newbie questions here

[cennay]

$

Newbie trying to start a midibox sid here, i just don't know where to order kits and what to order specifically...

thanks!!!

[Flemming]

You will get a lot of usefull info from here http://www.ucapps.de/

Take a look at the 'MIDIbox SID V2 walkthrough' and 'design', which describes basically how to build and what you need :) Also read about the modules - 'PIC based core' and 'SID module'. The MBSIDv2 manual can also give you an idea about what this box can do and maybe help to clarify what you're after.

You will quickly discover that MIDIboxSID can have practically any form you like (from 1 to 8 SID-chips, fullblown controlsurface or just a MIDIcontrolled soundmodule) so it mostly depends on your needs and budget..

It's a lot of information to grasp in one go, but investigate a bit and things will quickly start to clear up - Everyone here was once a MIDIbox-beginner, but with a lot of reading and some help from the awesome guys here in the forum you will end up with a lovely and unique synthesizer :)

The forum itself is also full of usefull stuff to read - no matter what kind of question you have, it probably was asked inhere before. So to make things easier for yourself you should also consider searching the threads for answers.

And then there is the wiki http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/ which may take some getting use to, but it also holds a lot of answers, for both beginners and advanced builders.

Most people will most likely suggest that you buy your stuff from SmashTV - http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/buy.html

Welcome aboard :) but beware.. this DIY thing is highly addictive :thumbsup:

Edited February 25, 2010 by Flemming

[pingosimon]

I'm by no means an expert on this stuff, but here's some information that I wrote for n00bs, which I would have found very helpful when I was a n00b:

Here's what I compiled form memory over that past hour or two. This stuff is CONFUSING without all the parts in front of you, I know. So feel free to ask questions! Start by reading everything I linked to. You'll understand about 50% of it, then ask me for help about the rest.

DISCLAIMER: I have built 3 working “Baseboards.†That is, the chips and stuff are set, and I can make sound, but I can’t edit patches without the use of a computer, because I have not yet built the control surface, which contains the knobs, buttons, and LEDs required for controlling the synth without having it hooked up to my computer. I’m still figuring that part out, but if you can catch up to me before I get to that, chances are you won’t need my help, or you’d benefit more from help from the MIDIbox forums.

If you want the simplest solution, you might want to try to buy a sammichSID:

http://www.midibox.o...wiki/sammichSID It comes with everything you need, including two SID chips!

…but this guy does not have an infinite supply of SID chips, I don’t know how many kits he will produce, the waitlist was big and is probably gigantic by now, and a n00b will have lowest priority on it. Also, it’s a bit pricey.

Now, if you want to build your own…

First read the walkthrough http://www.ucapps.de...alkthrough.html (don’t worry If it doesn’t all make sense now)

Then read about the CORE module http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_core.html and the SID module http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_sid.html and this FAQ http://www.midibox.o...midibox_sid_faq and about the control surface http://www.ucapps.de..._manual_fp.html and about wiring an LCD screen http://www.midibox.o...x_lcd_cable.pdf and about the MB-6582 http://www.midibox.o...i/wilba_mb_6582

You’ll be referring to these pages later, when they make more sense.

I forget where I found this…good thing I bookmarked it http://virtualorgan....IDIbox_Core.pdf

This page is useful when assembling kits from avishowtech:

http://www.avishowte.../mbhp/info.html

You need:

SID chips (by far the most elusive/expensive component of this project)

Flat work surface (I use a cutting board on my dining room table)

Soldering equipment (I use a Radioshack station set to 20 watts, with the smaller tip. 60/40 RMA solder, flux, desoldering pump/wick)

Soldering skills (Talk to me if you don’t have these yet)

An LCD screen (discussed later)

I also use:

A Commodore 64 power supply (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED…if you don’t use this, I think you have to use two separate power supplies o power the thing.)

Wire cutters

Needle-nose pliers

X-acto knife/box cutter/razor blade

Tiny flathead screwdriver (1.4 mm)

Two MIDI cables

MIDI-computer interface (must have MIDI in/out)

Optional:

heatsinks and heatsink paste (I‘m still figuring this stuff out, ie exactly which heatsinks are optimal)

Control surface parts (discussed later)

This is stuff you need to have before you start. What you order from online specifically for the MIDIbox depends on exactly what you’re building.

Which project should you start?

The MB-6582 project is probably all you will ever need. It is more expensive and a bit less customizable. It’s easier and more straight-forward to build. It’s basically 4 CORE modules and 8 SID modules all packed into one kit. Even if you don’t have 8 SID chips, you can build a MB-6582, and insert only the chips that you do have.

A custom MIDIbox SID setup can, in the end, be every bit as functional as the MB-6582, but it’s a bit more complicated. At first, it’s easier to build, since you build each module on its own. My first project was a CORE module with two SID modules. Like I said, the hardest part of that project was figuring out what to buy, and I’ll help you with that. I still haven’t figured out how to expand it to include more CORE and SID modules, or a control surface, but I’m working on it. This option is cheaper, and it may be all you need, if you don’t need to use more than two SID chips at once. You can get some seriously fat leads with just two chips, and polyphony of up to 6 voices. The smaller size (at first) of this project makes it much easier to enclose in a case.

