User Tools

Site Tools


frequently_asked_questions_faq

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Last revision Both sides next revision
frequently_asked_questions_faq [2016/06/10 14:37]
psykhaze [Customize your MIDIbox]
frequently_asked_questions_faq [2016/06/10 14:39]
psykhaze
Line 35: Line 35:
 Having said that, if you feel you're up to the challenge, you're encouraged to tinker around :) Having said that, if you feel you're up to the challenge, you're encouraged to tinker around :)
  
 +===== Forum / Wiki / Web =====
  
 +  * **I can't log into the forum!**
  
  
 +Possibly you are using the M$ Internet Explorer which prevents YaBB from saving "​cookies"​ within a frame which contains content from another domain (midibox.org). In this case click on the "Forum (unframed)"​ link instead, or (better) change your internet browser - see also [[http://​www.heise.de/​security/​dienste/​browsercheck/​demos/​ie/​]]
  
 +  * **I can't log into the Wiki!**
 +
 +Make sure you have cookies turned on in your browser. ​ As of May 13, 2006, at least one browser will not log in to the Wiki:  Camino 1.0.1 for Mac.  (Please add to this list if you find a browser that won't log in to the Wiki)
  
 ===== Building Your MIDIbox ===== ===== Building Your MIDIbox =====
Line 143: Line 149:
   * **I've burned the bootstrap loader into the PIC, but my LCD doesn'​t show any message?**   * **I've burned the bootstrap loader into the PIC, but my LCD doesn'​t show any message?**
 See [[lcd]] page for more information incl. troubleshooting of LCDs See [[lcd]] page for more information incl. troubleshooting of LCDs
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
-===== The PIC Microcontroller ===== 
- 
- 
-  * **Why are you using the PIC and not a more modern Microcontroller?​** 
-TK: "I started my first MIDI projects in the 80's with a C64, later I worked with 8051 derivatives. Sometime along the way I decided to use a PIC controller because it *was* modern during many years - cheap, easy to program, almost non-destroyable,​ no SMD package, high availability for hobbyists. Although I have worked with a lot of 16 and 32 bit controllers in the meantime (job-related...),​ I stick to the lovely PICs in order to reduce my support effort for these sparetime projects. 
- 
- 
-  * **Do I need a deep knowledge of PIC microcontrollers in order to build your applications?​ ** 
-No! The software is ready made, normaly you don't need to assemble code, you just only have to burn the application (.syx file) into the PIC via the MIOS Bootstrap Loader [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​mios_bootstrap.html]]. 
-If the application provides software/​hardware options, which are not part of the preassembled binary, you have to edit them in the main.asm file of the application package (therefore it always make sense to take a look into this file) and rebuild the application like described under [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​howto_tools_gpasm.html]] 
- 
-  * **Where can I learn more about PIC microcontrollers?​** 
-Get all the interesting datasheets and application notes from the [[http://​www.microchip.com]] website and check the famous [[http://​www.piclist.com]] site. 
- 
- 
-  * **How do you develop your applications?​ ** 
-Update: Please see the [[application_development|Application Development]] page for new info!\\ 
-\\ 
-TK's answer, edited to remove references to MPLab which is now obsolete:\\ 
-Mostly I develop under Linux. I'm using XEmacs [[http://​www.xemacs.org]] to edit the source, GPUtils to assemble the code and the MIOS bootstrap loader [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​mios_bootstrap.html]] to upload the application into the PIC.  
- 
-If I have to work under Windows (i.e. for making music with Logic [[http://​www.emagic.de]] and Reaktor [[http://​www.native-instruments.de]],​ I'm using the Windows version of Emacs [[http://​www.gnu.org/​software/​emacs/​windows/​ntemacs.html]] and GPUtils to assemble the code. 
-Find a snapshot of my development environment under Linux here: [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​images/​devl_env.gif]] 
- 
-It is also possible to develop on the mac, see [[how to use Xcode2 as IDE on a Mac]] 
- 
- 
-  * **Where can I download the source code?** 
-It's part of every application package: [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​mios_download.html]] 
- 
- 
-===== Buying and Selling MIDIbox stuff ===== 
-  * **Where can I buy your stuff?** 
-TK: "All the applications of [[http://​www.uCApps.de]] are non-profit projects which are not for sale. The purpose is to follow the spirit of Open Source in order to allow people to rebuild, modify, improve or just learn from my projects. Many features that can be found here are not my inventions, but suggested by users from all of the world. On this way *we* are creating what *we* have ever searched for and I myself can enhance my experience with electronics and MIDI (makes really fun! :)" 
- 
-  * **Would you build a MIDIbox for me if I give you some money?** 
-TK: "I neither have the time, nor the motivation to build MIDIboxes for other peoples. These are DIY projects, that means: Do-It-Yourself. Just ask a friend or an expert in your neighbourhood for help." 
- 
-stryd_one: "If you don't have time to solder a little, you sure won't have time to use a synth to make music."​ 
- 
-  * **As everything is free, am I allowed to bring the stuff to market?** 
-Only under special circumstances. See also [[http://​www.midibox.org/​forum/​index.php?​topic=5758.0|this forum article]]. 
- 
  
