Nestle

Well, this is kinda your avarage slideshow, not that much to show. I have just followed the instructions and roamed the uCapps-website when I have had some questions... Nothing spectacular, but who knows what happens when I start building control surface and stuff... So here goes... Hmm, it seems that I managed to cut the images in half, it is 4 SID setup, or one half of it. Anyway, They look more artistic I think... :P If you right click the images you can see them in whole using 'view image' Just all the boards on a piece of C-64 that I am about to use as inside cover to separate synthparts and control surface parts. Completed basic soldering, Midi is sending messages and I am about to start uploading some data on PICs This is the casing I have planned. It is tech-briefcase that I emptied hardened and separated in two sections, smaller one is for magnetic devices such as subwoofer and power. I am planning to create a pinballmachine like soundsystem into this case (stereo + subwoofer), plus a mounting for mini-midi keyboard, so it is complete soundsystem that only requires power. Soundsystem will work great as a monitor when playing live and gives cool standalone sweetness that I can carry with me anywhere I go.

Thanks for the tip, I will qlue small heatsinks on all 4 just to be sure. Those new models arent hot really, but they look nicer if every SID has that majestic look ::) N

Going slow and steady, I still havent got my USB-cable, so my photo journal stays in my compact flash card. I finished step B, only searching for datawheel... Does someone have part code for a good one at Voti.nl? My synth is working properly, I will transfer programs to chips later today or tomorrow, I have week off, so I try to start step C and finish casing too. Had some problems with Midi-out, but now my leds are blinking nicely ;) I left the synth on for a hour or so and i noticed that SID-chips got rather hot, i can keep my finger on em, it feels hot, but not burning hot. Still, should I put a heatsink on 'em? How warm are your chips? PICs are more like room temperature. Voltage dropped to exact voltages after I applied chips on boards, so voltage question I made before solved itself. Now I go and buy that USB-cable, It is time to add images to this post. N

Ok, I have started planning of the case and have already soldered all of the modules. Core modules really gave me the creeps, as I only got 4 volts in every single of them during the testing phase. Fortunately I was just feeding the voltage to wrong pins 8), after I learned where to feed the core, every test game me 5.18, whins I hope is inside tolerance? If someone knows, this would be a good thing to know... So question 1. Is + 5.18v tolerable voltage for + 5v legs of PIC? As I have all the modules soldered, I will install all 4 sids and cores to power and place them into somekind of temporary casing, possibly C-64. Next phase will be to test if I get software uploaded and somekind of sound out of them using Midi-ox. Better not to plan more ahead ::) I have taken some photos, but I lost my mini-usb cable... Hopefully I get to add them in near future. Looking good, Nestle

Encoders = datawheel? ;) Maybe I will choose separate synths after all... they are not that big after all and some controls can be shared or combined using separate midicontroller for co-operative weirdness. And they look nice on your desk... Nestle

I am playing it safe ::) Hopefully someone has patience to guide me thru the ordering part... I have the following order ready, I just thought about asking if im forgotting something essential... I will get additional buttons and leds later from a place where my friend works (so I get a proper discount from there ;) )but in this order I have tried to cover everything that is needed to get the actual synth running. I live in Finland, so I don't want to make several orders just to get that missing PIC or one PCB, etc etc etc... So, don't get mad, this is just like getting married, big step that should be thought over before doing a thing :D :D :D Also, if someone has suggestions about merging MIDIbox FM and SID, now would be a proper time, as i am just getting started... Would it be possible to have single controller for both? My SX-64 case would be so nice, but a bit clumsy for just one synth... Is there a test case... searching in the meanwhile... Yours, Nestle Ok, and the order (from Joergs midishop) as a copypaste: MIDIbox SID 8580 + CS Set-007 MIDIbox SID 6581 Set-006 2 piece MIDIbox SID 8580 Set-005 1 piece LC Display 20x2 with backlight EC-005 ribbon cable, 10. pol 5 meters EC-002a 5 meter roll Eeprom for banksticks EC-012 3 piece PIC18F452 EC-017 4 piece (with bootloader) Total: 208.50 EUR

Thank you, this was a great help... I will order parts for 2+2, I think I have the chips available from my old junkyard of C64s... Most have problems with video-output, so I am sure that the sids are running... Lets see how this plan starts to evolve... One question tho, doesnt it create some problemsto use different SIDs with just one PSU as both use different voltage? Nestle

Hi again, Someplace had nfo that said that only problem is that I need separate presets for both SIDchip types. Do I load one for every SID normally, or are they in one package that changes the preset to every SID onboard at the same time? Sounds difficult to keep separate preset information in my feeble short term memory... Where can I find information about which of the chips is the better one? Or just something about the differences... My only known fact is that in my new version of C64, digitalized sounds and some weirder soundcode didnt seem to work in games... That used to get me rather mad and stick with the original and much nicer model of C64... In MIDIbox I cant see this being a problem... Nestle

I will start posting information about my MIDIbox SID project to this thread. There is lots of "my MIDIbox" threads already, but im sure it helps people to understand my questions. When I have problems, anyone can see what have I done already to give proper tips. Also there is as many problems as there is builders, so maybe I find some new troubles that latter SID candidates need help with, thus making their work a tid easier... I will add the latest question to the thread subject, so its easier to figure out if there is something new going on... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Does it hold any advantages to use 2 of the both SID models in my 4 SID box, or is it wiser to try to find 4 identical ones? I have 2 of both at the moment, so it would be a bit cheaper to not to buy more c64s just for SID-chips... Itching to begin this project ;) Nestle

As an owner or SX-64, I thought that if youre going to strip down yours to create one massive soundsystem, maybe you could trade your working keyboard to my nonworking one? Have been kicking the poor box around for a few years now, its almost in mint condition apart that keyboard that looks good but seems to be beyond repair. If youre modding it anyway, maybe we could join our forces to maintain one SX-64 in proper working order. ;) And for any other who might help (a bit off topic, sorry), I am very interested about buying or receiving SX-64 keyboard and keyboard cable or some information about how to replace the original with something.... Well... Back to MIDIbox SID planning :o ;D :o Yours, Nestle