blog:386_pc_mt32pi

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blog:386_pc_mt32pi [2021/05/24 09:16] – [Parts] johnblog:386_pc_mt32pi [2021/05/29 23:40] (current) – [Completed MT32-Pi Installation] john
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 ====== MT32-Pi, 386 Installation ====== ====== MT32-Pi, 386 Installation ======
  
-==== The Aim ====+This is part of my [[blog:386_pc|386 PC adventures]], a bit of a //finishing touch//, if you like. I already have a MIDI card for the machine, and was intending on adding a connection to my bank of physical MIDI devices... however I caught wind of the latest state of the [[https://github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pi/|MT32-Pi project]] and considered adding a software emulation of a Roland MT-32 synth //inside the PC itself//...
  
-//In short:// Put a virtual one of these:+The aim, //in short//, is to put a virtual one of these:
  
 {{:blog:386:mt32.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:386:mt32.jpg?400|}}
  
-Inside this:+inside this:
  
 {{blog:386:img_2057.jpg?300}} {{blog:386:img_2057.jpg?300}}
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 Lots of people are now building these devices, packaging them in to small instrument cases or similar. However, I really liked the idea of having one or two computers where all of the MIDI functionality was //entirely built-in//, and not reliant on external boxes or power supplies. "//Hmm...//" I thought; "//...that 5.25 drive bay looks like just the place I could fit such a device//". Lots of people are now building these devices, packaging them in to small instrument cases or similar. However, I really liked the idea of having one or two computers where all of the MIDI functionality was //entirely built-in//, and not reliant on external boxes or power supplies. "//Hmm...//" I thought; "//...that 5.25 drive bay looks like just the place I could fit such a device//".
  
-==== Parts ====+===== Parts =====
  
    * Raspberry Pi 3B    * Raspberry Pi 3B
    * 20x2 alphanumeric LCD display     * 20x2 alphanumeric LCD display 
 +       * Emulates the LCD display of the MT-32, as well as display MT32-Pi configuration options on button press
        * https://www.buydisplay.com/character-lcd-display-module/20x2-character        * https://www.buydisplay.com/character-lcd-display-module/20x2-character
-   * M-Audio 1x1 USB MIDI interface+   * M-Audio Uno USB MIDI interface
        * USB input to the Pi, provides one MIDI __IN__ (to accept input from the PC's MIDI card __OUT__), one MIDI OUT (not needed at present).        * USB input to the Pi, provides one MIDI __IN__ (to accept input from the PC's MIDI card __OUT__), one MIDI OUT (not needed at present).
 +       * https://m-audio.com/products/view/uno
    * 5.25" PC disk drive drawer    * 5.25" PC disk drive drawer
        * To fit the device inside the PC neatly, you could also fasten it to the back of a 3d-printed 5.25" blanking plate if you had the facilities        * To fit the device inside the PC neatly, you could also fasten it to the back of a 3d-printed 5.25" blanking plate if you had the facilities
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        * This can be made up with a simple 1x4 dupont plug to go on the sound card end of the phono cable         * This can be made up with a simple 1x4 dupont plug to go on the sound card end of the phono cable 
  
-{{:blog:386:raspberry_pi_hifi_dac_hat_pcm5122_hifi_dac_audio_card_expansion_board_raspberry_pii_4_3_b_pi_zero_06-450x450.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:71kg54rj4ml._ac_sl1500_.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:377-03_600x.jpg?300|}} +{{:blog:386:raspberry_pi_hifi_dac_hat_pcm5122_hifi_dac_audio_card_expansion_board_raspberry_pii_4_3_b_pi_zero_06-450x450.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:386:71kg54rj4ml._ac_sl1500_.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:386:377-03_600x.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:386:uno.jpg?200|}}  
-==== Progress Images ====+ 
 +{{:blog:386:91zsu44_34l._ac_sl1500_.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:386:61rop2zmvtl._ac_sl1500_.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:386:connect_black_20x2_character_display_to_i2c_adapter_board_with_dupont_wire.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:386:dsc_0098_f7105b71-2252-43e2-8654-112666eb3fc7_600x.jpg?200|}} 
 + 
 +===== Logical Connections ===== 
 + 
 +{{:blog:386:mt32pi_logical_connections.jpg?600|}} 
 +===== Progress Images =====
  
 {{:blog:386:img20210523200824.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210523200828.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210523200840.jpg?300|}}  {{:blog:386:img20210523200824.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210523200828.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210523200840.jpg?300|}} 
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 {{:blog:386:img20210523202426.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210523202450.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210523202426.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210523202450.jpg?300|}}
 +
 +Tinted plastic fitted over LCD cutout:
 +
 +{{:blog:386:img20210525155049.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210525155053.jpg?300|}}
 +
 +//Definitely// an improvement, but I need to try and cut out some of the backlight leakage from around the edges of the LCD screen.
 +
 +Much better:
 +
 +{{:blog:386:img20210525162416.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210525162424.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:386:img20210525162446.jpg?300|}}
 +
 +{{:blog:386:img20210525162454.jpg?300|}}{{:blog:386:img20210525162509.jpg?300|}}
 +
 +Internal audio cable routing:
 +
 +{{:blog:386:img20210529174109.jpg?600|}}
 +
 +USB MIDI interface:
 +
 +{{:blog:386:img20210529164359.jpg?600|}}
 +
 +===== Completed MT32-Pi Installation =====
 +
 +Finished installation with volume dial:
 +
 +{{:blog:386:img20210529174236.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:386:img20210529174252.jpg?400|}}
 +
 +In action showing the emulated MT-32 LCD panel messages from [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/silpheed|Sierra's Silpheed]] and channels in use:
 +
 +{{:blog:386:img20210529180821.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:386:img20210529180846.jpg?400|}}
  • blog/386_pc_mt32pi.1621844185.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2021/05/24 09:16
  • by john