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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
 Posted - 24/01/2009 : 12:35:30 AM
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For all those who may be interested, please cast your vote.
My company has designed a board which will take a file from an SD card, and output to pallet magnets.
Before you jump for joy, the board is designed to be used for a small 32 note (or less) organ. We are aiming for portables. We may also expand the system for larger organs if the response is high enough.
The system will have a LCD screen, and a connection for 4 buttons (forward song, back song, play, and stop). These buttons will also help the user setup the system.
The system can be powered from 6.5 volts up to 20 volts. We would think the lower voltage may be pushing the envelope for amperage(amperage and voltage are inversely proportional).
No containers will be supplied for the system, nor will the buttons. Any momentary button should work for this application. The board should be housed in an organ case close to one corner (to access the card slot).
At this point we have not place any type of crank sensor within the design. We would like to know how many people would want the crank sensor. It would primarily be used for tempo, and possibly the actual "starting" of the pallet magnets.
This system will only require the following additional equipment:
Power source (Battery)
Pallet Magnets (Solenoids)
Buttons (momentary x4)
Power switch(could unplug the battery)
Organ
We are not quoting any retail price for these as of yet. We still need to price the full set of parts, and finish the prototype testing.
For now, we believe the system will be cheaper (should be much cheaper) than what would be required to midi a small organ.
Feedback is appreciated,
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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arthur
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 24/01/2009 : 07:01:15 AM
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HI James
Your board sounds interesting and would depend upon price particulary the postage charges to UK.
We do find that postage and import duty can be the straw etc etc.
The physical size also has to be considered.
My inclination is to build into a box so that it could be interchanged between my two 26 note organs.
The onboard SD card facility is an attraction.
Looking forward to further postings from you on this topic.
Regards
Arthur |
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arthur
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 24/01/2009 : 07:04:41 AM
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James
I should have asked.
Could two boards be daisy chained to give the poosibilty of 64 notes?
Arthur |
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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 24/01/2009 : 10:34:50 AM
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Arthur,
The current board is a littler larger than 2 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches.
I'm not sure of the cost dealing with import to the UK, for I have not dealt with it before. We do build with RoHS standards, so that will not be an issue.
The plan was to have a add on board to have more than 32 outputs. The second board(plus others)would be smaller, and would connect with a 6-10 pin cable(this is not included in the current version). The expandable configuration could take the system up to 128 outputs (but no more).
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 25/01/2009 : 11:11:19 AM
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Does anyone else have a preference for or against a crank sensor?
This issue really needs to be resolved before the working prototype is finished.
Last call,
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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aobg
Forum Administrator
United Kingdom
266 Posts |
Posted - 25/01/2009 : 12:38:57 PM
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Crank sensor yes. The one I’ve built dissent use optical sensor but a Hall-Effect Switch no dust problems and so on. A3245EUA is the one I’ve used a lot.
Yours Phil Radford AOBG website & forums administrator. |
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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 25/01/2009 : 12:54:49 PM
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Phil,
I probably won't use a hall effect, for the need to use a magnet. If a sensor is used it will probably be an inductance proximity switch. Same effect with a metal tab, with no magnets needed.
I'll have to compare prices though.
EDIT: Ok, after comparing prices, the hall effect is much cheaper, and actually easier to interface. Couldn't find the one you mention in stock any where, but did find many I could use.
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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aobg
Forum Administrator
United Kingdom
266 Posts |
Posted - 25/01/2009 : 1:31:45 PM
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Just out of interest I believe (but maybe wrong) Alan Pell is in the final stagers of an all in one unit from j-Omega Electronics. It is reported to be128 output with fully re-programmable from a keyboard or from the on website compiler, so you can use the output you need also going to have loads more tricks up its sleeve with swell/accent controller onboard. If I’m informed well it will have onboard PSU and USB port. It’s also going to have ahead up unit (display) with SD card reader or the latest version of it. So looks good for plug and play. And coming from j-Omega Electronics it will be cheaper than most competitors, robust and reliable. Just like j-Omega Electronics MTP-7: 32 Note Outputs and MTP-8: 64 Note Outputs.
Yours Phil Radford AOBG website & forums administrator. |
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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 25/01/2009 : 1:46:31 PM
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That is interesting, but I've heard nothing about it.
Sounds like great minds think alike. (not conceded, just funny)
I know they will have many more options than I offer. The current system offers remote control, which I think is not that useful, for what we are targeting.
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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bobessex
Average Member
United Kingdom
12 Posts |
Posted - 25/01/2009 : 2:43:57 PM
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Very interesting James.
