Hi!
When I test my SID (Core stuffed with 16F) with the SID_V2 test program, I get that wonderful chord at startup. ;D After that, I should according to µcApps be able to play notes on Channels 1-3. Whenever I sent notes to the core, all I get’s a clicking sound. One “click” for note on, another one for the note off event. ??? Has anybody ever come across the same problem? Any ideas?
Hi nILS,
maybe you’ve changed the sound parameters via CC? However, your SID is working now! It’s time to try the original firmware which sounds much cooler 
Best Regards, Thorsten.
Hey, if you say it’s working - that’s good ;D
Ok, will try the original firmware and see what it does!
??? Ok, since the SID played that beautiful song with the test program it appears to work. So, I assume that the problem I have is a software problem. I still only get that clicking sound no matter what I do. I tried playing some notes on channel 1 using JSynth (tried Presets, too), MidiOX and my keyboard - all I hear is “click”… 
Which data do you receive on a “Patch request”?
F0 00 00 7E 46 00 01 00 F7
(use the send/receive function of the MIDIOx SysEx tool)
Best Regards, Thorsten.
Hmmmm, I just noticed - my Core doesn’t send ANY SysEx at all. Not even with the test_tx program. It used to give me some SysEx with that, and the SID_V2 still works, too! ??? What 's up with that?
MidiOx is configured correctly though (tested with my Roland Synth) and the MidiOut on the Core is hooked up correctly, too… Strange. Any idea, TK?
/edit: Some add. info
Does the tx test send other events than SysEx data? -> you’ve activated the SysEx filter in MIDI-Ox
Did you check the pinning of the MIDI socket? -> exchanged cables
Did you check the output signals with a LED? http://www.ucapps.de/howtodebug/midi_out_led.gif
NOTE: this simple LED circuit helps to indicate the outgoing signal, but it consumes some power - you have to disconnect the LED before connecting the MIDI Out of your MIDIbox with the MIDI In of your PC!
Best Regards, Thorsten.
For some unknown reason the core sends “volume” with the test tx again =) The SID firmware still doesn’t give me any results though.
I checked the pinning on the midi socket - all correct.
Any more ideas?
Thanks for your time, TK!
No, with these inputs (sometimes working, sometimes not) it’s impossible to give usefull tips into the right direction.
First try to find the root cause why your hardware is so unstable - check the solderings, cables, etc… and use the verify function of IC-Prog to ensure that the firmware has been burned correctly into the PIC.
Best Regards, Thorsten.
I followed your advice and checked everything again - didn’t find anything. But since the last time the problem of something not working occured, everything seems fine - except for the Core not working with the SID firmware. The PIC is burnt right, too.
So, everything seems to be stable now 
BUT as I said, the firmware doesn’t work. To me it seems the problem could be that the Core is not really getting the MIDI IN right. Is there a test program to check that?
Sorry, that I can’t give you some more information that would sort some sources of the problem out… :(
you could use the RxTx test:
http://www.ucapps.de/howtodebug/test_rxtx.hex.zip
it just forwards incoming events to the MIDI Out
Best Regards, Thorsten.
Does that FW work wit 18f?
No, the PIC18F isn’t code compatible to the PIC16F…
however, the bootloader provides all the functions which are necessary to test the MIDI IO: it sends a SysEx string after power-on (MIDI-Out test) and it reacts on incoming upload requests (MIDI-In test)
Best Regards, Thorsten.
Thanks
After a lot more testing and checking I’m down to that:
I hope this helps a little. I really don’t have any clue what the problem might be…
Since the MidiIn goes directly thru the Optocoupler: How likely is it, that I fried or somehow killed it?
could you please record the clicking sound? I guess that it doesn’t come from the SID, but from your MIDI port, and the reason could be that the optocoupler isn’t connected correctly. But I need an audible impression to realize what is going on there.
Best Regards, Thorsten.
He already did, only in his previous thread. I’ll give the link already, if you don’t mind nILS ;)
I’ll try to record it, BUT: The signal is really low, so when I try to record it, I have to turn the volume up so much that all I get is static. I’ll try to figure something out.
I ordered a new optocoupler just in case. Should be here on Tuesday…
Alright - this is not the SID, this is digital noise from the MIDI In port - possibly the optocoupler is still ok, the error must be between optocoupler and PIC.
Just follow these instructions:
especially check the polarity of the 6N138, the 1N4148 diode and the MIDI cable
Best Regards, Thorsten.
