Arduinome phase 1: getting the parts (and IV)

This is the last section of this phase, I got all the parts for my Arduinome!!!


I went to my local electronic shop in Madrid and got:
64x1N4148
10x10KOhm resistors (I got normal resistors instead of a resistor network, since they did not have resistor networks in stock)
1x74164+socket
1x74165+socket
2xMale connectors for Arduino shields

That was 8 euros total.

I am only missing some other random stuff (connectors, cables, screws and nuts...), but all this should be enough to get me started.

Summarizing, the total cost so far is:

€68.93 - SparkFun Buttons and Button pads (including S&H to california, not spain)
€25 - Arduino board
€9.6 - Green LEDs
€8 - other components

These numbers are based on current exchange ratio.

Check out the whole Arduinome build log here.

Arduinome phase 1: getting the parts (III)

The ultrabright green LEDs for my arduinome arrived last week from Hong Kong:


I bought them through eBay to an eBay store named “Amigo-of-China”. The transaction was perfect; the items were shipped very quickly and arrived in perfect condition. Will definitely buy from him if I need LEDs again, I have now an “Amigo” in Hong Kong!!!.

These are the LEDs:



And this is how it looks like with the SparkFun buttons:

Check out also this video I made with the SparkFun buttons. The keypad shortcuts the LEDs pins switching the LED on and off:



I need to think what to do with the remaining 36 LEDs and the 100 resistors provided. Suggestions are welcome.

On the arduinome project, the parts I am still missing are:
- Diodes
- 74165
- 74164
- Resistor network
- Screws and nuts

Check out the whole Arduinome build log here.

Is Roland watching me?

As I have already stated in blog posts, forums posts and a youtube video:

WE NEED NEW KEYTARS!!!!

Well, I have been heard... Introducing the new Roland AX-Synth Keytar (or Shoulder Synthesizer, as they call it... I wonder if keytar is a registered trademark that roland can not use):


I do not particulary like it and the reasons are:

1. It is a synth, not a controller, which will probably make it super-expensive for an amateur musician (who actually does not know how to play keyboard very well) like me
2. It reminds me to the keytar Jordan Rudess plays sometimes:
   

I know, I know... that one is even worst...

However I am happy about it, other brands seem to follow what Roland does, so we should probably be seeing more keytars (or shoulder Synthesizers... pfff...) soon.

Click on the keytar image for more info from roland. Specs bellow:

Built-in sound engine with voices from Roland’s latest synthesizers

Ribbon controller, D Beam, modulation bar, knobs, and easy to see display for stage

USB MIDI for easy connection to PC
Dedicated V-LINK button for video/visual control
Long battery operation (approx. 6 hours)

Keyboard
49 Keys (with velocity)
Sound Generator
Maximum Polyphony
128 voices
Special Tones 8
SuperNATURAL 4 (included on Special Tones)
Controllers
D-Beam, Ribbon Touch, Modulation Bar, Volume Knob Controller, Aftertouch/C1 Knob Controller, Portamento On/Off, Hold button On/Off, Bender Mode: Normal/Catch+Last
Connectors
Output Jacks: 2 x 1/4' inch phone type (L/MONO, R), Headphones (Stereo 1/4' inch phone type), Foot Pedal, USB connector (USB MIDI), MIDI connector (IN/OUT), Power Adaptor
Others
Battery
8 x Ni-MH rechargeable Batteries
Display
(3 x 7) segment LED

Accessories
Owner's Manual, Shoulder strap, CD with PC/MAC Editor plug-in, Cushion
Size and Weight

Width
1,145 mm
45-1/8 inches

Depth
265 mm
10-7/16 inches

Height
90 m
3-9/16 inches

Weight
3.7 kg
8 lbs. 3 oz.

Jota goes unplugged

Jota the singer of "Los Planetas" and "El Grupo de Expertos Solynieve" did an unplugged concert for Radio3. Listen to it here:

First part:


Second part:



There are also some videos in youtube, although it is hard to actually see anything on them:

The end of MusicThing

Sad news from MusicThing came yesterday, Tom Whitwell is too busy with his "real-life" job to be able to continue writting his blog.

It will be missed.

All the best in your new job, Tom

Is EH watching me?

On November 2008, Electro Harmonix introduced the "Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker" pedal (see the green big muff on the left in the picture above). When I saw it I was amazed to see how much it looks like my DIY Big Muff (see the big muff on the right in the same picture), but the similarities are not only on the looks (being honest, both my version and the new "green muff" do look a lot like the little big muff pi, with the Pi sign on the right of the bypass switch and the smaller than usual box), they also added the switch to bypass the tone control circuit, which I called "Tone Bypass" and they called ¨Tone Switch". Is EH reading my blog? if so... I want the old Electro Harmonix Mini Synthesizer back!!! not the bass and guitar micro synth, but the mini synthesizer keyboard. Keep up with the good job EH...

Here is also a picture I recently took a picture of both my DIY BMPs (the Mogwai and the normal BMP) which I forgot to post:

Arduinome phase 1: getting the parts (II)

I just got my MAX7219 as a christmas present from Maxim. Remember it is this maxim, not this other one... I know the second one is more interesting and they also use sillicon, although in different ways.

The parts I am missing are:
- LEDs
- Diodes
- 74165
- 74164
- Resistor network
- Screws and nuts

Check out the whole Arduinome build log here.

Bands that make you go CTRL+D: Saturday Night Villain

Saturday Night Villain seems to be a two man band, Logan Mannstrane and Lord Kickdrum. I found about them through the matrixsynth blog. As far as I know they only have one song made public. The song features synthetic voices made with "Linguatec Voice Reader". The player in their webpage repeats the song in a loop, so watch out cause you might end up listen to it over and over again for whole hour as it happened to me.

Check out other things that make you go: CTRL+D

Arduinome phase 1: getting the parts (I)

While in my US exile, I got today a parcel coming from Colorado. Here is the box:


Any guess of what could be inside?

well, it contains the first step for building an Arduinome, a monome based on the Arduino hardware.

Check it out:


If you recall my previous post about the arduinome, you might remember what I said, quote:

"I am not planning to buy the sparkfun buttonpads so the first step will be to find some cool buttons."

Well, I thought it was going to be easier to find some cool buttons to use or that I could make my own, but after a lot of research and considering that I was going to travel to the US before the end of the year, I decided to go for the real stuff and bought the sparkfun buttons. Doing business with Sparkfun is painless and their service and products are great. It is the third time I buy stuff from them and would probably continue doing so.

My other option for monome buttons was seeedstudio. I was considering these ones, but they are not that cheap after all and definitely not as cool as the sparkfun buttons. I might still be getting parts from seeedstudio, they got decent prices.

I have to decide now the color of the LEDs... white, red, green... hmmm.... so many options...

Check out the whole Arduinome build log here.

Street Keytar Player

I am currently in the US, in california, and found this guy playing keytar in the streets. I originally thought it was a guitarist playing and was quite surprised when I saw a guy with a keytar.