MOTM

All,

I have updated the MiniMoe page with two more designs, a 4U and a 5U 
wide. Next up, an 8U. Things are starting to get interesting now. 
Alas for me, it's starting to look like I'll need expander modules. 
So the whole thing may end up modular like SuperMoe anyway, just on a 
finer scale.

http://www.hotrodmotm.com/minimoe.htm

Moe

> I have updated the MiniMoe page with two more designs, a 4U and a 5U
> wide. Next up, an 8U. Things are starting to get interesting now.

i *really* like the 4U version. this module looks like a unique and
beautiful instrument for improvisation. i'd buy one of these even though
i've already got two seqeuncers (but i'm a sequencer slut, heh). i have
one question though... what do the yellow leds indicate? or are they not
leds? :)

> Alas for me, it's starting to look like I'll need expander modules.
> So the whole thing may end up modular like SuperMoe anyway, just on a
> finer scale.

one thing that confuses me about these sequencers is the function of the
individual set and position outputs... are these gate and cv outs for each
individual step? personally, i don't have near enough stuff to utilize
such a feature. i think these outputs would make a great expander module
for those who do, though.

excellent work moe!

bleep.
out.

---
www.mp3.com/leichenfeld
www.mp3.com/captainhotrod
www.mp3.com/silenttristero

>>>>
i have one question though... what do the yellow leds indicate? or 
are they not leds? :)
<<<<

They indicate the current stage. Look at any step sequencer and they 
will have an LED indicator per stage, one of which is lit when a 
stage is selected. Most sequencers have a single row of pots, but 
when designing in a narrow MOTM format, the rows have to be broken in 
half and run vertically instead of the more conventional horizontal 
direction. So you need 4 LEDs to indicate the row, and 2 to indicate 
the column. Once you get out to an 8U panel though, you can run the 
rows the correct way.

>>>>
one thing that confuses me about these sequencers is the function of 
the individual set and position outputs... are these gate and cv outs 
for each individual step? personally, i don't have near enough stuff 
to utilize such a feature. i think these outputs would make a great 
expander module for those who do, though.
<<<<

That's two questions <g>. A position output is just a gate associated 
with a certain stage, which is at logic high whenever that stage is 
selected. The Set jacks are inputs to each stage, not outputs. A 
logic high pulse on a Set input sets that stage to be active 
immediately. So by patching various POS outputs to SET inputs, you 
can make the sequencer run between an arbitrary set of stages. The 
position gate outputs can also be used to trigger envelope generators 
or random other chains of events once a particular stage is reached.

Moe

Great work Moe, can't wait to see the 8u version! Any of these with the 
gate/trigger sequence generator design on your site and I'm good to go! The 
5u is my preferrence so far and I'm sure the eight will take that spot with 
more features. I for one am willing to spend my time with this project and 
build a very functional unit. Obviously the more complicated the better for 
me and my needs. The gate sequencer would be a valuable side-kick to this 
and could we see it down the road after the initial sequencer hits possibly? 
If not maybe we can DIY some of these up if we can find the 3 or 4 guys 
needed for the panel. Sorry to press the issue I guess but this type of 
module is neceassary for any sequencing I plan to do with drums (most 
excited about the MOTM drums)

Thomas White


>From: "mate_stubb" <mate_stubb@...>
>To: motm@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [motm] More MiniMoes!
>Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 15:30:56 -0000
>
>All,
>
>I have updated the MiniMoe page with two more designs, a 4U and a 5U
>wide. Next up, an 8U. Things are starting to get interesting now.
>Alas for me, it's starting to look like I'll need expander modules.
>So the whole thing may end up modular like SuperMoe anyway, just on a
>finer scale.
>
>http://www.hotrodmotm.com/minimoe.htm
>
>Moe
>




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> direction. So you need 4 LEDs to indicate the row, and 2 to indicate
> the column. Once you get out to an 8U panel though, you can run the
> rows the correct way.

oh a matrix... i get it... that's what i thought they were for, but i
didn't realize they were a matrix.

> immediately. So by patching various POS outputs to SET inputs, you
> can make the sequencer run between an arbitrary set of stages. The
> position gate outputs can also be used to trigger envelope generators
> or random other chains of events once a particular stage is reached.

whoa... the possibilities...! i still think that would be a better
expander (1U?) for a 4U MM than part of a larger module. or perhaps the
following breakdown makes more sense:

original 2U minimoe
2U Mode Switch expander (would contain the directon switch)
1U SET/POS expander

i think this setup would allow a lot of ppl to get up and running with
these things real quick... it would get *me* going at least. :)

bleep.
out.

---
www.mp3.com/leichenfeld
www.mp3.com/captainhotrod
www.mp3.com/silenttristero

Moe,

Lookin good!  Could you please explain how the chain1 and chain2 selection
switch works?  I'm assuming somehow this is used to chain addl. modules for
more rows and/or columns, just not sure how it would work.

George

>>>>
I really like the 8U version that you've got up there now -- looks 
very EMu, partly due to the silver panel. I do have a few questions 
about it. 
<<<<

Thanks! Actually, it's more of a ringer for the Moog 960, feature-
wise.

>>>>
It looks like the horizontal distance between the knobs is less than 
the MOTM standard? If so, it might be worth considering a smaller 
knob size. 
<<<<

Yes, they are 1.5" on center instead of 1.75". There is no need to go 
to smaller knobs - I've tested it in an 8x4 pot matrix and you don't 
feel the difference at all.

>>>>
Does the mode switch allow one to do anything that they couldn't 
accomplish with patch cords? 
<<<<

Not sure if you are talking about the CHAIN switch or the rotary 
stage select mode switches.

If you mean the rotary switches, the answer is: not without adding a 
LOT of jacks to the panel. I don't know how you would do random state 
selection with patch cords, especially on a per-stage basis. Also, 
the rotary switches are more conducive to switching on the fly, 
allowing you to actually 'play' the sequencer in a live performance. 
Last time I checked, people rated the ability to skip a stage very 
highly.

If you mean the CHAIN switch, the same answer applies. If I want to 
make two 8 stage sequencers seamlessly connect to appear to be a 16 
stage sequencer, and support random bidirectional play and random 
stage selection across multiple modules, there has to be a bus that 
the modules use to communicate status and requests. That doesn't 
really lend itself to connection via front panel patchcords.

>>>> 
Why a PIC? Why not just use CMOS stuff? Then you might have to move 
the four bit counter out to a separate module, but that might allow 
for some interesting possibilities for sequencer usage. 
<<<<

The simpler modules could easily be done with discrete logic. I have 
a SuperMoe address generator module designed this way. But once I add 
the rotary switches for all those stage select modes, you have to 
build decision-making into it. The PIC is the easiest way to go, and 
actually ends up being cheaper than the many chips it would replace. 
Not to mention being able to add features in software later.

Let me restate that none of these designs route the actual control 
voltages from the pots through a PIC or ADC - the PIC just controls 
analog multiplexers.

Moe