[MIDIbox SEQ V4 Release + Feedback]

The migration to FatFs was successful, directories can be created and especially copy operations are working much faster now! :)

Questions to the users: do you really need 8 banks, or would it be sufficient to work with 4 banks in a session?

This would speed up the creation of a new session, resp. the copy operation of an existing session would work faster as well.

Note that it will be possible to switch between sessions in zero-time! :)

But creating/cloning a session will consume some time (e.g. copy: ca. 30 seconds, with 4 banks instead of 8 maybe 20 seconds), and the sequencer will run unstable while files are copied.

Best Regards, Thorsten.

Well, I don't know how you can count my opinion (I'm waiting for my sequencer parts from smashtv since January so I still don't have a real machine at my hands), but from what I have read about MBox sequencer I think that 256 patterns (4x64) per session with the condition that it is possible instantly to switch between sessions is really ok. On the other hand 20 seconds or 30 seconds for initializing session seems to me not much difference and I can't imagine why one should run sequencer while creating/cloning session.

Best regards

gj

[Not sure what to build]

You are right about the wilba seq pcb. It contains control surface and din/dout modules, so it is directly connected to the core module.

Most often encoders are called encoder in swedish too, but ELFA likes swedish and uses the word "pulsgivare", so search for that... They are not cheap though so I sugest voti.nl or mouser (mouser has free shipping to Sweden for orders over €75) for encoders...

Maybe try here

http://uk.farnell.com/alps/ec12e2424407/encoder-vertical-24-det-24ppr-sw/dp/1520813

(you can choose localized farnell pages for many countries)

Unfortunately I discovered farnell only after I got most parts from other

suppliers listed on uCApps.de (in many cases parts where out of stock voti.nl

for example and none of suppliers listed on uCApps.de wasn't able to supply

all required parts at once). I don't know why farnell was not mentioned in

uCApps.de (maybe I just sadly missed it), but it shipped really fast at very

competitive shipping rates - good service and have wide range of parts.

gj

[Not sure what to build]

hi, i'm not sure how long you will have to wait for wilba's bulk order but to have such a pcb AND parts / fpd for frontpanel will be easier in the long run.

so if you're not in a huge hurry add yourself to the bulk order list @ wiki....

It looks that you now have to wait anyway because SmashTV orders are also suck due to out of stock parts. Actually parts problems are the biggest challenge in building any device - lot of links on http://ucapps.de and also this forum are pointing to not available anymore parts. Since I missed small wilba pcb bulk order, I decided to do on my own, but it looks until march it still wont be possible to move any further.

BTW anyone can comment on shift register ground wiring?

Is it possible to have single ground/vss wire for all shift registers for buttons and leds in Din and Dout boards (link documented in this file http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_dinx4_32buttons.pdf ) or each shift register button/led set has to have its own (as documented in this file http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_seq/mbseq_v4_dout.pdf )?

Also can I delete or obviously better comment with preceding # not used lines in MBSEQ_HW.V4 file - for example analogue out section or lines like these

LED_GROUP1 11 0

LED_GROUP2 11 2

LED_GROUP3 11 4

LED_GROUP4 11 6

LED_TRG_LAYER_A 0 0

LED_TRG_LAYER_B 0 1

LED_TRG_LAYER_C 0 2

[MIDIbox SEQ - Things start to clear - some questions [solved for now]]

Selecting sections with a keyboard is officially supported with the latest version, see the ChangeLog:

http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_seq_changelog.html

There is even a video which demonstrates the usage.

The documentation hasn't been updated yet, therefore you probably missed this.

I'm planning to write a tutorial about the usage, because a) this powerful feature can be quickly overlooked, and b) the perfect configuration in conjunction with your gear requires some learning.

Thats how phrase mode is working, it can also set mutes, send mixer maps, change tempo, etc...

It really makes sense to work with MBSEQ V4 first before proposing new features, which probably already exist or have been implemented on a different way.

Best Regards, Thorsten.

Hi TK

This is really awesome!

Sorry, I have missed that changelog and complete remote control example video. It explains a lot.

