tel3

I'm using the c64 PSU. I tried it anyway... I get 4.70v That's normal right? The lower voltage than 5v could be a result of my crappy DMM... -tele

Is It necessary to connect the cap and diode like in the sid_c64_psu.pdf schematic in order to just test the CORE? I don't think I have those parts yet! -tel3

Alright, I'm gonna hook up the PSU like I should have... That was a dumb idea! -tel3

OK, So I just finished my first CORE R4C module and attempted to test the voltages on the IC socket pins as described on the CORE page... I seem to only be able to get about 1.41v on all of the pins described for testing the CORE. I get the same voltage just about everywhere else on the board that is supposed output 5v too. There is one thing that may be the culprit but I am not sure. I know it was probably not the right way to test but, I was not testing with the PSU, I was using a 3 "D" battery pack. Should that matter? I should still get at least 4.00 volts right? I get 4.46v directly from the battery pack. Someone please just tell me it was because of the battery pack, and not something wrong with my beloved CORE module!! :) -tel3

Oshidash, Thanks for the reply! I kinda figured they were the same and went ahead and bought one off of Ebay after looking through all of the info on the MidiBox SID pages. I tried to search for info on this in the forum but could not seem to find anything. -tel3

Hello all! I was about to buy a C64 PSU off of Ebay but, I was unsure if there is a different one for each of the SID chips/C64 versions, being that the power requirements are different for each chip? Although I have not posted to it in quite a while, I will be continuing with my "A new SID is born...SOON" post, so check that out as well. I will be posting to it again very soon! Also can someone tell me how to post an image in a post? I seen a post by moebius that gave the code for posting a pic but I am unsure exactly how to implement it. ??? Sorry for such dumb, noobish questions! -tel3

Hey, no prob Smash. I'm not in any kind of hurry ;) I appreciate the heads up...and, the fact that you are throwing in extras is awesome! -tel3

I will definitely be updating the post with all my progress and ideas as I go. Of course, I'm sure I'll need some help along the way!! I'll share one of my ideas with the forum now and would appreciate any feedback about it. I think it's a great idea, but I'm definitely not an electronics expert. So, let me know if this sounds too crazy... How about having a sort of "switch matrix" that can select any two encoders and reroute them to a panel mounted joystick-X/Y controller?...Maybe this can be done with 2 multiple position rotary switches? Kinda like what Jurbo did (see the very bottom of the MIDIbox SID page for a pic of his SID box), but with the ability to assign any 2 of the encoders to the joystick. -tel3

Hey Northernlight, your wood case is really sweet! It kinda makes me want to make my case out of wood too. Are you gonna stain it or anything like that? That would make it look really good with a black painted front panel and stained wood sides! Give it that vintage synth look. Well anyway...Nice work! ;) -tel3

This one had me scratching my head too! I love this forum! Thanks! -tel3

I'm getting excited!!! ;D

I'm wondering if the Xbox joysticks are similar? I have a couple of those that are broken too. I'll report back when I have gotten into one... -tel3

Hello all! I have been interested in the MB-SID project for sometime now and finally decided it was time to start buying some parts. When I first checked out the uCApps website and seen that people were making such cool gear on their own, I knew I was hooked! I decided my first MIDIbox was going to be a SID synth. After about a year and a half of on/off reading of the various pages and looking at the schematics and diagrams I began to select the parts for my box. My first purchase was a Commorore64 w/ a 6581 in it from someone on Ebay. Pre-orders for the CORE kit w/ programmed PIC, SID kit, 2 panel mount MIDI jacks, and a 24LC256 EEPROM chip from SmashTV's MIDIbox shop soon followed. Originally, I was planning to make a bare-bones SID synth without a control surface or LCD, but I soon realized I would want more than the most basic SID box. So I started to decide on more parts, and eventually I ended up ordering a few more things from SmashTV like 2 DIN and 2 DOUT kits, 1 of each of the Bourns encoders, an SIL pin header, 16 pin IDC connector, some rainbow ribbon cable, and some red T1-3/4 LEDs(100). That same night I visited the Mouser site and ordered 3 more 24LC256 chips and all of the parts for my DINX1 board. I still need to get several other parts like a 2x40 LCD, non-detented encoders, momentary buttons/switches, a front panel, and of course a PSU. I'm still trying to decide on the LCD, buttons/switches, and encoders that arent detented. Although, I may have the solution to the encoders. The ones I have been thinking about are made by Panasonic. I found them in the Digi-Key catalog. The Digi-Key part number is P12334-ND and they are only .72 cents per 10 and .86 cents a piece! As for the PSU, I will probably get one with a Commodore64 from Ebay soon. I have not received any of my parts from SmashTV or Mouser yet, but I'm sure they won't be long! I will be posting my progress as I go and (hopefully) will take some photos along the way for everyones viewing pleasure as well! This is going to be an awesome project and I can hardly wait to fire up my soldering iron and eventually...THE SID! I would like to say thanks to everyone involved in this, especially Thorsten Klose for such an amazing bunch of hardware and software...and also, SmashTV for giving me the place to get what I need to get it all started! And last but not least, all the MIDIboxers out there that help keep this thing going... Stay tuned! -tel3 ;)