First of all, many thanks to Thorsten Klose at http://ucapps.de - the Midibox platform is fantastic!

Current Setup

Basically, I need something lighter to replace my ageing RM1x. To recap, I currently use the RM1x to sequence Kontakt 2 which is loaded with 6gb of my home-made loops and samples. The pots control various effects and scripts in Kontakt.

In the top right, you can see my tiny silver PC that weighs only 2kg. When I turn it on, it automatically loads Kontakt with all my samples - so I don't need a monitor, keyboard or mouse!




(gear: nord micromod, rs7000, c-loops mk2, midibox clockbox, rnc, rm1x, p4 2.4ghz with esi juli@, rozzbox)



DIY Sequencer

I'm in the process of developing a very simple pattern sequencer that supports up to 256-measure long tracks. I'm going to use the Midibox as my platform and write everything in C (no I can't use the Midibox Sequencer because it's much easier to start from scratch)


(31cmx17cmx10cm)

Here are the specifications:

1. 2 independent sequencers, one of which can be slaved to the other.

2. Each sequencer will be able to load one "song" at a time. A song is chosen by the push-button rotary encoder.

3. 16 sections per song

4. 6 tracks per section that can be muted or unmuted with the track-mute buttons (more than 6 tracks could be implemented, but that's all I need)

5. 256 measures per track - this is where this really differs from the Midibox Seq

4. Components

Midibox modules:
2x Cores
2x AIN
2x DIN
2x DOUT

2x 16x2 PLED - $21 US each http://home.swipnet.se/ridax/connector.htm


1x case - 14,50 euro http://www.reichelt.de/?SID=22Qq-CFn8AA ... ;OFFSET=16


20x knobs - $0.35 each http://futurlec.com/SwKnob.shtml


20x pots - $0.50 each http://futurlec.com/PotRot.shtml


52x buttons - 0,35 euro each from http://www.pollin.de/shop/tabelle.php?t ... w=NDk2OTk4


2x push-button encoders - 0,75 euro each from Pollin.de


The total cost is roughly 180 euro (~$235 US). You can save 20 euro by getting LCD's instead of PLED's - but PLED's look so fucking nice

I've already ordered everything and the hardware should be finished next month. Then comes the hard part I'll be posting build pics next month.

cheers,
michel

Wow that seems like quite an undertaking. I know some programming and writing a sequencer program to work with custom hardware in C just boggles my mind. Do you plan to release your C code when you are done? I would love to take a look at it. I have been teaching myself Obj-C and I would love to see how you approached it and if any of the code could be converted over.


EDIT: You know I would love to follow your progress on this. Ever thing of starting a blog to track your progress and maybe post up weekly pictures and descriptions or something?

Very interesting project. Why the emphasis on such long pattern lengths?

I'll definitely post the code as I'm simply standing on the shoulders of giants here. But keep in mind that the C code is linked to all sorts of cutom ASM libraries that were developed specifically for the midibox platform.

The hardware is the relatively easy part (aside from sourcing the damn components). The software will be much simpler than an RM1x, so it shouldn't be too hard - especially since other people are working on their own variants and posting their code.

Re. long patterns: first of all, sometimes I have samples that are 16-32 measures long. With Kontakt, the sky is the limit. Furthermore, this would allow for really long samples that played throughout a track, like an atmospheric/ambient sample or backing vocal. Something that could be triggered on the first track and keep playing until you muted it.


Here's someone else's custom midibox sequencer that's being developed in C - it uses a x0x approach:


http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=dseq32

wow nice project sneak-thief !

will you have a blog or resource for building a clone of your box ?

sounds pretty awesome

I'll post a lil' build journal on the Midibox Wiki "user pages":

http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/doku.ph ... er_gallery

pretty nifty. Good to see ya around.

nice good luck!

im in the excaact same process with the midibox 64, i started looking at this before they introduced the C MIOS which is a god send, ten times easier than before, and in the end theres not even much programming.
the only real problem i have with the ucaaps designs is;

-they have no schematics?!, i ended up finding a schematic for a similar device but it is very vague and doesnt have a complete component list.

-i only found two places (both very far from me) who will make a custom pcb, a bread board to me equals a total headache.

i think the next hardest thing is building the actual case and faceplate, theres a good walkthrough on the ucaaps site demonstrating a metal worker building his case...there has to be an easier way

Sneak you don't post often but when you do it is always some good stuff... Keep making the fabulous contributions.... Thanks for sharing...

bri.

This is completely incorrect.

Schematics & *complete* compenent listes are posted on every module page, eg:

Core page: http://ucapps.de/mbhp_core.html
Core schematic: http://ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_core_v3.pdf
Core components: http://ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_core_orderlist.txt

Digital In (DIN) page: http://ucapps.de/mbhp_din.html
DIN Schematic: http://ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_dinx4.pdf
DIN Components: http://ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_dinx4_orderlist.txt


And if that isn't good enough for you, go to SmashTV's well-known Midibox site which has component lists for Mouser:
http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/info.html





First of all, there are two places that make uCapps kits with printed PCB's and will ship anywhere for a reasonable price:
http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/buy.html
http://www.mikes-elektronikseite.de/sho ... /index.htm

Furthermore, why does distance matter? You send a company your custom pcb and then they mail the boards to you. Everybody does that. Companies like pcbexpress.com and futurlec.com do a decent job for a relatively good price if you need more than just a one-off.


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Get informed, my man! uCapps is all about DIY and there's tons of documentation and support, especially at the midibox.org forum.

Just to chime in - a few years ago I ordered a few of the SmashTV kits. I haven't actually gotten around to building them completely yet, but I can verify that the circuitboards are very high quality and well priced, and his documentation is excellent. WELL worth it.

I've bought a few batches of boards from SmashTV over the years, and one kit. A+, 5 stars, would buy again (if my wife will let me). His PCB prices are very reasonable, as are his component prices (unless you're stocking up, or already have most parts on hand). Building a DINx1 module on a piece of perfboard took me a few hours, but building one of SmashTV's DINx4 kits took maybe 30 minutes, tops. Thorsten Klose does fantastic documentation for all of his MIDIbox modules - quite amazing considering he isn't selling anything, and is just doing this for fun.

The real trick is wiring up your panel controls and then machining the faceplate. This can be incredibly time-consuming, which is why my MIDIbox SID ended up looking pretty ghetto and had a minimal control surface. But hey, it works.

I'm very interested to see how Sneak's custom sequencer turns out!

Just curious, how are you going to write music with this box? I assume that you used to write directly using the RM1x...

I'm not going to write music with this - at the moment it's strictly for live performance so I'll be loading sequences from my other boxes.

As time goes by, I'll be able to program new features - the sky is the limit!

Anyhow, it's quite small (31cm x 17cm) and weighs about 1kg. I'm happy to cut down that 3kg of the rm1x and get two separate sequencers in the same box:




















Here's what's left to do:

- install LED's
- finsish panel wiring
- finish software *heheh*