Firebox controller for ableton

jamie3 · July 21, 2008, 3:12pm

I have decided to post my weekly updates on here. I will be building a 4 channel controller for ableton using concepts from the Maven, Mackie and Aurora controllers and also from my own personal design concepts.

parts from smashtv. very professional!

midi box core and other stuff almost complete

testing the ain for the first time

determining the layout

jamie3 · July 21, 2008, 3:17pm

i have a bunch of tact switches, leds, and knobs arriving in the next week, so once i decide on the parts i am going to start building the front panel.

i’ve started a design in front panel express but i find it difficult to measure. anyone know of a similar cad program i can use?

stryd_one · July 21, 2008, 3:40pm

Continuing from the old thread…

didnt change anything. simply substituted the pot for the fader and the pic would reset. the fader might be damaged ill have to try another one.

Ahh, so it works with pots and not with the fader?

It may be damaged. You can test it with a multimeter or an LED (+resistor in series). Make sure you check the datasheet to be sure you have the right pinout

jamie3 · July 22, 2008, 4:08pm

does anyone know how many DINS / DOUTs the Mbox64 can support?

Is it two each?

Or four?

Vaughan · July 22, 2008, 10:25pm

If you look at the AIN page:

http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_ain.html

…you’ll notice it mentions you need two for a full-featured MB64. In other words, two is the most a core can support. Another way to find this out would be to see how many components a project can handle, and figure how many modules that equals. Also, I came out of lurking to answer your question… hooray me.

stryd_one · July 23, 2008, 5:39am

Wow talk about getting mixed up! Hehehe

does anyone know how many DINS / DOUTs the Mbox64 can support?

First link in my signature

Is it two each?

Or four?

Up to 128 DIN pins, and 128 DOUT pins, which is 4* DOUTx4 boards and 4* DINx4 boards - each D*x4 board has up to 4 Shift Registers, each providing 8 pins, for a max of 32 pins per board. It helps to get your terminology correct to avoid confusion.

If you look at the AIN page:

Well, that’s AINs, and that’s different to DINs; but you were on the right website, and for AINs your answer was correct. I’m glad you un-lurked!

jamie3 · July 23, 2008, 11:02am

If you look at the AIN page:

http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_ain.html

…you’ll notice it mentions you need two for a full-featured MB64. In other words, two is the most a core can support. Another way to find this out would be to see how many components a project can handle, and figure how many modules that equals. Also, I came out of lurking to answer your question… hooray me.

currently i have two AINs which supports my 64 pot mixer.

i was just curious as I had seen places where mention using 4 DOUTS / DINS on a single core.

stryd_one · July 23, 2008, 12:11pm

currently i have two AINs which supports my 64 pot mixer.

i was just curious as I had seen places where mention using 4 DOUTS / DINS on a single core.

2 ains and 4 douts = 2 knobs and 4 leds. You have two AIN MODULES and 4 DOUT x4 MODULES.

It helps to get your terminology correct to avoid confusion.

Especially when incorrect terminology has already been used and confusion already abounds ;D

jamie3 · July 23, 2008, 6:14pm

2 ains and 4 douts = 2 knobs and 4 leds. You have two AIN MODULES and 4 DOUT x4 MODULES.

Especially when incorrect terminology has already been used and confusion already abounds ;D

ok well hopefully my two DINS and two DOUTS will be sufficient

i ordered two EHC alluminum knobs today. they are fantastic, but incredibly expensive.

anyone know any alternatives?

here is the link to the EHC knob

http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?SKU=904-6007&SEARCH=&MPN=PVL-19B-2&DESC=PVL-19B-2&R=904-6007

i have about 54 knobs on my mixer so buying the EHC knobs would cost roughly $250

stryd_one · July 23, 2008, 10:29pm

ok well hopefully my two DINS and two DOUTS will be sufficient

I give up :

i have about 54 knobs on my mixer so buying the EHC knobs would cost roughly $250

Tell me about it, I have 500 of them…

jamie3 · July 23, 2008, 10:39pm

I give up :

haha. i havent specced how many buttons/leds i need yet.

Tell me about it, I have 500 of them…

spare a knob for an poor midibox bum?

Vaughan · July 24, 2008, 12:16am

spare a knob for an poor midibox bum?

Let me make another attempt at being helpful and ask: Have you considered sites like Futurlec? Of course their stuff isn’t as nice as the ones you’re looking at by a long shot, and they can be a little slow on the shipping side. It may or may not be worth the trade-off.

http://www.futurlec.com/SwKnob.shtml

Oh, sorry about bringing up the AIN module. I totally thought I was on the ball there.! :-[

jamie3 · July 24, 2008, 12:38am

havent actually seen futurelec before. thank you!

i am going to order a few samples. if they aren’t too bad i will get them and hold off on the EHC knobs.

jamie3 · July 24, 2008, 11:59pm

this is sorta off topic but i am going to be integrating a 8in/out motu sound card into my midibox.

id like to build some channel volume monitoring leds rows. any resources online would be appreciated.

asafnetzer · July 25, 2008, 12:20am

Led Vu Meter, very simple, low parts count and it would suck your power dry,

http://sound.westhost.com/project60.htm

Best regards, Asaf

jamie3 · July 25, 2008, 1:46pm

Led Vu Meter, very simple, low parts count and it would suck your power dry,

http://sound.westhost.com/project60.htm

Best regards, Asaf

thank you!

jamie3 · July 25, 2008, 2:06pm

im trying to get my initial prototype working with ableton.

i’ve noticed that when I turn a single pot the CC changes. Examining the C code I uploaded it shows that a CC note is sent when the pin voltage change (ie: when i move the pot). The CC note should not change when the pot moves, but it should be sent to ableton indicating that the CC note occurred.

Can’t seem to figure out why the CC note is changing when i turn the pot. Software looks ok, as does the hardware.

Is there something I am missing?

.

stryd_one · July 25, 2008, 2:17pm

Can you paste code? I might have trouble guessing it exactly
There’s no suchanimal as a CC note… You mean CC channel, number or value?

The CC note should not change when the pot moves, but it should be sent to ableton indicating that the CC note occurred.

void AIN_NotifyChange(unsigned char pin, unsigned int pin_value) __wparam
{
  MIOS_MIDI_BeginStream();
  MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(0xb0);
  MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(0x0b);
  MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(0x7f);  // or whatever you wann send
  MIOS_MIDI_EndStream();
}

That’s all you need… I’m guessing yours is more like

  MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(pin_value);

?

jamie3 · July 25, 2008, 2:21pm

Can you paste code? I might have trouble guessing it exactly

There’s no suchanimal as a CC note… You mean CC channel, number or value?

void AIN_NotifyChange(unsigned char pin, unsigned int pin_value) __wparam
{
MIOS_MIDI_BeginStream();
MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(0xb0);
MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(0x0b);
MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(0x7f); // or whatever you wann send
MIOS_MIDI_EndStream();
}

That’s all you need… I’m guessing yours is more like

MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(pin_value);

?

yes sorry, CC channel

yes the function

MIOS_MIDI_TxBufferPut(pin_value);

is called

.

cimo · July 25, 2008, 2:26pm

There’s no suchanimal as a CC note

FALSE!