pcbatterij

The groupbuy for May will be closed tomorrow. Cheers, Jef

Brathering, I am still waiting for the PCB's but I know they have been produced, so not that long anymore until I have them at home. Concerning the programming: I have added the following to the hwcfg file: ################################################## # settings for the MB909 control surface ################################################## MB909_ENABLED 1 MB909_MULTIMACHINE 1 If the MB909 is enabled a few things are different on the display, a few buttons different and some settings for tracks will be set automatically to drum mode (still to program). The Multimachine setting is there because some people would like to use the MB909 control surface/Seq V4 to control more than one drummachine. The sequencer will then keep using the 4 tracks of the patterns (for example 4 different drummachines). If I am not mistaking, I can leave song mode (more or less) like it is. On the other hand if multimachine is set to 0 then, and this is the part that I am programming right now, the MB909 control surface will use the 4 tracks more like 4 patterns and the groups could be called the banks (more or less) like on the original 909. Nothing special up until now, but in song mode the sequencer will play track after track. Of course in the pattern screen, you'll be able to load the Seq4 type patterns into the groups, nothing changed there. I am also waiting for new keycaps, because the last ones did not work perfectly fine on the prototype frontpanel. I hope with the two above settings, most people will be able to choose the mode they like using the most. Brathering, like I said, your help will be most appreciated, because the programming is time consuming for me as I am not a C++ programmer at all. Cheers, Jef

hey all, I am wondering what would the best way to use the tracks/pattern/group structure when using the Seq V4 only for drums, like with the MB909 control surface, would that be to only use one track of a pattern and leave the other 3 empty. In most cases I would only use one drummachine (9090) with the sequencer and don't need 4 tracks playing at the same time. I hope it is not necessary to change the way tracks/patterns/songs are played (or saved for that matter).... Any help would be greatly appriciated. Cheers, Jef

Hey everybody, I am organizing a new 9090 groupbuy which will be closed mid May. The groupbuy will be more or less the same as the previous ones, with original parts. You can find more info (about the previous bulkorders) on: http://www.synthage.com/guestbook/guestbook.php You can sign the list on: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AutC2e2Z8NFSdE9yRGp6ajB5M2dPNFIxQkJXcS1sRUE Kind regards, Jef www.synthage.com

Thx Brathering, As soon as I have a price for the beta version kit, I'll post that price here and on the synthage.com site. People that are on the list can than decide if they are still interested in a beta version with an unfinished firmware. I have ordered the boards and I'll put them in the kit for 27 Euro's (I have paid more as I only ordered a few pieces, but I know I can't ask the full price). cheers, Jef

Hey all, I have tried to make my version look like the 909, but......everything does have a function (to me) including the space above the potmeters. The case is so big (same size as TR909) because it houses: 1 all the potmeters 2 mains transformer 3 9090 PCB's 4 MB909 control surface for the 5 LPC17 core board 6 all the audio outputs of the 9090 7 MIDI IN's & OUT's USB, OSC,SD card of the LPC17 core 8 space for expansion with gate/CV output(s) and MIDI IN/OUT 3 and 4 It is correct that I might cut off a few centimeters at the top of the case, but that would not make a big difference I think. And I do not know what kind of mains transformer people want to use. The firmware is based on the Seq V4, it is mainly the user interface that is different. I am still programming a lot and maybe I'll have to change the structure of tracks, groups, patterns and songs to make it more like the MB808. I'll make sure that I have a working firmware for the betaversion, but it will (hopefully) be the people using the betaversion that will give me their tips, requests and suggestions for the final firmware. The PCB's for the beta version are ordered and within the next few days I'm expecting a prototype for the frontpanel. Cheers, Jef

Thx nILS, I already thought so and I have changed a few of the fonts that are in modules/glcd_font folder so I have a few more "symbols" to choose from. Cheers, Jef

hey all, I am trying to get the drumsymbols of the Seq V4 on my dogm display. I just can't get them on my screen? Is it possible that the MIOS32_LCD_SpecialCharsInit does not work for GLCD's? Cheers Jef

Altitude, to which prototype are you referring? Jef

Randy, The differences between the MB909 sequencer and the MB808: 1. Until now and if I am correct the MB808 is a clone of the TR808 and not the sequencer. 2. The MB909 is based on the Midibox SeqV4 with all of its advantages (SD card, up to 4 MIDI in and 4 MIDI OUT, MIDI to CV possibilities,...), more up to date updates by Tk and the Midibox crew. The sequencer of the MB808 is based on version 3 of the Midibox Seq. 3. I'm not sure if the MB808 project is still alive when I read the info on different forum sites. 4. The interface PCB for the Midibox SeqV4 that I designed and currently updating is a 909 clone in looks and software (accent on individual instruments and notes,...) I wanted a 909 looking sequencer with a nice graphical display and that is why I designed the interface. And I used the version 4 because everything is already on the LPC mainboard (USB, MIDI,...) which makes it easier to make and install. I did not make a price comparison between the V3 and V4 but I think the price will be almost the same taking into account that all the IN and OUTPUTS are already on the V4 board. The disadvantage of choosing the V4 is that I need to program a lot of code and that already took a lot of time and will probably take more time to get it more TR909 like. This is just my opinion, don't want to upset anybody. Once the MB808 standalone sequencer will be available people will have the option between the two and choose the one that fits their needs the best. cheers, Jef

