[Control Surface Problems (led's 1/2 lit, buttons control wrong thing)]

I was hoping to get through the build w/out any questions, but I'm having some trouble Wilba mb-6582 rev1 pcb.

I powered it up last night and it works!! sort of.... Some of the control surface LED's never go all the way dim. Some in the matrix, and some regular indicators. When different LED's are lit (like changing settings), different ones 1/2 way light up. (And the ones that are 1/2 lit should be completely dim).

then the buttons also don't work. 80% of the time they control what they are supposed to, but the rest of the time it's random.. pressing the filter button changes the sid number and the matrix mode and the envelope mode, etc. It's very random. I've re-soldered all the din and douts. But, I must be missing something. Any advice???

Thanks!

[[B] SSM2044 filter boards (un-populated)]

I'm looking for seppo's ssm2044 filter PCB's Also, his ssm2164 VCA PCB, but mostly the filters... I've got all the components sitting here to build 4 of them.

[Old/Original mb6582 panel, holes too small?]

So, now another issue w/ my old parts..

Got the LED's today, and they don't fit! All the LED holes in my panel are a tiny bit too small. I can almost force the LED's in, but not quite. (I tried a different 3mm led I had sitting around, and same issue.. it's not the LED's)

I can't find any mention of this issue, either, and I can't be the only one... I got this panel as part of a group buy here, years ago. I guess I'm going to have to drill out all the LED holes!

Anyone making panels, should I try to find a 3mm drill bit for 3mm led's, or just use 1/8"? 3mm bits are difficult to find in the US, but I want it to look good, so I'll order one and wait if I have to.

-edit- Just FYI for any other US ppl, 1/8" drill is perfect! (at least for my led's)

[Midibox CV2 Synth Idea/Question]

I'm trying not to think about it too much, because it's probably still an impossible project for now..

But I might have thought of a way to integrate the modulation matrix into the control surface. (Might want to look at the image real quick to know what I'm talking about here..) Since there are a limited number of predefined parameters on my control surface, I've made a little matrix per section. Since each CV can have 2x lfo and 2x eg, you basically select the parameter you want to change and the lfo or eg number. Then the lfo or eg section would light up which of the 16 available is selected. For example: Press PWM, then LFO2, adjust the knob for the level it will be affected (the depth, basically). Then over in the LFO section select your LFO and set the parameters. Say it's lfo6, there. Then you could select osc2, pwm, lfo#, and in the lfo section press 6, and osc2 would have the same pwm settings as osc1.

For the filter, you select freq or res, and which of the eg/lfo you want to set. It's not on the sketch, but I'd need a vca section too.. Just button to select the eg/lfo and set the level.

There are still some important details and options missing from this scheme, but I don't want to put much time into it yet. Thinking about it more, I can also see where you could get lost in the settings, but that just needs some extra thought. Like maybe selecting the VCO number automatically selects the VCF and VCA, too. Slightly less interesting live-play possibilities that way, but easier.

--Guess I should mention, while working on this I've had ideas for a general cv2 control surface. It would be the same size, no set osc and filter, etc, sections. Basically more complex LFO and EG's, and I've been trying to come up w/ ideas for the mod matrix to assign it all to the cv's. I'll follow up on that in a new thread if I continue it. My idea on that is less generalized, too, I guess.. It's more of an ultimate time synchronized modulation box, than a midi-cv converter. I'm still trying to figure out how to integrate the little sequencer into that design.

[mb-6582 rev1 pcb]

Thanks! Looks like they're minor issues, but I would have been pulling my hair out for a while trying to figure them out on my own :).

[Midibox CV2 Synth Idea/Question]

So, I mentioned in the cv2 thread I wanted to build a midi analog synth. I don't know if the cv2 project will work for it, and the more I plan, the less I think it will.

But, it's worth trying, so here's my idea.

