#497

Each DEL command runs in it’s own exec_state_t anyway.

Good to know. I think we’d want to quantify it before attempting any code (‘premature optimisation’ and all that!)

1 Like
#498

ah good, DEL wouldn’t need a special consideration then.

thinking some more, for the idea of having a separate timer thread - this would make more sense if we switch to push instead of poll, so the timer thread would check if the state of a queried module changed, if it indicates it did then read the full state and store it in cache. another benefit of this would be the ability to have a way to trigger scripts directly from ansible. but all depends on performance, of course…

#499

Really love the thinking here. I’d certainly be down to exploring all options. Perhaps when we all get some time (2.0 released; TX modules in the mail) we can spawn another thread and discuss read caching in general (to cover Ansible and others). I’ve mulled some of this stuff over in my mind as I was thinking about optimizing the implementation in the past, but would love to go deeper!

For those following along, I haven’t found any real performance impacts from doing a lot of reads yet - but I’ve only pushed it as far as reading from three modules (12-16 inputs).

2 Likes
#500

@bpcmusic, Have you run any i2c tests with an Ansible connected as well? I’m still getting lockups on my Teletype with the new backpack, 2x TXo, 2x TXi, and one Ansible. Your backpack test above looks way more intense than anything I’ve been using so far, so the wildcard in the setup seems to be Ansible at the moment.

#501

@trickyflemming - Sorry you are still having problems. :frowning:

The video above has an Ansible connected in the front of the Teletype on its side. I’m running 4 x TXo, 2 x TXi and 1 x Ansible. Ran for hours with no TT lockup.

I did notice, however, that the Ansible CV lights stopped updating after hammering it at some pretty high tempos. This has been observed from time to time. The TT is fine - it is an Ansible thing. I need to make sure I have the very latest firmware on there. I think I do.

Here is another angle where you can see the Ansible better:

This is after turning it on without doing evil tempo things. Ansible is mirroring the Teletype’s triggers and CV values.

What exactly is happening in your setup? How are things connected?

Big question: are you sure that your bus board is providing power? Have you checked it with a voltmeter?

#502

Thanks for the really fast response. In the backpack thread, I posted the symptoms:

I’m using the backpack, and I know that power is at least reaching the Teletype from it. What other pins should I inspect with a voltmeter? What should be the expected readings?

EDIT: I should add the freezing occurs anywhere from 10 seconds to about 30 minutes after power-up. It seems quite random, unfortunately.

#503

I’ll move the discussion to the ii bus board thread. Saw this post first. :wink:

#504

Progress continues!

Chugging along with the build. Ran out of jacks halfway through doing the TXo front board and panel assembly, so I’ve kept going and have assembled the first half. The second half should start up today. I need to pick up the resupply from my office where it was delivered yesterday.

I wasn’t surprised to run out; the jacks were the first thing that I purchased for the build over a year ago. I didn’t revisit the quantity as the build grew in units. Also, I’d been pilfering from the stash for quite a while. Erthenvar to the rescue!

Ready for soldering:

Solder. Solder. Snip. Snip.

Front board and panel completed:

I’m also digging in to testing the power cables that I assembled using this handy cable tester from Tsyklon Labs available in kit form from Thonk.

–

I’ll be out of town for a few days next week - but my hope is that I will leave with all of the TXo panel and front boards completed. It will be on to the back boards (and associated headers) when I return. :slight_smile:

b

TELEX HANDY LINKS
TELEX Microsite | Ordering Process Details
Crazy Verbose Status + Timeline | Printable Command Reference

16 Likes
#505

This looks amazing! I can’t wait to get mine, but I will miss following along with this saga once they’re done :slight_smile:

3 Likes
#506

Hi @bpcmusic, I’m new here but have been following this thread for it’s duration, thanks for such a great insight into the process of creating the expanders.

I don’t have a teletype but I’ve been experimenting with the teensy + DAC8564 combination to control some CV via serial messages, as a method of interacting with the modular from a more traditional programming / live coding environment.

I was wondering about bringing this code over to the telex for my own use as an alt firmware and surfacing the USB input via a simple additional panel - is there any room at all to access the teensy’s USB socket when the telex are mounted? It would be cool to use the socket to avoid needing to make any modifications to the module.

#507

Hey @tom,

It depends on your case. The Teensy is mounted right at the top of the expanders (just like RadioMusic). Thus, the connector will stick out into - and maybe past - the area allocated for the rail lip.

In my lunchbox setup I was able to use an angled USB connector and then run the cable out to my computer. There is a lot of room above and below the rails that allows for this.

@c1t1zen has some pretty cool ProtoVero Eurorack PCBs that I’ve been thinking of mounting some USB ports on and doing exactly what you are talking about - but I haven’t tried it yet.

Let me know if you give it a shot!

#508

Thanks, I expect I’ll need to connect to the pads on the underside of the teensy with my rails, but that should work ok even if it’s a bit fragile.

I’ll start gathering the bits to build the modules and will let you know if I get anywhere! I assume you’re all sold out of panels and pcbs at this stage?

Oh and I’ve actually got a few of the ProtoVero boards, they’re great!

1 Like
#509

@tom - I’ll PM you. :slight_smile:

#510

Progress Update

Continuing to chug along building the expanders. Hit the biggest production milestone yet today: all of the units are assembled.

This doesn’t mean that they are ready to ship. I still have to put the ton of Teensy processors on headers, load the firmware and test the units. I’m onto this step now.

I was able to get a good back-header pace by doing all of them at the same time. I sacrificed a PCB to be a reverse template for the TXo for all of the headers back there (including the Teensy). This really cut down the time.

Still - that was a hell of a lot of soldering. My brain said it should take a few hours … but all of the steps took days and days and days.

I’ll update when I’m on done soldering and onto bulk testing.

Cheers!

26 Likes
#511

So awesome!
Congrats!
You are a true Hero Of Synth Labor.

2 Likes
#512

I gave this post one like because that’s all it would let me do.
It deserves 10!

I don’t have any monome euro modules but have been reading this thread with great interest and am in awe of your efforts. :slight_smile:

3 Likes
#513

I can imagine that’s some sort of mandala, also it does look great, as mandala, all of em piled up together :wink:
You probably learned some nice mind tricks in this whole journey

2 Likes
#514

You are our hero !!! Thanks and good luck for the last steps :wink:

1 Like
#515

Thanks for all of the encouraging support!!

I’ve grafted legs on my big bucket of Teensy processors; looks like a bowl of popcorn:

Also - baked a loaf of iiBackpacks at OshPark. Just came out of the oven:

Just started flashing, calibration and QA:

:slight_smile:

TELEX HANDY LINKS
TELEX Microsite | Ordering Process Details
Crazy Verbose Status + Timeline | Printable Command Reference

10 Likes
#516

Another Update

I’m sitting here a little stumped.

Every step of the way has taken many, many times longer to do than I expected. Yesterday afternoon I sat down to do the firmware flashing and quality tests on the TXo. I was preparing for the long haul on doing the QA - it has a lot of parts and has been a tricky build in the past.

And now, I’m done with flashing and testing the TXo units. All but three of them tested out green - and those modules are reserve units that just need a little TLC (which I’ll do after shipping).

Seriously baffled right now. That was way too easy!

Perhaps the TXi will be more tricky. I’ll be moving on to testing those units tonight. :slight_smile:

STILL HAVE A DIY TXo TO DO?

About halfway through my build of the TXo, I started putting a little electrical tape behind the jack over the balancing header’s connection point. I’d been trimming this down and making it as flat a surface as possible - but isolating them with tape will almost certainly save you a good deal of hassle with the jack shorting to ground.

TELEX HANDY LINKS
TELEX Microsite | Ordering Process Details
Crazy Verbose Status + Timeline | Printable Command Reference

8 Likes