[MidiBox Cool Diy Device But Only For C-Code Experts]

3 hours ago, zener said:

Some well made ("official") video tutorial that show the various possible configurations between core cpu , digital-analog in-out modules ,pots - encoders-buttons , lcd display , etc… , 

and  about how to install the firmware with first power up of unit ,

with also  some specific example of code handle like start the software for code handle,

how access to code , basic "function" about how edit-assign-modify , etc… ,

would not be a big help (...and so much "friendly" appreciated ) ? 

(…giving further "positivity" to the device .., ... getting also some buck for each view … )

 

 

This is a diy community, not Elektron or Roland. There simply isn't enough time or members on here to provide that level of documentation in videos.

By all means, if you would like to go ahead and do such videos if you learn whats already available on ucapps, and the wiki go ahead.

I'm sorry but if you can't  follow the instructions that are already there then maybe this community isn't for you.

Complaining that it isn't more user friendly is only dragging the community down and wasting peoples time.

 

From a MIDIbox noob who can't code one line of C.

 

[MidiBox open for "Learn" option ?]

Seems fairly self explanatory to me and certainly not for "Experts".

Whats so expert about turning a knob from left to right so the MIDIbox HUI receives it?

 

 

[MIDIbox SEQ new frontpanel idea]

Is this the Colour Scheme you went with for the Standard LEDs TK?

 

[MIDIbox SEQ new frontpanel idea]

Looks awesome tk and Andy well done! I'm still a bit unsure about the pages and controls in the demo as I don't own a seq. But it looks great!

I'm particularly interested in what can be done in jam mode. I presume there's 16 dedicated track select buttons for recording meaning you press a button -> record a track, press another button and record that track?

 

 

[MIDIbox SEQ new frontpanel idea]

For anyone else looking for one here's the cheapest I can find $6.80 delivered on Aliexpress via registered mail.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/STLINK-ST-ST-LINK-V2-CN-STM8-STM32-Emulator-download-programmer/32693170276.html

Seems a better option than the little USB Stick ones with the dupoint cables.

 

 

Who knows, may even come in handy for flashing modular stuff!

[MIDIbox SEQ new frontpanel idea]

41 minutes ago, latigid on said:

http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=wcore&s[]=wcore

You can't use the USB port without flashing first, unless you have a USB to UART programmer. If you have a Discovery board you can use that, or else pick up a cheap ST-Link clone.

Thanks for the help. I think I'll play it safe and buy an ST-Link clone. 

[Build Guide: MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Step 8: Building the first Genesis Module.

Since each board has a different address select configuration, we must read the wiki section:

J3: ADDR_SEL

"On board 1, stuff U3 and its bypass capacitor C3, but don't connect anything in J3."
Start with by soldering Capacitor C3 0.1 uF.

It helps to write down a list of the component refernces and tick them off as you go.

Next populate the remainig 0.1uf capacitors C1-C11, C14, C19.

Populate C29, C30 100 pF.

Populate C26, C27, C28 1nf.

Populate C23, C24, C25 180 pF. Mine were blue and slightly taller.

Populate Inductor L1 10uH.

Populate 16-pin 0.3” DIP IC sockets, [U2], [U3], [U6], take care for orientation

Populate 14-pin 0.3“ DIP sockets [U4], [U7], [U8], [U9]

Populate [U5]   8-pin 0.3” DIP socket

 

Populate [U10]    20-pin 0.3“ DIP socket.

Populate [U1] 24-pin 0.6“ DIP socket

Populate Y1 (through hole) or Y3 (SMT) 7.67 MHz (or 8 MHz) oscillator depending on which OPN2 you will use.

Populate Y2 (through hole) or Y4 (SMT)    3.58 MHz (or 4 MHz) oscillator at desired PSG frequency.

Please take care of orientation, the corner of the crystal goes in the top left corner.

 

Solder the SIL Headers for J5, J6, and J8.

Solder Q1, Q2, Q3 small-signal N-channel MOSFET. See Sauraens note on the mosfets.

 

Next up is the resistors, bend one lead 180 degrees so you can mount them vertically. The resistor itself should sit on top of the circle on the silkscreen,

the lead bent lead will go through the other pad.

Solder R1, R3 10k ohm Resistors.
Solder R2, R6 1k.

Solder R4    2.2k resistor.

Solder R5    47k resistor

Do not populate R7 if you are using a SN76489 as theres no audio input.

Populate if you are using a SN76494/SN76496. ( I populated it by accident and removed it later.) 

Populate R8, R9 2.2k if you are using a YM2612, otherwise  Do Not Populate.

Populate R10    1.5k resistor.

