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Did you want to build your own BLM PCB (either fabbed or on Veroboard)? If so, it's more than possible but involves some work: http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/button_duoled_matrix.pdf http://www.midibox.org/midibox_seq_blm_ext/ But if you have the PCB already, you have everything you need to make it work, the SRIO chain is onboard via SMDs.

Switching Vreg in my MB-6582 here, no audible noise. I won't dig up the part number because I think it's obsolete now. You have to wire in some voodoo jumpers but it's not too hard. Also consider keeping the linear Vreg for the SIDs.

Not possible to use a bi-directional LED as far as I know, unless you can "Charlieplex" the IO pins. TK and others have said this in several different threads. Any idea on cost for the RGB variant? The only thing similar that I know of is the Omron B3W-9000-RG2N, which is more than $2.50 a pop in quantity. Sadly the Wellbuying RGB is common anode, again not compatible with the SCALAR circuit at the moment. http://www.wellbuying.com.tw/UP_pdf/tc011%20series.pdf

Damn, just placed one a day ago! Sorry!

Most of the Chinese fabs will take less than a week but shipping will be expensive depending on where you live. Try http://pcbshopper.com/ to get a run down of prices and delivery times. Also it's funny that you've repeated your post one week later, I guess you didn't need it that quickly? :poke:

You're welcome. Yes, you can use a single shift register or buy a DOUTX4 board from http://www.midibox-shop.com/

Hi and welcome! There are two ways of getting gates: either using pins directly from the Core or (more recently) a DOUT chain. I think DOUT gates should work with the LPC17 core, I know TK implemented this for the STM32F4 core. Check here for setting up gates: http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_seq_manual_hw.html Here a MBSEQ_HW.V4 configuration example which works with the MBSEQ Frontpanel PCB: ################################################## # CV and Gate/Trigger/Sync Setup ################################################## # the 8 CV gates can be assigned to a shift register (0=off, 1-32: number of shift register): # - 1st CV Gate available at DOUT SR output D7 # - 2nd CV Gate available at DOUT SR output D6 # - 3rd CV Gate available at DOUT SR output D5 # - ... # - 8th CV Gate available at DOUT SR output D0 CV_GATE_SR1 3 # and DIN Clock Outputs can be assigned to a shift register as well (0=off, 1-32: number of shift register): # D7..D0 will output individual clock or start/stop signals which can be configured in the CV configuration page CLK_SR 4 # additional gate triggers are available on common digital output pins of the # DOUT shift register chain - they are assigned to AOUT channel #16 (Note C-1, C#1, D-1, ...) # define the shift registers which should be used here (each provides 8 gates) # Note that SRs assigned to this function cannot be used as LED outputs (exclusive function) # Allowed values: 1-32, 0 disables the function, all other values invalid and not allowed DOUT_GATE_SR1 5 DOUT_GATE_SR2 6 DOUT_GATE_SR3 0 DOUT_GATE_SR4 0 DOUT_GATE_SR5 0 DOUT_GATE_SR6 0 DOUT_GATE_SR7 0 DOUT_GATE_SR8 0 The gates are available at the 3rd DOUT shift register, the clocks at the 4th DOUT shift register, and additional gates/drum triggers at the 5th and 7th DOUT shift registers. This works, since Wilba's Frontpanel PCB only uses two DOUT shift registers; a MBHP_DOUTX4 module connected to J2 of the PCB will represent DOUT number 3, 4, 5 and 6. If more gates are required, just add another MBHP_DOUTX4 module and assign the number 7..10 to DOUT_GATE_SR3..6 accordingly. Ethernet Interface

Sounds more like MIDIbox CV no? As far as I know only 8 CV channels are possible, but you might be able to have more gates. You'll need a level shifter if you want more than 3(.3) V gates i.e. 5 V or greater.

