One year ago I posted my ambitious plans for a new encoder. I also acquired a kitten, now a cat who just walked across my computer's power switch and destroyed a half page draft of this post.
I am pleased that I've accomplished much of what I set out to do. Five prototype PCBs for the main encoder board arrived from Hong Kong and two are built and working great using the MCU modules from Micro Elektronica. I had a smaller trial board completely assembled by the same firm and am confident that they can handle the 144-pin MCU (pic32mz2048efh144) and do a second encoder version which will add four matrix ports and an ethernet connection -- that's nearly complete but will require a lot of extra data for the Hong Kong firm to do all the pick and place operations required.
The first version looks like this:
A second version will replace the piggyback MCU board including four matrix ports and ethernet connectivity for RTP-MIDI. Looking down the items from the first post I will be going to a mostly SMT circuit board with just the connectors being through hole devices. Features will include:
6 SPI ports for 12 channels of 64 inputs AND outputs each. 768 In / 768 Out
4 matrix manuals either 11x6 or 8x8
256 stops (Allen), 128 stops for conventional stops without drivers
4 serial ports for serial enabled LCD displays
8 analog inputs
8 open collector outputs for power relays, lamps, and similar
8 GPIO lines for use with status LEDS or as needed
4 outputs for an Allen capture supply
1 USB-UART console port will be removed to accommodate the ethernet MagJack
-- future console configuration will be over ethernet
I2C ports were omitted from both versions due to speed and reliability constraints
-- a new SPI-based IO board is a drop in replacement for the previous I2C board
So all in all version 1 looks solid and version 2 doesn't present major new challenges. The first version one board is slated for a huge 4-manual Allen with something like 157 drawknobs and couplers. When the second version is ready in a few months I'll post info on how to make one of your own. I should be clear that most connected devices, stops, pistons, and manuals go through external input boards. A DIY solution also looks to be extremely affordable for those who don't count the hours of labor involved.
Meanwhile I'm excited about the great new Teensy 4.0. Right now a lot of essential libraries are being written, but in the near future it will be another fantastic way to build a DIY system. Thanks to Robin at
http://www.pjrc.com for those wonderful Teensy boards!