sparx

OK, now I've MIDIfied an old organ I am looking for a way to control it. For some very strange reason I appear to have a few C64's (minus SIDs) around, I also have a MIDI interface. After seeing some of the great mods some people have done on C64's, am thinking retro instrument deserves retro controller. So, question is, can anyone recommend a C64 MIDI sequencer program? If so, what interface is needed and what are the limitations, things like number of notes, channels etc? Thanks and regards Sparx

I have some, PM me if you are interested. Regards Sparx

I can only report what I am seeing! I think there is a problem with this button as if I move the display so INS is in another position I can change now change the MIDI channel, so looks like I have found the cause of this if not the cure which I suspect is the cable linking the 2 boards. Will check later Thanks for your help, you truly are a MIDIBox Guru now Nils. How is the pokey board coming along? Regards Sparx

Thanks Yes, pressing the left most menu button does get into the ensemble menu and I have the option of INS. Selecting this I get: Osc, Wav, S/R, Del,Atk,Dec,Sus,Rel,PRn,Trn,Fin,Por,Phs,PW,GSA,Det No option, so it seems to chnage the MIDI channel. Anyone? Regards Sparx

I took the error message to mean that the SID can't be seen by the CAN bus somehow, so looked for the usual dry sodler joints etc and found a couple, re-did these and voila! No more error message. Yes I should have known better! So I suggest looking for the obvious first, are all the solder joints OK? Regards Sparx

Thanks Guru Nils Yes, I found that in the manual, but the option to change any channel isn't there. So, not done :'( Anyone else experience this or offer any help? Thanks and regards Sparx

OK, have managed to get my 6582 up and running, I can hear the formatting sounds when I add a new bankstick chip and at switch on. BUT how do I change, from the control surface, the MIDI channel that the SID responds to? On the LCD it says 16 and I need to change it to 1. Have had a tweek, looked in the manual and searched the forum but can't find it, so can anyone help? Thanks and regards Sparx

Hi I'm having the same problem, SID1 not available, CAN bus errors. I'm using a 6582 PCB off Wilba, the diodes are in the right way round and so is the resistor, any ideas at all? Thanks and regards Sparx

I strongly suspect that it will be OK, assuming 12V and using Ohms law, V/R = 12/50 = 0.24 or 240mA. The traces should hold. If not, post back here and then we all know! Regards and good luck! Sparx

Yes, congrats! How is the eagle board file coming along? I am in serious board making mode at the moment. Regards Sparx

The 50V one will be fine. Regards Sparx

Hi all I did say that: "These have the same pinout as the ULN type EXCEPT that the supply pins are swapped." Am thinking now that a picture will be better than words, so will try to post a diagram as soon as possible. If SmashTV is reading this (where does he find the time?), how easy would it be to produce a DOut board capable of being fitted with ULN, UDN/TDA and/or resistors? I used Stripboard for the driver chip circuits and leads to link these to the DOuts. Lots of soldering, lots of testing. But it will be worth it! Having a pre-made PCB would be so much easier, quicker and cheaper.... Regards, good luck and ask questions if you need to. Sparx

Mine arrived too. Thanks Sparx

Yes I do, I really want to make these into a working synth. Going to start with one board then see what happens. Had built an LPT to Pokey but got sidetracked doing the 6582. Now this has come along, great! But am going to need an eagle file, where can I download it? Or can someone send it to me so I can get on with it? Thanx and regards Sparx

I got eleven Pokeys! Can I be 2nd then? Seriously guys, got 10 brand new Pokeys from Mikes Arcade shop in the US, VERY nice people to deal with. Its only children that should be seen and not heard, where is the PCB thing for me to get going with this? Can see the overlay but not an eagle file? Am I missing something? Thanks and regards Sparx PS Good luck with the exams.

How long after switch on are you sendingthe code? Seem to recall having to send the sysex very quickly after the power is applied to the core. But it has been a while and things sure change fast around here! Hope that helps? Regards Sparx

Yes as far as I know, the TD62783AP is an equivalent of the UDN2981A-T (or maybe its the other way round!) so either will work. Thats a very logical and reasonable thing to ask, I tried it! The issue is that the ULN type chips use the positive supply as the 'common' and when the input is high, the output is low thus completeing the circuit. When the input is low, the output is high impedance so the circuit isn't completed. If Trevor really wanted to use ULN chips, he could reverse the supply TO the organ as solenoids are not polarised and therefore won't care which way round things are. But there maybe other issues why this isn't suitable here. For me, reversing the supply did work for testing but this wasn't a permanent option as the instrument I was working on is an 'original' 1920's residence organ and was already set up to play from a roll player and a console (thats a keyboard for non organ people, myself included). Adding MIDI COULD NOT interfere with the way the instrument had been designed or operated in the past. The MIDI interface had to connect to the instrument exactly the same way as the other playback devices with no alterations. Am extremely pleased to say that MIDIO128 was ideal for the job, been said many times before but thank you TK! Am also very pleased that my experience can now help others do the same. Feel free to ask more questions and I'll bore you with long answers like this! Regards Sparx

Hi all Have just checked the data sheet and my circuits, I used the TD6273AP. To use, just connect DOut outputs to the inputs of the TD chip, add supply to the TD chip(s) and when a DOut is active you will get (very) nearly the supply at the output of the TD chip. I note Trevor describes himself as a newbie and I haven't read all of this thread, but there will need to be a common ground (0V) between the MBHP and the TD boards, ie connect the two GROUNDS fromthe power supllies together. Sorry if I am teaching Grandma to suck eggs. Any problems though please post or get in touch. And of course let us know about your progress. Regards Sparx

Have you thought about using a UDN2981A from Allegro Microsystems or one of the TD62783 series from Toshiba? These have the same pinout as the ULN type EXCEPT that the supply pins are swapped. The will output a positive output wrt ground. I have used these on a large installation and they do work. Hope that helps. Regards Sparx

Mine hasn't got arrived yet :( but maybe soon. Thanks and regards Sparx

Mine arrived today too, thank you so much. Regards Sparx

I'll take one for sure maybe two. Am in the UK. Regards Sparx

I'd like a set too, the alternate one if possible. So that makes 42? S