Super Sixteen build support thread

[extralifedisco]

Annoyed with myself !
I ordered two lines of 2N2904's instead of ordering some 2N2906's. So I've ordered some from eBay.
I also got my pcb + panel & Atmel chip from Thonk today, forgetting that it also included the grey tact switch button caps.
Of course they need to go with square switch shafts, not round ones. I found the 'standard' button caps that I ordered to
go with my 9mm high round shafted buttons are slightly too wide to go through the panel holes. So I've also now ordered
some square shafted tact buttons from eBay as well. I have now spent more on parts than if I had (been able to) ordered the
complete DIY kit from Thonk. Ah well, all part of the 'fun' as I mentioned previously.
Texy

I've definitely done that before! I'd also forgotten Thonk was including button caps with the bare PCBs - I sent them some extras in case they sold more of one color kit than the other and I suppose they've started using the extra for the bare kits.

My strategy when doing 100% DIY has been to slowly build up a parts library by ordering 2x the BOM of any module I build. Once you have a sizeable parts bin it gets easier to source the one or two components you don't have lying around.

[Texy]

Hi Matthew,
I've not quite got all the parts yet, but I've started the first PCB build. Seems I forgot to order the 1uF capacitor with the rest of the majority of the parts from Farnell. I'll have a few 1uF caps in my spares box somewhere - I assume the 160v rating isn't too critical - anything over 25v would be OK ?
Texy

[extralifedisco]

Hi Matthew,
I've not quite got all the parts yet, but I've started the first PCB build. Seems I forgot to order the 1uF capacitor with the rest of the majority of the parts from Farnell. I'll have a few 1uF caps in my spares box somewhere - I assume the 160v rating isn't too critical - anything over 25v would be OK ?
Texy

Yeah definitely, anything in the ballpark is fine, it's just decoupling for the 3.3v supply. Have been meaning to swap that line item for a more generic cap.

[Texy]

.....and the physical size of it, when you show how to bend it over in the build video wouldn’t be necessary
Texy

[Texy]

I'm 80% of the way through the build, still waiting for some switches. Seems the 7-seg display is a little too tight to go through the square hole for it. I'll have to get the scalpel out....
Texy

[extralifedisco]

I'm 80% of the way through the build, still waiting for some switches. Seems the 7-seg display is a little too tight to go through the square hole for it. I'll have to get the scalpel out....
Texy

Square hole? I hope you don't mean the panel cutout - it's meant to sit behind the panel! Though I don't suppose it would hurt anything if it didn't - I think the legs on the display modules I have are too short for it to be mounted so it sticks all the way through though. Generally I put some tape over the back of the display cutout, fit the display, fit the panel, and then flip it over so the display falls down and sits flush against the rear of the panel on the tape.

[Texy]

Ah right - I mistakenly thought the top of the LED display was meant to be flush with the top of the panel, not the bottom face of it.
It's not soldered yet, and I didn't get a scalpel to it, so no harm done.
Thank s for the reply ;-)
Texy

[Wheelbreak]

The memory chip is pretty specific, it does need to be a winbond spiflash chip with the right footprint and 4kb sector erase. I've actually just ordered a few potential alternates and will update the BOM if one of them works properly.
- W25Q80DVSSIG - same chip with slightly wider footprint. should be drop-in the same, but might not be solderable on the existing footprint without hot air and paste
- W25Q40EWSNIG never mind, this is actually a 2.2v chip, would need a different regulator
- W25Q40CLSNIG - 4mB version of the chip, should be compatible as the memory capacity isn't close to maxed, but I want to test this myself and make sure the firmware behaves properly

Is there confirmation on which if any will work? I am starting to source my build as I've just received a panel pcb IC kit.

Mouser seems to be out of the listed 2n3904's and 6's, as long as the pins are the same any other generic 2n3904's or 6's will work right?

as far as the LED's go, I don't see any data sheet to indicate voltage drop. I have a bunch of generic 3mm ones, but am not sure if there would be a problem using them. If I should play better safe than sorry, could someone provide a part number to ones they've used that have worked?

