latigid on
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Posts posted by latigid on
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You mention "affordable" as a main requirement, which will mean something different if you are Mr. Oizo! Something you should realise is MIDIbox is a cool way to get custom hardware, but it's not necessarily going to be cheaper. I've seen many grandiose plans never get past the design phase because they are a bit too ambitious or they realise it will cost $$$. But it's certainly doable!
Seeing as you have the Behringers already, you might be able to test the concept of merged data streams with a Core 32, which supports at least 4 MIDI ins and outs. Are you good on the programming side? I'm sure you could mess with the code to process the data however you like, including sending custom sysex streams if needed.
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I can't remember too many truly massive NGs during the past couple of years, but this was certainly done in the early days of MIDIbox. I would say if you really wanted modular blocks then house each in its own case and send/receive the data by ordinary MIDI. You could then have a master box which merges all of the inputs and sends out the data over USB. For this you would need one Core module per box, and an 8-bit one will do the job just fine.
It's possible to send out balanced data signals via the line driver/receiver boards but MIOS works in a chain, not a star. Having multiple Core modules means just one chain per box, rather than multiple line drivers (which is untested as far as I know).
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I believe that s/he is asking if somebody will develop this controller on commission, I can see how it might be done but I think the cost would be quite high. To OP: what are you willing to pay? I'm not signing up to build it :), but just to get an idea of how much you think it's worth. My guess is that it would be more than you expect.
It makes more sense to arrange encoders in multiples of 8 as that's how the shift registers are connected. I can see groups of 2x4, meaning you might get away with PCB mount on many small boards. The button pads are trickier as they must PCB mount, then you have to work out how to secure them. And I'm not sure if there's a MIDIbox application for force-sensing resistors or piezo elements, you might need to search the forum a bit.
The case would also be quite pricey, it might be better to first pick an off-the-shelf model and design around that.
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Still waiting on bank payment from TK., ganchan and flyweight. When you make the transfer, it's best to use USD as requested. If you must specify euros, the amount might not be quite correct and I'll ask for a top-up :). You can use this calculator to get an idea of the exchange rates:
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Progress:
New additions:
- More mounting holes
- Holes centred
- Fixed traces
- LPF for PSU (to test)
- Schmitt triggers on SC, RC and SO lines (keeps clock signals at Vcc to avoid latch-up)
- Start up delay for /output enable EDIT: can also be controlled by a spare PIC pin if available/if there's code space left (e.g. port B currently allocated to the LCD)
- Base-emitter resistors, might help with the very faint ghosting. Also necessary when tri-stating the 595 outputs at start up
- Discrete components are easy 1206, in fact the most fiddly thing will probably be the 289 THT diodes!
- Diode bending jig added to a corner (experimental)
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PCBs now at the fab. All going well you will receive them in time for Oktoberfest :)
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I already have PCBs for this (as of yet untested):
It's a dual design board for AIN and AOUT of 100x50 mm and includes my range switching ideas (bipolar +5/-5, 0-5 and 0-10). It lines up with my AIN and AOUT boards which would be panel mounted by their attenuator pots and connected through IDCs.
DOUT comes in from the right, and there's two channels of MOSFET level shifting. I think the DOUT is mirrored in this case, but as long as you're in the know it's easy to adjust one end of the cable :).
There's a hex Schmitt trigger which will condition a clock for AIN and drives LEDs on the remaining 4 channels.
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cool. confirmed it passed the bot at ponoko. $36 with prime :)
Sweet :)
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There are quite a few ways to level shift for gates. It can be done very simply with transistors or the ULN chip as suggested, but you might have to invert the gates in software. It seems a little strange that the low side doesn't swing to 0V, but I'm not too familiar with the chip.
7407 is a hex buffer with open collector outputs, so you can pull up to any voltage you need with the appropriate protection resistor. If you search, I have a PCB design on this forum.
