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Just finished soldering all the modules. Looks like it took 3 days to solder them all :) And now my table looks like this: So now its time to test all the modules and atleast all the cores seem to be working and sending the MIDI messages. Today i´m gonna go get the USB MIDI Interface cause the one i have really sux. So today i´m gonna be testing all the modules and maybe tomorrow i can start wiring them like this: mbhp_4xsid_c64_psu_optimized.pdf Man i wish i had one of those crimping tools so i could make good connectors :\ I mean i got some Harwins Crimp Connectors but using them with needlenose does not really work so well... Already broke some of them, which is kinda sad because they are REALLY expensive ;( Oh yea and i also have one question. Do i need to have a BankStick for the MIOS?

As TK suspected is was a PIC Header problem. So now we know that the BumbleBee burner does not like to burn the Header My solution was to finish the MBHP Burner. It worked perfectly and burned the pic succesfully. Now im receiving the following MIDI Message: 00000088049954 ms | Sysex message: F0 00 00 7E 40 00 01 F7 I belive that the next step would be to upload the MIOS with MIDI Connection

Yea, well its just for testing that the modules even work :p But right now i've gotta learn how to burn PICS correctly :D

Me and SmashTV discussed a lot about my problem and it turns out that it was pretty easy one :-P I had the wrong software uploaded to the PIC. It gets confusing when there are so many of them :) Well anyways now i´m receiving some MIDI messages every 2 seconds ;) 00000021511358 ms | [E0 78 00] Channel 1: Pitch Bend value: 120 00000021511359 ms | [E8 41 7F] Channel 9: Pitch Bend value: 16321 00000021511360 ms | [FF] System Reset I was told that the message i´m receiving is wrong and that it could be that i have my midi cable reversed or i have a MIDI loop. Also it could be because of my crappy "Gameport to MIDI" adapter that has very poor connection (Connector is very loose). I´m thinking of buying Edirol UM-1X USB MIDI interface, because i could get it for 25e :) Also i should mention that the PIC Verify process didn't pass after i burned the newest bootloader. The last 0x300000 fails (0x00 instead of 0xFF if i remember correctly :P). But i herd that there are people who never get correct verification :) Current progress: 3x Core, 3x Sid, 1x DOUT, 1x DIN Still lots of soldering to do!

Well here are some pics

Umm, my Cores aren't sending any MIDI messages and the LCD just shows the bars. Should the programmed PIC display Bars? How can i even know if the PIC's are programmed? :p

Thanks! thats probably it :)

Hmmpf found a decent soldering tip (while waiting the pro tip to arrive) and i made SID and Core modules. I wired them like this: http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_sid_c64_psu.pdf. And i also have LCD connected. I checked all the voltages and mounted the chips. I Started the machine with setup_8580.HEX firmware and the LCD displays black boxes at the upper row. Ok so i changed to another PIC which had the Test Tone program. It did the same thing and i couldn't hear anything from the speakers. What does this mean? I will post some pics tomorrow :)

Thank you VERY much! This will be a great help to me :)

Just wanted to notify that i just figured out how to use the Wisp628 programmer. The documentation said that you have to apply power to 4 pins (11,12,31,32) but turns out that this was wrong and that it produces a short circuit inside the chip :) So what i did was i only connected the power to pins 11 and 12 and it started working! I used a burn program called Bumble Bee and it worked nicely :)

Oh yea! Images would be great help!

I've been trying to learn how to use this Wisp628 Programmer but it seems to lack a good documentation ;< This is the circuit i currently have: But it doesn't seem to work :( When i put the power on that circuit its ok, but when i connect the programmer the circuit starts to draw 3amps from my power supply and after i unplug the programmer the PIC starts to heat up and the Current display says 0.90Amps. So its kinda strange... The programmer should be ok because the software detects it correctly. So i´m probably doing the wiring wrong :\

I have a Question. Does anyone know how much or what do i have to wire if i don't have the Ratsnest in my PCB:s? . I tryed looking with Eagle but it was very hard and i couldn't find anything?

Because its a crappy sample tip! Weller wants you to buy new one! People told me that this is a "known problem" and that the tip that comes with WHS-40 does not normally last more then couple hours :p

Yes, i also have the WHS-40 but i just didn't have the LongLife tip for it :)

Today i received some goods from Voti :) 15 Rotary Encoders and a Wisp628 PIC programmer: I also started to make my first core module. Until the tip of my soldering iron melted... Yes.. it was a cheap Non LongLife tip which lasted about 60minutes and then melted :p So i ordered a new tip for 6€ and i´m waiting it to arrive so i can continue. But luckily while i´m waiting i can experiment with the Wisp PIC Programmer and maybe program my PIC'S :)

Hopefully the SID and Core module won't use the ground too much, and i will be able to use the existing PCB's :-P

I already ordered a new PIC Burner from Voti :)

Today i got some bad news and good news. Good news first ofc... So i got all the PCB:s drilled. 14 boards i think :o It took me two days to drill them with my Dremel! And while i was taking brakes i did little organizing: Then i assembled the burner. And it looks like this: But here comes the bad news... Because under the burner it looks like this: Can't see whats wrong? Well apparently i forgot to do a "ratsnest" command before i printed the masks from Eagle!1!1!. Seriously how the heck should have i known that you have to perform a magical command before you can print the mask.... And this isn't even the worst part, because the same ratsnest command goes for every Core and SID module and i didn't use it in any of mine.. So.. lol? Maybe its time so start raging?

Yea i agree, the fumes are really bad. Once got little of those in my eyes and it didn't feel so good. :)

The hotter it is the faster ;) Thats why i start by heating the acid in my microwave. I heat it until it boils :) Yea i know.. im not big fan of safety.. I don't even use safety gloves, and my hands are usually soaked with that acid :p

Its a bit overkill to be honest :P

Etched the boards.. Results were not perfect because i didn't develop the boards long enough, but its nothing that a sharp knife couldn't handle ;) Here are some pictures: Next face is to Drill them :)

People seem to have forgotten that there is a MidiBox channel on IRC. The MidiBox IRC Channel is located at EFNet with name #midibox Heres how you do it: /connect irc.efnet.nl /join #midibox

I just exposed and developed all the PCB:s and they look pretty good. Well its not Perfect but it will do just fine. For perfect results you should spray the lacquer in dust free place and leave about 1cm empty space to each side. Now i have some etching to do!