I was thinking about FLOWCODE4 to build a PIC step sequencer

warpboy · Joined: Jun 09, 2010 Posts: 19 Location: paris

hello,
I whish to design a sequencer with four channels each with 16 steps.
Basically like a drum box sequencer.
I've downloaded a demo of Flowcode for Pic but this version is limited.
I want to be sure that this is the good choice before buying flowcode.
I'm a beginner with and I'm searching for a simple programming software.
any suggestion is welcomed..

thank you
Warpboy

warpboy · Joined: Jun 09, 2010 Posts: 19 Location: paris

Hello,

other informations about the sequencer :

I need only gate signals for each step (no frequency adjust)

I want to use only 16 temporary pushbuttons used for the 4 tracks of the sequencer.
I have to store 4 binary strings of 16 values. (value= 0 or 1 ----> don't play or play sound)

outputs of the sequencer= 4 gates signals to drive 4 Drum sounds...

......

blue hell · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 5:44 am Post subject:

Warpboy.

Had a look at flowcode, but could not quickly find proper documentation - like what programming constructs are supported and what code is generated from it. It seems mostly just a graphical wrapper around C which could be both good news and bad news - good news as you can always look at the C code it generates and go on from there .. bad news as it may merely distract from programming ... but then again .. i could not find proper documentation.

What I could not find either ... does it bring its own C compiler or does it need the Microchip (or a 3rd party C compiler) - there may be some cost involved with that too.

Also you'll want some development tool - at the very least some programmer that'll allow you to program your PIC on the board you'll make.

It may be a tad expensive.

I think that the true learning curve here is not in learning a program language, but in learning how to set up a system like you want it to build - IE how will you interface to your buttuns, how do you set up your program to read the buttons, how to store patterns and recall them and how to get it to play at a constant tempo without hickups.

Anyway .. just some thoughts that came up here.

warpboy · Joined: Jun 09, 2010 Posts: 19 Location: paris

Hello and thank you for your reply Wink

my real problem is to be a full beginner in programming....

I'm searching for the simpliest way to build my sequencer, I have started looking at ucapps.
If I can obtain my 4 gates signals at outputs and connecting 16 switches to the inputs working with internal or external clock, it would be nice...

I have to learn more, i think!!!!!

locoder · Joined: Nov 22, 2010 Posts: 16 Location: melbourne

Hi have you considered using AVR the programming software is free, all you will have to do is buy either a programming cable or build one, and of course get a device to play around with.
May I suggest futurelec electronics, I am in Australia and I have purchased a couple of there devices whats great too is they have adapter boards so it becomes like electronic lego, its cheap, 28 USD for a atmel Mega128 I would suggest buying one of those as they have heaps of IO and for a beginner you will have plenty of code space also I think 128k AVR is fast you put in 16MHz you get code that executes at that speed, I think PIC is clock speed/4, I have used PIC they are both good. I think for a beginner the AVR is better its easier to understand?
I could also help you with your code for your sequencer, what you want to do is very simple, I have just finished a replacement sequencer for the TR606 so I can give you lots of pointers, do you want to program in C or assembler? I am good at both thats if you want some help?
here is the link for the processor I recommend if you go this way
http://www.futurlec.com.au/ATMega_Controller.jsp
look under there "interface boards" and "mini boards" for modules that will plug into this board

BobTheDog · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:54 am Post subject:

How about MBed http://mbed.org/

Uses an online compiler so you don't have to sort one out yourself.

BobTheDog · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 7:01 am Post subject:

Or maybe something like this: http://www.tinyclr.com/hardware/16/fez-panda/

This uses the language C# and .NET, the dev environment is free as well.

For doing a little sequencer one of these would be pretty good.

warpboy · Joined: Jun 09, 2010 Posts: 19 Location: paris

hello,
Waouh... thank you for all these infos. I'll forget Flowcode, I think this is the first thing to do ( keep money in my pocket=>cool
I'll have a look at AVR components, tinyclr.com and mbed.org
It seems there are plenty of helpfull infos

I will not miss to give you some news of the sequencer Wink

fabien

locoder · Joined: Nov 22, 2010 Posts: 16 Location: melbourne

Hi Warp Boy, I found that learning assembly language first made me a much better programmer, thats my observation, others may disagree, however after doing assembly language and moving to C I could visualize what I was doing much more easily etc, and I became very good at C very quickly.
you will also have the ability to optimize your code in assembly also? thats of course if you want to do more programming after your sequencer?

warpboy · Joined: Jun 09, 2010 Posts: 19 Location: paris

hello,

Boogdish · Joined: Sep 21, 2009 Posts: 122 Location: Bloomington, IN

I just got started with PICs this year. Before that, I had never programmed anything other than very very basic html.

I got this book:
http://www.amazon.com/PIC-Practice-David-W-Smith/dp/0750648120

a cheap USB based programmer from Hong Kong

and I use MPLAB IDE which Microchip provides for free to compile/test code in.