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sneakthief

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Posts posted by sneakthief

  1. MB-808 first test

    in MIDIbox SEQ

    Posted

    Thanks for all the nice compliments! Couldn't have done it without TK's great work.

    The orange lcd is super cheap ($6.64 USD including free shipping to most places) and looks good:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/16x2-LCD-Orange-Characters-Black-backlight-HD44780-New-/120748772099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1d300b03

    However since the LCD cable passes over all the analog circuits I was getting high-pitched whine interference! Luckily I had disassembled some DB-9 cable that had foil shielding which I then used to wrap around the entire length of the LCD's ribbon cable.

    I connected one end of the shielding to ground and that solved everything. I wonder if anyone else building MIDIboxes had this issue?

    Re. FS1r - I've had it since 1998 and wouldn't ever sell it. Despite the quirky user interface, Iit's all the FM I need (no offense to SammsichFM or MIDIbox FM)

  3. MB-808 first test

    in MIDIbox SEQ

    Posted

    Altitude - I've got a fat heatsink on my 7805 so all is well on that front.

    The original cymbal decay pot is 2M while the one that came with the MB-808 batch 1 & 2 is 1M.

    So, just connect two pins of the cymbal decay pot - and make sure the first pin goes to ground:

    MB-808 Cymbal Decay Fix

    http://m72.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/wholetone/MB-808/cymbaldecaymod.jpg.html?src=www&action=view%C2%A4t=cymbaldecaymod.jpg&newest=1

    If this doesn't solve your problem, then I suggest you check your capacitor and resistor values.

  4. MB-808 first test

    in MIDIbox SEQ

    Posted · Edited by sneakthief

    Background:

    I got one of the second batch MB-808 pcb's and rare parts kits almost 4 years ago.

    There are a few reasons why it took me so long to finally finish it, namely the desire to cut costs but also do a good job. It simply wasn't a high priority in my studio.

    1. I waited patiently for someone to make a case for it but that never really materialized and I didn't feel like paying upwards of 200 or more euro for case machining and silk-screening.

    Earlier this year I realized I could get a front panel for a good price from the same Dutch guy who did TK's, so I finally pulled the trigger:

    http://www.frontplaten.net/#/content/FRONTPANELS/3_ACRYLAAT%20PANELEN/mb808-3.JPG/

    2. Sourcing all the parts was a long process. I managed to find compatible switches for a good deal from the US a few years ago, but a big issue was the Mouser BOM. Every week some part would become obsolete or be out of stock! It took a while to find the proper substitutes for everything.

    3. Incomplete documentation made this process very slow and tricky. The assembly manual ( http://www.eight-oh-eight.org/Assembly/ ) is either disogranized when it comes to the errata or simply missing a lot of little things:

    - Cymbal decay http://m72.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/wholetone/MB-808/cymbaldecaymod.jpg.html?src=www&action=view¤t=cymbaldecaymod.jpg&newest=1

    - The low tom is missing a resistor which makes it louder than the rest

    - My congas self-oscillate but I decided I like using them as tones

    - Some of the DOUT chips were NOT grounded on my pcb and that caused havoc!

    - I had to cut some pots to make them all the same height because sourcing the proper height Alps pots became almost impossible

    - There are no proper schematics for the MB-808, just some random pictures of the voice board component layout and a few incomplete signal flow schematics. This is intolerable for a project like this.

    There are more things that I'm blocking from my memory because of the trauma :P

    4. The Mods... what can I say? I only planned a few but then as I started testing them it became evident that it would take this machine into whole new sonic territory. It takes a lot of time to decide which mods are worthwhile and to cross-reference the original 808 schematics with the MB-808 pcb to find the location of each mod. I also had to take spend time experimenting with the clap reverb mod to find out what sounded good.

    Also, I didn't want to deface the front panel with all sorts of random pots and besides there wasn't room for all 11 so I decided to put them on the very front, minimizing the negative aesthetic impact of ugly mods lol.

    5. Machining the case. Coincidentally, I had this steel Hammond case for eleven years already and it's the perfect size for the MB-808 pcb. Laying out all the holes takes time, not to mention all the drilling and sawing. I shouldn't mention this, but my lcd was a bit too large and I actually CUT THE MB-808 PCB for it to fit :S Embarrassing, but nobody will ever see it.