I know Altitude and the MIDIALF use CD4504s. I still haven't tested my newer circuit with 4427 dual MOSFET drivers but that should be okay too. More ideas here:
https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=135374
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Oh, that reminds me. So u have the laser cut part finalized? I've got prime for Ponoko for another couple weeks so I could do a US run
Okay, I've attached it, eventually I'll write up a wiki page. It's based on the "P2" size, 384 mm square. I chose milky acrylic, but I don't see a problem with opaque (?).
This EPS file uploads correctly to Formulor, but please verify that everything looks okay before ordering. Because the spacer doesn't span the entire PCB I've added a few extra "washers" to help with the spacing, hopefully they work out okay.
You have extra room on two edges if you need anything else done.
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Good news:
50% discount on materials at Formulor, valid until the end of September. I am still doing final PCB tweaks but hope to order soon.
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I'm tentatively down for about 50 transparent/clear ones :)
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This is one of the problems with using a serial interface to the Dout boards that don't have a power ON reset circuit or pin to hold the shift registers off. Most latching IC;s will power up in a random state and this is what you see before the Midibox starts scanning the Dio chain. For lights its usually not a problem but if you are driving electromagnets it can be problematic and something to consider in your design. Bringing up the power in stages with 2 power supplies works fine too.
Not so fast perhaps!
When I tried moving the resistor to the main board the problem reappeared. The crocodile leads added half an ohm and 0.9 uH each. Trying to tailor this LCR circuit with real components also didn't help.
I now think there may be a problem with the current sink drive transistors on the common cathode lines (595 out --1k-- transistor base). Because they have no bias resistor at the base, small leakage currents can propagate which might lead to weird behaviour. So that's probably the first thing to try.
Secondly, I've seen examples of using the /OE (output enable) pin to tri-state the outputs at startup. This could be configured in two ways: first is an RC circuit shown below:
The cap should probably be 10 uF for a delay of about 150 ms. The resistor at 10k should work, while the diode helps to discharge things when the power is removed.
Second is to replace the cap with a 10k pullup, then use a spare PIC pin to drive /OE low only when the SRIO chain is properly initialised (diode and "R8" out of circuit). As an added bonus, pulsing /OE can then control LED brightness, although the utility is reduced in my design as the /OE pins of three separate 74HC595s are tied together to make PCB routing easier. And there's the question of 5 spare pins needed from the PIC (5x SCALAR circuits chained)
I've read that you shouldn't leave transistor bases floating (remember DOUTs will be essentially open circuit at startup), so that's another reason for pull downs on the bases. The question remains whether similar pull downs are needed on the 595 outs connected to the LED anodes. I don't want to decrease the current with an additional voltage divider (even though 220R/10k sets up a divider of only 10000/10220, should be insignificant). And I suppose that no current can flow with the transistor off.
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All current invoices are now sent.
I have contacted those who initially signed up, but had changed circumstances, with an option to deposit $100 with me to hold the pricing as it is at the moment. Full payment could be delayed for at least half a year. No problem if this doesn't work at the moment, but the downside will be increased costs in the long run as the current order relies on certain quantity discounts.
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That's what I was thinking, it will totally depend on your actual organ as to what solution would work, but the ULN driver chip is an easy hardware fix for inverted gates. As a bonus, you can supply the chip with a higher voltage and it will act as a level shifter if you need say 15 V for S-trig.
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We continue. I'll send out the bank payment details and remaining Paypal invoices today.
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It's probably best to bulk order in the EU/US. Here are the prices for a set of 18:
Mouser single person: $88.02 Mouser 6 people (108): $78.12 ADAfruit single person: $80.28 ADAfruit 6 people (108): $71.28
(the unlucky few who missed out on a shift button need a whole extra 4x4 piece)
In my experience, I don't normally pay customs fees or VAT from Mouser if I choose UPS as shipping and order over a certain amount. With ADAfruit these would be added on. I'm a leeeetle bit uncomfortable with bringing piles of button pads and LEDs over the border, even though I realise it would be the most efficient way to ship everything together...
Would someone in DE/AT run a bulk order of LEDs/button pads from Mouser and ship them out? It might save $50 per person.
