My first Midibox LC - Waiting for your "GO!"

[Nervrem]

Hey folks!

I'm new to this, but the last weeks I spend day and night reading in this forum and on ucapps.de (thank you for that!). And when I was sleeping I dreamed of Encoders, LEDs, DINs and DOUTs!

Well, maybe I should tell you something about what I'm planing to do.

I found an old analog mixing console and immidiately fell in love with it!

Because most of the channels didn't work, I decided to build a DAW-Controller for Samplitude/Sequoia out of it. (But it should also work with Protools, Cubase etc, just in case I choose another DAW at some time)

(I'm sorry for the small pictures, but I don't have a good camera at the moment)

So, next week I'm going to order some parts at Mikes shop.

I'm planing to start just with the core-module to get a feeling for all that stuff (soldering etc) and if this turns out well, I will go on with the other parts :)

But there is the first critical point: I don't have a good soldering iron nor something to make measurements.

Because I don't want to spend so much money on that, I thought about buying:

- a soldering iron like: http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/588489/DUAL-POWER-LOeTSTATION-3060-W-SKD-3060/1508010&ref=list

- solder: http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/830003/LOeTDRAHT-HF32-100-G/1508070&ref=list

- and a cheap digital-multimeter: http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/122999/Voltcraft-VC-11-DMM/1101010&ref=list

Am I going fine with that or should I spend more money on a good soldering iron? Or are there even cheaper possibilities? Do I need anything else? Any suggestions are welcome!

Next step: The modules!

From Mikes shop:

- CORE_V3

- PIC18F452 (burned)

- DINX4_V2

- DOUTX4_V2

I'm going to use 8 Encoders, 30 Buttons, 37 LEDs and 8 Motorfaders. But I still can't figure out how many DIN and DOUT modules I need. How do you calculate that?

And some more questions:

What kind of cable do I need to connect the LCD-Display (or does this depend on the LCD I choose?)

Do I need special buttons for menu navigation?

Another thing that confused me a bit is that there is a new MF-module (the MF_NG module). Can I use this one (and where can I get a PCB for that?) or should I stick to the older MF_Module?

This whole bankstick-thing isn't really clear to me, but I'm sure it will get clearer as I go on reading a bit :)

The hardest thing about using an old analog console is that you have to find encoders and buttons that fit the already existing holes.

I've found some interesting parts:

http://www.reichelt.de/Kurzhubtaster/TASTER-3FTL680/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=79702;GROUPID=3278;SID=11Tnuo0H8AAAIAABkQ7006f19d9d794a68a1032c60fc14928f33e

They would fit perfectly in the existing holes, they have a LED and I've read many good comments about them in this forum. So I can use them as Solo/Mute/Rec-Buttons?

The only thing that is a bit strange, is that the ones with blue LED are way more expensive: http://www.reichelt.de/Kurzhubtaster/TASTER-3FTL600/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=79699;GROUPID=3278;SID=11Tnuo0H8AAAIAABkQ7006f19d9d794a68a1032c60fc14928f33e

How hard is it to get just the button ( http://www.reichelt.de/Kurzhubtaster/TASTER-3FTL6/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=79697;GROUPID=3278;SID=11Tnuo0H8AAAIAABkQ7006f19d9d794a68a1032c60fc14928f33e ), buy a normal LED and put these things together? Is that possible?

For the LED-Rings i was thinking about something like this: http://www.reichelt.de/Drehimpulsgeber/EC11B1524B-LED/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=73931;GROUPID=3714;SID=11Tnuo0H8AAAIAABkQ7006f19d9d794a68a1032c60fc14928f33e but i wasn't able to find something similar to this for less then 17,35 €. I don't know if it is a good idea to try drilling a lot of holes through the old metal cover of the console for the LED rings. Is there any other possibility?

Last but not least: I've found a seller of 10K 60mm ALPS RS60N11M9 Motorfaders on ebay! 60mm faders should work as long as they have 10K, am i right?

So many questions! But i think as soon as I start building my core module many things will get clearer. It will take some time, but in the end it will be worth it! :)

Thanks for your attention and I'm sorry if my english isn't perfect :P

Edited September 24, 2011 by Nervrem

[TK.]

Hi Nervrem,

great work so far - building the case is usually the most time consuming job! :)

First of all I've to say that most MIDIbox projects are currently overworked for the new MBHP_CORE_LPC17 module, since it has so many advantages (e.g. you wouldn't need an external MIDI interface anymore, just use the USB-MIDI provided by the new core module)

I already started to overwork some documentation to prewarn about the transition (e.g. I moved old MBHP modules which are not relevant anymore to a special "expired" page), but it will still take some weeks until the documentation is up-to-date again, and of course it will also take some additional weeks until the projects are ready for an official release.

Therefore: if you want an up-to-date project, please wait for the release of MIDIbox NG, which will support the features of MIDIbox LC as well (and more).

Because I don't want to spend so much money on that, I thought about buying:

- a soldering iron like: http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/588489/DUAL-POWER-LOeTSTATION-3060-W-SKD-3060/1508010&ref=list

- solder: http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/830003/LOeTDRAHT-HF32-100-G/1508070&ref=list

- and a cheap digital-multimeter: http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/122999/Voltcraft-VC-11-DMM/1101010&ref=list

Am I going fine with that or should I spend more money on a good soldering iron? Or are there even cheaper possibilities? Do I need anything else? Any suggestions are welcome!

