MUSIC INSTRUMENTS KARAOKE ENTERTAINMENT
last updated February 18, 2010 email: contact@mike-noman.info
MICROCHIP and Firmware
The core chip is from the 18F family, loaded with the recommended factory default boot loader. The software is written in C. Both interrupts and timer routines are used. After-touch is modulated in 128 steps. The parser is compliant with midi GM codes. The coding is robot-generic, but Sax, for instance, needs a special tone-off command controller, which is not needed for mallets. The steel-drum controller is expanded with a min. and max. pulse limit to compensate for each note specific sounding.
DESIGN & PC-Board
Interfacing to PC is done by EMU-1*1 (USB to MIDI serial), plugged to a wireless WIMIDI from Medeli. Thus, the robot section is controlled wireless from the PC.
The Midi interface is published on many websites. For testing, we first built a "Midi-Biter". A hardware board with 10 dipswitches to generate 10 bits serial coding for testing the midi data interface. It proved that many published designs have wrong dimensions for the opto-coupler. So it will be saturated and hence lock output for codes that have to many “1” in it.
The first Robot controls are hand wired on vero board. Then Eagle students edition PC CAD is applied and since, schematics are drawn on the PC. Eurocircuits is the perfect partner for getting the boards double sides, complete professional and affordable made. Complete with silkscreen and metal via’s. All power supplies are standard off the shelf, 110-127 Volt.
HARDWARE
Electronic hardware is supplied from many sources. Always favorite is MPJA in WPB/FL and Mouser/NY, and HAJE/L Netherlands. All chassis and supports are arch welded. Both Drums and Sax have an recycled wheelbase form scrapped Medical equipment. Sax has a chrome stand added for styling purposes.
INSTRUMENTS history
Single mallet solenoid 2008 Made from a old RiCOH copier solonoid and Acer hardware
8 mallet Xylophone 2008 Aplied in a school stype Xylophone from a WestPalmBeach/FL pawnshop
Steeldrums 2009 Set of Double Second Steel Drums, robotted into a "Calypso-phone"
crafted from genuine Shell drums by Mr Richardson Senior on Curacao
Saxophone 2010 Original Sax from MusicMan WPB/FL 1986,
Bongo set 2010 From Aldi/Stein-NL
Cow-bel 2010 Cow bell from MusicianFriends/FL, with special attention for mallets
Cocktail Drum kit 2010 Standard China made, with Base, sneer & midd drum, High & muted Hat
Fine Tuning 2011 Pan- and sax carts are lowered by 4 Inch to fit into the transport car
Work in Progress
Raspa 2011 Typical steel sounding pipe, used with local "Kay organ" music
Xylophone 2011 From marching Band, found on Belgium Flea market
Work on hold
Acoustic Bass Guitar 2009 Priority and parts availability
Flato-phone 2009 Inspired by Gaston/Guust Flater/ Dupuis Publisher
The core chip is from the 18F family, loaded with the recommended factory default boot loader. The software is written in C. Both interrupts and timer routines are used. After-touch is modulated in 128 steps. The parser is compliant with midi GM codes. The coding is robot-generic, but Sax, for instance, needs a special tone-off command controller, which is not needed for mallets. The steel-drum controller is expanded with a min. and max. pulse limit to compensate for each note specific sounding.
DESIGN & PC-Board
Interfacing to PC is done by EMU-1*1 (USB to MIDI serial), plugged to a wireless WIMIDI from Medeli. Thus, the robot section is controlled wireless from the PC.
The Midi interface is published on many websites. For testing, we first built a "Midi-Biter". A hardware board with 10 dipswitches to generate 10 bits serial coding for testing the midi data interface. It proved that many published designs have wrong dimensions for the opto-coupler. So it will be saturated and hence lock output for codes that have to many “1” in it.
The first Robot controls are hand wired on vero board. Then Eagle students edition PC CAD is applied and since, schematics are drawn on the PC. Eurocircuits is the perfect partner for getting the boards double sides, complete professional and affordable made. Complete with silkscreen and metal via’s. All power supplies are standard off the shelf, 110-127 Volt.
HARDWARE
Electronic hardware is supplied from many sources. Always favorite is MPJA in WPB/FL and Mouser/NY, and HAJE/L Netherlands. All chassis and supports are arch welded. Both Drums and Sax have an recycled wheelbase form scrapped Medical equipment. Sax has a chrome stand added for styling purposes.
INSTRUMENTS history
Single mallet solenoid 2008 Made from a old RiCOH copier solonoid and Acer hardware
8 mallet Xylophone 2008 Aplied in a school stype Xylophone from a WestPalmBeach/FL pawnshop
Steeldrums 2009 Set of Double Second Steel Drums, robotted into a "Calypso-phone"
crafted from genuine Shell drums by Mr Richardson Senior on Curacao
Saxophone 2010 Original Sax from MusicMan WPB/FL 1986,
Bongo set 2010 From Aldi/Stein-NL
Cow-bel 2010 Cow bell from MusicianFriends/FL, with special attention for mallets
Cocktail Drum kit 2010 Standard China made, with Base, sneer & midd drum, High & muted Hat
Fine Tuning 2011 Pan- and sax carts are lowered by 4 Inch to fit into the transport car
Work in Progress
Raspa 2011 Typical steel sounding pipe, used with local "Kay organ" music
Xylophone 2011 From marching Band, found on Belgium Flea market
Work on hold
Acoustic Bass Guitar 2009 Priority and parts availability
Flato-phone 2009 Inspired by Gaston/Guust Flater/ Dupuis Publisher
