http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ Kit & Project discussion en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:11:19 +0000 http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/midi-board-for-the-ym-synth#post-39 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:31:18 +0000 rumpelfilter 39@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>I remember reading that you chose the FTDI interface so adding a midi board would be easy. Do you have any information regarding this. I would be willing to build me a midi interface of some kind, if I had some schematics or something to start from... having to use the usb of the computer is not always the most convenient solution... </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/ym-mini-synth-first-impression-and-some-questions#post-38 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:29:04 +0000 rumpelfilter 38@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hi!<br /> thanks for the reply. I checked the USB power and it was ok (powered hub, with it's own AC adapter). In the end I was able to solve the problem, apparently it was a coincidence that it all started to go wrong with the YM Synth... whatever it now works fine! </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/ym-mini-synth-first-impression-and-some-questions#post-37 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:56:41 +0000 Wil 37@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>This may be a result of the usb hub not being powered. The YM_Mini needs draws it's power from the USB for all operations. Most USB hubs need to have an external power source (wall wart or adapter) in order to run external items that power via usb. ex: the YM_MINI or a big external harddrive. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/paypal-wont-accept-my-payment-order-woes#post-36 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:50:56 +0000 Wil 36@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>This should now be resolved.. but if anyone else has problems, email me directly : wil [at] straytechnologies [dot] com and I can send you a payPal invoice for your purchase directly, or work out another form of payment if needed.<br /> -Wil </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/arduinomeserial-device#post-35 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:10:21 +0000 dustortion 35@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Downloaded newest Arduino 18 again and reinstalled FTDI drivers for a third time. Success! Don't know why it would work before but now it does. No longer stumped.</p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Derek </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/arduinomeserial-device#post-34 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:38:52 +0000 dustortion 34@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hello,</p> <p>I just finished building my Bliptronome. When I plug it in I get the correct left to right scanning power up sequence. That is as far as I can get. ArduinomeSerial lists "No Devices Available". I am using the BUB FTDI. Not sure what to do next. I am using OSX 10.5.8 on an Intel Mac. Downloaded all drivers and software. Stumped...</p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Derek </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/build-diagrams-out-there-for-use-with-duemilanove#post-33 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:32:01 +0000 gary 33@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Ah, brilliant! Thanks for shaking out the cobwebs.</p> <p>Yours</p> <p>Gary </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/ym-mini-synth-first-impression-and-some-questions#post-32 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:13:05 +0000 rumpelfilter 32@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>ok now I have a real problem.<br /> I found the following issue: on my system (Dell XPS m1330 running win7) with an EMU 0404-usb the YM synth makes the soundcard go bezerk (DSP latency checker shows a continuos line of red bars) and to cease working, on some occasions it even freezes the system for good. I've got the YM attached through an usb hum (them bloody laptops only have 2 usb ports). Do you know what could cause the problem? </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/ym-mini-synth-first-impression-and-some-questions#post-31 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 09:56:27 +0000 rumpelfilter 31@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Assembled the kit yesterday and have been playing around in the evening. So far I must say it's really a fun little thing to play with, simple yet with it's unique sound! I say it's worth every cent! Thanks a lot Wil! Brilliant work you have made with this kit! Makes me want to get all your other kits as well, as soon as I have some money (the bliptronome is the most tempting right now, though I already have a lauchpad).</p> <p>Overall interaction with the device is easy once you've gone through the manual, of course adding a control surface would be great, but the platform seems open and hackable enough to enable me to do it myself (once I know how to do these kind of things :) )</p> <p>Right now there is two things I have to ask:<br /> - portamento: would be nice if one could have some sort of portamento added to it, would this be feasible? Could the Atmel handle that?<br /> - vst control plugin: I am thinking of making a simple control plugin to make controlling the device a bit easier than manually entering CC data in the lanes. Something like those that have been made for the MSSIAH. I wonder if synthedit could be an option... but I've never used it, I only know the MSSIAH vsts have been made with synthedit...<br /> Of course I still wonder if a plugin like that would really make sense... since the chip has only few parameters, there's no real need of storing presets. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/build-diagrams-out-there-for-use-with-duemilanove#post-30 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:14:43 +0000 Wil 30@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>X (Arduino Pin)<br /> |<br /> |<br /> L ---vvv-----GND<br /> |<br /> |<br /> x<br /> &gt; button<br /> x<br /> |<br /> 5Volt </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/paypal-wont-accept-my-payment-order-woes#post-29 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:51:02 +0000 PikWik 29@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>i cant seem to order your bliptronome v2 kit from the website. everytime your site sends me to paypal, i get a message saying that the merchant address is incorrect.