midibox.org Blog

MIDIbox SEQ V4 Lite (in short: MBSEQV4L) is a minimalistic but powerful “MIDI sequence looper” which allows to apply various MIDI effects to spice up the original recording. The sequencer never has to be stopped! Even when a new sequence should be entered, loaded or stored from/on a SD Card, MIDI effects are added, etc. It will always run in sync with the internal or externally supplied clock.

The Frontpanel PCB bulk order has been started now!

sammichFM was designed to be the “no excuses” MIDIbox FM synthesizer kit – i.e. for all those people who want a MIDIbox FM but consider building it with modules too time-consuming, too newbie-unfriendly and/or too hard to design and construct a control surface.

sammichFM therefore has the following design constraints/features, which support each other:

• looks a lot like sammichSID
  
• cheap (relative to fully modular MIDIbox FM with “pro-looking” control surface)
  
• small
  
• DIY newbie friendly
  
• minimal control surface
  
• single “walwart”/AC adapter supply, no bipolar PSU and mains power wiring!
  
• sandwich-style” stacked PCB design, no wires!
  
• laser-cut 3mm acrylic case by Ponoko, customization possible
  
• industry standard 2×20 character LCD, customization possible
  
• common control surface parts used, customization possible
  
• available as a complete kit, including PCBs, components, case, hardware and new OPL3 chipset!
  

MIDIbox FM Synthesizer features

• One Core module and one OPL3 module, fully integrated on one PCB with power supply.
  
• 4 simultaneous instruments of 6 voice polyphony each, plus drum kit. Each voice is a 4 operator waveform.
  
• Each instrument can be routed to one of four audio outputs, via two stereo 1/4″ phono jacks.
  
• Five “BankStick” slots, so you can store 5 banks of 128 patches, 32 “Ensembles” and 16 “Drumsets”
  
• Minimal control surface with up/down arrow buttons for fast menu scrolling.
  
• 2×20 character LCD with support for low-power (25mA) or high-power (250mA) LED backlight.
  
• Potential for future upgrade to 32-bit microcontroller via an undocumented “daughterboard” header.

  More details on this Wiki page, discussions in this forum article.

  sammichFM Assembly video made by Siempre La Luna (featuring backing track by TK!)

Wilba wrote:

After 350 kits sold (including 556 SIDs), I have finally got to the end of the waiting list. Woot!

There will be a final batch of 50 kits in November. I don’t have plans to keep lots of pre-packed kits in stock, therefore, once the last batch is sold, YOU CANT HAZ SAMMICHSID! There are still plenty of kits available in the final batch.

Yes, this is some shameless self-promotion to boost sales so I can finish with my routine 50 kit batch and sell off all the PCBs and parts I have in stock.

If you’re interested in getting a sammichSID, or want to find out WTF this thing is, all the information is here

MIOS Studio 2 is now available for download.

sammichSID was designed to be the “no excuses” MIDIbox SID synthesizer kit – i.e. for all those people who want a MIDIbox SID but consider building it with modules too time-consuming, too newbie-unfriendly and/or too hard to design and construct a control surface, and where MB-6582 is too expensive, too daunting and/or too hard to source all the parts.

sammichSID therefore has the following design constraints/features, which support each other:

• cheap
  
• small
  
• DIY newbie friendly
  
• minimal control surface
  
• single “walwart”/AC adapter supply, no C64 PSU brick!
  
• stereo SID, optimized for 8580/6582A, 6581 optionally supported
  
• “sandwich-style” stacked PCB design, no wires!
  
• laser-cut 3mm acrylic case by Ponoko, customization possible
  
• industry standard 2×20 character LCD with low-power LED backlight, customization possible
  
• common control surface parts used, customization possible
  
• To be available as a complete kit, including PCBs, components, case, hardware and (optionally) two 6582A SIDs!
  

MIDIbox SID Synthesizer V2 features:

• One Core module and one stereo SID module, fully integrated on one PCB with power supply.
  
• Five “BankStick” slots, so you can store 4 banks of 128 patches, plus 128 “Ensembles” (engine and patch configurations)
  
• Jumpers to configure the power supply, allowing a regulated 12V input to power 6581, or unregulated AC/DC input to power 8580/6582A.
  
• Minimal control surface with three user-customizable buttons and LED matrix for maximum bling.
  
• 2×20 character LCD with support for low-power (25mA) or high-power (250mA) LED backlight.
  
• Potential for future upgrade to MIDIbox SID Synthesizer V3 using add-on board
  

More details on this Wiki page, discussions in this forum article.

Travischen wrote:
Monome x Arcade Buttons all finished! My goal for this project was to be compatible with existing Monome programs and utilize big, fun to press, arcade buttons. For Monome compatibility I’m using a custom midi->osc converter running in Max/Msp. As long as it’s running, any Monome 64h program works with my matrix. Theoretically there are some bandwidth problems using midi but I haven’t run into any issues with the programs I’ve been using. On the midibox front, I got 1 CORE, 2 DINS, and 2 DOUTS.

Follow the build at my blog (and bookmark me for out-of-this world updates!):
http://www.defcon6.com/?cat=15

And Video

Link to forum article

Forum Article