I'm in Belgium. Jef

Hey everybody, I have sent all the packages for the 9090 kits, and already had time to update the design of the MB909 sequencer boards for professional manufacturing. I will be ready with this in a few days. As I have already said to a few people, I'll only order 5 boards (if there are people interested) of the MB909 sequencer, because I would like to have them being tested by this testgroup on hardware and software level to see if the sequencer is working as people want. Once the testgroup is happy, I'll then organize a big bulkorder for the MB909 sequencer. The betaversion for the testgroup will be sold as a kit (PCB, components) and a frontpanel for the once that would like a frontpanel. I do not have an exact price yet, as I am also finishing the design for the frontpanel. The list for signing up for the beta version is on: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Av9ZyDwCt04MdFB6cTZKaV9uMDF1cWY0X1pBOWxqNXc A few pics, video and info on the sequencer on: http://www.synthage.com/Sequencer/default.html If there are enough people (at least 5) interested I would prefer people that : already have a 9090 and/or TR909 will be able to upload an update of the firmware to the mainboard (this is easy with Tk's MIOS terminal) would like to test the software and hardware and give me tips to improve the design (again soft and hard) So if you put your (nick)name on the list, I'dd like to ask you to send me an email if you have a 9090 or TR909, etc. Cheers, Jef www.synthage.com

Jamie, I am using the V4 of the MB Seq. That means that I already have two MIDI OUT and two MIDI IN. The MIDI ports are already there and working perfectly. Same thing for the 9090, everything is already there. As I see it, I could only bypass the PIC on the 9090 boards. But that would mean a lot of programming to do on the MB Seq end of the connection. for the wiring: To me it's the same if you use a MIDI cable or some sort of other cable to connect the 9090 with the sequencer. I have made a little video of the sequencer hooked up with the 9090. the quality is bad, but you'll have at least a feeling of how my sequencer will be. cheers Jef

Hey Jamie, Could you let me know what the reasons are why you are not just connecting the MB808 sequencer with the 9090 boards using MIDI? will this save a lot of money on a component level? cheers, Jef

thx Thorsten

Hey, I am finishing my MB909 SeqV4 MidiBox But I am struggling with the VelA and VelN. how can I use these? So far I think I need to select a drum track to have two trigger layers of which the second is accent, using the accent layer then uses these VelA and VelN settings? I was wondering if there is another way, because in the track event configuration setup, I still see the VelA and VelN settings even if i select a track to have only one trigger layer. Sorry if this was already explained somewhere else, but I didn't find it on the forum. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thx Jef http://users.telenet.be/MB909/

Hey, I have almost finished building a SeqV4 in TR909 style. it is working great, but I am still reprogramming the sequencer code and mainly the user interface part to have a great 909 feel. see the pic of my prototype on: cheers Jef

I have received all the prices for the components to populate the 9090 boards, but without transfo, without potmeters, without frontpanel, without MB909 sequencer. The price for all the components including the rare parts= 250,00 Euro The price for the 9090 boards with PIC's and PROM= 65,00 Euro The price for postal charges= 17,95,00 Euro I am still looking for an affordable potmeter set, as soon as I have sourced, I will post the price on this page. I will close the groupbuy on the 14th of February then I'll order all the components and make the packages. Please be aware that making the packages is a huge job that takes a few weeks. I have managed to get more or less the same components like the last groupbuy, which means that the original transistors and rare parts are in the kit. Again I have tried to have the highest amount of quality possible for this price. The IC sockets are of a really good quality (not the GS type), all the resistors are 1% tolerance, original 2,5% polystyrene capacitors are used, most other caps have tolerances of 5% and 10%, even the electrolytic caps are high temp, high quality, etc, etc... http://users.telenet.be/MB909/

Hey, Thx for letting me know that you all received the box. Again some people asked me to organize a new groupbuy. and.... I am starting a new groupbuy, you can put your name in the new spreadsheet. You can find the link on: http://users.telenet.be/MB909/guestbook/guestbook.html I am still on a vacation but as soon as I am back in February I will start sourcing the components again. The kit will be the more or less the same as the previous one. Kind regards, Jef

Hey everybody, all the packages with the components have been sent. It was a massive job to make all the boxes, but thanks to my girlfriend who helped me, I was able to get the job done. Please make sure that you check: the quantity of components in the bags, because in quiet a few there are spare parts. That way you will not panic if you have one or more parts left in a bag! the values of the parts before you solder them. (with your multimeter). If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. Cheers Jef