Foona

OMG!!!! I CANT BELIEVE THIS!!!! >:( Everything was fine, everything was working. I even used the DubMasta with my regular production software, just for testing. After playing around a while i decided it was time for some programming. (DOUT and DIN's still not connected at this point.) I started up Serge's. I made one change just like the last time, just for testing. I uploaded the sysex and i got this... When MIOS is booting. After MIOS has booted when tweaking knobs, nothing happens on the LCD. Iv'e checked it with the midi monitor, the DubMaster doesent even send MIDI anymore!!! WHY!! All i did what upload sysex. How can that f**k my machine up like that?! I even tried uploading MIOS again, and that doesent help. All i get is what you see on the pictures and no MIDI comming out of it anymore. I never even touched the box.

Pass that shit man, cuz i needs that right now. Lots and lots of irie feelings here! I just solved the problem man. ..and im too embarrased to talk about it :-[ :-[ All the boards are from SmashTV. The J6 connector have pins on it that don't go nowhere.... When reading the schematics i didn't even care to look at the board closely. So i just soldered the ABC conectors to ABC... Without your help i wouldn't ever have found this, cuz i knew that the boards where connected. WRONG!!!! I moved the cables to the pins that actually are connected with the registers and what do i get. A fully functional setup. Ok i haven't connected the DIN or the DOUT yet, but im going to do that now. "I love it when a plan comes together" - Hannibal The A-team

Thats beacuse im almost drunk ;) i didn't just find a PC in the cellar hahaha

Thanx man. Im at the virge of giving up every two seconds. I think my mental stage needs an overhaul after all of this is over. Iv'e been sitting typing a new post while you did yours, so to stop myself from "add-editing", i'll answer you'r question about Channels dec/inc first. The MIDI channels decrease when tweaking down and increase while tweaking up. When the MIDI channel reaches the highest number it will start over again. I turn knob up a 1/4 of its travel and MIDI channel reaches 16 as i continue to tweak MIDI Channel starts over from 1 and keeps on going until maxium and then starts over again. Channels cycle from 1-16 on some pots and from 5-13 on some, even 10-16 on others. This is constant though. It's not like this problem moves between the pots. I know that if i tweak this pot the MIDI channel will cycle from 1-16, and on this particular pot, MIDI channel will cycle from 5-13. This is always constant. I test this between every app upload, and the problem stays the same. So the short answer is yes there is a relation to how i turn the know with the MIDI cycling. Once i stop turning, MIDI stops cycling. Im sorry, but cycling might be a wrong term for it...i couldn't find any other words for it. Story continues. Iv'e noticed that ALL the LED's on the DOUT, lights up/flickers when tweaking knobs. So i decided to disconnect everything. Pulled the optocoupler and Core again. Measured the voltages before putting them back in. CHECK! I then uploaded MIOS with MIOS studio. LCD displayed the cute "READY" message. CHECK I then connected the AIN boards. (i am so pleased with the new pots, jitters all gone) After that i uploaded the MB64 app, original version. Upload was successfull. CHECK I then tried turning knobs and pulling faders. Same result as before, i was expecting it anyway. Midi channels cycle when tweaking and only some pots work. NOW! In this stage i decided to check wich pins those working pots are connected to. I just want to know what you'r thoughts are about this. Working pins/pots: AIN1 J1: PIN 6 AIN1 J2: PIN 6 AIN1 J3: PIN 6 AIN1 J4: PIN 6 AIN2 J1: PIN 6 AIN2 J2: PIN 6 AIN2 J3: PIN 6 AIN2 J4: PIN 6 I might me stupid, but this still looks like a pattern to me. ;D I don't even care about the buttons and LED's anymore. Just getting the pots to work before the gig would be super. I could take care of the rest after. Also, MIDI channels inc/dec is the same as before, even now with a totally new MIOS and MB64 upload. I hope this can tell you something.

...geez i never said i wasn't a screw up. Let me clarify a bit. I got another computer, and with this new computer i was finally able to upload sysex with Serge's. Ive tested uploading the app with MIOS studio and it's working too. After testing many times now, both application works. The problem with the MIDI cycling came early. It's been like that since post #131 or something... I though back then it was due to the jittering with the pots. The change i wrote about..

Reloading MIOS? Do you mean reloading the app again? Or downloading MIOS again? Cuz iv'e uploaded the app about 20-30 times and it's still the same. Iv'e officially stoped having fun. And im out of beers, and cash.. <add-edit> wait... Do you mean re-burning the PIC?.... ....i purchased a preburned PIC from SmashTV, cuz i don't have the equipment nor the skills for that kind of stuff.. So if this is what you mean, then im sh*t out of luck. <edit> what could possibly make the midi channels cycle when turning/tweaking a pot?? It's been doing this since the begining. This is what i get when monitoring while tweaking the second knob (PIN2 on J1 on AIN1) When reaching channel 1 you can see the change i made. But why are the MIDI channels cycling?