    All in all, this was one of the most difficult DIY projects I've ever done. Maybe not as complex as my ASM-2 modular, but probably more frustrating because of sourcing the parts, front panel difficulties and documentation issues.

    Total cost: 360 euro

  5. MB-808 first test

    in MIDIbox SEQ

    Posted

    This list is mostly from http://xlargex.xl.funpic.de/

    All resistors #'s refer to the original TR-808 schematic, not the MB-808.

    1. Noise level:

    22k(B) Potentiometer for TM4 (22kb)

    2. SD: On LT decay: "Snappy" Decay

    C51 (0,47µf) changed to 2,2µf

    - in parallel a 250k (B) Potentiometer with a 22k Resistor in series

    x3. "Snappy" Filter:

    22k(A) Potentiometer + 1k in parallel for R201 (22k)

    4. Clap offset 10kb

    5. CP: On HT decay - clap reverb

    replace r376 (47k) with 100k pot

    6. MA Filter:

    22K(A) Potentiometer for R339 (3,3k)

    7. Rim/CL

    Filter:

    500k 22K(A) pot for R322 (10k)

    +8. Cowbell Tune 1:

    220k(B) Potentiometer for TM1 (220kb)

    +9. Cowbell Tune 2:

    220k(B) Potentiometer for TM2 (220kb)

    10. CH Filter:

    22K(B) Potentiometer for R153 (2,7k)

    11. OH Filter:

    22K(B) Potentiometer for R147 (2,7k)

    For the noise inputs, I simply routed the white and pink noise out to a switched jack.

    I wanted to do the clap timing mod but Erich Archer never replied to my request for info:

    http://ericarcher.net/devices/clap-raca/

    Upon close examination of his pics, I assume it's some pot between a 4.7k resistor going into what I think is pin 2 of the LM339 comparator. I don't have the energy or patience to explore this myself. I'm just happy it's done!

  6. MB-808 first test

    in MIDIbox SEQ

    Posted

    MB-808!!!

    only one take.

    all you hear is 808.

    the tones are from self-oscillating congas.

    (ghetto-ass distortion + compressor + reverb, all courtesy a roland m-16dx mixer)

    mods:

    - white noise level

    - snare decay

    - snare filter

    - clap offset

    - clap reverb amount

    - maraca filter

    - rimshot filter

    - cowbell tuning x2

    - open hat filter

    - closed hat filter

    - white & pink noise input jacks (not used in this demo)

    - schmitt trigger input jacks (not used in this demo)

    - self-oscillation of congas when the decay is set all the way

    mb-808.jpg

    better pics coming soon...

  7. MIDIbox 808 Firmware

    in MIDIbox SEQ

    Posted · Edited by sneakthief

    Excellent :)

    Just to be certain, this sequence-change quantization should apply to both switching between A/B/C/D -AND- when loading new patterns (in pattern mode).

    I have one other request which may not be easy, but definitely interesting:

    Last four "Assign" options: Repeat note on the 1st next step, 2nd next step, 3rd next step and 4th next step... like a MIDI-delay, eg.

    Original:

    x - - - - - - - x - - - - - - -

    Repeat 1:

    x X - - - - - - x X - - - - - - -

    Repeat 2:

    x - X - - - - - x - X - - - - -

    Repeat 3:

    x - - X - - - - x - - X - - - -

    Repeat 4:

    x - - - X - - - x - - - X - - -

  10. MIDIbox 808 Firmware

    in MIDIbox SEQ

    Posted

    I have a few questions about my MB808...

    1. My instrument selection encoder is incredibly jumpy, and is really hard to select the correct instrument. I'm using the encoder that came with the Version 2 PCB's. Is there something that I can change in the ASM file?

    I have a batch 2 kit and no encoder came with it ...I thought those were ordered separately. Which one do you have?

    I agree with Nuke's assessment that you should recompile the firmware with different encoder settings.

