Analogue-sequencer

Folks,

I've uploaded a new firmware image to the Yahoo files.
This is v3.83 of the P3 firmware which has an important difference 
to a typical firmware upgrade - please read on before updating !

The major change made in this version was the moving of the aux 
config data from a separate array in memory, to the spare upper 
nybbles of the length bytes in the pattern data.
This means that unless you do a sysex backup and restore of your P3 
memory before and after updating to v3.83, you will lose any aux 
config numbers you may have set up.
Note that the controller values on each step are not moving - 
just the controller numbers configured using the 'aux conf' softkey.

The purpose of this change is to free up the 1536 bytes of memory 
used by the 'aux conf' data for future code additions to implement 
the auxilliary controllers that will do more complex stuff than just 
sending midi CCs.
There isn't really any other useful stuff added, but it'd be helpful 
if users would upgrade to this build so I find out if there any 
fixes needed before I get too far into using the newly freed RAM.

Also, I will not be continually reminding users of the difference in 
memory layout between the previous version, and all future versions 
each time there is an update.
If you don't update now, please remember the next time you do update 
that you will lose your aux conf settings unless you take a backup.

Cheers,
Colin f

> > Also, I will not be continually reminding users of the
> > difference in memory layout between the previous version,
> > and all future versions each time there is an update.
> > If you don't update now, please remember the next time
> > you do update that you will lose your aux conf settings
> > unless you take a backup.
> 
> Hey, that sounds like blackmail! ;)

Maybe I should just say that whenever you do a firmware update, you
should always first dump your memory, then restore after the update is
successful. That way, I won't need to remember to let you know if it's
required.
This is the first update that's involved a change in memory layout,
which is why I haven't said this before.

Cheers,
Colin f

On Sunday 04 January 2004 20:09, colinfraser_com wrote:

> Also, I will not be continually reminding users of the
> difference in memory layout between the previous version,
> and all future versions each time there is an update.
> If you don't update now, please remember the next time
> you do update that you will lose your aux conf settings
> unless you take a backup.

Hey, that sounds like blackmail! ;)

- Robert

On Sunday 04 January 2004 20:30, Colin f wrote:
> > > Also, I will not be continually reminding users of
> > > the difference in memory layout between the previous
> > > version, and all future versions each time there is
> > > an update. If you don't update now, please remember
> > > the next time you do update that you will lose your
> > > aux conf settings unless you take a backup.
> >
> > Hey, that sounds like blackmail! ;)
>
> Maybe I should just say that whenever you do a firmware
> update, you should always first dump your memory, then
> restore after the update is successful. That way, I won't
> need to remember to let you know if it's required.
> This is the first update that's involved a change in
> memory layout, which is why I haven't said this before.

Oh it's no problem at all Colin. I was just teasing a bit.

Btw, I created my first tunes with Boele's P3. After a 
period of getting used to the interface, I'm starting to 
get creative with it. It's great fun! It's connected to my 
A6. Analog heaven. :))

- Robert

--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, Robert van der Kamp 
<robnet@w...> wrote:

> Btw, I created my first tunes with Boele's P3. After a 
> period of getting used to the interface, I'm starting to 
> get creative with it. It's great fun! It's connected to my 
> A6. Analog heaven. :))

Ok.... how did you ever get Boele to lend you his brand new P3????? 
How much physical labor must you provide for his new house in 
payment?  :)

Sayer

> > Btw, I created my first tunes with Boele's P3. After a 
> > period of getting used to the interface, I'm starting to 
> > get creative with it. It's great fun! It's connected to my 
> > A6. Analog heaven. :))
> 
> Ok.... how did you ever get Boele to lend you his brand new P3????? 
> How much physical labor must you provide for his new house in 
> payment?  :)

I think it's just a cunning plan Boele has to avoid having to read the
manual. ;-)

Cheers,
Colin f

Hi there, 

Im just thinking what sort of urgency i need to be thinking of with regards to getting together the parts for the PCB when it arrives.  I havent checked back through anything, but i seem to rememeber there was talk of january sometime.  Was that accurate Colin?

Im also wondering as to the case to put it in.  Was there talk of getting a bulk buy of the hammond cases for Steve to engrave?  Or is that somthing that ill actually have to get up off my lazy a** and sort out for my self... Hmm... : )


Ive got to order a few bits from farnell next week.  I guess i should choose the screen to go with that order (as ill grab the rest from rapid)  Ive obviously seen the photos and all of that.  I guess its just down to personal choce, unless anyones got any ground breaking comments ; )

Cheers Julian.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Im just thinking what sort of urgency i need to be thinking 
> of with regards to getting together the parts for the PCB 
> when it arrives.  I havent checked back through anything, but 
> i seem to rememeber there was talk of january sometime.  Was 
> that accurate Colin?

It was accurate at the time ;-)
I had intended to get the next run of boards ordered by now, but instead
of spending my last two weeks off work 'getting things done', I seem to
have spent it 'socialising and getting wasted'. Bummer 8-)
Anyway, I'm hoping to get the order placed within the next week or two
at the most, making the ETA early February.
 
