Sync Project Update
Jan 19, 2010 Arduino
Posted by
irfon
Well, I’ve got the Arduino sending DIN Sync (Sync24) successfully to the STG Soundlabs Time Buffer. I’ve also got a start/stop button that turns the clock on and off (although not with absolute reliability — I may have to put in some kind of jitter control mechanism, or maybe use a switch instead of a button — I’m actually only using a button because I had one handy, and I’d like to use a switch in the final design, which would also simplify the code). And I’ve got a dial (pot) which allows you to set the tempo.
Still to do:
- MIDI communication
- Conversion of MIDI clock pulse
- Power from dotcom wiring harness
- Grafting onto Time Buffer (internally)
Not bad for my first night at it!
The biggest problem that I had was in dealing with math and the limitations of integers. All I can say is that it’s lucky the usable range for the way I was approaching setting up the pulses wound up falling within the range of an int, because I was having no luck getting the functions to deal with any other data type.
I think at the very least that I’m going to need a pile more wire and a couple of switches before I move forward. I can probably scavenge the wire, though. I wonder if there’s anything I could scavenge switches from… hrm.
January 20th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Great progress in just one night! I usually rely on three sources for electronic components.
Huge selection, fast delivery – http://www.digikey.ca/ – If I got my order in by the daily cutoff of 5:30 pm (Pacific), I usually received it in the early afternoon the next day.
Local electronics shop, good to pop in and by random and sometimes obsolete semiconductors – http://www.mainelectronics.com/ – You might be able to find something like this in town near you.
Limited selection, poor customer service, 2-3 weeks for shipping, but incredible prices – http://www.futurlec.com/ – I mean, check out those mini toggle switches for only $0.60 each.
It’s hard scavenging useful switches from things. Wire and some capacitors are reasonably easy, ICs as well if they’re socketed. Maybe if you find some old industrial equipment from the early 80s and before, you might get lucky. Depends on the type of switch you want, I suppose.
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irfon Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Thanks! I wound up ordering some things required to build a properly to-spec MIDI interface (opto-isolators and diodes) from DigiKey, so I have an account there now. I only need one of each, but I figured that while I was ordering, I might as well order ten of each. Their selection and search tool are a little bewildering. I also learned that synthesizers.com have a “maintenance kit”. It’s spendy at about fifty bucks, but it includes piles of the components that are used in my modular, so I would be able to make my hacks match the original parts. I’m not sure if I’ll bother, but I’m thinking about it.
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