Foona

Thanx guys :) Well, i did stop yesterday at about 4 hours before i had to go to work. Today i came home, and instead of going straight to the MB, i stepped into my kitchen opened the fridge and grabbed the coolest beer i could find. I have now dissconnected all pots from AIN2 board. And the jitters are gone. :) Im now going to connect 1 pot at a time and check for GND jitters in between every connected pot. Jitters...how do you get them. Bad soldering? Shortage? Oh yeah, i was born without patience. Before midibox, i didn't even know how to spell it haha ;D But im really trying. I hope you can see that.

I didn't ground any of the Digital pins before, and after that explanation i certainly wont do it in the future. ..i hope haha. Proceeding with next AIN board. <edit-add> Wait a minute. I just discovered i haven't connected J6 on AIN1 module to J6 on core....but it seems to work. what does port J6 really do here? <add-edit> I have dissconnected the AIN1 module again and proceeded with connecting AIN2 module to J5A on core. I wanted to see if i got the same results as with AIN1, but here i get the "LCD halt-before-boot of death". So, im gonna figure out whats wrong with the wiring on it. <add-edit> I resoldered the connections again, and voila. the fluxuating thingy is back again! :D This makes me happy, cuz at least now im on to something. Gotta find that GND problem. <add-edit> I just had to throw in a qiz in between here. Stryd, when you said "Don't ground digital pins!" Did you mean the DOUT pins too?

hahahaha ;D Im really a screw up. Ok, iv'e clamped every unused input to ground now. this is what i get on the LCD: It's not fluxuating anymore. Can i proceed with connectin a AIN module? <add-edit> Ok first AIN is connected now with success im happy to tell you. :) I didn't check the app before i uploaded it, so i have no idea how it's mapped right now. Some faders do nothing, and some do something. Fader going upp, numbers go up, fader go down, numbers go down, and it looks stable. Im gonna check the wiring on the AIN2 board now before i connect it. I'll dissconnect everything from it then do it all over.

Oh yeah. :-[ Ok doing it.

ok.. The only wires on the core are the LCD and power supply. All other wires have been dissconnected. Would the LCD show this eventhough software hasn't been fully uploaded? <add-edit> Of course, midi cables are still there too :)

Ok iv'e dissconnected every beard now. I measured all the voltages again before procceeding with turning the MB on. Now the LCD shows two rows of squares, just like in this picture from post #110: As i stated before, PIC is loaded with MB64 app. Is this healthy? Im going to proceed with hooking up one AIN board now.

It feels good to know that im not the only one here doing loong posts. :) I wish you the best of luck on all your upcomming projects! (asking your wife..is like telling yourself "NO"...) ;)

wait...i haven't grounded the unused inputs to J7...only to Vs on port J4. Is that it?

Cr*p thats the second time you've linked that schematics for me, and i forgott all about it. Im so sorry about that. I might sound strange to you, but i do not completely understand this. What else is there to ground on the Core? Im using ALL ports on both AIN boards. The unused pins on the J4 port on AIN1 is grounded..like the schematic say, so at least that is right i think. As i understand it, if a port is unused, you ground the corresponding pin on the Core for that port? man, im feeling so stupid, cuz i can't see what iv'e done wrong...and i don't know how anyone could explain it even more. Cuz this schematic is allready doing that. It's just that i can't grasp it. :-[ Am i not supposed to use ports J5A and J5B? Am i supposed to use port J5 on the core? ' But atleast i understand that I have done something wrong. I just can't grasp it.

