English Version

MIDIbox Plus

Created 1998-2001

Features:

Features

The Hardware: The main part of the MIDIbox is the Microcontroller PIC16F874 (or PIC16F877) by Microchip. It is clocked at 20 MHz and offers enough performance to handle the potentiometers and to send MIDI data. The internal 8 channel AD converter of the PIC is used to measure the voltage from the pots and convert it into digital data. By using external multiplexers, 16 pot channels are available. Also, a HD44780 compatible LCD (industrial standard) is plugged on the PIC.

The Firmware: The software was extended by a lot of features in the last few years. Many ideas were suggested by MIDIbox users from all of the world, who use the box for the differentest tasks. The firmware is available as .hex file which can be burned into a PIC with a special programmer. Firmware updates are no problem, because the PIC includes a flash memory.

Do it yourself: Its easy to build the Box, you can do it by yourself without much effort, if you know the right end of the soldering iron. To burn the software into the PIC, you need the PICplus programmer kit or one of the minimal programmer, which are available at the internet. Find more informations about this issue here. However, if you see no chance to program the PIC, I can do it for you. You only have to send me a PIC in a small parcel. This service is free, but don't forget to send me some stamps or about US $4 for shipping.

Premade PCB: The cheapest (but maybe most delicate solution for a beginner) is to build the MIDIbox Plus circuit on a vectorboard. There are also some PCB layouts available which can be found in the download section of this site.
Due to a lot of request, I recently created a new single-layer PCB with Eagle-Light (a free available layout tool), which is accepted by most of the PCB manufacturers. Like the MBHP modules, this PCB can also be purchased at "Mikes Elektronikseite" for just 6 Euros! :-)

PIC16F874-20 or PIC16F877-20?: In the meantime the PIC16F877-20 is recommended, since its availability has been significantly increased in the last months. It costs just one EURO more, but offers the double amount of memory. The MIDIbox Plus firmware is compatible with both chips. Only with a PIC16F877-20 it is possible to save 16 Snapshots, in the internal EEPROM of the PIC16F874-20 only 8 Snapshots can be stored (Snapshot=saved pot positions). And another argument for the PIC16F877-20: it is also used in the MIDIbox64, and a port of the MIDIbox64 firmware for the MIDIbox16 firmware can be downloaded below.

Results

FUN FUN FUN !!!

With the MIDIbox I realized, that keyboard and mouse is only a handicap when making music. Now I create my own sounds and don't have to steal it from soundfont archives. Yeah, its really cool. :)

Demo-Songs, that were made with AWE64, SBLive Value, Yamaha AN1x and the MIDIbox can be found at http://www.mp3.de/home/frequencies.

