Midibox - Stone Texture - Coarse-brick Texture Manufacturer
History
History
The MIDIbox Hardware Platform is the continuation of Thorsten Klose's earlier work on MIDI controllers. Designs are based around a standardized environment of reusable and exchangeable modules. Soon after the release of the first modules, a small group of enthusiasts formed which grew into a thriving open source development community.
The MIDIbox Hardware Platform (MBHP)
The focus of the platform is on well defined and documented modules based on small, uncomplicated circuits to allow for amateur assembly. These modules are then assembled into a complete project. All boards can be made as single-layer PCBs, and prototype boards designed with a freeware CAD program. Almost all components are through-hole for easier assembly.
The MIDIbox hardware platform runs its own open-source operating system: MIOS (MIDIbox Operating System), written in PIC assembly language for speed and accuracy. There is a C wrapper layer available for simplified coding. MIOS is designed and documented to allow simple reconfiguration, adaptation and extension by hobbyists and enthusiasts.
The modules
Currently there are about 15 separate modules available:
Microcontroller modules
Core Module
PIC Programmer Modules like an actual PIC-Burner or the JDM Module
Input modules
AIN Module Analog Input (0-5V)
DIN Module Digital Input (ON/OFF)
Output modules
DOUT Module Digital Output (eg. LED ON/OFF)
LCD Module Liquid Crystal Display
AOUT Module Analog Out to output Voltages (for Controls)
Sound modules
SID Module for the MOS Technology SID (as found in the Commodore 64)
OPL3 Module for the FM-Chips YMF262 and YAC512
IIC SpeakJet Module for the SpeakJet SoundChip
Memory expansion modules
BankStick 32k / 64k Memory module
MIDI I/O modules
LTC Module MIDI LED Indicators + 1 MIDI-Out + 1 Thru (+ 1 optional to-COM-Port)
USB Modules PC/USB Interface
Miscellaneous modules
MF Module to control Motorfaders
IIC Modules to communicate to other (Microcontroller-)Devices via I2C
The MIDIbox Operating System (MIOS)
The MIDIbox Operating System (MIOS) has been developed to allow the design of flexible MIDI controller applications. MIOS adheres to a non-commercial, open platform as fundamental to the exchange of ideas and personal adaptations which are not possible with commercial controllers.
Most controllers built by the community are based on existing documented designs, and begin life with the feature set provided by the existing firmware. End users can enhance their devices with exchangeable program code, and customize them to suit their host application, synthesizer or other MIDI device. Users can also customize to suit their own preferred workflow, or design a new project from scratch.
Application source code, module schematics and PCB layouts are available free for non-commercial use as templates for modifications and improvements. Thus MIOS and the Hardware Platform allow an easy entry to hobbyist microcontroller development, while making possible applications outside the realms of the commercial, mainstream MIDI market.
MIOS was licensed under the GPL until version 1.8. Later versions now require Thorsten Klose's permission for commercial use.
Specifications
The operating system consist of a kernel that provides user hooks to hardware and software events, and functions for interaction with Hardware Platform modules.
One core module with a PIC18F452 microcontroller can handle
up to 128 digital inputs
up to 128 digital outputs
up to 64 analog inputs
character and graphical LCDs
up to 8 BankSticks (I2C EEPROMs)
one MIDI In and one MIDI Out, or an RS232 serial COM port
Background drivers are available for the following control tasks:
MIDI I/O processing
Bootstrap loader
Analog conversion of up to 64 pots, faders or other analog sources with a 10-bit resolution
Motor handling for up to 8 motorized moving faders with a 10-bit resolution
Handling of up to 64 rotary encoders
Handling of up to 128 buttons, touch sensors or similar digital input devices
Handling of up to 128 LEDs, relays, Digital-Analog-Converters or similar output devices. In multiplex mode a nearly unlimited number of LEDs, LED rings and LED digits can be driven
Read/Write from/to EEPROM, Flash, and BankStick
Linking PIC18F Core modules via MIDIbox Link
The whole operating system has been written in assembly language and has been optimized for speed. MIOS currently uses 8k of program memory and 640 bytes of RAM.
Only 75 s is required to read 128 digital input pins and to write to 128 output pins. 16 rotary encoders are handled within 100 s. Analog inputs are scanned in the background every 200 s; changes larger than a definable minimum range trigger a user hook.
Up to 256 MIDI events can trigger dedicated functions; processing of the event list requires about 300 S. MIDI events can also be processed by a user routine for sysex parsing or similar jobs. A user timer is available for time triggered code.
Support for other high-level languages apart from C is possible.
MIOS hardware
MIOS is a dedicated operating system for the Microchip Technology PIC18F452 microcontroller. This PIC is pin compatible to the PIC16F877 which was used in early MIDIbox projects. Thus it is backwards compatible with older MIDIbox Core modules, with one board modification.
The PIC18F452 features more internal flash, much more internal RAM, some new instructions and a better system architecture. It is available for the same price as the PIC16F877 in most countries.
Complete solutions
At this point there are 11 fully-documented projects available, as well as a large number of user projects generated by the community. The official projects are as follows:
MIDIbox SEQ V3:
16 Track Live Step and Morph Sequencer + advanced Arpeggiator
MIDIbox SID V1:
Hardware MIDI-controllable Synthesizer based on the MOS Technology SID (MOS6581) sound chip as shipped with the Commodore 64/128
MIDIbox FM V1:
Hardware synthesizer based on the Yamaha YMF262 sound chip (also known as OPL3) for generating the famous FM sounds known from Soundblaster (compatible) soundcards of the early 90s
MIDI Merger V1:
Merges two separate MIDI inputs to a single output
MIDI Router V1:
Routes various MIDIboxes to a single MIDI port
MIDI Processor:
Provides basic functionality to receive and transmit MIDI events
MIDIbox CV
Provides CV and gate outputs to drive voltage controlled devices such as analog modular synthesizers
MIDIbox 64:
Full-fledged 64 channel MIDI controller
MIDIbox 64E V2:
Extended version of the MIDIbox 64
MIDIO128 V2:
The MIDIO128 interface is used to drive up to 128 digital output pins and to react on up to 128 digital input pins via MIDI
MIDIbox LC V1:
Alternative to the MIDIbox 64/64E
MIDImon V2:
Reports events, which are transmitted over the MIDI cable, in a readable form
References
^ "MIOS Change Log". http://www.ucapps.de/index.html?page=mios_changelog.html. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
External links
MIDIbox project website
the MIDIbox wiki
the MIDIbox forums
Microchip website (manufacturer of the PIC family microcontrollers)
ucapps.de (Non-commercial DIY Projects for MIDI Hardware Geeks website)
Connecting SpeakJet to PIC 16F877 Microcontroller
The Protodeck: big midibox controller designed for interact with Ableton Live
Categories: DIY | Microcontrollers | DIY open source | MIDIHidden categories: Computing articles needing expert attention | Articles needing expert attention from February 2009 | All articles needing expert attention | Articles lacking in-text citations from August 2009 | All articles lacking in-text citations
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