veermaster

Since the beginning of my researches on how to make a my own custom midibox one of the biggest part was which LCD to use. I wanted my box to be as compact as possible so I soon realized I would need to source these 55x2 Displays. I was thinking of maybe buying a used C4 from ebay and cannibalize it. I also asked at different Mackie repair services how much a spare display would be and was offered one for varying prices inbetween €150-250! In the end I saw the M-Audio using a similiar display and asked the manufacturer (Varitronix) if they would sell it to me. Well, they can´t because it is a custom layout they are not allowed to sell to anybody else. But they offered me to design a similiar display if only I would buy >500 units a year, hmmm.... Then I asked a friend who is working at a studio supplier and tech service if he could get them for me and this is how it happened! Yes, these are the original displays used in the "Project Mix I/O", and I could try and ask if he could get some more, but they are not cheap. I payed €90,- but I really wanted them... They don´t use the HD44780 but a different controller, nevertheless they work out of the box (well, with some customization in lc_hlp.inc). Cheers, Emre

That´s the least I could do as my little share of contribution to this place! There is more to come, but it will take me a few weeks. Since it doesn´t belong in this thread it´s gonna be in the HUI section though... Cheers, Emre

Dear Forum members, in the meantime I got my first prototype PCBs for my MBLC. After many sleepless nights I succeeded to get it running, I am very happy! In this post I just want to refer to the topic of this thread, the MF V3 module and its implementation. Since I´m an absolute beginner to Midibox I write this from a novice point of view... The design of my PCB I posted earlier has a mistake but I fortunately figured it out before I had it fabricated so now it´s perfect. The power for the Motorfaders comes from an external PSU (around +10V), the +5V for the Logic comes from J11 of the Core8 PCB. Just connect "+5V" and GND of J11 on both boards (Core8 and MF V3). Connect MIDI IN and Out (J13 and J12) of MF V3 to your MIDI interface and start MIOS Studio on your PC. First change the ID of your PIC to 1 (if it´s not done yet), then upload the newest MIOS on the PIC, thereafter upload the MF V3 application. Now with the integrated Calibration Tool of MIOS Studio you can, well, calibrate your faders, but even more important, set the MIDI merger to "Midibox Link Forwarding Point"! Now disconnect the MIDI OUT to your interface but connect the MIDI OUT of the Core8 to your interface. Connect "MO" of J11 on MF V3 to "MI" of Core8 (which ID is 0). Now you have to set the Core8 as the "Midi Link Ending Point". I thought it could be done by changing the main.inc within the MBLC application: ;; initialize the integrated MIDI merger movlw MIOS_MIDI_MERGER_MBLINK_EP call MIOS_MIDI_MergerSet But this didn´t work for me. Instead I had to run Serge's MIDIbox64e Editor and do the setting there. Well, at least it works now... In the end the chain looks like this: MIDI OUT Interface -> MIDI IN MF V3 (ID1); "MO" MF V3 -> "MI" Core8 (ID 0); MIDI OUT Core8 -> MIDI IN Interface The advantage about the two different IDs is that it´s possible to upload apps on the Core8 without affecting the MF V3. Still you can to run the Calibration Tool (select ID 1) for the faders. In this chain it´s not possible do an upload on MF V3 though, but once it´s running you won´t do that anyway... I hope this might be of help for someone, since it took me lots of trial and error to find out, but it was definately worth it. Thanks everybody, especially TK of course! Emre

Thank you for that link, Roger, I got it!

Answering my own question: "Midibox LINK" seems to be the magic word! I just found that site describing the concept of how to chain two or more Core equipped modules. So it looks like the interconnection of the MF V3 and Core8 is made through J11 on both modules (MO to MI). Do I have to take out the 6N138 of the Core8? And for education purposes: could someone translate the term "TTL Level"? Thank you, Emre

Thank you Roger for your fast reply. I´m trying to understand how to setup my Midibox LC with the upcoming MF V3. Thorsten already gave an answer to this, so if I get it right I connect my computers MIDI OUT to my MV V3 MIDI IN (connector J13). Then I connect my MF V3 MIDI OUT (con J12) to the CORE8 MIDI IN (con J13) and the CORE8 MIDI OUT (con J12) to my computers MIDI IN. At which point does MF V3 con J11 come into play? I´ve been messing around with a custom layout for the MF V3. Tim, please don´t take my move wrong, it´s just that I want to build one big faderbox with 24 faders and would like to avoid too much cable soldering. Also I want to power them all from one external PSU so I just skipped that part. But of course I will still be happy to betatest your design when it is ready! For those who are interested I attached my design (8 faders). I still have to check everything and get some things clear before having it etched. Also I attached a design for the knobs and encoders (4 channels). BTW these are my first two PCB designs so please be kind to me! :) Once everything is ready and I know what I´m talking about I will write a nice summary of my Midibox adventures. I´m pretty sure it will turn out great! Thanks again everybody, Emre

In the schematic of the MF V3 there is a connector J11. May I ask, what its purpose is? Thanks, Emre

Thanks for clearing things up for me Thorsten, much appreciated! Cheers, Emre

Dear TK, Do I get it right, that I can run the LC App on a Core8 module connecting a MF V3 board to it? Then I have to enable a so called "midi merge function" through MIOS studio and have the MF V3 integrated? I just asked Mike to program a PIC18F452 for this purpose and showed him the above link, but he told me he would need a hex file. Could you provide me with a link to the needed file and would you be so kind to also send me the MIOS Studio update? Thanks so much! Emre

I´m sorry, yes, www.platinenbelichter.de is correct. Wrote that post, when I was bathing my kids...

Hello Tim, I`ll have someone etching the boards for me (platinenbelicher.de). The layout looks super already (a lot better than my first tries :) )! Regards, Emre

Hello Tim, when mailing you, I was trying to offer some help. Please excuse me, if this felt urging to you, it wasn´t meant to be! Anyway, if there is anything I could do just let me know... Cheers, Emre

Hello TK, this is good news! I will contact SmashTV and will be very happy to test the PCB layout. As for faders I´m gonna use good old ALPS RSA0N11M9A06, so not too much betatesting here... I´ll keep you informed. Regards, Emre

Hello TK, is there a netlist of the MF V3 board available? I´m planning my first midibox(es) since a few months now and would like to try a PCB layout for the new MF boards. Of course I could just use the schematic and do it from scratch but I thought it´s worth asking to save some time. Thanks for all your efforts! Emre

Hello, my name is Emre and I´m new to this forum. I´m very excited and impressed about all the information and contribution found here! At the moment I´m reading quite a lot and trying to set up a plan how to build and configure a custom midibox LC, but more about that later... Looking for parts I also saw these Encoders on ebay and I´m about to order some ec11 types (30 Impulses is ok, right?). I could order some for you findbuddha or other nonEU people as well, so let me know what you need. Regards, Emre