</p> <p>ive got a school project coming up, and i was really hoping i could get a hold of one of these kits.</p> <p>thanks for imagining/creating this cool little project, and i hope to hear back from you! </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/build-diagrams-out-there-for-use-with-duemilanove#post-28 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:43:18 +0000 gary 28@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hello group,</p> <p>I'm an avid user of the Fritzing website (<a href="http://fritzing.org/projects/" rel="nofollow">http://fritzing.org/projects/</a>) which lays out the patching of projects in an easy manner. However, I've somehow gotten twisted around trying to figure out how to complete this project. I saw this comment on the Monome discussion group:</p> <p>"It works ! My mistake was to do : Btn_x &gt; Resistor &gt; Arduino_pin_x, whereas the good combo is Btn_x &gt; Arduino_pin_x AND Arduino_pin_x &gt; resistor &gt; GND</p> <p>and realized that I had been down the wrong path. Anyone have a simple diagram, even hand drawn, as to how I might lay the wires out on a breadboard? Even a little hint... anybody?</p> <p>Many thanks,</p> <p>Gary </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/cant-get-envelope-to-work#post-27 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:05:33 +0000 Eric 27@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Weird, of course right after posting this I go back to Live and it's working now! Don't think I changed anything, and it just started working. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/cant-get-envelope-to-work#post-26 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 22:53:45 +0000 Eric 26@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hi! Thanks for putting the YM_MINI kit out there. I was surprisingly able to assemble it without destroying it. It was a bit of a pain to get the Java stuff worked out in OS X, but once I get that taken care of I was able to get everything working in Ableton Live. It's pretty cool!</p> <p>The one thing I can't figure out is how to get the envelopes to work. I've been able to trigger the chip with MIDI notation (and switch between L/R/noise etc with different MIDI channels) but I'm kind of confused about the CC stuff. I was able to get CC 28 working for the noise channel, but nothing else. As I try to fiddle with CC 22-27 for the envelope, nothing seems to happen. In Live I've just been using a MIDI clip and the clip's MIDI Ctrl envelope to change the CC's. Any help with this? Thanks! </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/sx-150-mod#post-24 Wed, 26 May 2010 20:31:34 +0000 flplsx 24@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>that would be awesome! </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/sx-150-mod#post-23 Tue, 11 May 2010 18:43:30 +0000 Wil 23@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Any interest in having PCB's produced for the Gakken SX-150 to work with KIT_MIDI? Did this mod for a customer, and it's a strong little synth for the $! </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/diy-sollution-with-normal-arduino-problems#post-22 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:02:05 +0000 johannesgj 22@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>hey i figured the problem out. missing pull-downs on all io.<br /> i put the 8 resistors on and everything worked smoothly. thanx for the help though!<br /> i guess now this example can work as troubleshooting for people as me hehe.<br /> b-well! </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/grunge-sound-how-to#post-21 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:16:26 +0000 Wil 21@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>In my video, I was recording live from an Oxygen8, so only one channel at a time.<br /> The crunchy noise in there is from the "buzz filter." It works like this:<br /> ex: for channel1 (squarewave A - mono)...<br /> CC22 &gt; 64 (ex: 90)<br /> CC25 = 0 (rough envelope very small)<br /> CC27 between 64 and 72 (These are different waveforms based on the datasheet "envelope shape")<br /> while playing a noteOn, twiddle CCCC26 between 1 &amp; 18<br /> There's lots of different ways to do this.. CC27 @ 80 &amp; around 118 make an interesting deeper grunge, etc.. CC27@ 100 sounds like high FM synth noise.<br /> -enjoy! </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/kit_midi-on-osx-1063#post-20 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:39:32 +0000 Wil 20@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Once again MAC has sabotaged it's relationship with Java.<br /> For those poor soles trying to get through life on the newest Snow Leopard, you're probably already used to the Terminal fixes! </p> <p>It turns out that Java's Serial Library is broken in Java 6 that was installed with this update. you'll need to revert your Java version. </p> <p>Here's a link to a great tutorial on exactly how to do it:<br /> <a href="http://wiki.oneswarm.org/index.php/OS_X_10.6_Snow_Leopard" rel="nofollow">http://wiki.oneswarm.org/index.php/OS_X_10.6_Snow_Leopard</a><br /> Start at "Workaround for connection problem"</p> <p>This is verified here at my house, but was not needed on my 10.6.1 Hackintosh. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/diy-sollution-with-normal-arduino-problems#post-19 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:45:31 +0000 Wil 19@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hey Johannesgj,<br /> Several people have built successful mods using those instructions and the Duemilanove, and a couple with the RBBB from Modern electronics, without using my kit.<br /> There is no extra hardware except the resistors that are needed for the button read pins (mentioned in the image diagram). Not having them will cause lots of odd problems. </p> <p>Your second note suggests a problem in one of the ICs on the button board. The button read ground circuit is oddly routed through the tone and tempo switches on the original Bliptronic synth board.