vcfool

Last week I added the IIC_MIDI modules to my MB-SEQ V4. The circuit. 4x MBHP_IIC_MIDI ("OUT Only" version). No LEDs, no J3: The insides. Installed and connected: The back. I used this D-SUB 9 for the 4 MIDI OUTs because it was the easier way to modify the back panel: Thanks again to everyone!

Sorry, maybe I didn't explain myself correctly in my last post. Not being a native English speaker I often find it more difficult that I first expect to explain "technical" things like this in a short-simple-clear way. I'll try my best. :) Yes, you can use MIDI CC to control the NG CV outs, but each CV output is fixed to one specific CC. This is what I meant by "not configurable". In the same way, notes on each MIDI channel are linked to fixed CV/Gate outs. So the "configuration" is done by sending the appropriate messages on the appropriate MIDI/AOUT channels. I'll explain one of these "problems" I found while working with the NG. Referring to the table on ucapps: But as fas as I see in V4, it is actually working like this: Which would be fine for me, but... I was using a track on AOUT 9 and a normal VCO-VCF-VCA modular patch. CV Out #1 going to the VCO 1V/oct CV in. Gate #1 routed to the (VCA) ADSR Gate in. And CV Out #2 controlling the VCF Cutoff. So Velocity affected the Freq. of the filter. Then I added another module on the audio chain. And wanted to add a CC Layer to the seq. track and route it to another NG CV Out. The problem is that any CC routed to AOUT Chn 9 will output on CV#1 and will open Gate# 1. Mode Note 10 any CC routed to AOUT Chn 10 will open Gate# 2. Mode Note 11 any CC routed to AOUT Chn 11 will open Gate# 3. Mode Note 12 any CC routed to AOUT Chn 12 will open Gate# 4. So none of the 4 modes worked for this. I had to use Note 13 and switch the cables on CV Outs #1 and #2. Then any CC routed to AOUT Chn 13 will open Gate# 5 which is not ruining my ADSR Gates. Then I realized I could not use another CC->CV on that Track and would have to use another Track (assigned to another AOUT Chn) to control another CV parameter on my modular synth patch. To this type of "problems" I was referring before. But I didn't mean to compare the Kenton and the NG in terms of best/worst. I just wanted to point out that the NG inside the SEQ is missing some parameters/features found on most MIDI-CV converters, including the MIDIbox-CV stand alone unit. The things that I probably miss the most: -Note Memory is only 1 note. This is fine while playing the SEQ tracks, but not that good when playing directly from a keyboard. 2 or 3 would be enough for me and then it would be nice to choose note priority between Lower/Higher/Newest and Multi or Single trigger Gates. -On the Kenton, PitchBend, Portamento and Modulation (using one of the internal LFOs) are implemented by default at the same output as the notes, without having to use another CV output/assignment. I am so used to have these working without having to patch extra cables/modules (Yes, I am lazy, I know). Finally, one great thing about SEQ V4 are the FX LFOs. By using the ExtraCC# they can be routed straight to a CV out. I attached 2 recordings demonstrating the different resolutions of a triangle LFO controlling the whole cutoff frequency range of a self-oscillating VCF. NG_LFO_04steps.mp3 4 steps LFO. 8 LFO cycles of each 48, 96, 192, 384 ppqn. NG_LFO_08steps.mp3 8 steps LFO. 4 LFO cycles of each 48, 96, 192, 384 ppqn. IMHO even at 48ppqn this is way better than LFOs created using CCs! :) I hope some of this made any sense and sorry for the long post.