  11. FrontplatteMB808

    in Deutsch

    Posted

    Hi

    vielen Dank sneakthief

    die fpd ging natürlich mit Frontplattendesigner, die dwg Datei geht damit leider nicht

    dürfte ich fragen was du für deine Frontplatte bezahlt hast

    die gefällt mir nämlich sehr gut

    würde die mir auch sofort machen lassen

    Danke

    StormB

    Edit:würdest du dein Layout evtl. zur verfügung Stellen

    Ich habe keinen Layout gemacht - ich habe nur die Platte bei http://www.frontplaten.net bestellt. Zusammen kosten die 2 Teilen 75e:

    Mb808_panel_final.jpg

  12. FrontplatteMB808

    in Deutsch

    Posted · Edited by sneakthief

    HI

    hat jemand schon eine Frontplatte für die MB808 WEntworfen und würde diese Datei evtl.

    zur Verfügung stellen

    Schäffer Format (fpd)

    wäre super

    vielen Dank im vorraus

    StormB

    1. Die waren *nicht* geprüft aber ich denke, dass diese .fpd & .dwg Dateien mit Frontplattendesigner funktionieren: http://sneak-thief.com/mb808.zip

    2. Vor 2 Wochen habe ich eine MB-808 Frontplatte von http://www.frontplaten.net/ bekommen - die ist genau wie TK's:

    mb-808-panel.jpg

  14. Recording Equipment

    in Miscellaneous

    Posted

    Roland M-16DX.

    http://www.roland.com/products/en/M-16DX/

    You can find them used for 250-300 euro or $300-350 US.

    Nobody knows about this thing - it's got 18 simultaneous analog to USB adc inputs, so you can record every single input AND record the main mixdown. It also works as a midi control surface.

    The cool/strange part is that you can move the mixer around anywhere you like because it's only connected with one data cable to the I/O box.

    M16DX.jpg

    EdirolbyRoland.EdirolM16DX16ChannelDigitalMixer10587.jpg

  22. GM5: Least-cost USB-MIDI Interface Chip for 4.50 EUR

    in Bulk Orders

    Posted

    Got mine and installed it in my MIDIbox sneaquencer: http://sneak-thief.com/sneakyseq.html :)

    After searching for a nice case-mountable USB-jack, I settled on this reversible Neutrik USB Type-A / Type-B one:

    210_1953788625.jpg

    Re. Driver: I used the v1.07 of the windows 32 bit driver and all the ports were names were *so* long ("Ploytec USB Midi blah blah" or something) that the port numbers at the end of the name wouldn't show up in the Midi-Ox dialogue boxes ...and I couldn't rename them using the .inf file! I rolled back to v1.06 and everything worked perfect.

    Just Phil - greetings to Edmonchuck! Lived there for the first 27 years of my life.

  24. Mios C sysex forwarding example doesn't compile anymore

    in Testing/Troubleshooting

    Posted

    I updated my toolchain for the first time in a few years to the latest versions - now the midi sysex forwarding routine doesn't compile anymore http://www.ucapps.de/mios_c_forward_chn1.html

    This is the error I get:

    "main.c:236 warning 94: comparison is always true due to limited range of data type"

    In reference to this line:

         if( fx_status != 0xff )

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// This function is called by MIOS when a MIDI byte has been received
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void MPROC_NotifyReceivedByte(unsigned char byte) __wparam
{
  static char fx_status;

  // normal MIDI events are forwarded in MPROC_NotifyReceivedEvnt
  // this function handles sysex and realtime messages
  if( byte & 0x80 ) { // Status message
    if( byte >= 0xf0 )
      MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(byte); // transfer byte

    // determine status
    if( byte == 0xf0 ) {
      fx_status = 0xff; // forward until 0xf7
    } else if( byte == 0xf7 ) {
      fx_status = 0;    // f7 reached, no forward
    } else if( byte == 0xf1 || byte == 0xf3 ) {
      fx_status = 1;    // expecting one additional byte
    } else if( byte == 0xf2 ) {
      fx_status = 2;    // expecting two additional bytes
    } else {
      fx_status = 0;    // expecting no additional byte
    }
  } else {
    // check if fx status active
    if( fx_status ) {
      // forward data byte
      MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(byte);

      // decrement counter if required
      if( fx_status != 0xff )
        --fx_status;
    }
  }
}

    I even tried starting from scratch with the simple Clockbox v1c and replace the empty "When a MIDI byte has been received" routine and I still get this error.

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