A more complex MIDI-DIN Sync convertor?

[Dan Gendreau]

> I think the question was asked here recently, is it possible to build a
> MIDI Clock-DIN Sync convertor/splitter that would allow you to start/stop
> individual DIN-Sync devices, and have them start at a chosen place within
> the MIDI timimg, for example at the start of a bar or the next
> 1/4 beat etc?

I think that would be me...


> I picture a box with MIDI input and maybe 4-6 DIN Sync outputs,
> each output
> would have a start/stop button and a switch to choose where in the bar the
> DIN-Sync device would actually start/stop after the button is pressed.
>
> Anyone want to build it and sell me one?

I use a TR707 for DIN/Tape sync. I dont really like the samples, but its
fairly cheap and not too bad as a midi drum sequencer either. One trick my
band is playing with is using an audio CD with a mono backing track and a
sync track. The backing track goes into the mixer and helps cue us for
changes when playing live. The sync track drives the TR707 which in-turn
drives the DIN sync and MIDI clock of all our gear.

The only big drawback of the TR707 is that it has to be the master clock in
order to produce both DIN and MIDI sync. If its recieving MIDI sync it does
not produce DIN clock...

I have also had moderate success with a simple DIN splitter box with a
switch on the Start/Stop line of each output.

You can control where the output device starts its beat by timing when you
hit the switch. It VERY fun when jamming! Its kinda like scratching! :)

Its cheap and fairly simple to build:

    (2)
 (5)   (4)
(3)     (1)

1 = Run/Stop
2 = Ground
3 = Clock
4 = Tap (usually N/C)
5 = N/C

To make a splitter box w/ start/stop switches:
1) Parts:
	- 2 or 3 6ft 5 pin DIN cables. Use a multimeter to make sure they pass pins
1,2,3 straight through at he very least. Some MIDI cables only send pins 4,5
through so watch out.
	- 3 or 5 SPST switches (one for each output channel).
	Optionally 3 or 5 SPST momentary switches
	- 1 Project box with enough room for the switches to be operated
comfortably.
2) Cut the cables in half and strip the wires.
3) Connect all Pin#2 wires together.
4) Connect all Pin#3 wires together.
5) Run Pin#1 of the input jack to terminal #1 of all the switches.
6) For each channel, run terminal #2 of its switches to output Pin#1

Pins 4,5 really arent used for anything important so you can leave them off
if you want. It wouldnt take much at all to combine one of the existing
MIDI->DIN PIC projects with something like this.



Now what I would KILL for would be a MIDI->DIN PIC kit that has:
	- shuffle control
	- .5x , 1x, 2x speed control for each output

I have figured out how to do shuffle pretty efficiently and the speed
multiplier is a no brainer, but I dont have an Atmel/PIC development kit to
impliment them. I am pretty sure it can all be done with 1 chip! Can someone
recommend an inexpensive way to get a PIC or Atmel dev kit?

-Dan G.