DavidBanner

oh and so you know my take on this: I take you on your word that you didn't buy that box to annoy anyone, let alone break any laws that may or may not be relevant. When you came here you came under certain circumstances that meant a lot of old resentment and ill feeling was dragged up. You were going to feel that due to time and circumstance, not any fault of your own. Flavio sold that to you to make a profit. That is what sticks in my throat, not you buying it in good faith. As a result of Flavio's actions you have been caused hassle and it has caused a lot of people here hassle/hurt. This community CAN NOT support people like Flavio's devices - it goes directly against what TK (who has been kind enough to allow us to use his work) has asked for. Legality be damned, TK has done an amazing thing for a lot of people, and trust me after climbing "TK's Ladder" I see why he asks you to learn a few things along the way for the use of his IP. It's not a test, it's not designed to keep anyone away, it's meant to push you and make you want to do things you never thought you could. And more importantly it comes down to this, someone has done something for me, should I abide by his wishes or throw it in his face? - I get the feeling you respect TK and don't want to do this. I learnt to solder when I was about 12 at school, I made a few flashing LED circuits and some FM transmitter "bugs" that never worked so great till I saw UcApps. The soldering and knowledge levels here - given the way the projects are documented and supported are nothing a 12 year old could not do. The big question is this - are you willing to risk $50 or less, and the fact you MIGHT fail or not? Also look at it this way, who cares about Swedish furnature and the way it's constructed?? Not me! But show me a way I can set the world on fire using music and a midibox that no-one else has done - forget about it, I am there. Strange post note- after learning midibox, Ikea stuff is easy after the first, WTF, try (without forcing) a few times and then go - ahhh that's what the stick man next to the exploded diagram was saying.....

read the above statement and then think about TK, Smash, Stryd One the list goes on and on. And then think about "patronizing" in that context. Nope because: a) this isn't a Car Mod, HDTV Mod, XBox Mod etc site b) because midibox offers something you can't buy off the self let alone buy and mod to your requirements. Gene - I ask you again (and because you can't see my face and body language please read it this way - eye brows raised, non agressive stance and asking you a genuine question) - why are you here? what are you looking for? If you want to build a midibox and are willing to risk maybe £50 bucks all in for all the tools and components (to prove you can do it, i.e. a core, din and dout module that connects to your PC and you can see works- welcome aboard! How can I help you? If not, then what???? Also can I ask you a question? Do you release music, or is it a hobby, or are you a "gear head" - i.e. loves tweaking synths and says fuck it to releasing? Either way with "and/or" clauses I've got love for them all, I just want to try and understand where you are coming from...

my post was not hostile. Please note I said "IF you wish to support or to CONTINUE to do business with". I never said or implied you were. No but I did. TK gives you the right to use his IP on HIS terms, not mine, not yours. You quoted my entire post so I am assuming all the content is refering to mine. As such I didn't mention anything about criminal intent. Please note exactly what I have posted and please stop being so defensive. Then why are you here? And how is this not you being hostile to me without reason? You make no reasoned response to my point about this community not being elitist. What point exactly are you trying to make? And what is it that you are trying to achieve by still being here?

I get the distict feeling that you want the hardware, but are not willing to take it on TKs terms... This is a DIY community. We help anyone who wants to learn. How is that elitist? It's like saying a rehab center who will only take people who want to give up and help themselves is elitist. If you wish to support Flavio and continue to do business with him you are making it clear you are no friend of this community. If you also have no interest in DIY or learning electronics I can't see why you are here.

I got the Tri Leds from rapid - http://www.rapidonline.com/ - who are just great to do business with You'd be surpised how many offers on that front I'm getting at the moment!

Artesia - big up to you... As soon as I read the the title I knew it was going to be you... Stuff like this people don't understand how useful it will be till then need it and find it via a search... Thanks for being our synth archive man!

cheers stryd!

I did protos of all the boards by hand myself, but I sent out the job to the pros in the end, so I could carry spare boards on tour which could drop in and out, and also take the stress of the job - uber thin traces + buttons on the pcb + DIY etch using UV method is not a great idea. I used Olimex for the service, 5 day turnaround, 7 days postage wait. I used a DSQ and a DSS - http://www.olimex.com/pcb/index.html

The PCBS arrived today! I see a weekend of soldering and testing ahead of me....