Now I'm just waiting for components and eager to move on with construction process :)

Thank you!

Best regards,

Gunars

[MIDIbox SEQ - Things start to clear - some questions [solved for now]]

.....

By activating "FAST" the encoders work faster for entering bigger value ranges

exactly, the pages can be also assigned in "MBSEQ_HW.V4"

.....

MIDI_REMOTE

.....

I absolutely agree! :drool: It's even more impessive to work with it than to read about it.

Looking foreward to see another custom build MIDIbox SEQ!

Best Regards,

Gridracer

Hi Gridracer

Thanks for your valuable comments!

huh MBSEQ_HW.V4 file - yet another cool thing about midibox SEQ

have a lot to study again now :)

MIDI_REMOTE - no this is not exactly what I meant

this is just a mirror of MidiboxSEQ control panel buttons.

I meant it would be cool if it were possible to control this:

"Jump Pos: sequencer jumps to the specified position - allows to set loop points"

from midi keyboard sending a note message or/and this

"Back to Phrase Mode: select the "Position" item by pushing Layer button B. By

pushing a GP button, the sequencer will execute the action defined at song

position A1, B1, C1..P1 (16 possible actions)."

or/and mute/unmute status of a track. Ok I have

quite lot to learn first before I qualify for

suggesting something

:)

Kind regards

Gunars

[MIDIbox of the Week (MIDIbox SEQ of Gridracer)]

hm, looks fantastic, but where you get those additional buttons? where they are connected?

does this needs additional components and modification of software?

[MIDIbox SEQ - Things start to clear - some questions [solved for now]]

Hi!

The more I read about MidiBox SEQ the more I'm fascinated of it :) . It looks very cleverly designed - simply amazing! Unfortunately it looks like I have missed recent small bulk order (so I just ordered main components from Smash TV). Obviously I have to do all on my own with standard vectorboard for buttons and leds instead of Wilba designed PCB. This arises a question about difference between V3 and V4.

1) It looks like Wilba design of V4 has 58 buttons instead of standard 44 of V3. I was able to find only how to connect 44 buttons ( http://ucapps.de/midibox_seq/mbseq_v4_din.pdf ) so my first question is where other 14 buttons go in this schematic?

2) Wilba version also mentions bicolour leds. Can they be connected in same way as shown there http://ucapps.de/midibox_seq/mbseq_v4_dout.pdf

3) why there are two utility buttons? Also after reading MenuPages manual it was not clear to me what functionality is hidden under Fast button - it is just mentioned in the mixer page section with no functionality explained. I understand that under F1...F4 there are shortcuts to access specific deeper pages quickly?

4) As I said I'm still amazed by immense functionality of this device - it look it does almost everything (kind a hardware ableton) what I can imagine, except perhaps one thing (maybe I simply haven't found that so far). Is there a way to trigger patterns/pattern groups from midi keyboard sending note numbers. Lets say I reserve lower octave for triggering of pattern groups (or perhaps muting/unmuting tracks) or switching song positions so that C1 for example triggers (toggle/hold) Group1 etc or jumps to specific position of song C1 position 1, D1 position 2 and so on.

Also I guess I will have questions about midi implementation chart - it was not very clear to me whether device accepts only sysex or cc or both. There was an example B0 62 31 63 02 06 0F - which is a parameter part of this sysex message and which is a value part (changing)?

BTW is there a difference between pattern group and TrackGroup or that is the same thing just different names.

Thanks for your support!

[MIDIbox SEQ - Things start to clear - some questions [solved for now]]

oh, it is a honour to hear from a midibox guru

and thank you guys - you are reeaally helpful!

If it is possible to hop in the Wilba bulk order

train within reasonable amount of time, I'd love to.

Obviously I have to contact him PM?

Otherwise I will have to order everything myself.

I live in Latvia, so most convenient electronics

mailorder company in my area perhaps is

Elfa - www.elfa.se any German company also would

be OK, since we in Latvia have convenient direct

shipping service from Germany.

Where did you found a reference to BankSticks for V4?

BankSticks are still mentioned on the bottom of this page

http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_seq_manual_hw.html

in hardware costs section table.