I saw somebody say 10K Pots will work in place of 100k, with that logic 50k would work as well right? All of my 100k are Audio taper.


Thanks for any help in advance

[pjbulls]

Yes, any generic small signal transistors will work. Same for the LEDs, they are fed from +5V so forward voltage is no concern, worst case you have to tweak the current-limiting resistors if they are too dim/bright. 50K for the pots is fine, the ADC input impedance is nominally very high (and optimized for 10K output impedance IIRC).

[Texy]

The memory chip is pretty specific, it does need to be a winbond spiflash chip with the right footprint and 4kb sector erase. I've actually just ordered a few potential alternates and will update the BOM if one of them works properly.
- W25Q80DVSSIG - same chip with slightly wider footprint. should be drop-in the same, but might not be solderable on the existing footprint without hot air and paste
- W25Q40EWSNIG never mind, this is actually a 2.2v chip, would need a different regulator
- W25Q40CLSNIG - 4mB version of the chip, should be compatible as the memory capacity isn't close to maxed, but I want to test this myself and make sure the firmware behaves properly

Is there confirmation on which if any will work? I am starting to source my build as I've just received a panel pcb IC kit.

I was able to source 25Q80BVSIG via eBay here in the UK. They are NOT the narrow SOIC footprint, but I managed to bend the legs and solder it in place. However I am waiting for the last few parts before I can finalise my build and confirm everything works, hopefully within the next day or so.....
Texy

[Texy]

Hi,
completed the build today - yah!
That 25Q80BVSIG appears to be working - I was able to save a sequence, and recall it after repowering the rack. Calibration values also stored correctly. So although it isn't the intended footprint, at least it works and readily available.
Texy

[inner_light]

Hi im just wondering if there are any plans to do another run? Id love a full DIY of this one!
Looks so fun and intuitive.

[extralifedisco]

Hi im just wondering if there are any plans to do another run? Id love a full DIY of this one!
Looks so fun and intuitive.

I'm in the middle of restocking boards and kits right now, but DIY kits are available at synthCube and should be back in stock at Thonk soon. Complete modules are also available on my web shop and at Perfect Circuit.

[inner_light]

Hi im just wondering if there are any plans to do another run? Id love a full DIY of this one!
Looks so fun and intuitive.

I'm in the middle of restocking boards and kits right now, but DIY kits are available at synthCube and should be back in stock at Thonk soon. Complete modules are also available on my web shop and at Perfect Circuit.

This is excellent news!
Ill be purchasing a kit soon as I have the
Thank you!

[Wheelbreak]

Hi,
completed the build today - yah!
That 25Q80BVSIG appears to be working - I was able to save a sequence, and recall it after repowering the rack. Calibration values also stored correctly. So although it isn't the intended footprint, at least it works and readily available.
Texy

Congrats!!

Mouser says they will have the proper chips in, I believe, June. I’m super busy with work at the moment, and have other modules that should prob be assembled so I’m just going to wait.

[My_one_opus]

Hi,
completed the build today - yah!
That 25Q80BVSIG appears to be working - I was able to save a sequence, and recall it after repowering the rack. Calibration values also stored correctly. So although it isn't the intended footprint, at least it works and readily available.
Texy

Congrats!!

Mouser says they will have the proper chips in, I believe, June. I’m super busy with work at the moment, and have other modules that should prob be assembled so I’m just going to wait.

I’ve got a spare W25Q80DVSNIG you could have if you’re in the UK as I ordered 3 (just in case something went wrong!) when I built my two!

[Texy]

Hi,
completed the build today - yah!
That 25Q80BVSIG appears to be working - I was able to save a sequence, and recall it after repowering the rack. Calibration values also stored correctly. So although it isn't the intended footprint, at least it works and readily available.
Texy

Congrats!!