I searched the forum and somewhere i read about people having problems sending sysex to their Midiboxes some time ago. This was due to the nature of their midigameports drivers and stuff. I sat here thinking for a coupe of minutes, and then i went down to the cellar. I came back up with another older computer. Windows XP was already installed yay!!! I then hooked up the Dubmaster to the PC and started upploading. 1. Uploading MB64 app with MIOS studio. *SUCCESS* 2. Uploading a clean default sysex with Serge's *SUCCESS* :o :o :o....... 3. Uploading a slightly modified sysex with Serge's. *SUCCESS* THOUGH!!!!! There are only about 7 pots that does anything. I don't understand this! It's been like this since i first uploaded the MB64 app. I discarded it by thinking, "oh, all those other pots must not be assigned or something...". How many pots are assigned by default in the MB64 app anyway? Seems i was wrong. Cause i can only use 7 pots right now :( Despite of what im uploading. I might have forgotten to change something in the MB64 app... But i do remember setting the app for 57 pots.

Aight! Im on it. <add-edit> The first thing i tried now was connecting the midi out of the PC with Serge's running on it, to my D.A.W PC. I then loaded the MIDI monitor from my SFP application. I didn't make any changes in Serge's as you suggested Stryd. Just wanted to se if Serge's is sending complete strings. This is what i got. (stupid midimonitor dont have a copy/paste function..) Looks like complete strings to me. I looked at the info about Serge's on ucapps, and when sysex is uploaded successfully you get this right? "Recieved Aknowledge - block upload was successfull". Well im not getting that. All i see is the sent bytes, and no indications that Serge's is recieving aknowledgement. So the sysex gets sent, but the box aint talking back..? It certainly does when using MIOS..this is so confusing. I just thought i should post my findings so far. :) In any case, i will now try to go through the checklist you provided in your latest post now.

:'( i hope there is a mb64 half-god out there with the power to remove this dispair from my soul..

Just reading that answer makes me feel better inside Stryd. 8) When using Serge's editor i have the box connected to the PC like with the MIOS studio. I do not touch anything else in between. I close MIOS studio and start up Serge's. I then choose the midi input and output (Crystal MPU-401). Im using a gameport for this "transaction". And it just wont work.

Yes i am using smart mode.

I don't get this.. When studying this MIDI troubleshooting i get the feeling it was made for people, not being able to get a connection at all. Im getting the connection and MIOS Studio MIDI monitor registers the upload request. Aps are uploaded without any problems, with right Checksums. But when i use Serge's MIDIbox Editors to upload sysex i get a "MIDI time out! Whats up???". i gotta get another beer before doing anything at all...

:'( Ok the first thing i tested was the upload request. I used MIOS Studio. And i got this (borrowed picture): I even tried uploading the app again and it worked perfectly. But uploading sysex with "Serge's MIDIbox Editor" fails miserably! Going to the next steps on the MIDI troubleshooting list. *sigh*

Geeeez......i AM a total screw up ;D Iv'e forgotten to incorporate menu buttons for my machine......... Well i have an extra 16 misc buttons. I can spare 4 of these for the menu buttons. But when looking at the Hex file im a bit confused. Which shift register are these menu buttons allready assigned to. Lets say i want to use 4 of the 16 misc buttons. But these are connected to the last register on the 2nd DIN. How do i tell the MB app this? <add-edit> when testeing with the default MB64 app, most faders and pots arent assigned right. Also, are the midichannels suposed to cycle when tweaking pots? <add-edit> I can understand the most basic functions in the app like LCD, how many buttons/pots.. But then there are more stuff than that in there. For instance, how do i assign a certain LED from the DOUT to a certain BUTTON on the DIN? <add-edit> I am so lost here. I have no idea what im doing. Programming has never been my thing. Iv'e tried this editor http://www.ucapps.de/howto_tools_syxedit_18f.html I made a setting and tried just clicking "send". The sysex gets sent, but the modification iv'e done is gone. It's liek the DM never recieved the sysex. Also, the LED's are flickering when i turn the knobs and faders. I'ts not like the LED's light up, just flickering. I have too many questions, and no time. I have no idea how im going to make it to the gig. <add-edit> When sending sysex i get this message on the LCD. ´ Is this good or bad?

Thanx man! ;D I feel so relieved, cuz it looks like everything is working. This "sucky pots" thing made me doubt my soldering skills, my wiring, well everything. Now it's time to look over the hex file and see what i need to do. And then i have some mapping to do. :) And after that, time for serious Dub my friends! When the smoke clears as they say. ;)

Iv'e installed the new pots and both AIN's are connected to the core. Result? It's alive! ;D Im proceeding with the DOUT's.

