuous indicators also, an equally-spaced circle. So I am wondering are there any aesthetic or functional reasons for the 270 degree arc? If I make them 360 instead would I need to change anything in the code? Thanks
  3. I am trying to figure out what stuff I'll need for the midibox projects I am starting, so I can get PCBs and parts ordered. I am in the US, so I will likely order PCBs from SmashTV. Checking the USB board's page, I can't see any mention of a PCB for this one! Since this and the OPL3 boards use surface-mount parts, they are obvious candidates. I know that people have been hopeful for the PIC USB board, but I'd like to try this AN2131 version. Anybody know of any PCBs for this out there? Thanks! CJ
  4. Cheater - we are talking about sequencing in real time, with software VS dedicated hardware. On a lot of gear and software, complex rhythmic tweaks aren't available in real time, if at all. But there are some, it just takes creative people to make it. I have a lot of software, now I am looking for real time hardware sequencer for MIDI and CV. That's why I am here! CJ
  5. This is really excellent to hear! I was guessing that completely separate tempo would require multiple sequencers (not such a bad thing!). Indeed, it was more varied clock divisions which I was thinking of. I am delighted to read that this can be implemented relatively easily! This more or less cinches that I will try to start making on of these projects soon! Thanks so much Thorsten! M
  6. Hi TK! I have heard about the problems of the PICs with integrated USB, but those are not what I was thinking of. I meant just sending the data out of the ordinary PIC processor through an ordinary USB controller. M
  7. Thank you for your helpful answers, Moxi! M
  8. Hi Moxi, Yes, setting step length is definately something to be happy about. Also I am wondering about setting the tempo of each track. Sounds like it is time for me to learn more about the MIDIbox firmware, and try it out for myself! CJ
  9. Reading the main SEQ page, I see that the clock divisions are all even. Is it a straightforward thing to change them in the firmware code, so I could get odd number divisions and primes? I don't usually do even-meter stuff, so I am usually stuck doing this by computer, or with lots of analog modules. I'd love to tweak the clock divisions live to my MIDI gear with something like this. Is it just something like changing an "X/16" to something else, like "X/11", or is it more involved? This is my first PIC experience, so I don't know how such stuff works exactly. M
  10. Hmm... That's too bad. The P3 sequencer is certainly not the only sequencer which can be tuned to musical scales, I'd imagine most of them can! Now I am in a foolish position. The P3 can be set to scale, but it is only 48ppq resolution, and no analog output. The MIDIbox SEQ has 96ppq resolution and analog output, but to scale it for my MIDI stuff, I'd need to run the MIDI through a computer, which is exactly what I am trying to get away from. Not only can I not find one hardware sequencer which does everything I need, I don't know how I could get two to share the tasks effectively. And besides, I can barely afford one sequencer! I suppose I'd lean towards the MIDIbox, and see if I can tinker with the firmware to include these features, but I am not very hopeful. Guess I'll just need to find the time to learn to build from scratch... or something. Yes, Mobius, I do use computer software to do these things now. Lots of it! Software which is called "composition" usually implies non-real time, but of course algorithmic sequencers are also for composition, in real time. As I get into rhythm though I find that the software timing on a general purpose computer is not so good, so I want to use hardware sequencers instead. Unfortunately there are none with all of the capabilities I use in software! I am still very much impressed with the MIDIbox project, and SEQ. Open-source hardware is a wonderful idea. These projects are at least as good as anything one would buy anywhere. Thank you Moxi and Mobius for the info! M
  11. Hi Moxi! Thanks for the reply. I do know how to make CV scalers from op-amps. On most analog sequencers, and good digital ones, the musical scale can be selected from a bank of possible tunings. On analog sequencers, this is usually a "quantizer" subcircuit using an EPROM. A quantizer of this type works much like an old ROMpler or wavetable synth, one stores a variety of useful musical scales as table data, and steps through them with bank switches. Since digital sequencers are already discrete, quantization is usually handled as part of the package. I don't mind making a scaler and/or quantizer, but it seems weird to make it separate from the sequencer itself, and would not effect the tuning of MIDI instruments. I mean not just scaling the CVs, but the tuning to musical scales. M
  12. I am kind of confused about the USB module. At first I thought it was supposed to be for installing in other MIDIboxes, like so your controller or SEQ would send MIDI type signals along USB directly. On closer inspection though it looks more like a stand alone MIDI interface. Since I am seriously considering building a SEQ, the idea of it sending USB to my computer appeals to me, but it sounds silly to connect them separately like SEQ>MIDI>USB. Doesn't making the signal (old style) serial first increase the latency? I would imagine that sending the MIDI data over USB directly (SEQ>USB) would be faster, but I don't know for certain. Any ideas about this? Since I am in the planning stage, I'd like to nkow what others think. Thanks! M
  13. I have only recently heard of MIDIbox, which seems like an excellent project! I have a bit of experience with building analog synths, but I have only just started with digital. My favorite sequencers so far have been KCS/Omega on Atari, Max and Numerology on MacOS. Still, the MIDI timing is still not as good for my analog gear, especially over 200 BPM. I am happy to put a dedicated, real-time hardware sequencer together. MIDIbox SEQ looks wonderful for live performance! I am thinking of making one to send MIDI and CVs, but from what I have read on the web pages, I have no idea how to tune it. How does one input or select the scales which are to be played? Very interesting project here! I am grateful for the work which has been done. Thanks! Metrophage
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