Jack Gassett Posted August 29, 2012 Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 I was asked how to get started with the RetroCade Synth prototypes in a private message on Kickstarter, since this is helpful to everyone with a prototype I'm reposting my response here:No problem with asking for some help finding the resources, this is an early prototype so I have not been able to focus on making this easy to use yet, so please bear with me.It is better to ask questions like this in the forum, just in case some of the other prototype backers have the same question. The RetroCade forum is here:http://forum.gadgetfactory.net/index.php?/forum/106-retrocade-synth/The Dashboard was made in SynthMaker so you need to first download a copy of SynthMaker and then a copy of the source code.SynthMaker:http://synthmaker.co.uk/RetroCade Source Code on GitHub:https://github.com/GadgetFactory/RetroCade_Synth/zipball/masterDownload the source code and you will find a directory called Dashboard that has a file that can be opened by SynthMaker.There is a thread talking about how to access the MIDI settings here:If your MIDI keyboard has knobs and sliders you can use those to control the various settings available for each voice, take a look at the dashboard to see what the Control Change's are set to.Hope this helps.Thank you!Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andymanone Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Dear Jack, I just got your prototype package today !!!Thanks a lot !!!But there was a little issue with the USB-host Port on the Papilio PCB, but it´s not your fault, I´m afraid the Post courier doesn´t handle it as carefully as needed So the USB-jack was strongly deformed and a plastic part inside is broken (maybe you´ll put a part of foam rubber over the sensitive jacks, to prevent this for further sendings)But never mind , I tried to repair it as good as possible and it seems to work finally.But what I want to ask, is:What kind of board I should choose, when i want to connect the Papilio Plus + Retrocade with the Papilio Arduino IDE?"Gadget Factory Papilio custom board"?KR,andY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Gassett Posted September 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Andy,Sorry about the damage to the boards, I think I put too much into those mailers. The PPro, RetroCade MegaWing, and Arcade MegaWing was probably too much weight for those bubble mailers to properly protect. Might need to wrap future shipments with another layer of bubble wrap.To program the RetroCade boards you are going to need the latest source code version of the ZPUino IDE. I just created a new download section for the RetroCade Synth and uploaded it here. The bit file that loads the ZPUino onto the Papilio Pro board is also in the download section, you shouldn't need it right now unless something goes wrong and the board stops responding to the ZPUino IDE.Choose, "ZPUino on Papilio One (500) board" for now, to make things easier we embedded that board code into the bit file instead of the Papilio Pro one. The first official release will have matching board codes.I expect to be working on the software this week since I finished the last major thing needed for the Papilio Pro hardware last week. I will post the developments here.Thanks!Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neslekkim Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Regarding shipping, there was a bit squasing in my package also, if boards that can connect together, ike an papilio and megawing, I think they should be put together, instead of lying next to each other. the pins went throu the buble wrap and into the next board, but it looks okay so far.Just a note, since shipping was discussed.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andymanone Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 Thanks Jack for your helping hints!Btw, I´ve a little question too: can you or anybody tell me what kind of uSD card (capacity) will be supported from the Rertocade wing?And how I´m able to access the files (e.g. .mid, .ym or .mod) there?Thanks in advance and BR,andY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Gassett Posted September 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 Currently there is not support to load files off the SD card yet. mod files can be placed directly into the smallfs folder and they will automatically be loaded to the SPI Flash and played from there.ym files need to be converted to a dat format and placed in the smallfs folder. There is a wiki page showing how to do that here: http://audio.gadgetfactory.net/index.php?n=Main.YM2149FlashI made good progress yesterday with converting the existing RetroCade sketch into something that is easier to understand and use. I'll keep you posted about further progress, I hope to be able to get a good chunk of coding done today.Thanks!Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaltree Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Can you make a video or a step by step of how to make this thing work (via midi and dashboard), thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaltree Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Never mind, Its working, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Gassett Posted November 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 DigitalTree, I'm going to be working on the RetroCade website this week and one of the first priorities is a QuickStart guide. Look for something by the end of the week at http://retrocade.gadgetfactory.net.In the meantime, feel free to ask questions here. I will also try to be in the chat room as much as I can (I have a contracting job I have to finish up on Tuesday and maybe a little on Wednesday).Thanks!Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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