Populate R11, R12. Use  22k for YM2612, 47k for YM3438

Populate R15, R16. Use: 47k for YM2612, 10k for YM3438

Do not populate R14, R33, R34

Populate R13, R17, R21, R22, R25, R26    47k resistor

R18/R19 are for the 10K Potentiometer. I soldered SIL Headers for these, otherwise you could solder the wires directly to the board if you wanted.

R20 is the 10K potentiometer for the PSG. Again I used a SIL Header.

Solder R23, R24    220k resistors. If you want a louder PSG, reduce the value.

Solder R27, R28    100k resistors. 

Solder R29, R30    220 ohm resistors
Solder R31, R32   10k 1% resistors.

    C12, C13    100 uF electrolytic capacitors.

Solder C15, C16, C17, C18, C31, C32    10 uF electrolytic acpacitors.

Solder C20, C21, C22    10 uF bipolar electrolytic capacitors.

The Genesis modules need to be stacked using the stackable arduino headers with 15mm long pins.
These headers with extra long headers can be hard to find, here they are on Aliexpress, play-zone, funduino.

The top of the first board is facing left, with the pins sticking through, and the connectors will be flush against the bottom each board.
For the bottom board you could use an SIL header with long pins

You will solder the pins at the top side of each board.
The following image shows PCB 1 on the left, PCB 2 to the right of PCB1, PCB3 to the right of PCB2 etc..
Please note that I used SIL headers instead of Aruduino headers for the headers on the bottom board PCB4, as you can see in the 2nd pic below:

 

This is so that the black plastic won't be taking up unwanted space.

I couldn't find 3 and 2 pin Ardunio headers so I cut up a 6 pin like so. 

Solder the ardunio headers at J1, J2, J7, J10 

 

Next, trim the pins on the aurduino headers to the same height as the SIL headers, so the connectors for the wires plugging into them will sit flush.

[Build Guide: MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Step 7: Building the MBHP_Genesis_LS module.

As always start with the shorter components, in this case the two 0.1 uF ceramic capcitors,  C101, C102.
Then solder the IC Sockets, and Pin heders. Ensure the IC sockets are facing the correct way according to the silkscreen, left in this case.

Finally solder the electrolytic capacitor C103 ensure the polarity is correct. 

The longer leg is positive and goes through the square pad on the PCB, there is also a + sign marking, (it looks like a minus but the circle line indicates its positve.

Next install the 74HCT245 in socket U101, and 74HCT541 in U102 ensuring they face left.

 

[MIDIbox SEQ new frontpanel idea]

So how do we go about flashing the bootloader, and uploading the Hex File?

I have the ST-Link USB Driver installed and the Virtual Com Port Driver.

However the waveshare core is not detected in the ST Link Utility.

Or in the ST Flash Loader .

 

I've tried it with the switch set to System and to Flash.

[MIDIbox SEQ new frontpanel idea]

My waveshare core came from AliExpress today. Will there a separate firmware for the Andy Seq or will it be incorporated into the existing firmware?

Thanks.

[Build Guide: MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Step 6: Building the Power Supply.

For the Power Supply, I'm keeping things extremely basic. I use a 5V 1.6A power plug (wallwart) I bought from Farnell, with the center pin positive.

I also bought a panel mount DC socket with ~8mm width to fit the 8mm hole in the Rear Panel. It uses a barrel size of 2.1mm a to fit the plug on the power supply.

I am using a generic  Panel Mount Latching Push Button Switch with 16mm thread size to fit the 16mm hole in the Rear Panel.

I bought the switch with the wiring harness included as it makes it easier to connections the wires by colour. The colour codes may vary depending on which switch you buy!
I crimped the wires on the harness with JST-XH crimps due to the thicker wire gauge and used 2 JST XH-2A male connectors on the power distribution board as shown below.

For the  cables going the Core Module and MBHP_Genesis_LS level shifter board, I used Dupont style crimps and SIL connectors and smaller wire guage.

I recommend buying this crimping Set as it includes everything needed, the Crimping hand tool, the Dupont & JST crimps and connectors, and even some ribbon cable.

For crimping the JST-XH and Dupont crimps  please see this  excellent guide on YouTube.

 

If you would like to add some sort of circuit protection yourself go ahead, I wasn't quite sure how to go about it.

From the wiki:

" The output of one switching regulator was used exclusively for the front panel, while the output of the other was sent to the core and the Genesis boards. "

The Power Supply must feed the 3 Modules, the STM32F5 Core, the Quad Genesis Modules and the Front Panel as stated in the wiki, and also the LED for the power switch if you buy one."