Not my girl. She got her hands all over my stuff... :P Ok i recieved my pots today, and im about to wire em up. So wish me luck!

Hey man! Thanx for the info. At least i wont have to throw these pots away. I hate throwing stuff away, you always find yourself regreting it. I might get to use em in some other projects, not as important as this one. :P But since the DM is going to be with me many years and through many gigs, i need it to "stay sharp", so these new pots are invaluable.

Iv'e been asked this before, and the answer is no. :( But there is a brother hahah Im not kidding, when i was occupied with other stuff on this project, my girl/future wife was right there beside me, measuring and cutting up all cables i needed. She's been there every step when she had the time for it. Incredible i tell you, and she did a damned good job too. you would be amazed....cuz...she's a girl... Mabye im a bit old fashioned....but it's not often i hear of girlfriends helping with electronical projects like this. <edit> I have now ordered the pots..and it will take 5 days before i get them..... That means i'll only have 2-3 weeks to get it all straight for the gig.

Man im so relieved! Thanx! Iv'e tried resoldering half of the pots i use now. Jitter flyes away..and then it lands after 10 minutes again. I can't use these pots. These pots came from China, and im gonna gather some more information to post here. Mabye it can help other midiboxers to avoid getting bursting veins on their forehead like me... Also, it looks like there is some mercy for me afterall. My girlfriend's been helping alot with the "around stuff" on this project. She told me to order the pots right away. She'll be paying for them. I love her so much!!! :-*

CR*P CR*P CR*P!!!! As soon as i find a jittering pot i have a new pot jittering. I change it, then everything is okay..then seconds later while tweaking another pot i got new jitters. Some pots can reach 127..and then i test a new one...i go back to the first one, and suddenly it only goes up to 120, and down to 3. Then jitters appear. How am i supposed to be able to do anything when it's like this. Iv'e changed 4 pots and im still getting the jitters back. ! minute gone completely..next minute back. You're probably right.....aw man...im not getting a paycheck for like another month, and by then my gig is over. I'll have to do magic to get some new pots that fit. <edit> Ok, how does ALPS RK09 pots sound? Would they do?

Ok now im getting pissed of. >:( Everything was okay yesterday. Every pot checked out. Iv'e been taking it slow, adding 1 pot at a time, and yesterday i found a faulty pot. after fixing that everything was okay. I checked several times. And today i have jitters again. And i cannot localize it. Im going freaking mad!! The only board connected is the AIN2 boards with the rotary pots on it. I never got around to connect the second board yesterday.

Check my new signature. It must be the most true quote ever! Back on course.. I have now managed to get all pots but 1 stable. If i tweak the pot down it's stable, but when i tweak it up, jitters appear. This is the only pot doing it. Iv'e measured this pot several times now, while tweaking it too. And it measures about 9.98K. this is ok. Then why isn't it working? Im going to try to swap it for a new one. I really hope it works, cuz im real fed up with searching for GND errors... :) <edit> It was a faulty pot!!! ;D Now i have to connect both AIN boards to the core. <edit> I was going to connect the second AIN board. Question. Is this the right way to connect the AIN boards? 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

Yes grease residue, thats it. Well it looks like it though. When the leg get heated, this grease becomes fluid and the solder wont get through to the surface. I should have gotten the isopropanol out to clean the legs before soldering. I don't know if my soldering skills are good or bad, either way reminders are never wrong. So im still going to watch that movie. :) <add-edit> I forgott. All pots (rotary and faders) where measured with multimeter before mounting on panel. <add-edit> Well iv'e watched the video, and i must say, that is a great video! Either way, my soldering skills aren't bad, i see that now. Though i should stop rushing it. My biggest problem... <add-edit> ;D WOHOOO!!! I finally got the first 8 pots to work flawlesly. ;D Alot of jobs on those pots i tell you. Next time i'll clean them thoroughly before soldering. No more grease please. Lets se, i have 24 pots to go, so i better get crunching! <add-edit> 16 pots to go. Bring on the horses, cuz i still have a stable system... I know, that joke is soo far fetched that i pulled a muscle in my hand typing it.

There might be some cause for a trip to Denmark about that time. I might be performing at a Psychedelic Trance party around then. It depends on what happens now and how my Dub gig goes. Well i have now connected pot by pot. And i have gotten jitters and removed jitters. Many times on the same pots. One second problems gone, another second problem comes back. I have discovered that my pots are not to easy to solder. The solder is having a hard time sticking to the surfare. So...i pulled out a filing tool.... :)...and started filing on a leg. After that, soldering is much more easy....and now i have to do this on every pot just to make shure. :(