If you definitely wan't a V4 seq then no need to buy the whole V3 kit (as that also includes a CORE8 kit that you won't use). Also as the CORE32 comes with 2 MIDI ports (+ USB MIDI) you may not need the IIC modules either as each IIC module just adds another MIDI IN/OUT

Yes I would definitely like to have extra midi outs, since it is a hardware project! Midi is missing in most interesting recent commercial developments such Akai APC40, Novation Launchpad so they can not be used stand alone without computer :( . By now I use Ableton and Catanya arpeggiator from 7 Aliens what is a software solution - but I would like to switch to hardware as much as possible and I see that midibox seq is good companion for virus synth which I acquired recently and in paralel it could drive also my Korg X50 which has brilliant polyphonic arpeggiator-step sequencer but unfortunately has only 8 slots for user patterns, what is a pity :(

Best regards, Gunars

[MIDIbox SEQ - Things start to clear - some questions [solved for now]]

Hello, and thanks for reply!

It is still pretty complicated :)

Wilba's MB-Seq version definitely look neat, but I still don't

understand how I can benefit from that or participate. Also it looks

that bulk order project has stuck for a year now. Obviously midibox SEQ

is only form all midi box projects in which I am really interested.

So from what I have read for past few hours I understand that to

build midibox SEQ V4 I need to order the following:

1) ONE "MIDIbox SEQ V3 kit" Art.-Nr.: Set-009 from mikes-elektronikseite.de (60Eur)

=> includes 1 x MBHP_CORE, 3 x MBHP_DINX4, 1 x MBHP_DOUTX4, 1 x MBHP_IIC-midimodule

without PIC and throw away MBHP_CORE parts since they are not used in V4

2) THREE extra "MBHP_IIC-midimodule" Art.-Nr.: Kit-007 from mikes-elektronikseite.de (13.30Eur each) if I want to have 4 midi outs

3) ONE "Core32 parts kit" #76 from avishowtech.com (SmashTV) (20usd)

4) ONE "Core32 Module PCB With IC" #75 from avishowtech.com (SmashTV) (25.95usd)

5) TWO "LC Display 40x2 with backlight" Art.-Nr.: EC-006 from mikes-elektronikseite.de (28.50Eur each)

6) 44 buttons hopefully available at local electronics store :/ are there some special requirements?

7) 32 LEDs " LED 3mm St colour" === I'm afraid it's not enough to order - some more detailed parameters are required

8) 17 encoders detented rotary encoders D Shaft === it looks like they are sold out at Smash TV === any recommendations of alternatives? model number?

9) 16 Knobs - these are just plastic parts?

10) 1 datawheel - these are just plastic parts?

11) BankSticks ===== what is this and where it goes???!!!

12) SD card where it goes???!!!

PSU - a have one already

Case & panel - not a problem to custom order from

composite aluminium panel at local laser cutters shop

Software - can be downloaded thanks to TK :) (right?)

Is there something still missing to build fully

functional midibox SEQ V4 - please comment!

Any recommendations to optimize orders?

Best regards

Gunars

[MIDIbox SEQ - Things start to clear - some questions [solved for now]]

Hello there. I just discovered this lovely midibox seq project and it looks to me something similar (a smaller hardware brother) to Sugarbytes Thesys soft sequencer - is this correct? If it is so, I'd be very interested to build one, but from what I read here, I'm still confused.

1) is there a complete parts list which are required to build fully functional MidiboxSEQ device or there are only just some hints on the bottom of this page? http://www.ucapps.de/index.html?page=midibox_seq_manual_m.html Although I used to solder cables and write some scripts in perl I'm actually not qualified to build schematics or programm microprocessors. Is there any chance for me to build such device without qualificatoin of electronics engineer?

2) I also checked this page http://www.mikes-elektronikseite.de/mshop_deutsch/k001u002s001.htm and found that they offer MidiboxSEQ V3 kit. Anyone is aware what is included in that kit and what is missing (should be found somewhere else). And also what is the difference between V3 and V4. Can V3 be upgraded to V4 and what is required then?

Best regards

gj