It's a 3 osc synth, 3vcf, and 3vca's. LFO's and EG's will all be digital, thanks to cv2 :D. Basically that should be enough to give one complex voice, or use all 3 individually for simple poly. The idea is that it's usable for most standard playing w/out any patching, and all settings would be saved.. basically like a virtual analog synth.

The down side is it would need more than 8cv's. At a minimum, 16. 3 vca, 3 filt freq, 3 filt res, 3 osc tune, 3 osc pwm (and I'm over 16).. So then I'd still want 3x osc fm.

Analog implementation would be 3 oscillators with their 4 wave outs going to analog switches (like the CGS analog switch matrix. Gate=switch closed), to select the wave. The selected wave to another switch to select the filter mode (the filters I'd likely use have 3 in's, but you could put the switches on the output if they have 3 outs), then from the filters to the 3 VCA's, mix the signal and out. Few other details and switches, but that's about it. I think the switches could be controlled by douts.

I'll attach a quick sketch of a panel I made. I use the "frac rack" format.. 3u. It's 10 frac units long (1.5" per u) which is the size that fits in a standard 19" rack.

It's dirty, incomplete, things aren't aligned, but it's a general idea of what I want to build. All the jacks at the bottom are copy/pasted from something else, so they're not really dividers. Those would be the jacks for all the parameters (vco, lfo, vcf, etc in's and out's) for standard CV control. Big circles are buttons, small circles are LED's

So that's my dream project. Is there any way the CV2 could control multiple aouts? Even multiple CV2's, but for the idea to work they'd all have to be controlled by one primary cv2, to set and store the parameters.

or, is there a different way to accomplish the same thing?

[6581 Rev1 PCB.]

Yeah, I've tried searching, and couldn't figure out why I got no results for anything having to do w/ rev1 or "wilba pcb" etc... How to I manually browse back to them? U know if htere's a way to get google to search the archives?

I'll try a PM, too.. I looked at Wilba's profile a few days ago and it had been a while since his last login, though.

[6581 Rev1 PCB.]

Sorry for the double post, but this part of the forum gets some traffic and maybe someone w/ the answer reads this section but not the user project section....

I've had a rev 1 MB-6582 pcb and parts sitting around for a long time. I finally decided to build it and read the wiki, and at the bottom of the base PCB page says "revision 1 errors" and has links that don't work anymore.

What are the rev. 1 errors?

I'm getting to soldering the final components and don't want to cook any chips when I turn it on, if there are issues w/ the PCB.

[MIDIbox CV V2 Concept]

Either way, you could always, in the worst case, just build multiple MBCVs if you need more CV inputs. I would think, in that case, having a 3xOSC, 3xVCA in one, and VCF's in another would make the most sense? I suppose that's not quite as ideal as it could be but still rather flexible I would think.

If it could be possible to do that and save it all under one patch, w/ one "brain".. (I need to read up on MB stuff again :) )

That would be great!! (But I'm kind of liking the new simple semi-modular synth idea right now.. My modular has grown to the size of my first apartment, and can't leave the house. A little midi-capable analog synth w/ all these time synchronized lfo's and eg's would be amazing (still 16cv's vs the 8 would be ideal))

[MIDIbox CV V2 Concept]

Then, is there sort of an idealized synth for this project? I know it can be used for anything, but like, it seems like people are thinking 3 oscillators... Since TK is using the kraftzwerg for his test platform, I'm guessing he's kind of designing around it... That brings me to a slightly off topic question.

If you've got a little 3 osc synth, I can think of a lot of reasons you'd want to be able to fade each osc in/out of the mix. Would u rather have 3 VCF's or 3 VCA's? (Trying to think of a good way to assign the 8 available cv's)

so like, 3xOSC to 3x filters to mixer to one VCA, or 3xOSC to 3xVCA to mixer to one filter.. then maybe a final vca?

[MIDIbox CV V2 Concept]

Well, after much thought I've come to the same conclusion as always, that midifying my modular is an impossible dream.. (I've already got 3 midi-cv modules and sometimes those 24 cv's aren't even enough for a track..)

Building a new semi-modular synth around this midibox cv2 project seems like a very good idea, though.

