FV-1 Multi effect full forum project ready to go. (ShimmerVerb Also)

[Ice-9]

@Mick

What is the 2nd 8-pin SMD chip next to the FV-1. Is that a 2nd onboard memory chip?

The 8 pin right next to the FV-1 is the Pic chip for selecting the patches, the 8 pin chip at the bottom of the FV-1 is the Eeprom for holding the programs.

[lespos]

Brilliant, what programmer/hardware would you suggest buying?

I think Mick uses the PICkit2 programmer, this will program the EEPROM to hold the programs and the PIC used to select them.
If you have a computer with a serial port both the chips can be programmed using that, a couple of simple circuits and some free software. The EEPROM can also be programmed using a USB to serial converter cable. I'll post details when I get time.

^ Exactly what Ian says above. If you have a computer with a serial port then you can make you own programmer very cheaply with a few components and use free software. If you have only USB ports then the Pickit2 for about £18 is the best option, it can program lots of different pic chips and eeproms so can a very handy tool if you want to get into other PIC controller projects as well.

Actually you can buy Pickit 2even cheaper. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clone-Microchip-Development-Programmer-Mini-PICKIT-2-/350873107900?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51b1aabdbc

I bought exactly the same. This is Pickit2 clone, but it works very well. I think it's a worth spent of money!

[deadastronaut]

^ excellent...

[drolo]

Hi,


Would it be possible to implement a "freeze/hold"effect, like used in that Zcat Hold/reverb pedal, that supposedly uses an FV-1 to do that?
Is such a code available already somewhere perhaps ?

I hope I won't sound too noobish to you codewizzards ...
I am just pondering with the idea to get into some digital stuff ... it scares me a bit ..:-D

[Ice-9]

Hi,


Would it be possible to implement a "freeze/hold"effect, like used in that Zcat Hold/reverb pedal, that supposedly uses an FV-1 to do that?
Is such a code available already somewhere perhaps ?

I hope I won't sound too noobish to you codewizzards ...
I am just pondering with the idea to get into some digital stuff ... it scares me a bit ..:-D

Yeah that would be possible to code. I 'm not sure if there is any code already available for that at the spinsemi site it's worth a look over there.

[drolo]

Some interesting info regarding this here:
http://www.spinsemi.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=161&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=freeze&start=0

It seems it could be as easy as setting a reverb program to infinite ..

There is even a slacker in the discussion, I guess that is our own Slacker :-)

[slacker]

Yes that's me, there's an example of doing freeze using reverb with 100% feedback here

go to about 4:30. The program is a slightly tweaked version of Dave Spinkler's Reverb+HP+LP from here http://www.spinsemi.com/programs.php, you could rip just the reverb part out of that and use that as the basis for a freeze effect.

[drolo]

Thanks,
it's impressive what you were able to do with that chip, great work!

[Ice-9]

Looks great Mick, nice to see a lot of interest, be great if we can get more people into this stuff.

Cheers Ian, I agree It would be great to get more people interested in this and that is one of the reasons I am doing this pedal format, a simple design that can be built as a fully working pedal with the ability to hook it up to a computer and program the Eeprom. I know the spin Dev board is available but I think it is a good option to have a simple development platform that can be used in a real pedal format, weather it is just to load some software downloaded from the free stuff that's available or to be able to write and test software. 

I think it could be a good idea to have a thread that goes through some of the programming basics, a bit like the PIC tutorial books. For example strarting with how to read the ADC then write to the DAC just to get an output, going onto how to use a pot to give a boost. You know what I mean, by keep adding to the program to explain in steps what the instruction set does.

I myself haven't got very far with programming yet and most of what i have learned is from taking one of the programs posted on the spin site and worked out how I would like it to be changed. I do intend now to get a bit more involved with coding so please hang around for some of my silly questions.

[deadastronaut]

^ cool.  we I need a total idiots guide from scratch...

i'm willing to learn so i can play around with these amazing delays/verbs/pitching etc etc etc...


has anyone programmed a high gain ( dr boogie- esque/bsiab distortion?..

[drolo]

^ cool.  we I need a total idiots guide from scratch...

+1  ..

[garcho]

+1

[peterv999]

+1

http://joefriday-lg.com/spincad-designer-2/
Is a possible candidate to make programming a bit easier!!

Piet AKA echotapper

[drolo]

+1

http://joefriday-lg.com/spincad-designer-2/
Is a possible candidate to make programming a bit easier!!

Piet AKA echotapper

That looks like something even I could master :-D

and there goes another missed opportunity to learn how to write code ... oh well ..

[deadastronaut]

Looks great.....still mind boggling to me though...

[slacker]

I'll have a crack at writing an idiots guide. It's not too hard once you've got started programming it.

[garcho]

^ Yes! Thank you Ian, it sounds like a lot of work but it will be greatly appreciated.

[markeebee]

I'll have a crack at writing an idiots guide. It's not too hard once you've got started programming it.

If you need an idiot for test purposes.......

I am just in awe. Take a look back at the pictures thread from a few years back.....see how far we've come! (When I say "we", I mean "you").

Thanks for sharing all your hard work Mick. You are a star.

[Ice-9]

I'll have a crack at writing an idiots guide. It's not too hard once you've got started programming it.

If you need an idiot for test purposes.......

I am just in awe. Take a look back at the pictures thread from a few years back.....see how far we've come! (When I say "we", I mean "you").

Thanks for sharing all your hard work Mick. You are a star.

The work that has went into keeping the FV-1 of interest and bringing it within reach of DIY has been down to quite a few of the members from all the forums and all contributing and adding ideas and designs as well as sharing software to use and learn from, my respect goes to everyone involved in getting to this stage, as well as some other designs that will be seen some time soon that I am sure will be coming this way. 

I will be putting up the next part of the build very soon, I just need to get some pic's sorted for the Eeprom programming.

[deadastronaut]

^ Yes! Thank you Ian, it sounds like a lot of work but it will be greatly appreciated.

+1.  Nice one ian.