For this I built a simple parallel circuit or distribution board on veroboard, with 2 male JST XH-2A connectors on top and bottom and 3* 2-pin SIL Headers for powering the Core, and Level Shifter boards soldered in between.

Top side of power distribution board:                                                                                   Underside of Power Distribution board:

            

 

I also drilled 4 holes into the veroboard which we will use to mount it with M3 screws inserts and screws later.

Here's how I have the board wired up:

 

 

**Important** push the dc socket and latching switch through the Rear Panel before soldering!

The common wire C is soldered to the positive terminal of the DC Socket.  

I used a spare wire which is soldered to the negative terminal of the DC barrell and is connected to the negative terminal of the top female JST XH-2Y connector.

The NO Normal Open wire is connected to the positive terminal of the top JST XH-2Y connector.

The LED- wire goes to the negative pin of the of the bottom female JST XH-2Y connector.

The LED+ wire goes to the positive pin of the bottom female JST XH-2Y connector.

This is wired so that the Power LED on the latching switch is not illuminated until you push the switch and close the circuit.

For the wires connecting to the DC Socket I used heat shrink to insulate the terminals.

 

Next step is to connect the 1st SIL header  (2nd Header in the row) to J2 on the breakout board of the Core.

Now we will power on the core without using the Micro USB or Mini USB cables.

Switch on the power, or plug in the wallwart and ensure the Core and LCD display boot properly.

 

 

 

 

[Build Guide: MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Step 5: Uploading the MIDIbox Quad Genesis application / hex file

For this next step you will need an SVN client to download the MIDIbox Quad Genesis hex file to your computer.

I like to use the GUI over the command line so I use Tortoise SVN:

https://tortoisesvn.net/downloads.html

After installing Tortoise SVN, right click on a folder you would like to download the hex file to, and left click SVN Checkout.

Paste the following URL under "URL of repository":

svn://svnmios.midibox.org/mios32/trunk/apps/synthesizers/midibox_quad_genesis

Press the 3 Dots and select the Project.hex file.
Click okay, and then choose the Directory you want to download the file to.

Then click under Checkout Depth, and change it to "Only This Item", to prevent it from creating the directory layout.

 

Now its time to upload the Hex file. Connect the STM32F4 Core to a computer using the micro usb cable AND the mini USB cable.

Download and Launch MIOS Studio 2, you will need to have the Java Runtime Environment installed also:

http://ucapps.de/mios_studio.html

MIOS Studio should automatically detect the Core on startup.

Make sure the MIDI In and MIDI Out Devices say MIOS32.

Click Browse to locate your hex file and add it.

Click start to upload the Hex File.
If the Hex File uploads successfully you should see a screen like this on the LCD Display:

 

 

 

[Build Guide: MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Step 4: Adjusting the Brightness of the LCD Display

Plug the Core into a USB power source by connecting the Micro USB cable. 

Turn Potentiometer P1 (next to LUM1) clockwise to increase the brightness or luminance of the display using a screwdriver.

Turn Potentiometer P2 (next to CONT) clockwise from a fully anti clockwise position to increase the contrast of the display.

If you can only see character blocks then the contrast should be adjusted so that the character blocks can be barely seen:

If you can see the Bootloader screen with text then adjust the contrast to your preference.

[Build Guide: MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Step 3: Connecting the 2x40 LCD Display

First step is to solder a 2x8 DIL Header to the LCD Display with the longer pins underneath the LCDs PCB:

The connectors and cable should be orientated like in TK's picture below:

Please note that the cable at J15A of the (Core Breakout Board) goes through the connector to the left in the picture, then folds backwards and goes under the connectors clip and goes to the right.

On the opposite end the cable is NOT folded over at the connector on the LCD and no clip is used.

To see how to physically attach the connectors using tools please consult Jim Henry's guide, but do not pay attention to the connector orientation as its an older guide:

http://www.midibox.org/users/jim_henry/building_a_midibox_lcd_cable.pdf

Tip: I find using a Bench Vice to close the connector works best.

[Build Guide: MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Welcome to my guide!
The very first thing you should do is read the MIDIbox Quad Genesis section on the wiki as much as you can:

http://wiki.midibox.org/doku.php?id=midibox_quad_genesis

Especially the MBHP_GENESIS,  MBHP_Genesis_LS and MBHP_FP  pages.

If you would like to build the wooden case before soldering the electronics then please jump to this post:

 

Step 1:Installing the MIOS32 Bootloader on STM32F407G-DISC1

This is already explained in the STM32F4 Based Core page on ucapps.de.

Simply scroll down to:

http://ucapps.de/images/bullet.gif Installing the MIOS32 Bootloader

and follow the guide.
Remember that the Micro-USB cable must be inserted upside down on the left hand side of the board.

