jwillans

Perfect. Thanks Michael. James

I'm chaining 4 core modules through midi-out to midi-in method. 3 modules will be running midio128, the other one will be running a custom C application. I know that enabling the midi merger in midio128 will ensure that messages get passed between cores. What do I need to do in my C application to make sure it also behaves in this way? Thanks, James

Thanks stryd_one. No LEDS, the dout are driving ULN2803s. This setup will eventually go into an organ console, but that hasn't been built yet! I'm going to mount it next weekend ready for installation, I'll post some pics then. James

I've finally built all my kit and successfully tested it independently. It consists of 4 cores, 11 DINs 1 DOUT 1 AIN and 1 4 * 20 LCD. I have two questions: 1) Will a single 500ma power the 4 cores in this setup, or is it going to be under powered? 2) All the cores work, but some are reading a voltage slightly over 5 (i.e. 5.07), is this normal and does it carry any risks? Thanks, James

I'm an idiot, the contrast was too low - it was a simple matter of adjusting P2. James

The mystery continues. I've wired up a standard 2*16 display, and I am getting the same result. I've checked and double checked my wiring and all seems well, I've also checked and rechecked the soldering on the core and that seems well. The core is working well with midio128. Any thoughts on what might be wrong? Thanks, James

Okay, I've purchased a 4*20 LCD display and wired it up to the core (which is running midio128) using Jim Henry's excellent tutorial. The backlight comes on, but no characters are displayed. Should I expect to see something with midio128, or is this application only compatible with a 2*16 display? Thanks, James

Cimo - Where did you source the spacers that you can cut to length? This is exactly what I am looking for to fit 3mm rods. Thanks, James

To answer my own question, looking at MIOS_LCD_YAddressSet it seems that 4*20 is supported out of the box: "By default the positions are configured for 2x16, 2x20, 4x20 and 2x40 displays:" James

Many thanks George, I'll digest that over the coming days. One further question, if I were to use a HD44780 20x4 display, will it work "out of the box" with an application written in C? Will I be able to address all the displays positions using MIOS_LCD_CursorSet, or must there be an extra driver? James

A further quesions - are "block" characters considered special characters, or are these available as standard? If they are standard, how do I get them? I am wanting to do the bars, measuring the pots, horizontally. I would use blocks + special characters for the leading edge where a block is incomplete. James

Hi George, That would be much appreciated - thanks! James

Hi Michael - Extremely useful link - many thanks. I shall explore. Best wishes, James

AudioCommander - Thanks, that project looks interesting although I would prefer to use an LCD display. Two displays would be enough, but I could get away with one. There will be a single core, with four pots connected via a single AIN, the application simply needs to display the state of the pots on the LCD display(s) and send midi events as the state changes. How would I go about writing/modifying an application to this? Do you recommend using the midibox64 application code as a basis for this? Thanks, James

I would like to render the open state of pots connected via AIN using LCD displays connected to the core module. Ideally I would like to display this using a bar chart, less ideal would be a numeric rendering (pot 1: 75%). Is this something that has been done before? James

Would M3 threaded rods be appropriate for the standard SmashTV PCBs? I am assuming that M3 stands for 3mm diameter? Thanks, James

Use IDC sockets (female) and crimp these on to ribbon cable (doing this is easy with a pair of plyers). James

The midibox setup I am planning will have 4 cores and 13 modules. I'd like to stack the modules in maximum groups of 4 to conserve space . I'd like to stack them in such a way that there is room to connect/disconnect IDC plugs to the module headers. I have looked around at PCB spacers etc and they all seem too small to do this. Here is an idea I have, I'd be interested to know whether it would work. I am planning to get some long bolts which are narrow enough to fit through the PCB mounting holes, and stack the PCB on these seated on nuts - one below and one above each board. This way I can adjust the spacing between the modules by adjusting the position of the nuts. Is this something that has been tried before? Thanks, James

Hi Mike, These connectors are on a recycled lighted stop tab unit which I am going to build into an organ console I am constructing. Lighted stop tabs are essentially like illuminated buttons, but a bit more organist friendly, they will send midi signals when pressed (via a DIN) and are illuminated as a result of midi messages (via a DOUT). I will be connecting these using ribbon cable to IDC plugs which will connect into the DIN/DOUT header. So crimping them would make sense - although the spacing looks difficult and since there is only two to do, I may just solder them. Many thanks for the offer - I may take you up on this. I need to order rather a lot of ribbon cable from rapid so that should push my order over the £30. Thanks again Mike. James

Hi Mike, Many thanks for that info - and thanks for the offer - it is really appreciated. I'm not sure why I couldn't find these when I searched the rapid. Do the rapid header you've linked to fit into the turned pin holes shown in my picture? If so I'll get some of these ordered (I only need 2) and solder a ribbon cable to them (they look difficult to crimp). Thanks again, James

Thanks for the info. I have looked everywhere in the UK to try and source a plug for these IC sockets (rapid,farnell,rs), but cannot find it. I'd appreciate it very much if someone could give me a link to this component, ideally on a UK web site, but anywhere would be useful (Futurelec?). Thanks, James

It works!! The problem was that I had not uploaded the midio128 "application" just the configuration file! My fault, although it is not clear from the project page that applications are downloadable elsewhere. Thanks to everyone for their help - particularly JimHenry who has guided me through the whole process - I owe you a driink. James

Thanks JimHenry - I'll get one of those ordered. Per S - That info was really useful - thanks. I hadn't realised that pin 10 requires +12V as well. I've now wired this as you describe, although this still does not work - it does answer my question about what should be wired to "common free wheeling diodes". I'm going to get an LCD display and start diagnosing from there. James

Nope, but I can do that (smashtv had sold out when I ordered my kits). Can you see anything wrong in the configuration from the photo I posted? James

When the DOUT is powered up after the core, the lamp comes on and stays on. No messages make a difference. I'm wondering - how do I tell whether midio128 has been installed and is operating correctly? James