Im not shure i understand this grounding issue correctly. Am i not supposed to connect AIN modules before loading the app into the core? Before i dissconnect anything or even do anything, i want to make shure im understanding what im doing. So iv'e gone over my AIN to CORE connections thoroughly with the "summer" in my multimeter. Iv'e checked every connection and wrote it all down. Mabye you guys can se right away what iv'e done wrong here. So my AIN boards are connected like this: Please bare with me. :-[ AIN 1 module port J5 connected to port J5A on CORE: AIN1 PORT J5 Vd - Vd CORE J5A AIN1 PORT J5 Vs - Vs CORE J5A AIN1 PORT J5 A0 - A0 CORE J5A AIN1 PORT J5 A1 - A1 CORE J5A AIN1 PORT J5 A2 - A2 CORE J5A AIN1 PORT J5 A3 - A3 CORE J5A On AIN module 1 all inputs on ports J1, J2, J3 are used. On port J4, only 1 input is used. All other inputs on that port, are grounded to Vs on that port. ----- AIN 2 module port J5 connected to port J5B on CORE: AIN2 PORT J5 Vd - Vd CORE J5B AIN2 PORT J5 Vs - Vs CORE J5B AIN2 PORT J5 A0 - A4 CORE J5B AIN2 PORT J5 A1 - A5 CORE J5B AIN2 PORT J5 A2 - A6 CORE J5B AIN2 PORT J5 A3 - A7 CORE J5B On AIN module 2 all inputs on all ports are used. AIN 1 port J6 connected to AIN 2 port J6, and from J6 on AIN2 to port J6 on CORE. AIN 1&2 Port J6 Pin A - RC on port J6 on Core AIN 1&2 Port J6 Pin B - SC on port J6 on Core AIN 1&2 Port J6 Pin C - SI on port J6 on Core Furthermore: Ive used Ports J7 on both AIN modules for +5 supply, and ground for the pots and faders. All pots connected to AIN1 get +5 and GND from J7 on that board. All pots connected to AIN2 get +5 and GND from J7 on that board. Iv'e used this schematics: http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_ainx4_64pots.pdf And before connecting anything i read all info about ports here: http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/mbhp_ainR4.html And here: http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/mbhp_coreR4d.html Ive tried to be as thorough as possible. Hope this helps.

Ok i hooked the MB up to the PC, ran MIOS studio and uploaded the MB64 app without editing it. I just wanted to test if the PIC was ok and could revieve data. Upload goes well and when finished, i look at the MB64 LCD and i see this. Boot screan appears Thorsten Close MIOS..etc etc. then this appears and stays this way: Those levels are fluxuating like mad, as do the numbers. It's like its counting up and down, exremely fast. Anyone that might reckognise this problem?

Thanx Cimo :D Deleting my Thread? ??? Regarding the LTC module. I can't seem to find the issue with the LTC so far. Just looking over the connections i can't seem to find any problems with it? Only 4 connections between LTC and Core, and cables are intact on the right spots. MAX232 is not stuffed. I'll have to pull it out of my DM and check it thourugly. <add-edit> Since i pulled the LTC out of this orchestra of boards, my regulator have running cool. 8) So im leaving the +9VCD output as it is. I have however rebuilt part of the PSU curcuit to output a +5VCD for the backlit. And i am happy to say it's stable...kinda hahaha. ;D I have the heat problem back, but this time it's in the PSU. The 7805 is getting hot, but i did expect this. It's struggling with regulating 12 volts down to 5 so it's understandable. But it seems the bigger heatsink is able to cope with this, for now that is. :P I will at a later time rebuild the PSU again. ..probably just put a extra 9volt transformer in wich should give stable +5volts after stabilisation. This one would be devoted to the backlit on the LCD...just idea's in this state. Any hints would be welcome. Well im of to look over the "programming/mapping" of my DubMasta now. Wish me luck!

First of all i want to thank you guys for the support. Iv'e been so focused on the core iv'e overlooked something else. Today i decided to take Sryd's advice. But there was something bothering me.. Iv'e been noticing that the LED's on the LTC have been flashing randomly. I kinda put that way back into my head, cuz the core felt more important. I turned on the MB one more time...hoping i had a bad dream yesterday.... :P Well..the LTC LED's where still flashing after turning the MB of..randomly.. ...my first thought.. Disconnect the LTC board. So i did and this was the result: Looks better like that :) I gotta check the LTC module and connections now. After that im going to rebuild the PSU so i can get some backlight to my LCD and less heat in my DubMasta. I suck so much at troubleshooting. I miss out on information, i leave vital information out, not to be a pain in the ass, just because i tend to wind up to breake point. I apologise for this. what do ya'll work with? Any chance one of you is working at a mental ward? You guys have been so patient with me, it makes me wonder. ;) I still have bad juju in my tummy... <add-edit--as usuall..> Before i dissconnected the LTC i measured the voltage on J1 after turning the MB of. I discovered there was no power getting in, so the PSU works fine, as do the power switch on the MB. So the LED's being able to flash after powers been shut of, must be becuse of the residual power in the 2200uF cap on the core. Or am i completely wrong?

