Rhythm generator

[Mikko Helin]

>It might seem daunting at first but I think a microcontroller is really the
>way to go for this kind of project. 
That's all true.

>There's the 16c77 pic which is a 40 pin device. Very soon the EEPROM
>version (16F77) of this chip will be widely available so you wont need an
>EPROM eraser. The price is about $8US. 
I'm too waiting for this chip, as you can make a nice MIDI drum trigger
kit with it using it's inbuilt ADC's.

>It may take you a little while to learn how to program microcontrollers but
>I'm sure you won't regret it. Just over a year ago I was designing all
>kinds of things (including analog cv and drum trigger sequencers) using
>discrete logic. I was under the impression that this gave me greater
>flexabilty. Then I had to learn the 8031 microcontrller as part of my AD
>electronics. I was hesitant at first but the more you learn, the more you
>understand and the more you think that microcontrollers are f*cking amazing.

You better start with some PIC16F84 project, first one is obviously
the programmer hardware. I built the PIC programmer the schematics
of which I found on Elektor Electronics, and guess what: it didn't
work. I had to add external 13 V DC PSU to make the programming
voltage and a FET as a switch to turn it on/off. So don't make
the same mistake as I did. It's better NOT to use the power of
RS-232 interface, and there are still plenty of schematics for
other (externally powered) programmers that can still use the
available software (PIP-02).

>When my current project is complete, I am designing a sequencer similar to
>that described above. However it will have a pot at each step to select
>velocity, a MIDI output, and a note sequencer mode where the note# is
>selected with the pot.
>If you choose a microcontroller design you will have possibilities not
>available with a standard logic design, at a lower cost. Do it Bill, Do
>it!!! If you choose to go this route don't hesitate to ask me for advice.
>If you feel like you can't be bothered to program a uC think of all the
>wiring/cost of hardware you will save.

There seems to be some musical PIC projects available on web now.
It would be nice if there were at least a central collection of links
somewhere, or a site like www.picpoint.com (just another idea).

-Mikko