[sdiy] Intro - admin questions

[Dave Magnuson]

At 02:11 PM 12/10/01 +0200, you wrote:
>Hi, all
>
>I just subbed to this list now.


Welcome!


>The first project I envision myself building would involve:
>- MIDI interface with 2 MIDI ins, 2 MIDI thrus (one for each) and a few MIDI
>outs, possibly combining the 2 MIDI ins.


Creating MIDI Thru is easy.  Only a dozen parts required... and it can be
used to build a splitter (1 in, 4 or 5 outs, etc).   The merging is done
with a processor and some programming.  I've seen merger info online, but
I've never built one. 



>- MIDI in to Control Voltage (I have found a circuit to do that)
>- MIDI in to analoge (I have found a circuit to do that)


There are kits available for this.  PAiA makes one, Kenton makes really
nice ones, and several listmembers make them as well (but I can't remember
who).  You COULD design one yourself, but why bother (unless you have some
new idea that hasn't been implemented yet)



>- sequencer type thing (with a MIDI in for timecode) that I can select a
>signal to be output on every note, half-note, quarter-note etc. (would
>probably work with the control voltage box)


I've designed a gate sequencer to do something like this.  See my website
in my sig file if you'd like.  I've never prototyped my design yet... I
have to finish some other projects first.  Basically it works around a MIDI
to Din-Sync IC from Blacet labs, and uses CMOS to divide to all the useful
tempos and to create the sequencers.


>
>What I don't knw is what I am going to end up controlling with these gadgets
>. . . the more I learn, the better equippe4d I will be when that time comes
>to choose.


Well, if you don't know what you want, don't start building yet.  DIY is
NOT cheap, and NOT easy at first.  Take your time, and think things through
before you start.  This will help you avoid wasting time and money on
half-baked ideas.

Dave Magnuson



Resonant Frequency:
resfreq at hoohahrecords.com
http://www.hoohahrecords.com/resfreq/index.html