I might have the wrong idea about this project, though. Since I found this thread from the other post where the guy was asking about some SID functionality, the first thing that popped in my head was patch recall. Basically, I was thinking i'd sort of permanently assign cv outs to osc's, filters, vca's, etc. Then be able to adjust all the settings and save it as a patch. Basically a little synth like the sid, only all analog. (and only one voice, instead of 4(or8))

Is that possible, or have a gone too far outside of the "midi-cv" box?

-Edit, I just read the midi-cv page and it has answered a lot of questions, and I see it's basically designed w/ patch recall in mind. This new one w/ the LFOs and EG's and all is a LOT more useable in that area, tho.. I'm excited!

[Quad SSM2164 VCA PCB]

Ok, here's a quick schematic of what I think is going on.

I didn't add the 2 electro and 6 smaller power supply bypass caps to my schematic, but those are obvious.

There's the extra 27k res at the input that I need help figuring out.

Also caps 21-24 are next to the VCA chip on the board photos and not on the parts list. Can someone who has built this, or knows what they are doing let me know if this looks right, and let me know where the missing 2 parts go?

I'm guessing the 4 caps at the 2164 are bypassing the cv input to ground.. Not sure on the resistors at the input yet. It looks like they're connected to a trace that goes somewhere and not the ground plane.

Thanks!

[Quad SSM2164 VCA PCB]

I'm wondering the same thing.. Anyone have a schematic for this?

I found one that is quite similar, and I think I've mostly reverse engineered this one by looking at the parts list and photos. The cv inputs have me a little confused. Basically there's a 27k resistor, and I don't know where it goes. Looks like the cv goes in to a 27k resistor that is immediately connected to a 2nd 27k resistor at the input of the 074. I can't tell if anything else is going on at that junction (I'd guess so, else why would there be 2 27k resistors in a row, instead of one larger) I think that's the input filter to smooth cv, but I still don't quite get it, as I don't think the cap there goes to ground like a standard lowpass..... Maybe I need to sketch what I think is going on and have someone look at the schematic.

[mb-6582 rev1 pcb]

I've had a rev 1 pcb and parts sitting around for a long time. I finally decided to build it and read the wiki, and at the bottom of the base PCB page says "revision 1 errors" and has links that don't work anymore.

What are the rev. 1 errors? I'll take any other pre-build advice people want to give for this project. :)

Thanks

[MIDIbox CV V2 Concept]

I'm personally more interested in the physical control surface. I like to play my synths like instruments.. (very hands on.. I dislike screens and menus when it comes to my old analog gear)

Even if we could re-use the mb-6582 control surface PCB as one potential mb-cv2 control surface, it would be good. (I'd like more sets of knobs, personally, as tweaking two filters or two envelopes at the same time is quite common). The ability to do that and record all the knob twists to a track would be amazing! The ability to record and replicate anything I do w/ my modular in the MIDI realm would be amazing :).

[MIDIbox CV V2 Concept]

Wow, this is awesome. I built the seq and aout for modular control, but have been thinking about building a dedicated digital control surface for it w/ patch recall, etc. This is perfect!!

Any new updates?

[MBHP_ETH, MBHP_SDCARD, SSM2044, SSM2164 PCB Bulk Order]

Wilba :) Time to let go of a couple of 2044 boards yet? :) hehe. Unless seppoman still has a couple of spares? :sorcerer:

EDIT:

Nevermind :) I did my own pcb, getting some protos made soon.

I'm interested in some of these SSM pcb's! Filter and VCA, but mostly the filters.

Are the original PCB designs available for printing? If not, they should be :)

Otherwise, I'd like some more info from Technobreath.

[6582 mouser order list]

Hello, Im wondering if anyone has an order list together for the mb-6582 for mouser or anywhere else.  I could have sworn someone had a mouser excel order list put together, but maybe that was a different project.

edit

Oh yeah, it was the sequencer that I found a parts list for... well... still let me know if anyone has one, thanks.