<br /> Though these odd Bliptronic (not Bliptronome) symptoms can also be from close to dead batteries. If you are positive that your modified circuit uses the resistors correctly (Pin-to-ground for each button read pin), then<br /> I would trace all of the leads from IC3, IC5, and IC7 on the button board using a continuity tester. There may be damage to the original circuit. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/diy-sollution-with-normal-arduino-problems#post-18 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:49:13 +0000 johannesgj 18@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>btw if i connect the synth board with the matrix board i get a fully functioning arduinome.<br /> however there is still one trouble.<br /> i get two random flashing rows. i can control the vertical alignment of the rows using the tone and tempo switches.<br /> if i put both to the max the one row will be at the vertical buttom and the other at vertical row 3 if i put them on minimum they will be both at vertical row 8 (max) and they will stop flickering going into some strange mode where when i click on them in the test max/msp program they will randomly move into another pattern in the same row.<br /> btw if i disconnect the </p> <p>any ideas of how to get rid of the synth board and use it with a normal arduino? </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/diy-sollution-with-normal-arduino-problems#post-17 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:34:25 +0000 johannesgj 17@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>ive connected the bliptronic led matrix board to my arduino using your instructions. '<br /> howevber only a single line (from below(near the connector) its number four row parrelel to the buttom)<br /> in that ropw however everything functions as normal.</p> <p>im thinkig that maybe your board makes some other stuff hardware wise than a normal arduino board and thereby can take care of the other rows as well?</p> <p>when i connect the normal pot/synth board i am able to manipulate the other buttons as well however flickering is heavy.<br /> there is never trouble with the mentioned row.</p> <p>can you maybe give me some pointers on how to make a sollution for this.<br /> btw i only managed to get the software going by burning a new serial number to the arduino using this guide:<br /> <a href="http://flipmu.com/work/arduinome/instructions/" rel="nofollow">http://flipmu.com/work/arduinome/instructions/</a><br /> with the serial a40h-501 it worked all right - looking forward to try it on ubuntu.<br /> well can you maybe help me on these troubles as i think many will be happy for solutions<br /> btw sorry my english.<br /> kind regards johannes </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/bub-ftdi-board-vs-alternatives#post-16 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:00:26 +0000 Wil 16@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>@ghd,<br /> No problem with doing that!<br /> All of the inline solder spots are connected in the circuit (just not the 90 degree side set of holes).<br /> I've even cut off some with tin-snips, so you could remove the current solder pins this way, and resolder ribbon cable in the next row. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/bub-ftdi-board-vs-alternatives#post-15 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:09:26 +0000 ghd 15@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>I would like to do what adam has done however I have already soldered the header onto the FTDI board and the pins on the main board as shown in the instructions. The question I have is can I install ribbon wire on the next set of holes on the FTDI board and disregard the header altogether? Shining a light through the board shows that it should work- or am I way off base? </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/bub-ftdi-board-vs-alternatives#post-14 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:42:37 +0000 ghd 14@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>@adamjohnwilliams<br /> very nice solution </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/issues-with-adc-0-and-1#post-13 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:29:18 +0000 Rick 13@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hi Will...<br /> Just wanted to update (and give an end to) this thread.<br /> The problem I was having was with the Duemilanove board. It seems that it was half fried and ended up dying some moments ago. I switched boards and it worked flawlessly, then while retesting the first one it went dead. Apparently I abused a bit too much a while back ;)<br /> I just finished implementing an mlr clone in pd and looking to use the pots for some added features.<br /> Thanks again<br /> r </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/issues-with-adc-0-and-1#post-12 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:27:57 +0000 Rick 12@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hi Will..<br /> yup.. I've done that, all the the checkboxes in arduinome serial are checked (except the encoders, though I also tried enabling them just in case).. that's why I was wondering if there was something else related to the firmware<br /> Anywho, thanks for your answer and all your work. I'll keep digging and let you know if I find something. I have several of this boards around I can test, maybe it is Mr Murphy messing around.<br /> best<br /> r </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/bub-ftdi-board-vs-alternatives#post-11 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:58:01 +0000 adamjohnwilliams 11@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>I mounted my FTDI in the top of the blip case. I soldered some ribbon cable to the bliptronome board, then the pin/header combo on some stripboard, piggybacking on the FTDI board. Cut a series of little slots and with some trial and error and then a bit of gentle filing to smooth the edges, I was left with this<br /> <a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs439.ash1/24235_10150141978435511_723140510_11680283_3727457_n.