leadless asm1 design

[Andy Main]

> >
> >Following my recent proposels for a leadless modular design, I'm now
> >looking for midi software to send various sysex and controller data
to
> >it using my own (very basic) gui.  Can anyone help with telling me
how
> >to send a generated file of midi data to my synth via my midi port
(and
> >reecieve any data as well).  Is this easy (I already know what the
> >signals types are)?
>
> I guess you'd use NRPN's for the data. Sorry I cant help with the PC
side
> of MIDI. Are you using digitally controlled pots?

Yes I am, but what are NRPN's

> >Oh In case your wondering what my design is taking the shape of now
> >(I've almost finished the basic design).  It's mainly going to be
> >computer controlled in editing except for 8 assignable controllers
(each
> >just rotary with no stops - allowing for change of current value not
the
> >position of the controller) and 10 different patch storage switches.
> >There will be 4 aux inputs to patch to, allowing for external CV
and/or
> >audio input to the filter stage also.  Everything else ie patch
design,
> >controller data, knob assignments, and the diffent stored voices will
be
> >entered using my forementioned gui.  I'd appreciate any comments
> >greatly.
>
> Sounds like a good design. Can it be used without being connected to
the
> PC? It might be a good idea to have more patches and have a 7segment
LED
> display for the patch number. For quick selection you could still have
the
> 10 switches(or maybe less) but have a rotary encoder to select bank
and
> display it on the LED display. Or you could have a bank select switch
so
> you press it then press the patch number and that selects the bank.
>
> Let me know how it goes. Are you using an AVR micro?
>
Yep I am, they are nice and cheap, and very usable in midi controlling.

Well  my original plan was to have most things hardware controlled, but
I've decided to do it this way because A) most people use pc's (how else
are you recieving this mail!!), and B) I only have a limited budget.

I must admit though, this relience on the software bugs me (computers
are a pain in the arse sometimes - sorry hacker type people!!), however
if I make everything midi the plan can be updated further towards
hardware control.  The good thing about this is unlimited storage of
patches and these being able to be transmitted over a sequencer (so long
as it has sys ex features).  Also it comes to cost again, if I was to
implement a nice alphanumeric display with menus and such, it will end
up being costly and harder to do (since there are so many visual
programming tools these days).  The good thing is that the software will
only have easy tasks to do (it will send/recieve only when requested), I
just need to find out how to send and recieve down the cable.
Everything else will be done by the microcontroller (Atmel AVR) and fpga
(Xilinx type).

Anyway the Nord modular manages (all be it with a parallel port and
using emulation), so this isn't too much of a problem (apologies to
anyone pure hardware set up, I applaud you all).

Andy.