Integrated Keyboard Controller (IKC) DIY Project

[State Machine]

After months of development, Dan “Antman” Lavin and I, Bill Manganaro, finally present the “Integrated Keyboard Controller” or better known as IKC to the members electro-music and the DIY sub-forum “Microcontrollers and Programmable Logic. The IKC is a project that fellow forum members can build and use as their “master” keyboard that interfaces with their voltage controlled modular synthesizer systems and/or MIDI sound modules. The project originally started as a challenge by Scott Stites to design a PCB layout for the Thomas Henry “Digital Keyboard”. This link below takes you there.

http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-17815.html

That thread then ended up linking to this thread as the original thread began to take a turn towards the “IKC” project. I took the challenge of making a printed circuit board for this project a bit further than expected as I realized, although the original design is very good, I thought it could be “modernized” or built upon by integrating or streamlining many of its digital sections into a single chip while at the same time, adding to it extended analog functionality, use of larger keyboards (up to 5 octaves), and some basic MIDI interfacing. This is where the “integrated” part of the name came from. I also realized two other things. The first being that the DIY synthesizer community really needed a more “full featured” analog keyboard controller design with multiple analog modulation sources and include basic MIDI capability. The other thing I realized was that I wanted to present a project that utilized the technology of using programmable logic in the design in the IKC. Yes, I could have coded the design in assembler, BASIC, or “C” or some other high level language and left the job to a microcontroller but did not want to do this.

Briefly, programmable logic design uses highly integrated standardized logic IC’s with general purpose digital building blocks, advanced interconnect matrixes, and large amounts of digital I/O. The user then defines its functions through a design entry process utilizing special integrated development software package. I used Xilinx “Webpack ISE”, available totally for FREE.

http://www.xilinx.com/

The design is then synthesized and sized fit the target chip, an XC95108 for this design, using the software’s device fitter. A programming file is generated that represents the finished design (a JEDEC file). This file is then programmed or “flashed” into a chip using a JTAG downloader cable you can get for about $25.00 USD.

http://www.renaelectronics.com/index.html

http://www.xilinx.com/products/devkits/HW-USB-II-G.htm

http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/xc9500.htm

This approach replaces the technique of using many discreet hardwired “building block” logic IC’s such as the ubiquitous “CD4000” or “74xx00” series we all come to know and love. I would guess that a great many of us, like myself, started designing some of our first logic circuits using these logic families then started moving into the 8-bit microprocessor arena and started mixing the two technologies. Partitioning what was coded in the processor and what became hardware then became the challenge. Using programmable logic was the methodology used for designing the IKC core digital logic and is a common practice in the industry today. I used a mix of “Very High Speed Integrated Ciruit Hardware Description Language” or “VHDL” and “Schematics” for the IKC design entry process and made circuit design changes as easy as changing code or a schematic then re-synthesizing and flashing onto the chip in circuit. Here is a good explanation and history of VHDL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHDL

What follows is a brief description of the IKC. The full, comprehensive, documentation on how to build and apply the IKC attached to this message and is entitled “IKC Build and Engineering Drawings”. An excerpt from this document follows:

“The Integrated Keyboard Controller (IKC) is a low cost, high quality, circuit board that can be used as the main functional building block that allows you to build a custom music synthesizer keyboard. The project was inspired by the Thomas Henry digital keyboard project that appeared in one of his early books entitled “Build a Better Music Synthesizer”. Bill Manganaro and Dan Lavin jointly developed the IKC. Bill handled the electronic design and programming duties while Dan did the PC board layout and some of the analog design. Dan was also very helpful in ideas for the design and for that I thank him very much. The IKC can support up to five octaves and will control both your analog and digital music synthesis equipment either simultaneously or separately. It incorporates all the circuits necessary to scan up to a five octave, 61 key matrix, and outputs a tunable 1V/Oct standard control voltage, trigger, gate, and has basic MIDI functionality. The IKC can be paired with the recommended MIDI Channel Changer (MCC) that interfaces directly with the IKC. The MCC is a small form factor circuit board containing four bits of MIDI channel selection logic and two 0.5” high, blue, seven segment LED displays for MIDI channel indication.”