The parts should be ok

Next step: The modules!

From Mikes shop:

- CORE_V3

- PIC18F452 (burned)

- DINX4_V2

- DOUTX4_V2

I'm going to use 8 Encoders, 30 Buttons, 37 LEDs and 8 Motorfaders. But I still can't figure out how many DIN and DOUT modules I need. How do you calculate that?

Each encoder requires 2 DIN pins -> 8*2+30 buttons = 46 pins = 6 shift registers = 2 DINX4

For 37 LEDs you will need two DOUTX4 modules as well.

And some more questions:

What kind of cable do I need to connect the LCD-Display (or does this depend on the LCD I choose?)

You will need ribbon cable ("Flachbandkabel")

See also this guide: http://www.midibox.org/users/jim_henry/building_a_midibox_lcd_cable.pdf

Do I need special buttons for menu navigation?

No, but you should reserve an extra button for changing to a second button/LED assignment layer where you can select alternative functions.

See also http://svnmios.midibox.org/filedetails.php?repname=svn.mios&path=%2Ftrunk%2Fapps%2Fcontrollers%2Fmidibox_lc_v1%2Fsrc%2Flc_io_table.inc

(the function is called ID_MBLC_HOLD_LAYER)

This will also be provided by the upcoming MIDIbox NG

Another thing that confused me a bit is that there is a new MF-module (the MF_NG module). Can I use this one (and where can I get a PCB for that?) or should I stick to the older MF_Module?

The new MBHP_MF_NG module is a standalone solution for controlling the motorfaders.

The accuracy and flexibility is much better compared to the solution which is integrated into MIOS, as the PIC is doing nothing else than controlling the fader.

In addition the calibration of each individual motorfader is much easier now, as it's supported by a GUI which is integrated into MIOS Studio.

But: the MBHP_MF_NG module is not supported by the old PIC based MBLC, and I'm not planning to support this anymore as my own MBLC is already stuffed with a MBHP_CORE_LPC17 (MBHP_MF_NG will be connected to the third or fourth MIDI IO pair of MBHP_CORE_LPC17)

This whole bankstick-thing isn't really clear to me, but I'm sure it will get clearer as I go on reading a bit :)

You don't need it for MBLC (and it isn't supported anyhow)

The hardest thing about using an old analog console is that you have to find encoders and buttons that fit the already existing holes.

I've found some interesting parts:

http://www.reichelt.de/Kurzhubtaster/TASTER-3FTL680/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=79702;GROUPID=3278;SID=11Tnuo0H8AAAIAABkQ7006f19d9d794a68a1032c60fc14928f33e

They would fit perfectly in the existing holes, they have a LED and I've read many good comments about them in this forum. So I can use them as Solo/Mute/Rec-Buttons?

The only thing that is a bit strange, is that the ones with blue LED are way more expensive: http://www.reichelt.de/Kurzhubtaster/TASTER-3FTL600/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=79699;GROUPID=3278;SID=11Tnuo0H8AAAIAABkQ7006f19d9d794a68a1032c60fc14928f33e

How hard is it to get just the button ( http://www.reichelt.de/Kurzhubtaster/TASTER-3FTL6/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=79697;GROUPID=3278;SID=11Tnuo0H8AAAIAABkQ7006f19d9d794a68a1032c60fc14928f33e ), buy a normal LED and put these things together? Is that possible?

For the LED-Rings i was thinking about something like this: http://www.reichelt.de/Drehimpulsgeber/EC11B1524B-LED/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=73931;GROUPID=3714;SID=11Tnuo0H8AAAIAABkQ7006f19d9d794a68a1032c60fc14928f33e but i wasn't able to find something similar to this for less then 17,35 €. I don't know if it is a good idea to try drilling a lot of holes through the old metal cover of the console for the LED rings. Is there any other possibility?

Maybe somebody else can help here.

Last but not least: I've found a seller of 10K 60mm ALPS RS60N11M9 Motorfaders on ebay! 60mm faders should work as long as they have 10K, am i right?

yes

Best Regards, Thorsten.

[Nervrem]

Thanks Thorsten, you helped me a lot! :)

Therefore: if you want an up-to-date project, please wait for the release of MIDIbox NG, which will support the features of MIDIbox LC as well (and more).

Uhhh... waiting is really hard! :rolleyes:

But until the Midibox NG is released i can work on my other DIY Project (working on my room acoustics: building basstraps, broadband absorbers and diffusors :) ), go on reading on ucapps.de and looking out for parts that would fit.

Maybe I will get some cool ideas on how to design that whole thing ;)

[SMIDIRIN]

hey Nervrem, this guy sells encoder ledring pcb http://mayhewlabs.com/products/rotary-encoder-led-ring

you can get @ sparkfun too i think.

also a company called top-up makes these

..and others including RGB.. :ahappy:

[fcebreros]

Hi,

these are also nice led rings and reasonable priced

Good luck