IC where inserted right ways, i cheked thourughly. And also the right IC's in the right spots. Checked. How ever i have no way of testing IC's, so i don't know if they're damaged. I have changed the regulator...and i measure 7.5VCD on the output now...and 0VCD at PORT J2... Im gonna dissconnect all other devices now. And then start measuring again... <add-edit> I have dissconnected all Vd's and Vs's like Cimo said. Now im still getting a 7.5VCD on the new regulator output, and still 0VCD on the J2 port, so no changes. Im gonna check the schematics for the core. Some other components must be broken. <add-edit> Ok so iv'e changed the regulator again. Dissconnected everything, started measuring, now im getting 5,8 VCD out of my regulator. looks better. At port J2 i get 5.02 VCD at all IC sockets i get 5.02VCD looks perfect. Though the regulator is running a bit hot..not as hot as before, but hot enough to destroy cables kinda.. I then proceeded with hooking up all Vd's and Vs's. After doing that, i get 0VCD at port J2 and in IC sockets...and regulator output fluxuates between 0.30-.056VCD. So i procceed with dissconnection only Vd port by port, checking for voltages in between. I discovered that removing Vd from J5B (to the second AIN board) removed this problem. Now...what the h*ll is it that iv'e done that would give this result?? ??? Im gonna check the wiring for that board.. Still concerned about the regulator getting hot. <edit-add> It must be a male thing. Never being able to admit that one would do anything wrong. "Naaaw man, i know my stuff, this shit should just work, cuz I haven't done anything wrong maan!" why do we act like this? ..well atleast me and my friends act like this.. Anyway, all LED's light up when powering on the MB (all chips installed except PIC and optocoupler), is this healthy? :) Also im getting 5.02 volts where it should be. Now im gonna put the PIC and optocoupler in, and se if i got the LCD wired correctly this time around... I have work do now, so im going to save my utter and complete embarrasement for now. But im going to make shure you have a complete essay about what i did together with pictures for you to laugh at. I promise! <add-edit again...> Ok what iv'e done now is mounting PIC and Optocoupler. Success..kinda. Voltages are stable though regulator is still running hot. I got help with redrawing the schematics for my PSU, from people at Svenska Elektronik Forumet. My current PSU is sett like this +9VCD, GND, -9VCD Im not using the -9VCD now. My new setup will loke like this +5VCD, GND, +5VCD. The LCD will have it's own source pre core, also the voltage for the core will be easier on the regulator. There is alot more room in the PSU for the heat to dissipate, and also, i have room for much bigger heatsinks to. So i figured, let the PSU handle the heat. Hope it will work. ;D Well, something is still fishy about my LCD. I fiddled with the trimpots for the LCD, and all i got from it was this. hmm, it's not supposed to look like that.. :-\

Im sorry about the confusing post edit Cimo and to all other reading this too. Im in a panic state right now. I have a gig comming up in like less then a month. I would have been done a long time ago with this project if i had gotten my part in time, but that never happens as one wish it to obviously. I mean, i started planning for this project months ago... :-\ I have 10 half finished Dub tracks that needs work done, and i really need the DubMasta to plan my performance. And as i recently got a new job, time is all i don't have. So please bare with me. Now, yesterday when i hooked the power up before putting any IC in any sockets, i checked them all for voltages. I had +5VCD everywhere. I then turned of my DM and the PSU, i then proceeded with mounting every IC, and then i turned it on again. Something must have happened, because the regulator is hot, and all sockets show about 0.34 VCD... And this is soo damned frustrating. Cuz i cannot find any shorts anywhere. All wires checkes out, iv'e been testing them with a summer, and they all go where they are supposed to go. Ok so i had the LCD wired wrong, but i fixed that, thanx for pointing it out Cimo. But now i do not want to put the chips back in, the voltage is to low, and i don't want to breake anything...more.. I need to find that darn gremlin!

I used this schematic. http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_lcd_4bit.pdf Is this schematic old or outdated? I used it for the MbSID and it works fine........ehm...did i assume something stupid again? :-[ <edit> "If a PIC18F4685 is used in the project (-> MIDIbox SID V2), the LCD is accessed in 4bit mode. Accordingly, the data pins D0/D1/D2 and D3 should be left open at core and LCD side (don't connect them to ground!) - see mbhp_lcd_4bit.pdf" How the hell could i miss this?!?!?! :o aaaw maaaan..... But...would this make my regulator go a beserk?