The project also comes at the same time Scott Stites, analog synthesizer extraordinaire and master of the furry breadboard, is developing the “Appendage” versatile Ribbon Controller. The link to the ribbon controller is shown below. I have had the pleasure of working with Scott over the last several weeks on the project designing the PCB layout of this project.

http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-28138.html

I believe that the months ahead will be popular ones for performance controllers appearing on our forum. The “IKC/MCC” and the “Appendage Ribbon Controller” will be perfect together as they can be integrated into one unit or used on their own. We also hope it will inspire others to develop, or continue to develop, their own performance controllers such as this wind controller designed by Ian Fritz.

http://home.comcast.net/~ijfritz/sos_over.htm

There are many fantastic sound generating and sound modifying (VC filters, LFO’s, ADSR’s, etc…) modules out there that have been developed and presented right here on this very forum, these cpntrollers are a perfect match to take control of them and use them expressively to their fullest potential with this and other new contributions to our forum. I believe the “soldering musician” is very alive and all this activity on our forum, and others, are proof of that.

In addition to the IKC build documentation, an IKC price sheet is also attached so that you may consider purchasing your IKC supplies directly from sMs Audio Electronics, a quick view of those prices are shown below but suggest looking at the descriptions in detail. These include PC boards, FULL board parts kits, built and tested MIDI channel changer assemblies, programmed CPLD, or completely built, and calibrated/tested IKC circuit board assemblies. The purchased IKC board can be a complete OEM solution to your own keyboard building business if you wish. The entire project, however, can be completely constructed without any purchase from sMs Audio Electronics at all and is public domain.

The projects source “JEDEC” file, or CPLD configuration file, is also attached to complete the package and is currently at a revision 1.5 so that you can purchase your own blank CPLD and program or “flash” your own chip. The documentation shows you how to do this. All the chips are common in the project and are easily obtained and documented in the IKC build document. A dedicated documentation posting will be added and will be a read only post. As new documentation is added or changed, it will appear there.

NOTE: The CPLD configuration file Keyscan_Vx.x.jed has been renamed to Keyscan_Vx.x.txt so that it can be uploaded to this post. PLEASE CHENGE THE FILE NAME BACK TO A .JED BEFORE USING IT IN THE PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE WHEN FLASHING YOUR IKC CPLD"

Where can you get bare Fatar keyboards? Right from here of course at Analog Haven. Just follow the link below. No longer do you have to get your bare keyboards from overseas. They are right here in the US and they are shipped fast. Europeans can obtain their keyboards directly from Doepfer in Germany.

http://www.analoguehaven.com/doepfer/mke/

IKC and MCC Purchases can be made to my Paypal Account:

billnrob@optonline.net

Shipping is $4.80 USPS Priority mail to US and Canada

All other shipping is $10.00 flat rate to anywhere else in the world.

Price Summary (See Illustrated Price List Attached to This Post)

IKC PCB ……………………….. Cat# IKC_PCB_001 …….………….. $28.00

IKC PARTS KIT ……………... Cat# IKCPARTS001 ………………... $115.00
This kit includes the programmed CPLD (IKC_CPLD_001)

Includes all parts to build the IKC main board:

IC Sockets
Headers
Connector Housings
Crimp terminals
Capacitors
All semiconductors including the programmed CPLD
Resistors and networks
Diodes
Transistors
Trimmer

Everything !!!!

NOTE: builder will need to supply their own front panel and front panel components.

MDI CHANNEL CHANGER ... Cat# MCC_001 …………………….. $26.00
(MIDI Channel Changer - Built and tested)

IKC PROG. CPLD ……………. Cat# IKC_CPLD_001 ……………… $30.00
(PROGRAMMED IKC CPLD with the latest firmware configuration)

IKC COMP. ASSY. …………… Cat# IKC_COMP_PCB_001 ………. $280.00
(Completed, Calibrated, and tested IKC Board not including the MCC which is a separate item)

Each order will include an auto running Multimedia CD-ROM with all documentation, important web links menu, and 3 videos. One video covers programming your CPLD, another discusses downloader cables ,and another video gives you a tour of a 5 octave Fatar Keyboard.

Thanks for reading ………….

Bill

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DSC01379.JPG
Description:	My custom front panel for the keyboard that is being built with the sMs "IKC" and MIDI Channel Changer (MCC) electronics.
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IKC Build Document & Engineering Drawings.pdf
Description:	Document contaning all the information necessary to build the IKC.	Download
Filename:	IKC Build Document & Engineering Drawings.pdf
Filesize:	3.19 MB
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IKC Pricing.pdf
Description:	Pruce sheet for all IKC products	Download
Filename:	IKC Pricing.pdf
Filesize:	1.62 MB
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keyscan_V1.5.txt
Description:	Congiguration file for IKC CPLD chip. After downloading, rename file with -JED as it's extension. The TXT extension will not be recognized by the programming aoftware.	Download
Filename:	keyscan_V1.5.txt
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[fonik]

bill, dan, that's amazing.

i will have to go through the parts list and then decide what to order. (the fatar keyboard is already here!).

great work, boys.