Wow, Seppoman explanation was really educating. I can only talk from a user's point of view. I have been using the AOUT_NG to control analog gear directly from the MB-SEQ V4. I have been driving VCOs from its outputs and I think the resolution is good enough for my needs. I am using the unipolar mode. I have not tried the bipolar mode yet. No Lab precision here. I just don't have the tools to measure 1V/oct signals with high accuraccy. I tune my VCOs and calibrate the AOUT_NG by using a regular chromatic tuner on the audio output of the VCO. I have been using the Kenton Pro-2000 for years. Compared to the NG: The Pro-2000 is highly configurable. The AOUT_NG inside a MB-SEQ is not configurable. I wanted to have the AOUT_NG inside the SEQ even that I knew I would loose all the configuration options on the MIDIbox-CV stand alone unit. The "problems" I have found are more related to the features that are not configurable or aren't implemented in the SEQ. Btw: I also mounted the PSU inside the case. For the AOUT_NG PSU I used a Velleman K8042 Kit: http://www.velleman.eu/distributor/products/view/?id=353668 I can buy these at my local store. Costs something like 10 EUR and the only optional thing, not included, are the heatsinks. Just tell if you want me to test anything special or to make a deeper comparison of the Kenton vs AOUT.

From the SEQ V4, the CV outputs on my AOUT_NG are delivering up to +10V. That's using a +/-12V PSU. And unipolar mode. IMHO that's more than enough for driving Eurorack gear. Normally voltages on there are 10V peak-to-peak, so +/-5V. 10V are spanning 10 octaves (!!!) for Pitch. Usually 5V is more than enough. from Doepfer's site: http://www.doepfer.de/a100_man/a100t_e.htm Gates on the Core32 (J5) are indeed +3.3V. For now I am using external modules to boost the gates when needed. If you need more than +5V (as I do) you can also use the +12V from the AOUT_NG PSU. BTW don't let the SMD in the AOUT_NG put you off. This was my first SMD soldering and was easy enough... GM5 has been a little harder :) Good luck!

Received mine today. Thank you very much!

Hey thanks! I tried and it still doesn't work, but thanks again anyway.

Is this supposed to work with Tiger? Says I can't open it with my version of OSX, so I am guessing that 10.5 is required.

Thanks a lot. I've googled a little and didn't found much, I will post here if I find a solution. The Core is powered from it's own external PSU. The USB MIDI has been working on a Windows PC since day 1. I've uploaded the .hex files from there through USB. I never got MIOS Studio to work under Panther, so it's been good to update to Tiger, because now it works great... at least with "normal" MIDI through the FastLane. :) Anyway I just wanted to know if there was some step I may have missed, I don't wanna turn this topic into "troubleshooting my USB", so... ...back to the suggestions: As the beyond-the-glide mode is still in the V4 Manual I thought it was still working. I didn't knew that Length had some effect in Roll. I have been trying. In V3 you could define the ticks in between repeats quite nicely. For what I undestand, now you do it with the Length, but it only seems to work when 4 or 5 Repeats in Roll are selected. When 2 or 3 it always does the same. How can you do it in Drum Tracks when no Length Layer is there? And... some more thoughts: -In a Note Parameter Layer, and maybe also in a Chord Layer, activating "FAST" could switch the encoders to octave jumps. I'd find that really useful. What do you people think? -In Drum Mode Trigger Layers. Maybe removing a Gate could also remove the ACCent. And inserting an ACCent could also insert a Gate. -Wouldn't it be nice to apply Grooves to the DIN SYNC clock output? ;) Thanks again!

Nope. There's only my MOTU FastLane (and IAC driver, and Network), as usual. Already tried Rescan several times before.

So I updated to Tiger 10.4.11 yesterday and still no luck. My iBook G4 still doesn't see the USB MIDI. Is there any additional install or something that I must do? MB-SEQ V4 shows on the USB tab on System Profiler and mounting the SD Card goes fine too. But no USB MIDI recognized by any application... everything is just as it was with Panther. Thanks!

That is Wilba's CS PCB. Take a look here:

Just quick tried the DIN Sync. TR-606 syncs just fine changing the value to 5. Thaaaaaaaanks!!!!

HAHAHA! This is not what I meant... I was more thinking to use it with another application. I see there's a MIDI Router I could build, but honestly, I don't think I am needing it at the moment. Any other option?