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs439.ash1/24235_10150141978435511_723140510_11680283_3727457_n.jpg</a><br /> Very neat and practical, and the FTDI board is held securely in place while the case is screwed shut, but is completely removable should I need to get at it in the future. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/issues-with-adc-0-and-1#post-10 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:54:06 +0000 Wil 10@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hey Rik,<br /> The ADC's need to be turned on by a command from the host software (ex: the check boxes in ArduinomeSerial should do this).This is part of the original protocol, so I followed suite in the Bliptrnome version. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/issues-with-adc-0-and-1#post-9 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:51:12 +0000 Rick 9@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hi Will.<br /> First thanks a lot for sharing all the information regarding this project.<br /> I put together one of these units using a spare duemilanove i had hanging around. It works flawlessly with the exception of reading the values from the pots connected to the first two ADC inputs (0 and 1).<br /> I have no hardware problems (I tested another firmware on my board and could read all the ADC inputs) and arduinome serial has them enabled.<br /> Any ideas about this? Is it something in your firmware that has them disabled? Just wanted to ask before diving into it.<br /> Thanks again<br /> best<br /> r </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/bub-ftdi-board-vs-alternatives#post-8 Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:55:51 +0000 creekree 8@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>I have placed the BUB board inside the battery compartment.<br /> It is still fully removable.<br /> I soldered a ribbon cable to the Bliptronome controller board. On the other end of this cable I used the header/pin combination that came with the kit. A little help from my friend Dremel was required to cut some plastic away.<br /> I didnt want to glue the BUB permanently into place but I also was not happy with it being exposed all the time.<br /> Now the USB cable is semi-permanently attached to the case, but I can take out the BUB whenever the need arises.<br /> Ultimately I plan to install a mini USB jack, I didnt yet simply because I dont have one. </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/ym_mini-synth-coming-soon#post-7 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:01:45 +0000 Wil 7@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Just some catch-up on the YM Mini Synth project.<br /> I've created 10 of the version 2 boards, and will sell these fully-built to raise money for the kits, and finding more YM chips for when stock runs low. (If you know a source, let me know!)</p> <p>The current version is running great from Protrekkr, PureData and EnergyXT wich leads me to feel the midi implementation is very stable. </p> <p>I'll likely be releasing those boards for sale next week, and begin taking pre-orders by 3rd week in April for the final kit. </p> <p>Hopefully I can premiere it at the open Mic at this coming 8Static! </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/programming-your-own-ftdi-device-or-cable#post-6 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:55:11 +0000 Wil 6@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>A few people have wanted or needed to change the device name on their FTDI bub board or FTDI cable.<br /> you will also need to do this if you replace the cable with a new one, or start using two Bliptronomes together.<br /> The cable's internal chip must be labeled "a40h-xxx" to be recognized by ArduinomeSerial as an actual Monome clone device. </p> <p>For example my first device is called "a40h-501" and my second is called "a40h-520." This allows me to use them simultaneously with an offset.<br /> To do this, you will need a free piece of software from FTDI called "MPROG." a GREAT tutorial on how to do this can be found here:<br /> <a href="http://blog-desorden.blogspot.com/2009/02/arduinome-phase-3-programming-arduino.html" rel="nofollow">http://blog-desorden.blogspot.com/2009/02/arduinome-phase-3-programming-arduino.html</a> </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/bub-ftdi-board-vs-alternatives#post-5 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:51:03 +0000 Wil 5@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>Hey all,<br /> I've received one or two emails asking if there was a way to move the FTDI breakout board into the Bliptronome case. for those who don't foresee alternative uses (like hooking the kit directly to a mini midi, osc, or microcontroller module and skipping the laptop completely) there are a few options. </p> <p>1: Internally mounting the FTDI board.<br /> A 6 wire ribbon cable could replace the 6-pin FTDI male pin-header and be routed to the top of the case. You would still need to mod the case to mount the board and allow for usb port access, but there is plenty of room for that change. My original prototype did just that, with the use of a LOT of hotglue. </p> <p>2: an alternative cable:<br /> <a href="http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&amp;name=768-1028-ND" rel="nofollow">http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&amp;name=768-1028-ND</a><br /> has no exposed circuit, as the FTDI circuit is built into the USB jack within the cable. This is a very hardy, though somewhat expensive alternative, and I will be looking at creating an alternative FTDI option like this in the near future for slightly less. </p> <p>If you go this route, remember the FTDI chip in the new cable will need to be reprogrammed with a new ID so it is recognized by ArduinomeSerial.</p> <p>See a separate post called "Programming Your Own FTDI device" </p> http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/topic/a_sid-midi-control-1#post-4 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:41:56 +0000 Wil 4@http://www.straytechnologies.com/forum/ <p>little scale has sorted out midi control of the A_Sid module here:<br /> <a href="http://little-scale.blogspot.com/2009/12/lets-control-asid-via-arduino.html" rel="nofollow">http://little-scale.blogspot.com/2009/12/lets-control-asid-via-arduino.html</a></p> <p>Stay tuned to the Dev section for the YM_Mini which is usb based and midi ready out of the box! </p>