[johans121]

WAH WHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm placing my order NOW!

[philpeery]

It's here! Awesome job guys!

Couple of quick questions, Bill, and then my order will come your way. Does the pcb come with the full parts kit, or is it a seperate item? Also, does the Midi changer comes as a kit, or is it assembled only?

Looks great, the doc is very clear and detailed as well. Another great one from sMs! A++!

Phil

[State Machine]

[State Machine]

[State Machine]

[Luka]

great job gents, as soon as i start earning some cash again ill put my order in.

[Dan Lavin]

Here's just a couple files outlining how I did my IKC. I modeled my design after the ARP 2600 keyboard. I wish I had made the panel a little wider though as I think our daughterboard will force me to move stuff around to accommodate the width.

The mod wheel uses a grounded center tapped pot so I can feed 2 separate LFO's into each end of the pot and access each by turning the wheel forward for one LFO and pulling it back towards me for the other LFO. The detent of the pot matches the center tap. I bought this from EML about 30 years ago!

Anyway, there's a million ways to design the keyboard case and front panel and it's probably the most fun part of the project!

-Dan

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IKC panel.fpd
Description:		Download
Filename:	IKC panel.fpd
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[fonik]

ordered! thank's guys.

the build of a performance keyboard synth is my major goal for the next year (will have to reduce my backlog, though).

it will then incorporate the IKC and the appendage controller -

[State Machine]

[Dan Lavin]

Here's few recordings I made while running my IKC thru it's paces for the first time. Most of these solos are just 1 or 2 fingers. I was mainly checking for the high note priority by holding a top note then playing a 2nd note under the first. My apologies for the un-professional playing...nothing was prepared.

The analog synths were 2 Thomas Henry SN-Voices. The midi synth is an old Emu Proteus 1/Pop playing piano and xylophone sounds.

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IKCanalogControlexamples.mp3
Description:	This is the SN Voice showing the portamento and high note priority. The second part uses the LFO from SN Voice #2 to modulate the octave shift function. You can really go crazy with octave modulation on top of regular modulation. I had much crazier sou	Download
Filename:	IKCanalogControlexamples.mp3
Filesize:	1.92 MB
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IKCMidiControlexamples.mp3
Description:	This is a 2 finger solo on the Proteus 1....but only 1 finger is moving. The other is holding a higher note while the 2nd finger hits lower notes.	Download
Filename:	IKCMidiControlexamples.mp3
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ikcMidiControlOctaveShift.mp3
Description:	This is the IKC controlling a Proteus 1 with midi but with the SN Voices LFOs driving the octave inputs. So this is literally a 1 finger solo on one key. Now if you were to mix up the notes a bit, you could do a really easy accompaniment on one hand wit	Download
Filename:	ikcMidiControlOctaveShift.mp3
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[philpeery]

Ya-HOO! Just ordered my pcb, parts kit, and midi changer! Can't wait! I WILL post pics of my build...!

Phil

[Uncle Krunkus]

Congratulations guys on a great project!
Truly inspiring vision and implementation.
I can't afford to buy anything for a little while (besides, the AU$ just shat itself! ) But a project like this would definitely be heaps of fun to look forward to.
You have my admiration and best wishes.

[State Machine]

[State Machine]

[richardc64]

Looks like excellent work -- as usual -- from both Bill and Dan. Me, I'm holding out for polyphony, or at least two-voice.

Dan, is that the Cherry you mentioned? Looks great.

[State Machine]

[Blue Hell]

[Dan Lavin]

Bill,

The Hinton stuff does look exciting at first glance, but it uses the old changeover type key contacts instead the newer parallel bubble contacts used by Fatar and similar keyboards produced today.

[quote Dan, is that the Cherry you mentioned? Looks great.[/quote]
Thanks, Richard! Yes it is the "found" cherry wood that my father-in-law had. Fortunately I have broken him of his oak habit for everything!
regards,
Dan

[State Machine]

[State Machine]

[fonik]

parts arrived save and sound. this is a great motivation for me to clean my workbench by finishing all open projects, and to start building my keyboard synthesizer (monofonik, minifonik, profonik ???)

[State Machine]

[Sound]

OMG! I just have seen this thread! One question, in the MIDI mode is it possible to split the keyboard?