 ===== MIDIbox in Use. ===== ===== MIDIbox in Use. =====
Line 258: Line 215:
  
 These codes have to be defined in your MIDIbox initialization file, see also [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​midibox/​mk_syx.zip]] These codes have to be defined in your MIDIbox initialization file, see also [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​midibox/​mk_syx.zip]]
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
  
 ===== Customize your MIDIbox ===== ===== Customize your MIDIbox =====
Line 310: Line 262:
  
   * IIC buss can be used to connect other IC's to the Core   * IIC buss can be used to connect other IC's to the Core
- 
- 
- 
- 
  
   * ** Can I use PWM to control individual LED brightness ?**   * ** Can I use PWM to control individual LED brightness ?**
Line 350: Line 298:
  
  
 +===== The PIC Microcontroller =====
  
  
 +  * **Why are you using the PIC and not a more modern Microcontroller?​**
 +TK: "I started my first MIDI projects in the 80's with a C64, later I worked with 8051 derivatives. Sometime along the way I decided to use a PIC controller because it *was* modern during many years - cheap, easy to program, almost non-destroyable,​ no SMD package, high availability for hobbyists. Although I have worked with a lot of 16 and 32 bit controllers in the meantime (job-related...),​ I stick to the lovely PICs in order to reduce my support effort for these sparetime projects.
  
  
 +  * **Do I need a deep knowledge of PIC microcontrollers in order to build your applications?​ **
 +No! The software is ready made, normaly you don't need to assemble code, you just only have to burn the application (.syx file) into the PIC via the MIOS Bootstrap Loader [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​mios_bootstrap.html]].
 +If the application provides software/​hardware options, which are not part of the preassembled binary, you have to edit them in the main.asm file of the application package (therefore it always make sense to take a look into this file) and rebuild the application like described under [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​howto_tools_gpasm.html]]
  
 +  * **Where can I learn more about PIC microcontrollers?​**
 +Get all the interesting datasheets and application notes from the [[http://​www.microchip.com]] website and check the famous [[http://​www.piclist.com]] site.
  
  
-===== Forum Wiki Web =====+  * **How do you develop your applications?​ ** 
 +Update: Please see the [[application_development|Application Development]] page for new info!\\ 
 +\\ 
 +TK's answer, edited to remove references to MPLab which is now obsolete:​\\ 
 +Mostly I develop under Linux. I'm using XEmacs [[http://www.xemacs.org]] to edit the source, GPUtils to assemble the code and the MIOS bootstrap loader [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​mios_bootstrap.html]] to upload the application into the PIC. 
  
-  ​* **I can'​t ​log into the forum!**+If I have to work under Windows (i.e. for making music with Logic [[http://​www.emagic.de]] and Reaktor [[http://​www.native-instruments.de]],​ I'm using the Windows version of Emacs [[http://​www.gnu.org/​software/​emacs/​windows/​ntemacs.html]] and GPUtils to assemble the code. 
 +Find a snapshot of my development environment under Linux here: [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​images/​devl_env.gif]] 
 + 
 +It is also possible to develop on the mac, see [[how to use Xcode2 as IDE on a Mac]] 
 + 
 + 
 +  ​* **Where can download the source code?** 
 +It's part of every application package: [[http://​www.ucapps.de/​mios_download.html]] 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Buying and Selling MIDIbox stuff ===== 
 +  * **Where ​can I buy your stuff?** 
 +TK: "All the applications of [[http://​www.uCApps.de]] are non-profit projects which are not for sale. The purpose is to follow the spirit of Open Source in order to allow people to rebuild, modify, improve or just learn from my projects. Many features that can be found here are not my inventions, but suggested by users from all of the world. On this way *we* are creating what *we* have ever searched for and I myself can enhance my experience with electronics and MIDI (makes really fun! :)" 
 + 
 +  * **Would you build a MIDIbox for me if I give you some money?** 
 +TK: "I neither have the time, nor the motivation to build MIDIboxes for other peoples. These are DIY projects, that means: Do-It-Yourself. Just ask a friend or an expert in your neighbourhood for help."​ 
 + 
 +stryd_one: "If you don'​t ​have time to solder a little, you sure won't have time to use a synth to make music."​ 
 + 
 +  * **As everything is free, am I allowed to bring the stuff to market?** 
 +Only under special circumstances. See also [[http://​www.midibox.org/​forum/​index.php?​topic=5758.0|this forum article]].
  
  
-Possibly you are using the M$ Internet Explorer which prevents YaBB from saving "​cookies"​ within a frame which contains content from another domain (midibox.org). In this case click on the "Forum (unframed)"​ link instead, or (better) change your internet browser - see also [[http://​www.heise.de/​security/​dienste/​browsercheck/​demos/​ie/​]] 
  
-  * **I can't log into the Wiki!** 
  
-Make sure you have cookies turned on in your browser. ​ As of May 13, 2006, at least one browser will not log in to the Wiki:  Camino 1.0.1 for Mac.  (Please add to this list if you find a browser that won't log in to the Wiki) 
frequently_asked_questions_faq.txt · Last modified: 2016/06/10 14:41 by psykhaze