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Hi, great news! I realise many people are on vacation at the moment. I will reply personally to you but I wanted to mention the button availability here.
I would recommend buying the silicone buttons from Mouser at the same time as the remaining components. If adafruit have a supply deal with Mouser then it means that they intend to make these for a while yet. And still, they are readily available directly from adafruit but you would of course have to pay for shipping that way. The order from MIDIbox would even be enough to justify a production run for them I think. So: don't panic :) but you could email them if you were worried. I once asked if any larger discounts (hundreds) were possible and got a pretty terse response, but maybe they get that a lot :).
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for me the case could wait, the soldering will take a while anyway...asambling later.
it would be tragic if the whole thing did not get reality... its time for a new way of making music :phone: ... a step forward to be complete...ya i know thats impossible.
do you have Part (type)-list for this thing? (how many shift registers, size of smd leds and so on, numbers silicon button-matrices, fader)'
I am hopeful, let's wait one week to see who gets in touch with me.
For the parts list I have the Mouser carts ready to go (you can then try to find alternative parts if you want) but as they normally ship within a day or two I think I would rather check the final PCB version first.
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I too, received no PM with the invoice. Only the one on the 2nd of August.
Hello, you requested bank transfer as payment method, I haven't sent these yet as I am setting up a USD account (no point in exchanging currency twice...), plus a few people don't have the funds to pay at the moment.
Here's the current situation: I have had 7 payments already from PayPal, one which I would re-send and 5 to be paid by bank transfer. I calculated pricing for 16 cases, and as three people have pulled out for now it puts me behind. I've contacted all the others who expressed interest in the project asking if they want to join.
I see these options:
1) Hopefully get enough signed up to make the quantities (perhaps I'll wait one week for answers)
2) Order at the same price with the hope/expectation that others will come in later. I may need to take a small deposit from the "waitlisted people" if that was the case.
3) Hold the payments now and wait for more people to join.
4) Go ahead with the order, but with increased pricing for the cases given the lower quantities.
5) Refund just the case costs, have a new order open for cases.
6) Refund everything, wait for more sign ups.
7) Flag the whole idea for now.
To anyone that has sent me money already, I'm sorry about this situation and I'm doing my best to fix it. Also learning internet Bulk Orders as I go :smile:. I'm not out to screw anyone, and if things are looking down I will refund your payment straight away. Let's discuss via PM if you need anything clarified.
When the best option is clear I will send out invoices for bank payments.
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Another option is finding hollow shaft encoders and sticking a normal through hole RGB LED in.
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I was sure I did, but you're right, I'm sorry. Internet is being a bit funny here today.
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I cancelled your one and somebody else's as explained by PM. I have no margin on the cases as I figured you'd want them as cheap as they could be. I have contacted all of those who expressed interest in the hopes of maintaining the same pricing. But I'm not going to risk a personal loss, even though I could order some cases now and some later at the same price. I have to commit to a certain number, and I realise now that circumstances change and no one can guarantee that they'll have the funds in a few months, which could leave me thousands out of pocket. If I can't get the numbers I will have to increase the pricing or refund those already paid.
Sorry for the inconvenience to all involved... but it won't be a problem if I can just get a few more on board. I'm hopeful of this :)
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Hello,
Hmm, sorry about your circumstances. I have to see if there's sufficient interest from the waitlist, otherwise I might have to refund the already collected PayPal payments or adjust the pricing. It might be an option to just order the PCBs for now and do a run of cases later.
Alternative to LED encoder rings: illuminated red-green encoders?
in Design Concepts
Posted
I would say that we don't know how it will work until somebody (i.e. me) tries it. You have 256 colour levels with RGB LEDs but only 16 with the LREs, although you do have a positional indicator. Remember that exact values can be read out on the associated LCD. So hopefully I have some time to design and test after the BLM is out the door.
Interested to see what you come up with, both in terms of electronics (see FantomXR's work above) and also the "engineering" side (panel spacing, getting the light through etc.).