toneburst

Very nice. Just out of interest, what's the plan for filling-in the gaps around the keyboard? Are you using wood for that, as well as for the end-cheeks? It just occurred to me that it would be cool to use big rubber blocks at either side, a bit like the Oscar synth case. Not sure how you'd make those though... a|x

I may be able to help you on both front, I think. I bought a load of C64s when I was collecting SID chips, and got various other peripheral bits and bobs with some of them. I will have a look. Where in the UK are you? a|x

Really, Flexinoodle? I didn't have any luck on eBay. What did you search for? a|x

I'm so far failing to find anything suitable. It looks like what I need are miniature ones, as the panel holes are 7.5mm in diameter, but I haven't been able to find any suppliers in the UK who sell dual/gang pots in this size and resistance. Any UK MB6582 builders out there who have managed to source some? a|x

Don't worry- I popped home at lunchtime and measured the panel hole as 7.5mm, so those Maplin ones are too big. a|x

I like the beige too. THe other obvious alternative would have been to match the darker brown of the 1st-generation C64s, but this is a nice compromise shade, I think- not too dark, but not blindingly white, either. Nice work. Looking forward to seeing this completed! a|x

Hi Peake, thanks for getting back to me. I think I'll hold off on the filters anyway, at least until I've finished my MB6582, and heard what it can do unaided. a|x

My 8x SIDs arrived last Thursday (22nd Jan), beautifully packed, and safe-and-sound. Looking forward to trying them out. Thanks Wilba!!! a|x

I've found these pots http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2207#features which are available in 470k linear, but I don't know if they're physically the right size. Apparently, they require a 10.5mm hole. So, I wonder if someone could tell me the size of the holes for the feedback pots on Wilba's MB6582 rear panel? I'm at work at the moment, and don't have access to a PC that I can run Frontpanel Designer on, unfortunately. a|x

Did you swap the jumper on J11? I missed this the first time, and couldn't work out why I wasn't getting any MIDI data in or out of any of the cores. It should be between the right-hand set if pins to route MIDI to/from Core 1, between the next set of pins for Core 2, etc. a|x

And envelopes. a|x

In terms of controls that would benefit from CC controllers, I'd say why not start with the parameters that have dedicated controls on the MB6582 CS?

Any of the filter PCBs still available?

Commodore 64 cases x2 1x beige v2 case, intact 1x brown v1 case, part of top removed for fitting of MB SID control-panel. Free to a good home (if you pay postage). 2x 6581 SID chips, untested, but pulled from apparently working C64s. £7.50 each + P&P. UK seller, but international postage possible. More details + photos to follow. Send me a message here if interested.

My postbox yielded a bumper harvest this morning: 8x 6582A from Wilba Replacement 20x2 LCD from eBay Replacement transistors I also picked up a packet of M3 screws for the CS PCB corners from my local hardware shop, though, annoyingly, they didn't have any washers. Earlier in the week, my pre-cut ribbon connectors to connect mainboard and CS arrived from DigiKey. The order from the US was amazingly quick- it only took about 3 days! They look really cool, and I'd definitely recommend them for anyone who, like me, finds stripping ribbon cables a royal pain. Am hoping I manage to make a better job of the LCD cable on this attempt... a|x

Ah,thanks Wilba. I had assumed log because they're being used as audio level pots. I think I should be able to get hold of 470k linear quite easily. Cheers, a|x

Ah, OK. I can get hold of 470k dual-gang linear pots relatively easily from UK suppliers. What exact part did you use, Wilba, and from which supplier, if you don't mind me asking? a|x

Hi strophlex, I think that one has a linear response, whereas I think I need a logarithmic one. a|x

Would the dual-gang version of http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=0387824#header be suitable as feedback pots for the MB-6582? Or if not, anyone know of an alternative UK supplier of a product that would do the job? I've trawled around a little, but haven't found anything yet from my usual suppliers. a|x

Anyone know if it's possible to make a smaller, less brick-like external PSU for the MB-6582 with more modern components than the original Commodore64 ones? a|x

If you could prise apart the casing of an LCD, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some kind of coloured film stuck on there, already. I know the backlight LEDs of my blue/white 20x4 are white, anyway. So maybe a more elegant way would be to replace the original gel. I've also read you can turn pos. displays into neg. ones by removing the polarising film and replacing it with some new film that's orientated in a different direction. Maybe I'll try that with one of my broken ones. I really like the negative LCDs, but they tend to be harder to find and more expensive. a|x

Agreed, it's definitely fat!! Still think it's better to have 8 though ;) Looking forward to my 8x 6582As arriving! a|x

Incidentally, I discovered a while back that it's possible to change the colour of an LCD pretty effectively by simple sticking a coloured film on the front. Depending on the start colour and gel colour, you may find you loose some brightness, but if it's bright enough to start with, it should still be perfectly readable. I tried this with my broken white-on-blue last night, and managed to make it into a red display. Of course, it was still broken, sadly... This might be a cheaper option for some wanting red displays for their MB-6582s. I've gone and changed the divider colour on the frontpanel of mine to blue, so I'll be sticking with blue LEDs and a blue display, but if I'd remembered about this trick before, I'd have stuck with red. a|x

Thanks for the kind words Wilba and Goblinz. Do you ever do bulk-orders on red 20x4 LCDs? Last I looked, they were hideously expensive. Looks like there's a glut of cheap white-on-blue ones out there at the moment. I got mine from a UK eBay seller for £7.99. a|x

Welcome back. I'm in a similar position- been away a long time. Now I'm working on one of Wilba's MB-6582s, which is massively more ambitious than what I was working on before. And I seem doomed to make all the mistakes I made the first time, all over again (just trashed another LCD) :( I'm sure you'll do better than me though :) a|x