RockRaver

Ok. I finally found something on the ucapps site that explains what the CAN bus termination is and, it seems to me that this is only needed when you connect multiple cores together. Am I correct? Or, should I put them in there anyway?

First off, thanks to everyone for their input. I just started the Core unit and I have a few questions. I've got all the parts on the board except the 7805 Regulator, the BC337 transistor and the two IC's. I also held off on mounting the large IC socket for the time being because, I see a couple of unmarked holes on the board and I was wondering if I needed to run some jumpers in them spots. The board I have is the latest Revision 4d board. On the uCapps site there is a walkthrough for the older revision 3 board, and in it there are 4 jumpers that need to be soldered in but so far, i've found no mention about any jumpers for this R4d board. Do I need to run any jumpers on this board? Also, my kit came with an extra 1K resistor and an extra 1N4148 diode for the "CAN bus termination". I did a search for the CAN bus termination on the wiki and stuff but, I can't tell where or what it is except that CAN stands for Controller Area Network and, if i'm not mistaken, has something to do with the SID module. So you know, I got my board from AVI Showtech and there is nothing on their site about where this CAN thing is and, it so happens, there's no mention about running jumpers on their site either. Either in writing or, in pictures. Lastly, the walkthrough I mentioned earlier for the revision 3 board has some testing procedures for that board. Basically, aplying power to the board and reading the voltages at a few pins on the IC sockets. Is there anything comparable to the R4d board out there or, should I just follow the same procedure for the R4 board? Thanks again.

Ok then. I guess i'll go with the MBHP_AOUT_NG with the TLV Surface Mount chip on it then. Do I need anything special to solder them in? I watched the sammichFM video on the blog and noticed that he brushed some sort of liquid something or another on the board before he soldered on his SM chip. What was that? I'm guessing I should use that stuff too, no? Sorry, never did a surface mount chip before. Also, what else do you think i'll need besides the stuff listed on the MIDIBox CV design page (Core, AOUT_NG, LCD 2x16, DINx1, 4 Pushbuttons and a Bankstick) and, do you think I even need all that? After all, i'm only using this to plug in my keyboard controller to the CV/Gate in on the Mini Synth. The goal is to have the Guitar Trigger and Midi Input (via a Midi to CV unit) built into the Mini Synth. Not looking to build a seperate MIDI to CV box. Not at this point anyway. Maybe do one in the near future as I expand on the synth builds.

Hi Fellas. I am building a Sound Labs Mini Synth in the near future (working on the Sub Commander now) and I was wondering if I could use the MidiBox CV as a Midi to CV unit. That is, I want to use it to interface my Midi Keyboard Controller (M-Audio Keystation 88ES) with the Mini Synth in order to play it like a real synth. I will also be incorpoarting the Guitar Trigger MFOS has designed into my Mini Synth so I could play my guitar thru the Mini Synth as well. I don't need a bunch of gates or midi in's or anything like that. Just one Midi in and one Midi thru i'm guessing. Also, I was gonna get the MAX525's (for the MBHP_AOUT unit) from Digikey, as I don't trust myself enough to succefully solder the TLV5630 surface mount chip if I were to use the MBHP_AOUT_NG. The MBHP_AOUT_LC seems like a good solution for me too but, is it as good as the MAX525 version? I get the feeling it isn't hence, i'm going for the original AOUT. Unless..., you guys think that the AOUT_LC will work fine for me. Anyone use that circuit as a MIDI to CV unit? Remember, i'll be using an 88 key midi controller keyboard so, i'm looking to reduce any chances of drift as much as possible. Lastly, is the AOUT_V1 Epoxide PCB that mikes-elektronikseite sells still compatible with the current version of the Midibox CV? Thanks again and it's good to be back into synth electronics again. Spent the last year and a half building a bunch of guitar fx pedals and a few tube amps. That was fun. Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hey Flo. That sounds like a plan. I will order a Core unit today but, when you say I only need one DOUT, you're saying i'll only need 1/4th of the DOUTx4 unit, correct? That would make sense as each 74HC595 can control 8 relays, correct? That being said, I could vectorboard that easily and be on my way. Could use some part numbers for an appropiate relay. I normally order stuff like this from Mouser so, if you know of an appropiate part number, I would appreciate it. Allrighty then, I think it's time I get right into it, blow up a few chips and see how far I get. :) I will continue this on the FX Looper thread. See you there.