> Im also wondering as to the case to put it in.  Was there 
> talk of getting a bulk buy of the hammond cases for Steve to 
> engrave?  Or is that somthing that ill actually have to get 
> up off my lazy a** and sort out for my self... Hmm... : )

I need to arrange a number of cases for the ready-built units I'm
planning to build in the next run.
Don't go snowing Steve under with work before I get to him ;-)

> Ive got to order a few bits from farnell next week.  I guess 
> i should choose the screen to go with that order (as ill grab 
> the rest from rapid)  Ive obviously seen the photos and all 
> of that.  I guess its just down to personal choce, unless 
> anyones got any ground breaking comments ; )

Get the 18MHz crystal from Farnell while you're at it. Rapid don't have
them AFAIK.

Cheers,
Colin f

I dont suppose you have any interest in ordering additional cases at the same time, do you?  Im guessing that we're both talking about the hammond ones.

From reading the archive here, it seems that the price / availibility to induviduals (as opposed to companies) varies according to what phase juipeter is in...

julian


  ----- Original Message ----- 

  I need to arrange a number of cases for the ready-built units I'm
  planning to build in the next run.
  Don't go snowing Steve under with work before I get to him ;-)




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

:/




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

hi Colin & all,
best wishes and a bunch of creativity for the new year!
> if users would upgrade to this build so I find out if there any 
> fixes needed before I get too far into using the newly freed RAM.

got it in; the only thing i've found so far is that for some notes 
the old length-parameter has suddenly changed to a value over 12. no 
detectable order in the values either; i've got 166, 54, 174 ,70, 198 
and so on, pretty much at random. i can't hear the notes actually 
being longer tho. and the range of the length-value in the new FW is 
still 12 maximum.

> This means that unless you do a sysex backup and restore of your P3 
> memory before and after updating to v3.83, you will lose any aux 
> config numbers you may have set up.

this is something i do for safety everytime i upload a new version on 
the FW. i also always do a memory wipe to make sure there's 
no 'artifacts' left anywhere...i actually use the sysex dumps as a 
(temporary) storage method at the moment. i have 3 sysex dumps at the 
moment, for 3 different projects or styles i'm working on at the 
moment. works fine...
and i've got some new points for my P3 function-wishlist, mostly for 
the playlist-edit mode, as i've found i use this mode the most in a 
live situation..i'll be posting these soon.

grtz Chiel

On Sunday 04 January 2004 23:31, Sayer wrote:
> --- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, Robert van der
> Kamp
>
> <robnet@w...> wrote:
> > Btw, I created my first tunes with Boele's P3. After a
> > period of getting used to the interface, I'm starting
> > to get creative with it. It's great fun! It's connected
> > to my A6. Analog heaven. :))
>
> Ok.... how did you ever get Boele to lend you his brand
> new P3????? How much physical labor must you provide for
> his new house in payment?  :)
>

Lol! I already made my first 'payment' last week. But I 
guess it's not going to be enough. Maybe I'll have his P3 
err 'stolen'. hmmm... :)

> I dont suppose you have any interest in ordering additional 
> cases at the same time, do you?  Im guessing that we're both 
> talking about the hammond ones.

I may do, but it could be a while after boards have shipped before I
order any.
And it may not be quite the same cases - I want to stick with the wider
original layout rather than the narrower/deeper layout of the Paul
Maddox variant.
I suppose a bulk order with x of one type and y of the other may still
be a better bet than individual orders.
 
Cheers,
Colin f

> got it in; the only thing i've found so far is that for some notes 
> the old length-parameter has suddenly changed to a value over 12. no 
> detectable order in the values either; i've got 166, 54, 174 ,70, 198 
> and so on, pretty much at random. i can't hear the notes actually 
> being longer tho. and the range of the length-value in the new FW is 
> still 12 maximum.

The actual length values are OK. The code that displays the values isn't
masking the data byte correctly.
Fix is imminent, but in the meantime, I suggest subconciously
calculating the modulus 16 of the displayed length values in your head
to see the correct number.
Sorry.

> and i've got some new points for my P3 function-wishlist, mostly for 
> the playlist-edit mode, as i've found i use this mode the most in a 
> live situation..i'll be posting these soon.

Oh dear.... I hope they're easy to code ;-)

Cheers,
Colin f

v3.83 rev 1 is up now, and shows length correctly on steps 1 to 9.
This bug must have been there since I added in the direction settings,
which are also stored in the upper nybbles of the length data.
Thanks for keeping me awake, Chiel ;-)

Cheers,
Colin f

On Monday 05 January 2004 00:54, Colin f wrote:
> Fix is imminent, but in the meantime, I suggest
> subconciously calculating the modulus 16 of the displayed
> length values in your head to see the correct number.

:)

on 05-01-2004 00:41, Colin f at colin@colinfraser.com wrote:

>>> Btw, I created my first tunes with Boele's P3. After a
>>> period of getting used to the interface, I'm starting to
>>> get creative with it. It's great fun! It's connected to my
>>> A6. Analog heaven. :))
>> 
>> Ok.... how did you ever get Boele to lend you his brand new P3?????
>> How much physical labor must you provide for his new house in
>> payment?  :)
> 
> I think it's just a cunning plan Boele has to avoid having to read the
> manual. ;-)

You're even smarter then I already thought...

:-) Boele