I didn't really think about going for 1mm S-Steel, it's a good point you make about the strength vs thickness. Do they have the same issues with laser flashbacks with S-Steel as they do with Aluminium? I'll keep my eyes out for a friendly laser guy over the next few weeks/months....

Thanks Wilba! Yes, I have triangle LEDs going into those holes. I originally wanted a "halo ring" sort of thing, but after lots of experimentation, attempts at sourcing (read begging, extortion and death threats to get hold of) and breaking the Xzone-3d in Fabric while working out "how do they do that?" - I decided to go for the triangle LEDs. I really glad I did now, I'm well happy with the old skool/mil spec feel they give!

and HEAVY! this baby is designed to go into hand luggage with a laptop for flights....

laser won't work with this design, well I couldn't find any laser companies who could do it, only one place would even try and they had a nightmare....

thanks for the kind words guys! the case was made by a firm in the UK - they don't do small runs normally, but I was lucky and they cut me a break. I can hook you up with the details if you want to p/m me. But unless you are UK based it's not going to be economical.

hehehe - you're not gonna trap me that way mate, I got enough email in my inbox as it is :P still a long way to go before anything like that could even be thought about. Once I get the 1st manufactured PCB run back (did the prototypes by hand), tested, tweaked etc, software finished and debugged, then MAYBE we might possibly think about perhaps doing a group buy ;)

cheers SR! well it wasn't cheap, but not outrageous considering the quality of the work...

Some of you know about my dB Live project and for those who don't it's an Ableton Live Controller. I've just got the panels back from the screen printers and now I am waiting on the run of PCBs I ordered (should be this week). Here are some shots of the case: I'll keep you updated....

I agree 100% with W's comments. Help was offered if he wanted to help us, but he didn't want to learn or play the game. But there is something else at issue here too. Our integrity as a community and as individuals. Terms I have heard used about this and the way to deal with have included "cunning, manipulation" etc. This is not how I'm used to seeing things work round here. We need to hold our heads up high and not stoop to any level (i.e. we don't stoop at all we just walk tall) to get what we want - it's people doing that sort of thing that got us here in the 1st place. I for one prefer the direct approach, it's better for Karma and it's better that anyone thinking of buying an Ebay midibox can see upfront that they will get no support here.

interface design is different. interface design that would describe the functionality, user interface and hardware (i.e. button) selection

You'll be missed....

What is wrong here is you have received stolen goods! TK owns the IP, you are in possession of stolen IP. Anyone can do it, all it takes is some time, effort and to learn from your mistakes... But fine you don't want to learn or put the effort in - don't ask for help round here ask the Idiot for tech support. End of story.

my advice is this - back that piece of shit you bought to the Idiot (as TK described him, I would use harsher words). Use the money to buy the kits from smashTV and a soldering iron and come join us here, we'll give you all the help you need and you will learn so much about electronics in the proccess. I'd say the educational factor for a synth collector would be priceless, you've gotta keep those babies running, and as someone who had (at one stage) over 60 synths I know how often they go wrong and how expensive it can be to maintain them.

Jimp had 20 on order before he got possessed by Bugfight...

Kartoshka, Phew, ultra long and detailed post, I get exactly what you mean now. We would use the terms Industrial Design and Packaging Design to describe that process in the UK. I do think this would take a lot longer than you have, but please share and add to the wiki and notes etc you make or have made along the way, I'm sure there would be some very useful info there... I'm not sure anyone has managed to get a multitouch lcd working with a midibox. If you are doing this project as a "mock commercial" project, i.e. doing it as if you were in the real world taking a product to market you would need to consider a few other things too: Cost of components, Ability to obtain components, Tooling Costs, Lead Times, Retail Price Points, and also what your target market wants/needs/expects, cutting edge designs can fall on their face if the market isn't ready for it or is happier doing the way they have always done it...

i'd say something more like the "Nipple Switch" would be more up Stryd's alley: