[TeraHz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif that chip, while not expensive, has a TINY lead pitch ;( I have an unsoldered brand new chip and board here (a lady ada board) and I have not had the courage to attempt soldering this by hand, yet.

You're right it's not the easiest chip to solder, but probably not any harder than the γ dacs. I just thing that with modular design it makes sense to allow for easy programming. Either way I'm sure you guys will make a great DIY project that I will follow closely.

 

[linuxworks]

the y1 and y2 don't have chips this dense, do they? the bantam dac does, though. or maybe the bantam chip is even easier.

there's just NO WAY I'd want users even TRYING to hand solder the ftdi chip.

for $20, its not worth it. more than $20 in frustration would be created in trying to 'save' money on this.

in the PIC world, chip programmers tend to be $35 and up. $20 to program a chip isn't all that bad, comparatively

 

[jnewman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif you could start with a 'worked out board and software', pick it apart, play with it, learn how it works and then create your own. I often find that starting with a known working system is a huge help in getting past the learning curve.

That's true... the only reason I wouldn't go with your board is because I was thinking about getting one of the Arduino boards with 50+ i/o pins so that I wouldn't have to think as hard kludging everything together.

I've done a bit with BASIC Stamp and liked the microcontroller concept and stuff you could do but didn't like the chip itself or the programming environment. Arduino looks a lot better. This is very exciting. I'm tempted to try to join the prototype team, but I'm a ways off of actually building my preamp. I'll have to think about it. Nevertheless, it's very exciting, and congratulations to you both.

 

[linuxworks]

I did some basic stamp work, too; and it was fun and a rich environment with lots of internet examples out there. but the chips were TOO expensive and that just totally turned me off.

the mega arduino boards look interesting with all their pins. for a very complex task, they might be the right thing to use.

otoh, its not the common pinout or 'pin mapping' and so if you write code *assuming* the mega chip, then it won't run on the more common chips.

also, the mega chip is only surface mount, isn't it?

as a pre-made board its fine; but as DIY, it sounds impractical.

 

[jnewman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif otoh, its not the common pinout or 'pin mapping' and so if you write code *assuming* the mega chip, then it won't run on the more common chips. also, the mega chip is only surface mount, isn't it? as a pre-made board its fine; but as DIY, it sounds impractical.

I did not realize the pin mapping was different, although I guess it makes sense. I was just going to buy a board rather than put one together.

I imagine I'll end up with an LCDuino-1 at some point.

 

[linuxworks]

I have not followed the mega chip devel very much but its not just a 100% plugin for the other ard chips. I remember seeing some ethernet driver changes needed and so that made me wonder if this was at all a good idea or not!

 

[lybbert]

if it was not for me working on building my first heaphone amp i would be all for being a member of the development team. maybe ill get in on one of the next parts for it.

-Lybbert

 

[amb]

A partial shipment of prototype boards arrived:

 

[Henrik Nordberg]

I always thought a DIY audio project, like the M3 or y1, should be brought out as a Make project, this goes the other way around but still brings those communities together. This is excellent.

While volume and source indication is nice, showing data that is otherwise hidden would be even nicer. I am thinking of bit rate display in particular. Would it be possible to add that to a y2?

 

[stwspoon]

This looks very nice. A source for a less expensive "cable" for programming is
Modern Device Company $13

Farther down on the page, if you have a serial port on your PC, are serial to rs232 adapters for $5.

 

[linuxworks]

let the soldering begin!

 

[TeraHz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif the y1 and y2 don't have chips this dense, do they?

Sure they do - FT232RL on the y2 board

(not actually soldered, mind you):

 

[amb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henrik Nordberg While volume and source indication is nice, showing data that is otherwise hidden would be even nicer. I am thinking of bit rate display in particular. Would it be possible to add that to a y2?

There is nothing on the y2 to provide this information. You'd have to come up with additional logic (probably snooping on the pre-ASRC I²S master clock and dividing that down).

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeraHz Sure they do - FT232RL on the y2 board (not actually soldered, mind you):

Yup, they are both SSOP28, but we actually went out of our way to avoid SMD on the LCDuino-1 because through-hole alternatives exist, and would make the board appeal to a wider audience. Other FTDI USB -> RS232 converter boards are available, so there is no reason for us to re-invent the wheel and use up board space. As linuxworks already pointed out, not everyone needs it (IME, if we do everything right, most audio people who would use LCDuino-1 won't).

 

[linuxworks]

let the soldering conclude!

(yes, it works. serial #0001 now installed, in-use and controlling my M3)

 

[glt]

Very nice!

I guess this is a nice milestone for AMB. From now on all future designs will expose their s/w interface...