My PS8-Sequencer has taken the next step. I have got the partly assembled PCBs some weeks ago (from china, with SMD-parts on it, but not fully populated) and was able to create a soldering-video doing the Through-hole-part-soldering. Look well, but not yet tested. Video will be available soon, i post a link here.
MidiWoush PS8 is an analog sequencer with a digital heart. It has eight CV-outputs, one of them for VCO, rest for CV. Voltage-range from 0 to 5V. Four of the outputs are also available as -5V/+5V-outputs.
MidiWoush PS8 has a maximum of 64 patterns, 8 steps wide. They can be arranged in a song-editor, with multiple ways of repeat-setting. Repeas one pattern multiple times is possible, special pattern-numbers (above 64) are used to create nestable repeat-points. Tuning patterns to other bases is possible in two ways, pattern-based and inside song-edit with special pattern-number.
Software needs to be changed to fit the new PCB with other adresses and more outputs, and the CV-output needs some additions.
I will create a frontplate with my 3D-printer, the knobs and potis will be in an open area, the ESP32 will be open as a carburateur in a muscle car 
Software-programming was started about August or September last year, i hope it will be ready soon, and i don’t have to much ideas about additions while doing the work
Any sugesstions, comments? Please let me know.
5 Likes
The soldering-video is ready now, in german language, subtitles are available, so you can choose to translate them.
2 Likes
In germany we have a “error-devil”, and this has hit again…
I connected the nets of all chips in KiCAD by using labels in the schematic. Thats mor convinient that drawing lines from one pin to an other, and while drawing lines errors may occur liekely, KiCAD is a bitch with this…
But labels have a bad thing, too. Its obvious, a label needs to sit correct at a pin or a wire in the schematic. When its not touching a wire, its nonsense.
So, this happened. A vital signal of the ESP32 (connection of SDA to an other chip) was not connected cause a label was bad positioned. And it almost impossible to solder a wire cause the chip connected is a SMD-one with a solo SMD-pad, and i have not managed to solder a wire that stays connected. In worst case, this 130 Euros for five SMD-boards created a box of electronic waste…
OH no!!! that is too bad. could you post pictures of the “endpoints” of your faulty connection. maybe some of the XP-Seniors around here has an idea how to fix it…
1 Like
This shows the pin of the I2C-Switch, you can see my “soldering-attempts”. The other side of the cable is easy to fix, it goes to one pin of the ESP32-module. Unfortunately the packaging for these chips is extremly small, compared to the other chips (TL084 is the one right of it).
I have four more boards of this type, completly soldered with SMDs in china. Perhaps i can get one connection on one board working. Want to fix the soldering with a §d-print-pern then (vover it) to fix it… I have a soldering-kit with a heat-gun, perhaps this can be used better. I am new into SMD-soldering.
1 Like
Don’t try to solder to the pin - clear the trace and solder to that instead Where it’s more convenient
1 Like
if i got him correctly part of the problem is that there is no connected trace. the pad is unconnected. maybe it is possible to lift the leg of the component and squish the wire between leg an pad. BUT it looks really tight…
cases like that are part of the reason my prejects are still unpopulated and tht. my skill are not mature enought for the good stuff. i’d have to pay three non functional prototypes to get a working module… i’ll get there someday
keep trying! the board is already “half”-dead you have nothing to loose and there is skill to gain…
EDIT: removed germish typo
In that case I revert to the other default response: slather it in flux first
I have no “Flux” and of course no flux-compensator… but i will try my best…
I have also thought aboutr removing the choip with the heat-gun and solder a module (i have the same chips on modules for breadboard-testing).
To ease the pain, i made a video with my old prototype, showing the use of tte sequencer (with english language of a 62-year old guy)…
I have just spend some time doing other things, now its time to start to solder this one wire…
The idea i have: Drill a hole into the pcb near this unconnected SMD-pad, put in the cable from the bottom side, and the solder it to the pad on the top-side. I think this will work the best, the cable is fixed by the hole, perhaps some glue (there is no copper so solder it around this hole).
Will try this the nex weeks, have holydays after the first week of may…
I have got my small drills from Ali, and managed to drill a hole in one of the PCBs in an area near the pin without any traces, put in a wire and solder it, fix it on both sides with two-component epoxyd so there will be no forces to the very weak soldering. Hope this works.
Bit its almost impossible to desolder the switches (switches have four legs and two additional legs for LED inside switch), so i need to order new ones.
The software of the prototype has got some updates over the time…
The video was taken with a fixed camera, 4K, and then played a bit in Blender with it, adding some 3D to it… No A.I. used (Edit: Typos)
1 Like
Unfortunately the thing is not useable. The I2C-switch seems to be working badly. I get a working for the second and third switched component (only checked initialisation). Have added all resistors to ESP-outputs and Switch-outputs to +3,3V. Perhaps the DA- and AD-things need 5V, but the display absolutly runs with 3,3V.
I think i will try to create a new version without the use of SMD-parts (too expensive when not working) and create a new PCB for modules (bought localy or from Ali).
