The Great Enclosure Project -- finding a home for the MIDISIDs!!

[Ben Asaro]

I know, I know -- I need another project like I need another hole in my head; BUT, I'm legit concerned about the MIDISIDs' open-architecture design when it comes to recording, rehearsal, and (potentially, hopefully) gigging.

About 2-3 months ago I started thinking about what a semi-permanent enclosure for the MIDISIDs would look like and began collecting parts. I was originally going to use a custom Hammond aluminum enclosure, but in the end opted for a Moog eurorack case.

As ever, Shiela Dixon has been beyond helpful in giving me the details I needed re: the MIDISIDS: detailed dimensional drawings, part names and sizes, power consumption, etc. I really cannot recommend Shiela highly enough if you are looking to make hardware-based chiptune music but don't want to schlep a C64 around.

Anyway, once I settled on an approach, I enlisted the aid of Trapdog in Ireland to fabricate 30hp blank eurorack panels for me. Then began the slow accumulation of various parts and tools I would need to attempt pulling this off. As I am not mass-producing anything, I could afford to splurge on high quality parts for all of the connectors I would need: power, audio, and MIDI; metric drill bits; a metric step bit; various adapters and cables.

I will be documenting this build like my other projects. My biggest delay right now is the fact that I'm going into the studio on Friday and I don't want to dismantle both MIDISIDs before going in, so I won't be able to do much of anything until next weekend.

At this point all of the parts save the MIDI to TRS adapters have arrived. Since panel mount MIDI thru connectors are prohibitively expensive and bulky, and I cannot solder, I opted to use 3.5mm panel mount thru connectors for both audio and MIDI. I may end up using discrete 1/4" TS outputs for the MIDISIDs at some point but for now the 3.5mm connectors a) fit in the limited amount of space I have to make holes into the case and b) work.

When the 3.5mm thru connectors arrived, I did a test with the NerdSeq and MIDISID to see if it would pass MIDI after being converted to TRS and back to DIN, and it worked a treat; the MIDISID plays fine even through a jury-rigged DIN > TRS > thru panel > TRS > DIN signal path.

Some very un-sexy parts photos:

3.5mm panel mount thru connectors
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3KMvHhBTfvWYeoaW9

Rotary SPDT power switch (with LED indicator light)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dHasQvAkJiGeSPoc7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cbm4UTYvunR7tv7k8

Stand offs for the bottom board of the MIDISIDS, DC power jacks
https://photos.app.goo.gl/V5JFjA3mPPLcytUQ6

Testing stand offs with the MIDISID daughter board
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bc8TtHg8sEg5kaY86

Cardboard proof of concept panel test with the MIDISID faceplate
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vKFfrjgsMmP99pbE7

[BJG145]

Good luck! Will follow with interest. I've spent quite a lot of time pondering this subject. Currently trying to finish some FR4-based case designs.

[Ben Asaro]

Good luck! Will follow with interest. I've spent quite a lot of time pondering this subject. Currently trying to finish some FR4-based case designs.

Thanks!

[Martin Walker]

Good luck from me as well Ben!

In all my synth-based projects, the case/panel has inevitably taken longer to finish than the electronics themselves. Indeed, my most recent electronic project (designed a couple of years ago) is still languishing in a cardboard box containing the breadboard with components still plugged in, plus a half-finished case, and somehow I suspect it will never get boxed up

I love your illuminated switch by the way - very tasty!

[Ben Asaro]

Major update:

After much dry-fitting and measuring, I have opted for a dual Moog-style 104hp setup. Unfortunately, Moog no longer makes the 104hp unpowered skiff and finding them is like acquiring hens' teeth, so I ordered the Behringer equivalent from Sweetwater. At least I won't feel bad drilling holes into it!

The 5" monitor arrived last night I was able to test it; all in working order!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YBw6Gd4gxHuQBbS2A

There are now two remaining pieces I am awaiting: the Behringer case, and the USB thru-panel jack to power the monitor. The last remaining piece, an offset stand for the 2nd tier, is shipping from Denmark, but that's not critical to the actual building of the enclosure.

Theoretically, I could be assembling this as early as next weekend!

[Martin Walker]

Looking forward to your ongoing progress on this Ben.

I also suspect that Shiela will be interested in how this project turns out, as it might give her a future option for MIDISID in a Eurorack format.

[Ben Asaro]

Looking forward to your ongoing progress on this Ben.

I also suspect that Shiela will be interested in how this project turns out, as it might give her a future option for MIDISID in a Eurorack format.

I've been talking with her and she's been super helpful in getting technical drawings and specs to me.

I have dry fit the MIDISISD and monitor over the Trapdog blanks and as long as I don't totally botch it up, this may end up looking super cool.

The eurorack idea is an interesting one and would probably be quite doable. All it would need is an appropriate panel, MIDI and audio ports, and a header for power.

[Ben Asaro]

Transplanted the NerdSeq & Co to the lower tier skiff tonight.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NiFH4jYid3VmDQUr9

Most important, stickers were added to the Moog skiff.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gaYCjbmCzzf5ft9VA

I had almost forgotten how comfortable it is to have a skiff at an angle instead of flat on the table. A much better experience!

