XK-System (community project) > General Discussion
SSL MiniComp v1.0
horizonsound:
Hi everyone,
Thought I might start a thread which will be generally my ramblings, of developing something to replace the SSL Computer. I'm not sure where this will head, but am keen to explore building something that will at minimum serve as a backup in to the future.
To date I've worked on the VCA side of things, and managed to translate that effectively in to a MCU interface. By taking the 0-5v VCA signal, and converting it to Midi.
All the VCA handling is done on a separate board with it's own microprocessor. It then receives status commands and feeds the data to the master processor on request.
Here's a quick video of that in action.
https://youtu.be/Oeuceq1OGX8
Next up I played around with the user interface, hoping to get a Total Recall system working. It evolved in to a 4" TFT - something I've never attempted before. The TR actually works at a software level, but I need some more parts to be able to connect it to the console to fully test. It reads and stores the current TR elements, and compares it to the stored TR elements. All the knobs and switches display as they would in the original computer.
Ideally I'll add a VGA port to it, as 4" is not very practical for old eyes. It's programmed in at a 320x240 resolution (same as the SSL TR computer), which with the use of a custom scale factor, can zoom in on the TR screen.
Here's a video of it it. There is a stack more programming to go....
Anthony.
https://youtu.be/0MBlBONEfmQ
ULH:
Super cool! Wow you are fast on progressing this project. That is a lot of programming done already!
What are you thoughts on HID? Only touchscreen or also make the original ssl usable as input? VGA out sounds reasonable. Seems to be some kind of mcu on arduino framework with nextion tft? Maybe RPi for all ui and then a spi to mcu (or fpga) for i/o to ssl is a better/more responsive/cheap hardware with hdmi out solution? And this would be more flexible to develop the software on and powerful enough to run all automation data if the software evolved to be this advanced along the way.
I once had plans to embed a RPi with spi to a fpga on a pcb inside the original ssl computer to get rid of all the undocumented pcbs and unneeded pcbs in the original computer (cpu, floppy, ram, tr cpu, video distribution etc) but still use the original io, cabling etc. Then the hardware would be very inexpensive if and only if you already had a ssl computer
Do you have plans for how this could be distributed/sold? I would love to help but I can’t seem to find time to set aside for this project at the moment. It would be wonderful if it could be shared somehow and that you and possibly other developers would still be paid. Maybe open source / kit the hardware and then have a lock/pay system on the software? I am selling a locked rpi software product so I have experience in doing this if you want to chat about it :)
Congrats on the great engineering work!
Best regards,
Uffe
Www.Frostboxlabs.com
horizonsound:
Hi Uffe,
Thanks for the comments!
My initial plans were to use an RPi for the GUI, mainly for the HDMI capabilities. This is still possible, and the only reason I did not, was because I have no experience in Python. The communication between the master UI board and the "blocks of 8" sub boards will be via SPI, so using an RPi in future can be done. FYI - I've never used C++ either until last year, but have extensive experience in Basic, back through the 80's.
The main processor I'm using for both the main and sub boards is a Mega2560, which has the advantages of lots on inputs / outputs, and they are really cheap!
The intent is to use the SSL keyboard, given that the S31E keyboard cable needs to be integrated anyway, as it carries the TR address bits.
I had thought about replacing all the Computer Automation boards in the existing SSL computer, and using the Input, Output, SMPTE, etc boards, but then realised you can compress all of those in to a 2RU case with the use of a Mega2560.
One thing that makes it a little more difficult is how the SSL handles "cuts". In normal operation the VCA fader works on 0-5v which is perfect for the Mega2560 analogue inputs. However when "cut" is activated, it sets the line to 10v. Likewise this is needed on the output to activate a cut. There are a few ways around it, but I have yet to work out a design of the circuit.
The current SSL computer handles this easily with a very expensive single channel 10 bit A-D chip.
In regards to making this available, I would consider making the PCBs available for the sub-boards / master. Then a DIY build. Like Hairball with their 1176 kits.
For the software, I don't know. It would be great to make it freely available if everyone helped to develop it within this community, but would not be happy if people simply copied it and used it / on-sold it to people, as there has been a lot of work put in to developing this (presently 100s of hours).
Here's a look inside the case so far...
viguier:
--- Quote from: horizonsound on February 26, 2021, 08:14:50 PM ---Hi Uffe,
Thanks for the comments!
My initial plans were to use an RPi for the GUI, mainly for the HDMI capabilities. This is still possible, and the only reason I did not, was because I have no experience in Python. The communication between the master UI board and the "blocks of 8" sub boards will be via SPI, so using an RPi in future can be done. FYI - I've never used C++ either until last year, but have extensive experience in Basic, back through the 80's.
The main processor I'm using for both the main and sub boards is a Mega2560, which has the advantages of lots on inputs / outputs, and they are really cheap!
The intent is to use the SSL keyboard, given that the S31E keyboard cable needs to be integrated anyway, as it carries the TR address bits.
I had thought about replacing all the Computer Automation boards in the existing SSL computer, and using the Input, Output, SMPTE, etc boards, but then realised you can compress all of those in to a 2RU case with the use of a Mega2560.
One thing that makes it a little more difficult is how the SSL handles "cuts". In normal operation the VCA fader works on 0-5v which is perfect for the Mega2560 analogue inputs. However when "cut" is activated, it sets the line to 10v. Likewise this is needed on the output to activate a cut. There are a few ways around it, but I have yet to work out a design of the circuit.
The current SSL computer handles this easily with a very expensive single channel 10 bit A-D chip.
In regards to making this available, I would consider making the PCBs available for the sub-boards / master. Then a DIY build. Like Hairball with their 1176 kits.
For the software, I don't know. It would be great to make it freely available if everyone helped to develop it within this community, but would not be happy if people simply copied it and used it / on-sold it to people, as there has been a lot of work put in to developing this (presently 100s of hours).
Here's a look inside the case so far...
--- End quote ---
OMG !!
Incredible project and skills !!!
The DIY would be great ( even to learn how our desk is working !! ).
Can't wait to see how it will evolve :)
Thanks again !!
Paul
horizonsound:
If any one has one of these that they want to part with, or know someone who does, let me know.
It would greatly help developing the keyboard interface, which I am coding now.
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