Theory?

I'm really talking more about having a single board with all the mounted components for the core, DIN, DOUT, etc. modules on that can be mounted on risers in the base of the chassis. From there I would run the wires from the appropriate points to all the pots and the LCD, LED's and faders etc. which I guess would be mounted on the front panel. The idea is just to conserve space and keep it looking much cleaner inside.

So I know I've had all these stupid questions, but my friend and I are finally ready to build an LC. We want to try and create a very effecient, compact design, so we want to try and place all the modules on one board. Would this be a good idea? Has this been done before? Any design tips to get this accomplished better?

Awesome. Thanks so much. If I want to use a button for the OSC, do I just modify the script to say that each toggle represents so-and-so value?

I want to build a dedicated knob-per-function controller for my Waldorf MicroQ. I figure it should be a 64e, but with certain functions like my osc. shape and octave I don't need the vast range of normal encoders. Does anyone know of any encoders that have a shorter range? I doubt such a thing exists detented, but you never know. Also, the MF module can be integrated into a 64e right?

Thanks for the advice. We got the idea from a few different controllers that do similar things. One is the Digidesign ICON which has dedicated controls per channel but uses a flip switch to send those controls to a larger master control section to offer more control. The other one is this new thing I found by a company called Mixed Logic http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M24/ It's essentially just 3 LC's in a big box, but over there on the side it has a dedicated EQ section which, if I understand it correctly, applies itself to the selected channels EQ. I understand that with dynamics I would probably need to setup a template if I wanted to avoid doing some arduous coding. I was just curious about the execution.

So we've been slaving over many pots of coffee trying to work out the design for our final MIDIbox console. The final product will essentially serve as a master console for our entire studio. We plan to integrate a rack unit inside the chasis to host our analog I/O (and potentially our computers if we move to XServes down the road ::)) Either way. Our initial plan involved putting enough knobs on each channel to have a dedicated EQ per channel. However, it was brought to my attention (the obvious point) that when we switch the banks for the faders, the EQ banks won't change, and things might get confusing. So after searching for some ideas, I came across some examples of a few dedicated encoder sets located in the console's master section which would allow us to have full control over the EQ, Dynamics, and AUX controls per channel without the need to have a million knobs. Essentially, we need to figure out a way that when a channel is selected, the dedicated knob sets would become active for that channel. I.e. we select a channel (channel 1 for example) and the encoder sets in the master section switch their assignments to control their dedicated parameter controls for that channel. We'd like to have 3 sections: 4 band EQ (freq, gain, and Q per band), 6 aux send/return (and potentially and extra "assign" encoder which will scroll through the available Aux's and assign one to the aux send), and a dynamics section (Threshold, ratio, knee, attack, release, makeup gain) We have other functions we intend to integrate into the final product, but for now we're attempting to work out the logistics of this feature. Anyone know any ways to accomplish this?

Or, using my powers of alchemy to turn all my pencils into gold, I can build a factory and start building module chips again. The only drawback is I would have to face off against Dave Smith and his mutant zombie robot baby army.

Found it actually. And then I found something Thorsten said about the AVR chips and why he still uses the PIC chips. I've heard good things.

Oh, perfect. I thought I saw something that said that. I was just curious because it seemed kidna batshit insane to buy DIN/DOUT modules that would mostly be blank.

I'd have to do an extra circuit? More importantly though: Third, since I certainly don't need multiple copies of the common switches (the assign panel etc.), but I DO need to put in additional V-Select switches, how many DIN/DOUT's do I need on the slave LC's and how should I solder them? Re-post I know, but I'm an attention whore.

I'll be honest, I don't know shit about programming for a PIC chip, but I was wondering if anyone knew if the PIC chips would be good hosts for synth modules like oscillators, VCF's etc. Similar to the chips CEM made for Sequential. If not, does anyone know a chip that CAN host those kinds of programs? Secondly, is it possible to code for these chips in Perl or are C and ASM my only options?

