The lunch box I picked for the drum machine was nearly $20USD, so I was nervous about drilling into it. The metal wasn't strong enough to withstand severe screw-ups, but I drilled three holes for MIDI ports and a cluster for the USB power. Once everything was mounted, I was happy with how they turned out.
Data and power ports
Some people say that MIDI inputs MUST have an optoisolator, while some argue that modern microcontrollers can handle data directly from another controller or instrument. I decided to play it safe and include the isolation circuit. Instead of bumbling in with a fully soldered prototype board, like usual, I connected the components on a solderless breadboard and ran wires from my controller. Everything worked!
MIDI in
I made up six copies of the optoisolator circuit on scraps of stripboard. I should have taken a picture of the back of the PCB to show how the copper traces aligned and where I cut two of them. The circuit is easy to find, so I won't worry. I was nervous about using larger-than-necessary boards, but I knew I could trim them later.
MIDI input prototype boards
I connected the three MIDI ports, the incoming USB power, and my LED panel power to the optoisolator board, which was an ideal size for all those wires. By distributing power from the central spot, I minimize the loss to my lights and controller.
MIDI ports, LEDs and incoming power
While connecting my MIDI ports, I kept asking myself if I was doing it backward. One way to tell is to jam an LED into a socket and see where the positive lead works. Instead of relying on that method that could burn up an unprotected LED or make a short to ground, I designed and built a simple tester that will turn on a green light if it's working or a red light if it's backward.
The final test of my wiring was to put it into action. I wrote a function to display all non-zero serial data on my screen. When the code worked with my timing panel, I added to it to pass all data to one of the output ports. Since there was no musical note data from the timer, I connected a MIDI button array and a General MIDI synthesizer. My notes all passed, but they got delayed when there were many.
MIDI devices in a line
The rest of the summary posts have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Completed projects from year 7
Completed projects from year 8
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
Some people say that MIDI inputs MUST have an optoisolator, while some argue that modern microcontrollers can handle data directly from another controller or instrument. I decided to play it safe and include the isolation circuit. Instead of bumbling in with a fully soldered prototype board, like usual, I connected the components on a solderless breadboard and ran wires from my controller. Everything worked!
I made up six copies of the optoisolator circuit on scraps of stripboard. I should have taken a picture of the back of the PCB to show how the copper traces aligned and where I cut two of them. The circuit is easy to find, so I won't worry. I was nervous about using larger-than-necessary boards, but I knew I could trim them later.
I connected the three MIDI ports, the incoming USB power, and my LED panel power to the optoisolator board, which was an ideal size for all those wires. By distributing power from the central spot, I minimize the loss to my lights and controller.
While connecting my MIDI ports, I kept asking myself if I was doing it backward. One way to tell is to jam an LED into a socket and see where the positive lead works. Instead of relying on that method that could burn up an unprotected LED or make a short to ground, I designed and built a simple tester that will turn on a green light if it's working or a red light if it's backward.
Testing in progress
The final test of my wiring was to put it into action. I wrote a function to display all non-zero serial data on my screen. When the code worked with my timing panel, I added to it to pass all data to one of the output ports. Since there was no musical note data from the timer, I connected a MIDI button array and a General MIDI synthesizer. My notes all passed, but they got delayed when there were many.
The rest of the summary posts have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Completed projects from year 7
Completed projects from year 8
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
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