[Ben Asaro]

Proof of concept running VEX into the monitor!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ogc18yCqunvuKSpMA

[BJG145]

What's VEX?

[Ben Asaro]

What's VEX?

VEX is the Video Expander for NerdSeq that runs the shaders and can also clone whatever screen is showing on the NerdSeq. VEX has HDMI and composite video out so I can view the shaders in real time. As they don't appear on the NerdSeq's main screen, and I don't want/need a big monitor or TV connected to the modular for designing shaders, I got the 5" display monitor.

[Ben Asaro]

Okay, just waiting on the final piece of the puzzle, the actual skiff!

Family photo of the thru-pannel jacks, all tested and working:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PJCr3m6D3bZKFT7ZA

- USB power for the display monitor
- TRS MIDI for MIDISID
- TRS audio for MIDISID
- HDMI for the display monitor

Forgot to include the barrel connector for the 9V required for MIDISID and the power switch's LED, but I have that as well.

Just waiting on the skiff!

[Ben Asaro]

The acrylic blank defied drilling, unfortunately, and cracked when I tried drilling the screw holes. I have another plan, though, and will try it once some parts arrive.

[Ben Asaro]

Today is proving to be more productive than yesterday -- I was able to successfully drill the hole for the power switch.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qPunX8791NXTtwuW7

Drilling aluminum instead of acrylic has its own set of challenges, but the step bit had no trouble getting the job done and is a LOT less messy than the Dremel on acrylic!

I was super paranoid that I would accidentally drill the hole too big, but the markings on the step bit are quite clear and there's a lot more control over it than I thought; I imagined that the bit would dig through the metal, but you can guide it quite easily and it goes THUNK every 8mm, so easy to gauge where you are.

[Ben Asaro]

Stand arrived from Budapest!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CokhAnfkV6A7fNPq9

[Ben Asaro]

2nd tier skiff just walked in the door!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WcF81JW9kJ8xUDHFA

Tomorrow I start drilling and laying out the components. Exciting!

[Ben Asaro]

Progress pics from today:

Soldered the DC power jack and sorted out the wiring to turn on the Morpheus as well as the power switch LED. That took some doing!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/83bumj9xLXf9dUdW7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1cFcEwV3J3qZRK9D8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bqPGhBUvrNGxPifw9

I drilled the first hole, for the DC barrel connector.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GH8bZreUZy15ucpf9

I have marked the space where the Morpheus' bottom board will go. Have to figure out where the MIDI jack will reside. Then I will drill the next set of holes.

SO glad I went with 104hp!! The free space is making this MUCH easier to install!

[Ben Asaro]

I was able to dedicate a couple of hours to get the rest of the holes drilled. What a racket/mess!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4coaPNogctQiXfNa6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vSYo6i3yTTNc9jEF9

... and now I once again play the waiting game until the new set of blank panels come in from Perfect Circuit. Then I will test my alternate mounting method.

I sure am glad that I opted for 104hp -- this would have been a nightmare to squeeze into 60hp!

[Ben Asaro]

More extensive testing will happen later today, but proof of concept and rough in with the NerdSeq is looking promising!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NdqPkaAwpegM88pA8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VcQo3jqMvFZz9G5u8

Video

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ocAX85cGHc6qxVbq6

[Martin Walker]

Looking good Ben

[Ben Asaro]

A lot of little setbacks yesterday after what seemed like solid progress.

FIRST .. the MIDI to TRS cables I ordered straight-up do not work. I cannot tell if it's because they are totally defective or were erroneously sold as Type A when they are Type B (I suspect this is the case), but the end result was that I couldn't get MIDI into the Morpheus. Further testing showed that every other step in the chain is working as it should.

SECOND .. this means that I will have to use a MIDI to TRS adapter, which means that the height of the bottom board will be critical: too high and it will interfere with the face plates, too low and a right angle MIDI head won't clear.

THIRD .. and then I discovered that I will also need a right angle TRS or the plug will stick out too far.

FOURTH .. same with the audio output.

Bottom line: nothing earth-shattering or catastrophic, but enough little setbacks which requires waiting for yet another delivery to arrive.

I am hoping that this will be all sorted by the weekend. I'm very glad that I decided to jump on this early!

[Ben Asaro]

A couple of cables arrived today and besides having to redo the wiring inside the skiff, everything is working. The bottom line is: I need right angle connectors on EVERYTHING. I'm starting to get frustrated with myself for not having the foresight to see this, but I'm way too far into it now to back out.

[Martin Walker]

Hang on in there Ben!

[Ben Asaro]

The final internal bits arrived today and internal wiring was completed and tested!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NuaAn1bN7b8ftorD7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MrsLGdxDSxt2Dd4Y6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WTFSdnYszAiZHNFq6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/57pKgUXE1ZuGLESX8

I'm still figuring out how to mount the MIDISID in place but I think I have to temp it in so I can have a proper think with it in in place. As for the display monitor, I think I have something that will work fine.

Next step: moar drilling!

[Ben Asaro]

... turns out that the panels I ordered from Perfect Circuit will not work perfectly (oh, the irony! lol). Fortunately, blanks are super-useful. I ordered another round of blanks from Control and will pick them up today/tomorrow. I'M SO CLOSE to being able to complete this!