This is really a multi-purpose box! 
Matteo wrote:
this is my new midibox 32E with 16 analog pots, 16 encoders, some buttons
(perhaps too few!!), and only one ledring for all the encoders.
this box replaces my 4 years old midibox 16, that was inserted in a paper
shoes box!
i also integrated a joystick, which can be selected to operate instead of
two pots with a switch.
i tried to adapt an old PC joystick, but unfortunately it didnt worked. i
built a gain circuit, because the pots used in the joystick are not used in
their full range, so the voltage output had to be adapted to the 0-5V
required by the ain module. but this introdueced lot of noise, and the
extenision is basically unusable.
but i’m waiting to get a 10K joystick, and then i will replace this with a
better one!!
moreover, i integrated also my old breath controller unit (fig.11). now the
board dedicated to the breath controller is inside the box, and only the
breath unit needs to be connected to the box to be used. as with the
joystick, the brath controller can be selected by a switch to be used
instead of a pot.
the LCD is backlit, but i decided to disconnect the backlight because it
sucks a lot of current and the voltage regulator become HOT!! not a
problem, anyway…
the only thing that makes me sad is the impossibility of making analogpots
behave in the “snap” mode by default… so that everything would become
more usable…
the case is built by myself (two days of working!) in wood and then
painted. the upper panel is a plexyglass panel (cheap and, most important,
easy warkable). i decided to paint it, even if i thought to let it in the
original “transparent” look as my sid.
the case is built with the possibility to mount a music stand: in the fig.7
you see, near the plug for the breath controller, two guides into which
insert the stand (obviously these are also on the other side!), like show
in fig. 9 and 10
(the “black look” doesn show it vey well because of the contrast…)
the basic use of this box will be as midi controller for vst and FX (no
logic control emulation and so on…).
last thing: the power supply of the unit comes directly from my
masterkeyboard (the one you see below the MB). i soldered two wires to the
keyboard power supply and let them exit form the rear. then, they arrive to
a plug for the midibox. easy and practical: when i turn on the
masterkeyboard, the MB is turned on automatically!
total cost: i think we are around 100-120 euro, even if the parts were
bought in different time ando so i cannot remember precisely.
since the midi input is used by the keyobard (with merger on), in order to
connect the PC ouput to the MB, i plan to build also the midibox merger, so
that i can “mix” the midisignal coming from both the keyboard and from the
PC (for MIDI feedback…)
the worse part is that all my PC Midi connections are used (both in/outs…
BIG setup here!!! :-D), and so the only solution to deliver midi data from
the PC to the MB that i have is to build also a midi thrubox…
see you and thanks for all!
My website:
www.alchemystudio.it