Hey Flo. It's a small world, huh? What tube amps are you building? I built a few from the AX84 community. I started with the Hi-Octane kit, which I then upgraded to an SEL 20W with an EL34 in it. A couple of months ago I built an L2L Club which is a 20W Push-Pull amp with a set of 6V6's in there. Presently, one of the members from the community is taking a look at it, as I just can't seem to find the source of this annoying squeal I get when I plug a guitar in and dime the knobs. I was able to get it to about 1/4 MV without any squealing and then, once I tried to get any more volume out of it, it would start to squeal. I've tried all sorts of stuff and was going back and forth on the forum for a while. Hence, one of the designers of that project eventually offered to take a stab at it. I've also built about 20 pedals and my own pedalboard but now, I need something to put it all together without tap dancing on stage. So yeah, I defintely want to pick this up but, like I said in my first post, right now I need some basic info about the Core and DOUTx4 modules before I proceed. First off, i'm assuming I only need one DOUTx4 module, of which i'll only be needing 1 and 1/2 of the 74HC595's, in order to run 12 relays/loops/pedals, correct? If that is so, I can just vectorboard 2 74HC595's and associated components, correct? Will I be limited to 7 patches per bank using the Core and DOUTx4 module? This is important as I was hoping to have 8 switches (one for each of 8 patches) on my pedalboard. How many banks can I get out of the 2 modules? I am shooting for something like 8 banks with 8 patches in each. Is it neccessary to use the ULN2803 to drive the relays? What other relay drivers could I use? You suggest using Mini DPDT relays but, which ones should I use? 5V or 12V? Does it matter which one I use? I'm assuming the banks and patches will get stored on the Core unit. Is that correct? If not, then I guess I will need some Banksticks in order to store all these patches and banks, correct? I have a lot more questions but, if someone can answer these few questions, I will have a good start. Again, I am new to PIC based electronics and MIDI so please, have mercy. I know these questions probably sound dumb to some of you but, as you know, it's not easy to navigate thru stuff you just aren't familiar with. Ask me about scales, modes, polyrhythyms and the sort and i'll have no problems but, MIDI and PIC? Anyway, I appreciate any help. Thanks

Hi everyone. I am new to the MIDIBox forum although, I have been popping in every so often for several years now and I (like many others I see) am curious as to how I could implement a MIDI Controlled Programmable Guitar FX Switcher something akin to the GigRig or Carl Martin's Combinator2. I have been going thru many of the threads on here and other sites (GEO FX and the DIY Stompbox forum in particular) and my head is spinning. I have nonetheless came to the initial conclusion that I could probably start off with GeoFX's "Remote Footswitch Bypass with Relays and CMOS - Conceptual Design" as that seems more easily expandable but, I would still need a way to program patches and banks. This is where I believe the MIDIbox can be used. Basically, I was figuring I could double up on GEOFX's "Local Footswitch Box" design, thereby increasing it to a total of 12 Loops/Stompboxes (which is what I need) and then, use a MIDI Core module and DOUTx4 to switch whatever combination of FX I wanted in or out (Patches/Banks) via footswitches. Obviously, I could theoretically have 144 patches (12 x 12) but, I'm sure I could live with half of that. :) Of course, this assumes I even know what the hell i'm talking about which..., I don't. For example, i'm assuming that I don't need the "Remote Footswitch Box", which has one 74C14 and 3 CD4013 chips in it, as I will be replacing that part of the circuit with the Core and DOUT modules. I also don't know what the output voltages of the DOUTx4 will be or, if they will be capable of driving and switching the relays on or off in whatever combination I set. Should I use the AOUT module instead? What modules do I need to create and save the patches and banks to? Ultimatley, I want to be able to switch from say, a clean/phase/echo patch to a fuzz-face/uni-vibe/octavia/echo patch back to a bluesbraker/envelope filter/echo patch at the press of one footswitch. I figure a pedalboard with 8 footswitches for selecting patches in a bank plus, 2 switches for bank up and bank down, as well as, some way of saving and editing patches via footswitch. Of course, an LCD for use as a simple UI showing Patch numbers and Bank numbers, etc.... Maybe some LED's for each switch. Am I reaching too far? I have no idea if i'm on the right track but, i'm sure it's possible so, any help would be appreciated. Maybe, if someone could at least tell me what my limitations are with the Core and DOUT mudules, that would be a start. Thanks again, everyone.