Arduino: which one is for me?

[brad]

I've seen some really interesting things done with Arduinos, but I'm not sure which type of board I should buy.  I'm probably going to be just prototyping until I get the hang of things, so I've been thinking that the USB boArduino would be cool:

http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=91&sessid=953369b7c141404433b69577770732cb

But I've been thinking; is it possible to remove the microcontroller after coming up with project and designing a PCB around it to use it without the USB stuff?

[RonaldB]

Hi,
I use the Diecimila with very good results.

Ronald

[brad]

I saw that one and it looked pretty neat.  So, is there a way to use the programmed IC in a circuit without all the extra programming related components?

[RonaldB]

Of course, but i use it in projects with the entire board. It's so small it fits in almost anything.

[jonnyeye]

Here's one that looks good, and only $2.50 per bare board: http://moderndevice.com/RBBB_revB.shtml

[primedynasty]

I just built the BBB from Modern Device and I would highly recommend it.  Good board, easy to put together and if you get their USB adapter board you can program as many arduinos as you want with it.  The whole thing cost me like 25 bucks for the parts kit, but in the future I would go with the RBBB and get the parts myself.  Very cool device, can't wait to start some audio projects with it.

[iaresee]

Can anyone recommend an Arduino board for a DIY looper? I'm specifically looking for something that'll let me control something in range of 12-14 relays. MIDI output would be nice too but not strictly necessary. Plus pins to drive three 8 segment LED displays and a handful of indicator LEDs.

[Franky]

I'm building my looper around a Sanguino, it's basically a bigger arduino. More pins, more memory, and 2 serial ports (for my use, I've got one serial port for MIDI and the other for LCD display, a lot more clear and user-friendly than 8segs...). But 14 relays is huge (I have only 10), you may want to use I2C expanders.. (about 8 segments, I2C too, don't waste pins, some chips are specialized for this stuff).


edit: forget what I said:
http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardMega

[iaresee]

I caved and went off-the-shelf. Just scored one of these, the 5 model, used for a deal on the used market: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=504940

Maybe I'll look at an expander box based around the Sanguino though. Something that can be drive more loops via MIDI signals from that unit. Thanks for the tip on that!

[idiot savant]

http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardMega

got one a few days back, it's a beast! 4(!!) UARTs.

[soggybag]

I have one of these:

http://www.moderndevice.com/index.shtml

You can buy it as a kit or assembled, or just the PCB. Get the programming cable with it. The cable has the USB chip built into it.

[12milluz]

Sorry to revive this, but what is the difference between the RBBB and the BBB(besides size)? I want to get a board!