Does your SD card hold the data in MIDI format, or is it in streamed-MIDI? In other words, how easy is it to load music onto the card?
What is the maximum current per output from your card? and can the outputs be allocated to any MIDI numbers and any MIDI channels?
Best wishes
Bob Essex www.bobessex.co.uk |
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aobg
Forum Administrator
United Kingdom
266 Posts |
Posted - 25/01/2009 : 2:56:55 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by propellanttech
That is interesting, but I've heard nothing about it.
Sounds like great minds think alike. (not conceded, just funny)
I know they will have many more options than I offer. The current system offers remote control, which I think is not that useful, for what we are targeting.
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Servies
I use the remote function on my 31 note organ allot. It boggles public’s brains when I pick up the remote and press the pause button. It helps when I’m speaking to someone about the organ or for requests. But like you say not that useful but fun.
Yours Phil Radford AOBG website & forums administrator. |
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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 26/01/2009 : 02:08:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by bobessex
Very interesting James.
Does your SD card hold the data in MIDI format, or is it in streamed-MIDI? In other words, how easy is it to load music onto the card?
What is the maximum current per output from your card? and can the outputs be allocated to any MIDI numbers and any MIDI channels?
Best wishes
Bob Essex www.bobessex.co.uk
Bob,
The card will be FAT 16 with the actual Midi files placed on to it. Should be as easy as dragging them into the card with Windows Explorer(or what ever OS you have on your computer). Not sure of the total number of files as of yet, still working on that. 2G limitation on the SD card.
Maximum output will be 500 ma per output. 20 Volt maximum input.
The outputs will be numbered, but configuration is still up in the air. I'm hoping to have any number available for all the outputs, but there may be a limitation on channels. I won't know that until the prototype is finished testing.
After some thinking, The configuration may be as simple as a text file located on the SD card. This would be the easiest for users (rather than trying to fumble with buttons on the unit). With this in mind, I don't see why any limitation would exist with the configuration, but the idea will need to be tested.
The method would be as simple as following an example file, pairing output numbers (from the board)with midi channels and numbers (from the midi files). This would be a standard configuration, not a configuration for each song, that would be almost impossible with a small single board system.
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2009 : 1:06:11 PM
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I figured an updated status could give people the ability to give input or suggestions.
The following are slated to be included:
1) 4 Button connections for controls (play, stop, song prev, song next)
2) LCD for user viewing (this is to know what song is playing, if it is started or stopped)
3) 32 outputs 500ma each, should cover most pallet magnets.(outputs configurable with a text file located on the SD card). The driver chips will be socketed, in case you blow an output (Ooops). The chips can be easily replaced.
4) The system will use standard Midi files loaded on the SD card. Limitation on amount of files to be determined. Channel limitation also to be determined.
5) Up to 2G of SD card storage. The card is actually a micro-SD card.
6) Crank Sensor input. This input only starts or stops the music in the default setting. It can be changed to control the speed of the music. This will be facilitated by changing the configuration file on the SD card (standard text file).
7) 20 volt input maximum. Voltage range of 6.5v - 20v. We recommend 10 volts or higher.
8) An expansion connection to take the system up to 128 outputs. Will required a purchase of expansion boards.
9) The current size is 2.6in (66mm) x 5.6in (142mm). This is only the control board with no additions of buttons, screen, sensors, expansion boards, or batteries. All of which are connected with wiring to facilitate flexibility.
If anyone has any other suggestions or opinions, please let them known.
We are currently building a prototype for firmware coding. The firmware will take some time, so please be patient.
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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Chris Blanchard
Advanced Member
France
27 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 12:36:51 PM
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Hello James !
Very interesting indeed. Which microcontoler will you use?
Best regards
Chris |
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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 2:35:09 PM
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Chris,
The micro-controller will be the Propeller from Parallax. It is very fast (80Mhz) and actually contains 8 processors within (true multi-tasking). We have used them for a lot of projects.
We have had to slow down on the development of the system, for we just got flooded with a huge number of assembly jobs. It is our forte, so we have to get all of those done, before we will have enough free time to get back on the project.
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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propellanttech
Advanced Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 7:12:22 PM
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While on break from production,
Just to also give some other information, which may or may not be pertinent;
We have also been discussing the system design with Alan Pell. We can not divulge much information from the discussions, but can affirm the discussions have been very positive.
James L
James Long
Owner/Production Manager
Lil Brother SMT assembly Services
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Topic |
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Crank sensor or no?