Download

Schematics
File	Size	Description
midibox_plus_8.pdf	15k	Schematic of 8 pot version
midibox_plus_test_8.pdf	8k	Testcircuit for 8 pot version
midibox_plus_16.pdf		Schematic of 16 pot version
midibox_plus_test_16.pdf	8k	Testcircuit for 16 pot version
midibox_plus_orderlist.txt	2k	List of Components
MIDIbox-to-COM	LINK	Optional MIDIbox-to-COM Interface
PCBs
midibox_plus_pcb_dave_v2.zip	45k	PCB Layout made by Dave Wheeler. It is based on the old design; users who already made this board have to add an additional wire between Pin #23 of the PIC and the R/W input of the LCD like shown here. Note also that not all components are the same like in the redesigned schematic and in the orderlist!
midibox_plus_pcb_shum.zip	75k	PCB Layout made by Shum Siew Hung. It is also based on the old design, see notes above!
midibox_plus_pcb_martin3.zip	203k	PCB Layout made by Martin Voelkel - update 2002-03-28, now with gerber files It is also based on the old design, see notes above!
mplus_pcb_v1.brd	51k	This is the new, redesigned board which is consistent with the final schematic. The PCB can be viewed, modified and converted with Eagle Light
Firmwares
midibox_plus_v1910.zip	50k	Contains 4 firmware variants for 8/16 pots. Some words to the "bb" (BankButton) variant: it uses two bank buttons instead of the four bank switches on RB2, RB3. Two additional buttons on RB0 and RB1 enables you to send double note events (great for controlling programs like Cubase, Logic, Cakewalk via MIDI Remote).
ChangeLog	LINK	ChangeLog of MIDIbox Plus Firmware
.syx File Generator
mk_syx.zip	11k	Creates SysEx Dumps for MIDIbox Plus: midibox16.ini -> midibox16.syx
sysex_implementation.txt	2k	Regarding the SysEx format
Editor & Download Manager
serge.uCApps.de	LINK	MIDIbox Editor and Download Manager by Serge
vmbpluspresets.ini	2k	Preset file with for MPlus editor. Has to be copied into the same directory like the program.
Misc.
MIDIbox Forum	LINK	Support at the MIDIbox Forum
MIDIbox Tutorial	LINK	Getting started...
midibox_plus_hardware_tutorial.zip	6.8MB!	This very professional Hardware Beginners Tutorial was created by Heico. It's written in german, but includes some pictures and videos which could also be interesting for people who don't understand this language. Note: it is based on the old design; users who already made this board have to add an additional wire between Pin #23 of the PIC and the R/W input of the LCD like shown here. Note also that not all components are the same like in the redesigned schematic and in the orderlist! Today for beginners it's maybe easier to order a premade PCB (see below) - it will save your time.
MIDIbox Ext	LINK	The MIDIbox Extensions Page
MIDIbox Wiki	LINK	A lot of additional informations on MIDIbox
midi_thru.gif	50k	Optional MIDI Thru Port
midibox_cubase_setup.xml.zip	3k	Cubase Remote Control Setup for MIDIbox64 by Tor Arne
midibox_logic_environment.zip	18k	Sample Logic Audio environment for V4 and higher.
Source Request	EMAIL	Source Code available on request

Soldering Guide

Here some instructions for the redesigned mplus_pcb_v1.brd (mplus_pcb_v1.gif) board which you can etch by yourself or purchase at "Mikes Elektronikseite". The components from this list can be ordered at Reichelt - for component sellers in other countries see this page.

	Start with soldering the 7 bridges and 2 isolated cables which save you from creating a 2-layer board. You can use the cutted legs of caps and resistors, before you throw them away! :-) The exact location of the bridges can be seen here in form of red tracks.
	The 20 MHz crystal has to be soldered at the bottom side. Take care that the metal case doesn't get in touch with tracks; isolation can be ensured by using an adhesive tape (sticky tape, "tesa film") underneath the crystal.

	Solder the parts except for the ICs. Take care for the polarity of the diodes and caps (see PCB layout again)!
	Apply power to the module after all parts except the ICs are mounted. Check the voltage levels between the most important pins with a multimeter (analog or digital doesn't matter) before plugging the ICs into the sockets: IC1:MCLR(1) - IC1:Vss(12) = 5V IC1:Vdd(11) - IC1:Vss(12) = 5V IC1:Vdd(32) - IC1:Vss(31) = 5V
	If it hasn't been done before: now you should program the firmware into the PIC. Here a picture of the PIC programmer in action.
	A picture of a finished board - now it's time to connect the LEDs, buttons, pots, display, ... (disconnect the power supply when you change anything on the circuit!)
	This picture shows how the (optional) LCD display has to be connected with a ribbon cable. With a "Displaytech 16*2 LCD" it's just a 1:1 connection, for other displays the order of pins may differ (refer to the appr. datasheet!).
	All components mounted - follow this link for the Tutorial

Reduced MIDIbox Hardware built into a MIDI Keyboard from the Fleamarket (total cost for Keyboard & MIDIbox: about 40 EUR)

Last update: 2024-05-08

MIDIbox Plus

Created 1998-2001

Features

The Hardware

The Firmware

Do it yourself

Premade PCB

PIC16F874-20 or PIC16F877-20?

Results

Download

Soldering Guide