I was lazy at the time of those pictures. I asked my friend "mr.Helping hands" to hold the LCD for the shoot. ;D Besides there where no clips there when i tested it the first 20 times. It was mounted on the panel. I have now re-done them a couple of times, with the same result. :( Trust me, that was the first thing rhat came into mind, but nothing happens when i tweak the trim-pots. And im wondering... D3 is supposed to be connected to +5VCD right. So i used Vd pin on port J2. And as iv'e stated a few times before, this port is only giving out about 1.34VCD. ??? this is not right... I tried measuring between GND and output en the regulator, and im getting 1.34VCD... Now, is the LCD supposed to work anyway without D3 getting +5VCD? Because of it doesent work without it, then everything else i do to the LCD is useless right now. My Regulator is cooking and port J2 is supposed to give out +5VCD. ...i hate setbacks... Im going to swap the regulator for a new one first. <edit-add> Ok so i tried measuring the input of the regulator. I hook my probes up to it and then i hit the "on" switch. Now it starts at 5.10 VCD and rises with the heat buildup. when the regulator is scorching hot, the voltage gets to about 6.10 volts and keeps rising. This is where i have to turn it of, the regulator is just getting too hot. What does this mean? Also i was wrong about the voltage on the regulator output and port J2. Voltage is not 1.34 it's 0.34.

Using no pin headers, they are just too expensive around here. I solder directly to pins, just like on the MbSID i built. I'll take a foto, even though it's not the most clean setup, :-[ I can't find any short on the LCD though. even though if there where a short on the LCD...would this make port J2 show 1.34VCD.. even when iv'e disconnected the D3 pin from port J2? <edit> This is not making any sence to me. Im getting stable 9.20 volts in to the J1 port of the core. I even unmounted the Core from the bottom of my DM and looked it over. I cannot find any shorts anywhere on either bottom or topside. Iv'e even tried resoldering power related components, and im still getting 1.34 VDC out of the regulator on the core and it is running hot as hell! I'll try to swap it for a new one, it might be broken o something. Im starting to feel the crazy bug comming back...it's giving me chills... >:(

Ok so i discovered something more. My LCD wasn't displaying anything. Iv'e desoldered it, resoldered it, ive tried connecting it both ways, mirrored and unmirrored. Regulator still getting hot. So i opened up my MbSID (Darth vaders synth), i did this for curcuit reference, and i discovered that iv'e conected the D3 (with the 1K pull up resistor) directly to J2 on the core in my DubMasta. Now in my MbSID i didn't do this, i conected it directly to the +5VCD outlet on the PSU board. And the regulator on the core in the MbSID is running cool. I disconnected the LCD on my DubMasta again, and also disconnected the D3 from the J2 port on the core. Regulator stoped running hot. Looks like it's kinda solved.... But whould this really make the LCD NOT printing anything on the screen? ??? <edit> I was again wrong in my assumption. Regulator is still getting very very hot, and my LCD wont desplay anything. <edit> there is definetly something wrong here. Im reading low voltage (1,34VDC) on the output pin of the regulator. Getting the same results when measuring port J2. Must be a short somewhere.

Yes i do have a heatsink on the core regulator, but it' is running really hot. And i have measured the voltage comming in before the regulator and it is 9.10VDC. Im going over everything today, hopefully i'll fix this soon. Wont be easy, it's pretty full in there..

This is soo frustrating. The regulator on the core is running very hot. You can smell the hot electronics like 30 sec's after turning it on. Even now when i have removed power supply to the backlit LCD, it's still running hot. I hoped it would fix it but it hasn't obviously..what to do now? ??? This worries me alot, due to the small space inside that compartment. Alot of cables running through there, and i don't want them scorched to death. <edit> Would this be due to the fact that im feeding the core with 9 volts?

;D On the schematics for the AIN and DIN there are instrucions, but i cannot find this information on the DOUT schematic. Regarding the unused outputs on the DOUT board, do i need to clamp them to ground?

Thank you thank you thank you, and if i haven't thanked you enough, then please accept this token of my gratitude: [glow=green,2,300]Thank you![/glow] ;D

:) Thanx for the tip Stryd-one! Ok, so iv'e put the lamp design on halt and and have proceeded with wiring the DM. Now this picture of the "starlike" pattern for the pots are confusing... Im allready having trouble separating Vs and Vd.... But if i solder the pots in this "starlike" pattern...then...Vd and Vs will be swiched on pots to the right.. Am i wrong...? I though i was supposed to connect Vd and Vs in the same way on all pots.. ??? Could someone just clarify this for me please. Counting the pins on the pots from left to right. Pin1= Vs Pin2= Din Signal (D0,D1,D2...) Pin3= Vd Is this correct? <add-edit> And also.. Wich one of these are right? 1. Vs= +, Vd= Ground or 2. Vd= +, Vs= Ground