Call it a fetish, I enjoy knobs and lights and flashy things. I think I'm going to reserve THIS model for my master project which will involve a LOT more. I've been discussing it with my friend and we think we're going to use this model to build our final model console. Basically, it's going to integrate a rack unit on the inside of the chasis where we'll be able to mount preamps and patchbays that will be accessable from the rear, essentially turning the beast into a full-out digital console. I finally (finally) read the manual for the Logic control and it makes SO MUCH more sense now, so I think I'm just going to build a 24 channel LC so I have plenty of channels all at once and maybe do some other cool little things if I can think of any. Maybe I'll build a 64e on the side to use with things like Reason and the like. I'll see how it goes. Just real quick-a-like, I've got two small questions. How do I install the "Rude Solo" light. This is a crucial feature and I MUST have it. No time to explain, just suffice it to say, this console MUST have a Rude Solo light. However I can't seem to find anything that says how to install it. Second, instead of building full-out meters, I just want an RMS/Peak LED. How would I wire it to do that instead of the full meter? Third, since I certainly don't need multiple copies of the common switches (the assign panel etc.), but I DO need to put in additional V-Select switches, how many DIN/DOUT's do I need on the slave LC's and how should I solder them? EDIT: Curiously, I found a nifty feature in the Tascam US2400 which can emulate the MCU and HUI protocols. Their meters are integrated into their encoder LED's. You activate the meters with a MTR button. Has anyone worked out a way to do this? Also, is there a way to integrate a footswitch into the system for punch-in/out type things?

Oh snap, you're right. I guess I need to figure out a way to link the banks on my channels and EQ. Perhaps someone knows a way to do that? What I mean is, instead of having to change the bank of the LC channels and THEN change the bank of the EQ so both are operating the same channel, I can set it up so that I can change both banks simultaneously. Either that, or I'll just have to change both at the same time and hope I don't get everything confused. I guess SONAR 5 would support Master and Slave LC configurations since they've supported the MCU since version 3. So I guess I'm good there.

Oh excellent. So i can just set those buttons to do whatever in Sysx right? Another thing I meant to ask, and I know I saw someone do it here, but in terms of changing what the faders are controlling (i.e. tracks, busses or aux) can I have just one set of buttons control all 24 channels? Someone posted that they did it with a diode, but I have no idea what that means.

Ok ok ok ok ok...So I delorted my last thread because I've rethunk my project. Here's what I intend to do: I'm going to merge 3 LC's and a several 64E's into one chasis. The idea is to create a dedicated set of controlls instead of having to flip through banks of sorts and only having control of one paramter at a time. There will be 24 channels each with 4 bands of EQ (freq/gain/q on each band) as well as a dedicated pan knob, and of course the mute/solo/rec/select buttons for each channel. Instead of doing full-out meters, I'm just going to put an RMS/Peak LED on each channel just for reference. I'm going to do something a bit more advanced for my ACTUAL meters. I will have my transport, jog wheel, 5-way zoom toggle, timecode etc etc. I'm going to use the two 2x40 LCD's just to label each channel. I tend to use my monitor a lot, the LCD's are just for reference. Now for the questions, brace yourself, I have a few. From what I've gathered, this is the list of functions supported by the LC. I put "?" next to functions who's purpose is a mystery to me. If anyone could explain them, it would me most appreciated. - Automation - Touch ? - Trim ? - Write - Read Off - Latch ? - Util. Enter ? - Util. Cancel ? - Hold Layer (I understand the purpose, I just don't get how this function is controlled) - Function (I assume these are just misc. buttons that can be used for whatever) - F1-F8 - Global (My impression is that this changes the function of the faders. I.e. it switches their control from tracks to outputs to buss's to aux's etc. However, there are still a few of these that don't make sense.) - Audio Instrument ? - Audio Track ? - Inputs - Tracks - Aux - Busses - Outputs - User ? - View ? - Drop ? - Cycle ? - Nudge ? - Marker ? - Replace ? - Click ? - Shift - Option (does this do anything in Windows?) - Ctrl - Cmd/Alt - Flip ? - Bank (What is the difference between Bank L-R and Channel L-R?) - Left - Right - Channel - Left - Right - Assign (My impression is that this changes the assignment of the Encoders atop each Fader in the LC. However, since my plan is to dedicate these encoders to Pan, I don't really need these functions. Right?) - EQ - Instrument - Plug-in - Pan/Surround - Send - Track I will be working in Cakewalk SONAR 5, which is supported by the MCU. Like I mentioned, I will be adding a dedicated EQ section on every channel as well as a side section of misc. encoders to be used to control VSTi's, plug-ins, and robots to destroy Japan with. These will be part of the 64E inside the chasis. I will probably end up chaining CORE's for this until I get enough encoders. My understanding is that the LC does NOT support chaining cores, but the 64 and 64E do. I'm going to buy a MIDI interface to merge all the different signals and just send them out via USB to connect the whole mess to my compy. I understand that I'm probably biting off more than I can chew with this project, but I'm confident enough in my abilities, and I will have help, as well as these forums ;D. I just need these questions answered (for now) so I can start blocking out my system and then work on ordering the parts etc. etc. Thanks a ton. I really appreciate the help. Dan