[The definitive MB-6582 PCB/kit thread]

whoa, settle down there....

That first post is several months old, and over half a year past the time I started this.  I thought maybe the first run of orders had gone through, and this was about new interests.  Shite, in these modern times, 3 months is like, a generation ago.  Who wants a pos 6 month old cell phone or mp3 player?  Those are old news by now.  (ok.. im just joking there, but 8 months is indeed a long time)

(stryd, u've got 6660 posts ;)

[The definitive MB-6582 PCB/kit thread]

So,

What is going on w. the parts kits?  I had a reply from Smash on .. 2007-12-01 at 15:35, which says Im on the list. 

I've got the pcb's, lcd, encoders, knobs, panels, case, etc..  I dont have a pic programmer, so will have to get that done from smash, which is why ive just been waiting to get all the parts from him.

[core + 4x IIC + 8x bankstick pcb (formerly seq pcb)]

Hi,

I just wanted to follow up on my control surface post.. 

yes, I did use veroboard, and yes.. it sucked!

I realize not everyone wants to use the same layout, but there already is a 'standard' layout posted on the ucapps seq page. 

I personally didn't use the standard layout either, but I'd bet that people who care more about getting down and using the seq would appreciate the possibility of a quick solution, even if not the PERFECT solution.  (basically, I'd be able to throw a few together for my musician friends who have never picked up a soldering iron)

personally, I made all my own illuminated buttons, so didn't need any LED holes or connectons/  Also laid things out differently than the posted layout. 

Well, I'll drop the subject here because I don't have the time to do it. 

[core + 4x IIC + 8x bankstick pcb (formerly seq pcb)]

When I built mine, making and stuffing the internal PCB's  (core, din/dout, iic, bankstick) took about a week.  Building the control surface, on the other hand.... that took months!

I think a control surface PCB would be far more valuable for people who just want a functioning sequencer.

And as sasha said, "But, I`m sure people would be interested as we all hate wires"....

The wires connecting the few internal pcb's was nothing in comparison to nightmare of running all the wires to every button and LED on the control surface.

I'm not trying to shoot down Ultra's internals PCB, but...  someone needs to make a control surface PCB one of these days! 

A few of my friends want these sequencers after seeing mine, but there's no way I'd ever consider wiring up another control surface!!

[Seq3 and AOUT_NG]

I finally just got my aout (old MAX chip version) finished and installed.  I mounted the aout as a module in my synth, and use the synth power supply.  I used rj45 jacks and a network cable for the interconnect between the sequencer and the aout in the synth.  That gives me 8 CV's, 2 gates from the aout board and 3 more gates from the core. (the other 5 wires are the digital power and tx)

After just one night of playing with it, I already know I'll need to get more gates over to the synth, but this works for now.

Use your imagination.  I had not only filters and VCO's being controlled, but then another VCO to FM the primary, and the tune of the modulator vco was being controlled by the seq.  Use one CV for notes, but then you can use a 2nd track going to the same VCO to control octaves.  I have a bunch of other not so standard modules, wave shapers, multipliers, etc that I was also controlling w/ the seq. 

Also had a cymbal sound going and ran that through a VCA, then I took a CV and sent it to the VCA to open it more on some hits so it gave an open/close hi hat sort of sound.

The seq and a modular are a great combo!

[AOUT Configuration Process?]

Usually when tuning things like this there are two adjustments.  The voltage and the span.  If you set c0 to 2v, then adjust the span so that c3 is 5 volts, c0 would then most likely be lower than 2v. (well.. or more depending on which way you adjust the span)

Does the software take care of some of that? 

I must admit, I haven't quite finished the module, so maybe it will make more sense when I get my hands on it.

[AOUT wiring questions]

for my modular, all the CV inputs/outputs are grounded on the panel.  I don't run a separate ground wire to each jack.  If you have no other ground connections on your panel, you'll have to ground one of the jacks, and all the others should be taken care of as well.  This seems to be the common way to do things in the modular synth community.