Let me know if you have any further questions about which project to start. If you’re not sure, I’d say go with the MIDIbox SID option.

NOTE: the MB-6582 is a refined MIDIbox SID, just like a square is a rectangle. In this guide, when I say “MIDIbox SID†I am referring to any non-MB-6582.

For MB-6582:

From http://www.avishowte...m/mbhp/buy.html get

MB-6582 Baseboard PCB

MB-6582 Baseboard Parts Kit, WITH the PIC 18F4685s

MB-6582 CS PCB (Not required, but if you finish a baseboard you WILL want to build this. I can’t yet help you with building it, but I hope to have two built myself soonish.)

SIL Pinheader. 1 strip of 40 should be enough, since the kit comes with all the headers you need. Just order extra to be safe.

DIL Pinheader. Optional. Sometimes it’s more convenient to use this than to manually combine two SIL Pinheaders.

2 Pin Female Connector. At least 17. Order more if you’re not completely sure you can assemble these without breakin g a few.

16 pin Ribbon Cable. At least 1 roll. I’d order 2 if you don’t already have a bunch of wire in your own stash.

3mm LEDs. You need a bit over 100 for the full control surface. Mixing colors is fine, functionally, but I’m not sure how it looks.

http://www.allelectr...PPABLE/-/1.html

Get those machine strips unless you are SURE of what SID chips you will be using forever. These enable swapping of capacitors that change with the version of the SID chip that you use. I barely made it with a 40 strip, so you should probably order more.

For MIDIbox SID: I’ll list the parts you’ll need for the synth itself (not the control surface). Control surface is discussed later.

From http://www.avishowte...m/mbhp/buy.html get

CORE Kit WITH PIC 18F4685. This will control up to two SID chips. Leave the header ending in 0000. If you order another CORE (for controlling 3-4 SIDs at once), get header 0001. For yet another CORE (5-6 SIDs) header 0002. For 7-8 SIDs, header 0003.

SID Kit. One kit holds one SID chip. You’ll want 2 if you have access to two SID chips. If you order more than two, keep in mine that one CORE module controls up to two SID modules.

24LC512. At least two. You need one for patches, one for ensembles. I recommend getting a 3rd in case you want to store more than 128 patches.

MIDI Sockets. At least two. PCB mount fits right onto your CORE circuit board, which is easier when soldering. Panel mount might be easier to fit to the custom case you might build later.

Pin headers. The kits have all the headers you need, but I always break them. I recommend ordering extra.

SIL Pinheader. 1 strip of 40 should be enough, since the kit comes with all the headers you need. Just order extra to be safe.

DIL Pinheader. Optional. Sometimes it’s more convenient to use this than to manually combine two SIL Pinheaders.

Female SIL Crimp Connectors, 2 3 4 5 pin. See my note on these a couple paragraphs down.

16 Pin Female IDC connector. This is for your LCD screen. You need one, but I’ve broken one before, so I recommend ordering 2 or 3.

16 pin ribbon cable. For the LCD, and miscellaneous wiring. At least 1 roll, but I say order 2 or 3 to be safe.

Machine pins. They’re good to have. http://www.allelectr...PPABLE/-/1.html

Perfboards. For mounting the components of your power supply, control surface, and banksticks. http://www.allelectr...f-Boards/1.html

PSU components: http://www.ucapps.de...u_optimized.pdf

C64 Power Supply. 7-pin DIN socket (hard as hell to find online, I think a local store here has them if you can’t find one). DPDT power switch. The rest of the parts shown on that schematic. Ask me if you can’t read the schematic.

For EITHER:

An LCD screen (or two if budget permits…I’ve broken one). The pages I linked to describe the pros/cons of different types. I can tell you first hand that a 2x20 works well with the MIDIbox SID (it’s recommended), but does NOT work well with the MB-6582. A 4x20 is recommended for MB-6582, and probably works fine with a MIDIbox SID. I recommend one with a backlight. Any of these should work, and crystalfontz is a good company http://www.crystalfo...004a/index.html

For a minimal control surface, you only need the LCD, 9 buttons, and one rotary encoder, mounted on perfboard, along with a DIN module (buy the DIN kit from avishowtech).

For complete control surface parts, see the 2nd post of this tread http://midibox.org/f...iew__getnewpost

This is based on the MB-6582 control surface parts list http://www.midibox.o...face_parts_list

I have ordered all those parts, but have not yet built the surface. You don’t have to order those yet (except the LCD) to have a functional synth.

NOTE on pin headers, SIL crimp connectors, and ribbon cable: I have made multiple orders from avishowtech, and every time I order more of these. They’re cheap, so if you can afford it, just order WAY more than you think you need. If building a MIDIBox SID, on your first order I’d recommend 4 SIL pinheader strips, 2 DIL pinheader strips, 30 2-pin connectors, 20 3-pin connectors, 10 4-pin connectors, 10 5-pin conectors, 3 16-pin IDC connectors, and 3 spools of 16-pin ribbon cable. This is overkill, but personally, I have the money to spend extra on being safe, I hate having to wait for things in the mail when I’d rather be building, and I don’t know where else I’d get this stuff.

[nILS]

I think RTFM would be an acceptable answer ;)