Mouser says they will have the proper chips in, I believe, June. I’m super busy with work at the moment, and have other modules that should prob be assembled so I’m just going to wait.

I’ve got a spare W25Q80DVSNIG you could have if you’re in the UK as I ordered 3 (just in case something went wrong!) when I built my two!

I'd be interested if wheelbreak isn't, plus I'm also in the UK ;-)
Texy

[Wheelbreak]

Hi,
completed the build today - yah!
That 25Q80BVSIG appears to be working - I was able to save a sequence, and recall it after repowering the rack. Calibration values also stored correctly. So although it isn't the intended footprint, at least it works and readily available.
Texy

Congrats!!

Mouser says they will have the proper chips in, I believe, June. I’m super busy with work at the moment, and have other modules that should prob be assembled so I’m just going to wait.

I’ve got a spare W25Q80DVSNIG you could have if you’re in the UK as I ordered 3 (just in case something went wrong!) when I built my two!

I am in the states, but thanks for the offer. Otherwise I would def take you up on it.

I say hook Texy up with it.

[Lacointour]

Hello,

I’ve build a diy SuperSixteen some time ago and it does work well beside a little issue which I’m struggling to tackle.

As anyone experienced erratic behaviour using the encoder?

I’ll try to explain:

When using the encoder to scroll through values within menus (eg. Swing, tempo etc) depending on how fast i turn the encoder and sometimes not even that fast, the SuperSixteen reverts back to main menu where the encoder scrolls through the preset slots. I’ve tried different encoders and triple checked the soldering but can’t see anything obvious. Still running the Original firmware, would you think is firmware related or hardware related?

Many thanks
Jeremie

[Texy]

Hi,
I've still got a lot to learn as new to modular and music tech in general. So my question is - how would I get a particular step number, or numbers, to trigger say a drum, snare or cymbal module. The gate output simply pulses when every step is played, right? Would I need to use a clock divider, although that would only be tied to a set sequence wouldn't it ?
Texy

[My_one_opus]

Hi,
I've still got a lot to learn as new to modular and music tech in general. So my question is - how would I get a particular step number, or numbers, to trigger say a drum, snare or cymbal module. The gate output simply pulses when every step is played, right? Would I need to use a clock divider, although that would only be tied to a set sequence wouldn't it ?
Texy

I think you’d need a different module to do it particularly successfully.

PM me your address by the way if you still want that chip.

[yodog]

Hi gang,

I'm still pretty new to DIY stuff, so forgive my ignorance if this is a weird question, but I've just finished up building the CPU board by following the build video and double-checking the build guide. As I was finishing up, I suddenly remembered that I had ordered DIP sockets when sourcing the parts from the BOM. But I don't see instructions for installing the DIP sockets in the build guide, and in the video the chips were soldered directly to the board. Are the DIP sockets optional? Should I have installed those first and just put the chips in those? Would it be worth trying to remove the solder/chips to install them?

Thanks!

[Texy]

Not worth the risk if you have already soldered them in, but ideally sockets should of been used. Did it work is the main question though ;-)
Texy

[Texy]

[*] BILL OF MATERIALS (octopart list)

Hi,
incidentally, I found a couple of anomalies with this BOM -
1..you only need 17 x either 1RBLK or 1RLGR, not 18
2..you only need 21 x TL1105SPF160Q, not 22

Cheers,
Texy

[yodog]

Not worth the risk if you have already soldered them in, but ideally sockets should of been used. Did it work is the main question though ;-)
Texy

Thanks. I've left them in place. Currently working on building the control board and installed the sockets on it. The next problem I've encountered is the pots. Both Matthew and this thread mentioned that 50K pots would work (since the ones on the BOM were sold out). I *thought* I ordered the 50K versions of the ones on the BOM, but I seem to have ordered a version that has 2 gangs instead of 1. Is there any chance that these will work if I trim the outer gang?