I have installed the 470 Ohm resistors in my upgraded V4 MB-SEQ. Everything seems to work as before, so no problems adding these protection resistors. Didn't try them on V3 but I guess it'll be just the same. Thanks again!

Thank you both, P1 is already 50K. P2 is 10K.

Well, I finally finished the V4 SEQ... I am using Wilba's CS, and HW file. Can't help on that USB tests, my Panther-G4 doesn't seem to recognize the MIDI USBs... maybe it's time to update to Tiger. :) But I have some other questions and suggestions: -When choosing Parameter/Trigger Layers with Button C: Holding the button for selecting is fine, but I think it would be nice to select the "Last Selected one" by just pressing and releasing the button. This way it would be easier to toggle between say Note/CC, or Note/Length or whatever you are working on at the moment. What do you think? Would this be possible? -Why is it that when you disable the Vel. layer all notes turn ON? I mean when I remove the Vel. from all layer assignments I get all notes playing C-3, even on the steps where there were no Gates or Notes. Then turning Gate ON/OFF doesn't remove (or insert) notes anymore. I have to manually turn each GP encoder all the way down to remove them. Or turn all Gates ON and then use the ALL function. The ALL won't affect those notes that don't have the Gate ON... it's all kind of weird. Gates and Notes get completely independent when no Velocity assigned. Maybe there's a reason for this that I don't get. -I can't access the Multi-trigger function in Length Layer by turning the encoders beyond Glide. Glide is the MAX, no matter how much I turn the encoders. Is there any Parameter I may have touched that could have disabled this? -The DIN Sync doesn't sync correctly my 606 or my 303. Some clocks get lost or something. I think it may be something about the pulse-width of the clock pulses. Using the Clock output to trigger an envelope doesn't trigger it always the same, sometimes you get longer or shorter notes. Anybody got a TR synced correctly? I have some more questions but I think that's enough for now... :) Thanks a lot!!!

So after a week of trying V3, I updated to V4 and finished the thing. Here's some pictures... Again I used a clear acrylic panel and I made a wood case for it: Rear. The 3'5mm jacks on the left side are the AOUT_NG CV Outs, J5 Gates and Clock/Run outputs: More pictures from the construction can be found on: http://picasaweb.google.com/vcfool/MBSEQ# This thing really rocks! Thanks again to TK, Wilba, SmashTV, fussylizard and everyone else in here. Now I wonder what to do with the ultracore...

For now all is working great without the protection resistors. Some of my analog gear needs more than +5V to get triggered and I have to use a comparator or some other way to boost the gates to near +10V. I guess I could add some transistors inside the SEQ, and get the +12V from the AOUT_NG PSU. I'll add those 470Ohm and I'll post about any issues. Thanks!

Hi, I am about to put the SEQ V3 on a case. I am using an AOUT_NG and also enabled the Gates on J5. Should I add protection resistors on the Gates outputs sockets to prevent short-circuits in case of accidentally connecting them to an analog output? I do not want to damage the PIC... What about the DIN Sync Clock and Run outputs? I am also using one 3'5mm socket for each one. I guess I'd be on the save side by adding the resistors, but couldn't find a mention anywhere. Something like 470Ohm or 1K would be fine? Thanks!

I don't like to go public on this but... ...I'm also still missing 10 grey ones and got no answer by PM. :sad:

Received mine today. Thanks!!!

I thought doing something like this but with white/grey knobs. But I just received the white ones, still waiting for the greys.

I just received some ALBS knobs. Here's some pictures: I need some time to get the feel of these, but I think I like it better with the P401.

I received my 20 white knobs today. Thanks! ...but the 10 grey ones are missing.

I didn't care too much about this when ordering the panel. I just had the 4 corner holes done. Anyone can easily hand-drill the extra holes on the preferred spots. I used the parts as recommended on the wiki page: -13mm switches form Mouser (688-SKHHDT). -Alpha encoders also from Mouser (318-ENC160F-24P). These look the same as the (SoundWell?) ones you sent me for the MB SEQ. The shaft is exactly the same length. The panel is 2mm and the spacers are 10mm.