Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject:
Working proto
Hey Scott,
Well it looks like the proto is working really well! You and Bill did an awesome job on the PCB layout. I really like the last two videos that you put on YouTube, using the Triple Wilson Filters. What are you using for video editing software (the caption ballons)?.
Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:48 am Post subject:
Thanks Tim!
The proto is working pretty darn good - I haven't made any video of the actual ribbon control yet, I've been sidelined with a scorching cold or something resembling a cold. BTW, we settled on using those SIP connectors to connect the ribbon to the TRS jack, and it works great! It's a real snug fit, but not difficult to solder up and insert, either. The inside of them is gold plated, so there's really good contact.
I used my regular video software, which is some version of Ulead. The notes I put in were actually done with YouTube's annotation function (when you look at "My Videos" on YT, there's a button that's labeled "Annotations"). It's kind of bumpy (like anything with YT) but it sorta works out.
I used my regular video software, which is some version of Ulead. The notes I put in were actually done with YouTube's annotation function (when you look at "My Videos" on YT, there's a button that's labeled "Annotations"). It's kind of bumpy (like anything with YT) but it sorta works out.
scott, could you recommend an upload format for youtube that enabled stereo in high quality mode? i tried avi with layer 3 audio: it could be played in youtube in stereo, but the quality (both video and audio) has been so bad i decided to remove the video from my channel... _________________
cheers,
matthias
____________
Big Boss at fonitronik
Tech Buddy at Random*Source
Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:
Hey Fonik,
I'm uploading in MPG. The program I'm using is pretty limited - it doesn't seem to give me a choice on resolution or anything like that, but I've had the most luck with the mpeg format. Does this video come out in stereo for you if you use &FMT=18? I have a hard time telling.
I'm uploading in MPG. The program I'm using is pretty limited - it doesn't seem to give me a choice on resolution or anything like that, but I've had the most luck with the mpeg format. Does this video come out in stereo for you if you use &FMT=18? I have a hard time telling.
thank you scott for the quick reply.
as soon as you tell youtube to play a movie in high quality mode, it adds the FMT=18 argument by itself. the video i uploaded in divX avi format came in stereo then, the mpegs did not.
i will try some different options... _________________
cheers,
matthias
____________
Big Boss at fonitronik
Tech Buddy at Random*Source
That's weird - when I look at any of my videos, I don't see the "View in high quality", though I've seen it in other videos.
i am not surprised, for i already new your videos are of highest quality! _________________
cheers,
matthias
____________
Big Boss at fonitronik
Tech Buddy at Random*Source
Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:47 am Post subject:
Aw, shucks, thanks Fonik
I'm trying to hook up with Martin Scorsese for the next one. Without giving too much away, Al Pacino plays the desparate, middle-aged ribbon artist/former mob hit-man trapped downstairs in a non-descript house in rural America as part of the witness protection program. Robert De Niro is set to appear as the enforcer sent by the sinister Dieter Doerpfman (Alan Rickman) to neutralize Pacino's character. Salma Hayek stars as the long-suffering wife, who's also having a fling with an ear-plug salesman (Anthony Hopkins). Robert Duvall has a cameo as The Minister, who foreshadows the action by declaring the ribbon controller "The very appendage of Satan". _________________ My Site
I am thrilled that the PCB prototype phase of the project is going so well.
You may notice that the panel also has some extra functionality and thats an extra I am adding. It will be a CV/TRIGGER to MIDI Note generator so that triggers and CV's generated by the Appendage can also trigger note events in your computer or hardware based sound modules via MIDI.
The hardware platform for that is an "Arduino" microcontroller board based on the Atmel ATmega168 MCU chip. This board is shown below the panel graphic. What will sit atop of the board will be a prototype "Shield" that will house the MIDI channel select logic, Opto-coupler, and associated buffering. The best thing about this platform is that the hardware is open source and software IDE is free and fairly cool !!! If you know how to program in C/C++, you will feel right at home but the syntax is very easy to learn.