Heh, saw this on Muff's and was thinking the same. But the Launchpad is about the same price (8x8) and has extra buttons and tri-state LEDs. Still need to add an Arduino controller... You can buy the 4x4 Trellis PCBs for $8 each in quantity, but still only single LEDs. The silicone pads go to $4 a piece in quantity. https://www.adafruit.com/products/1616 https://www.adafruit.com/products/1611 Still, it's half the price of the Sparkfun one. https://www.sparkfun.com/products/7835 Sparkfun's PCB costs the same and is RGB LED compatible, but is unpopulated component-wise. https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8033 If the silicone pads could be had cheaply, the next thing would be to design a full 16x16 + X board or smaller ones that connect together.

It will also depend on the power option used. Expect less heat in systems using switching 5V regulators.

Running with a disconnected fan here, will try to measure the operating temperature sometime.

LOL! I'll have what he's having :) But on topic, I had a few similar thoughts recently. It started by finding a junk set of old building control panels which happen to be a matrixed row of 16 duo LEDs bussed to an IDC connector. Sadly I only have 12 of the boards and I'm not sure if the BLM could support two pages of 16x8. TK mentioned that it would be impossible to maintain parallel firmware versions, but I wonder if this is now on the table again after the new Launchpad work, and also in view of the fact that only one 16x16+x currently exists. My thoughts also turned to the Stribe controller: surely that would make a great switch row and quantizing to 17 columns shouldn't be too bad(?) Or to go one step further: if you need a big custom PCB, why not make a capacitive switch matrix too? This is already done in the Make Noise René and Pressure Points for example. You lose the tactile feedback but it's not too different from a tablet device. Add a few diodes and LEDs and you're there with your BLM CS. With clever routing you might also end up with smaller 4x4 or 8x8 matrices that would bring down the cost. There are a few chips that do all of the conversion for you, but only upto an 8x8 matrix. Yes you could look at programming your own touch screen, but IMO, once you've got a nice screen, battery, case and dealt with all of the wiring and programming you could have saved time (and probably money too) and picked up a small iPad or Android device. EDIT: I see that you want a more permanent solution with wired LAN, hope you don't mind my assorted ramblings too!

Sorry, I meant in a more general sense that others complained about headphone noise etc. Anyway, I'm happy with the MB-6582 :)

Doesn't the test tone app just use the PIC as an oscillator to test if all of the hardware connections work (i.e. without a SID)?

So it seems these are listed as "discontinued" on ModeMachines Possibly because of poor build quality and lack of reliable software Here is a photoset if you ever wanted to see inside Btw, doesn't their new sequencer thingee look pretty damn familiar to the 16x16+X BLM?? EDIT: seems I can't count, it only has 12 rows going down.

But does it do anything else? Did you upload the correct application? Can you then forward MIDI events to the outputs via MIOS studio? Who knows? You're right though, it's just 2 resistors for MIDI out. Did you try another ribbon cable?

Is it possible to communicate with the Core via USB? I haven't built one yet but you also should be able to see the MIDI ports from MIOS. Hardware side: check the orientation of polarized components like diodes and ICs. Did you add the optional MIDI activity circuits?

Pics? Bad optocoupler?

There's this: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/265641170/kraftwerk-highly-innovative-portable-power-plant Which goes to 10W peak if I remember correctly.

Maybe this helps? http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_aout_lc.html

Hi sneak: the PCBs I designed (TK has some protos) use two Schmitt triggers to buffer an incoming clock. From discussions with TK, the clock input will go to a dedicated pin on the STM32F4; it is connected via the second set of pins on the top row. Hope that helps.

:)

Ah, now I get the 270° curves: smokey inserts for the LEDs! Any reason not to make the whole lot opaque?

Maybe the STM32F4 supports the LCD, but probably not the specific MIOS application. You would have to arrange your own pin mapping and build a custom firmware.

I like the style so far, good job! LT1963 is a good low dropout Vreg (340 mV) at 1.5 A max current. You can get it in 3.3 V fixed version; a variable one supplies voltage to most TTSH VCOs. So if you had a 5 V SPSU at a couple of amps, this could supply the juice for the displays.