Category Archives: FCB1010

Alesis Vortex: Testing remote Patch switch

The Alesis Vortex, using firmware 1.20, can now receive and act upon Program Change requests. This means that you can select a Vortex Patch remotely. I tested the new feature using my M-Audio Oxygen keyboard, but this will work with … Continue reading

Posted in FCB1010, Music equipment, Vortex | Leave a comment

MRe-2: A demo

I have decided to try the MRe-2 in a real setting. So I hooked up my keyboard and recorded a demo. It was done using Ableton Live 9. The trick was to setup 2 midi loops (using clips). The first … Continue reading

Posted in Electronics, FCB1010, MP, MR, MRe, Vortex | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

VC-1: More impedance control

In the previous post, I described the circuit that I’m using to emulate a potentiometer using a couple of opto-isolator (or opto-couplers?). There is one small problem with the circuit: the input impedance has to be quite low. If you … Continue reading

Posted in Arduino, FCB1010, Pedal board, VC-1 | Tagged | 3 Comments

VC-1: Digital/Midi Volume Control

A user asked if I could design an FCB1010/PU-2 volume control. I love challenges… It took me weeks to get one working properly. The are two main parts to this: the analog side and the digital side. The analog side … Continue reading

Posted in Arduino, FCB1010, Pedal board, PU-2, VC-1 | Tagged | 3 Comments

PU-2: SD card capacity

I have just written a new version of the software that is used to convert a .CSV file into a Sysex file that the PU-2 can process. This version uses the SD card. Preleminary tests show that 2000 midi commands … Continue reading

Posted in Arduino, FCB1010, Pedal board, PU-2 | 2 Comments

SD Card reader: No Voltage required!

While testing a slight modification on the PU-2 prototype, I decided to test the current draw of the SD Card reader described in the previous post. I placed my multimeter in series with the 3.3 volt pin and measured 11 … Continue reading

Posted in Arduino, FCB1010, Pedal board, PU-2 | 4 Comments

PU-2: Data on SD card

Just in time! I received the SD card readers the day that I had planned to ship the first PU-2 Beta. I re-opened the boxes and fitted the card reader in each prototype. This is the SD card reader that … Continue reading

Posted in Arduino, FCB1010, Pedal board, PU-2 | 1 Comment

FCB1010 vs PU-2: Why do it?

While waiting for parts (I do have to get a better inventory “system”) to complete the Betas for the PU-2, I went through a short period of discouragement. It’s hard to stay fully motivated when the project is bogged down … Continue reading

Posted in Arduino, FCB1010, Pedal board, PU-2 | 5 Comments

PU-2: Meet Beta!

The PU-2 made it to Beta. As you can see in the picture above, the PU-2 is an external module, linked to a connecting board inside the Behringer FCB1010 with a flat cable. The reason for the external moduleĀ  is … Continue reading

Posted in Arduino, FCB1010, Pedal board, PU-2 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

PU-2: Version 0.093 – ALPHA is ready

Phew! The hardware is now ready to be converted for Beta. This means that Beta testers will have a unit within a week or two. The hard part was the programming. I had to freeze the specifications and develop Alpha … Continue reading

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