Joined: Apr 17, 2006 Posts: 2810 Location: New York
Audio files: 24
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject:
Quote:
will the IKC Midi out then go into the Appendage Midi In? Is that the plan or did you have something else in mind? Nice panel, by the way!
Well, your thinking is on the right track. Once the first function of this add-on is developed, the CV2MIDI, then the MIDI thru function can be added so that the IKC can be channeled through this as well. The Arduino can then handle, if it needs to, any possible "stuck notes" we talked about. The very final stage then would be to add analog I/O expansion and add sliders, pots, switches for MIDI CC's and system type messages. As you recall, this was originally going to be done using the 18F452 based MCU board but now I went to an Arduino platform using the ATmega168 MCU chip. Probably out of being bored with working with the same chips all the time, I wanted to play with something NEW. Also, it gives me a chance to brush up on my C/C++ programming skills. The language is called "Wiring" but it's really a "C" derivative. For now on, if using high level langaugaes like C and BASIC is "fast enough" then thats what I will go with when developing embedded systems. I can get things done faster working this way.
PM me some time soon so we can talk about some of this. We have to catch up .......
I just realised that I haven't been getting any TRNs for this thread, and seeing as how I'm part of the prototype team, I should drop in and say gidday so I can keep up with Scott's directorial pursuits.
I reckon there should be a scene where everybody gets out their appendages, points them at each other and start yelling obscenities! This of course leads to "The Big Slide Jam" finale at the end!! _________________ What makes a space ours, is what we put there, and what we do there.
Joined: May 04, 2007 Posts: 1734 Location: NM USA
Audio files: 54
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:54 am Post subject:
any softpot problems?
I got one of my softpots mounted yesterday and noticed that it is a bit bumpy, like there is a bit of internal buckling. Is this normal? It was sent to me bent into a U shape, and I wonder if there could have been some creep from sitting that way for a few months.
Also, is it just me, or does it take an awful lot of force to operate these things? I have a ribbon I made from a plastic anti-static bag, and it's way more sensitive. I used a fairly wide stripe and fairly narrow spacers. Unfortunately it has other issues at this stage, but I'm thinking I can quite easily make a much more sensitive unit than the softpot.
Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:28 am Post subject:
I couldn't tell you about the amount of force - I've got nothing to compare it to. I got my SPs from SparkFun, and they sent them curled up in a box, which didn't thrill me, either. They weren't kinked though, and after letting them sit flat for a while, they straightened out fine.
I am not a fan of the feel of the surface of them. I'd rather the finger slid more easily across them, which may have something to do with your observations on the amount of force required. _________________ My Site
Joined: May 04, 2007 Posts: 1734 Location: NM USA
Audio files: 54
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:
Scott Stites wrote:
I got my SPs from SparkFun, and they sent them curled up in a box, which didn't thrill me, either. They weren't kinked though, and after letting them sit flat for a while, they straightened out fine.
Yeah, not so much kinked as just a bit wavey here and there. I have my second one under weight to see if it gets better. I left mine in their box too long, possibly. I have a Q in to the manufacturer to see what they think. SparkFun wrote back immediately and has offered to replace them, so no complaints about their service.
Quote:
I am not a fan of the feel of the surface of them. I'd rather the finger slid more easily across them, which may have something to do with your observations on the amount of force required.
Well, It feels to me like the reason for so much sliding friction is that you have to push down so hard. A good coat of TurtleWax would probably help.
In the mean time, I have a pseudo fretwork built and am in the process of getting it adjusted. You have to pull back to feel the notches, so that's another reason I wish there were more sensitivity in the vertical direction.
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The very final stage then would be to add analog I/O expansion and add sliders, pots, switches for MIDI CC's and system type messages. As you recall, this was originally going to be done using the 18F452 based MCU board but now I went to an Arduino platform using the ATmega168 MCU chip. Probably out of being bored with working with the same chips all the time, I wanted to play with something NEW. Also, it gives me a chance to brush up on my C/C++ programming skills. The language is called "Wiring" but it's really a "C" derivative. For now on, if using high level langaugaes like C and BASIC is "fast enough" then thats what I will go with when developing embedded systems. I can get things done faster working this way.