 

Step 2: Soldering the Core STM32F4 Breakout board:

This is also already explained on the STM32F4 Based Core page on ucapps.de

Simply scroll down the page further to:

http://ucapps.de/images/bullet.gif Soldering Guide

and follow the instructions.

After the soldering is complete please make sure to set the Jumper at J15_S to 5V, by connecting the 2 pins on the left hand side with the jumper.

This will feed our LCD display with 5 Volts. If your LCD Display uses 3.3V, then put the jumper to the 2 pins on the right hand side.

 

/edit TK: check if we can edit this posting

[MIDIbox SEQ new frontpanel idea]

Awesome work guys!

[One MB-6582, One Power Supply: a Tutorial]

Finally got around to doing this, i used have a crackle from time to time in the audio output using an c64 power brick, but this mod seems to have fixed it!

 

huge thanks to altitude for the mod, and to jaytee for the awesome tutorial!

[MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

So Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima have an announced a live tour performing the Streets of Rage and Revenge of Shinobi tracks live in conjunction with Red Bull Music Academy!
 

Imagine if they knew about MIDIbox Quad Genesis, it would blow their mind!

I would love to send them a video of one of us performing their original tracks live with it.

Sauraen I think you should do it as the creator and get the credit deserved.
If not I'd happily oblige.

Yuzo has been pretty responsive to fan made recreations of tracks on twitter in the past.

[MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Sauraen I don't suppose you have 21+ of the Bourns Encoders spare?

Mouser are sold out unfortunately. I might put a post up in the fleamarket.

Edit: Managed to buy some 17.5mm Bourns encoders of the same type with a little help from Tim!

[MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Just discovered that the System Load LEDs are missing from the Wiki!

LD52-LD67

That pretty much covers the where the missing LEDs went to.

Now my Grand Total LED count matches your count of 549!  

I've updated the Wiki with the missing LEDs.

I've also corrected the FM widget in my Google Sheet, some yellow and bright yellow LEDs were in wrong place.

Time to start oredering!

[Waveshare Core]

This was the aliexpress seller I mentioned a few weeks back for people wanting to save a few bucks:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Core407V-STM32F407VET6-STM32F407-STM32-ARM-Cortex-M4-Evaluation-Development-Core-Board-with-Full-IOs/753381244.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.47b75a57MQkZDO

Andy you were saying it would be fine to order from them if i remember correctly?

Going to place an order with them if all is in order. Better sooner than later!

[Ctrlr based editor for MBSID V2]

19 hours ago, ChinMuzik said:

Right, but in the link you posted there's no .jar files just CLASS files.

I posted a link to a zip file with the .jar file inside. 
I have no idea how you're seeing class files unless you clicked a different link to mine?

 

[4 Channels vs. 2 Channels]

Why do you want to make your own project with the ICs?

Have you got the necessary experience and skills in electronics / board design, and programming?

Sounds like you'll have to reinvent the wheel!

If you do have all those skills then I guess it won't be a problem for you.

I guess the question about 4 channels can only be answered by you and your personal needs. 

For making dos style "chiptunes" one chip should be enough but for the professional tunes it might be nice to have 2 or more. its pretty cheap to add more anyway. 

I presume you've seen Sauraens thread about his custom MIDIbox FM with the 4 chips?

That would be a good start to see exactly what's involved, he did say it's not an easy project to replicate though mainly due to his custom control surface that doesn't have a designated single PCB.

 

 

[MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

Apologies for the 3rd post but I've noticed that either my LED count or yours is off.

Here is a link to my Google Sheet for the LEDs required for Quad Genesis without Light Pipes for the LED Rings:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e7PeWjyg9Qxluu4zSR4OnmTipwN3ZEPqNWFs5G1rmXw/edit?usp=sharing

(I'm going to use Green instead of Blue LEDS for the LED Rings as you can see)

When I add up all the LEDs in my sheet I get 533 in total (bottom of the document).

But when I add the LEDs in your dokuwiki I get 553,  which is 20 extra.

 

I presume you know the total amount of LEDs required for the project or at least can find out easily using Kicad or whatever, so we can see which figure is wrong. Thanks.

BTW: I'm not including the Numerical LED Displays in this total, just the 3mm leds and 4 x bicolour leds (5mm)

[MIDIbox Quad Genesis]

And one last thing that mystifies me.
For the TriForce parts TF1-TF3, you have Red Green and Blue next to each.

But for the life of me I cannot see any holes for LEDs for TF1-TF3.

Were you thinking of adding on 3 extra leds to create a coloured Triforce or something?