Big Monk
Well-known member
Ladies and Gents,
A proposal: Let's open source and try to figure out how to make a 1032L based, microcontroller brained, programmable effects switcher. The inspiration is my powerful yet simple to use Joyo PXL8 Pro switcher:
I love many things about the PXL8 Pro but really wanted something in the ballpark size of the PXL4:
What you get at the core of both of these is 16-32 presets. The PXL8 Pro has the advantage of a Tuner out, Muting system and 4 programmable relay controlled Trigger outputs.
On the negative side, however, the PXL8 series, as well as the PXL4, have fixed, non-switchable high impedance opamp buffers on the input of the first loop and the output of the last loop. This is troublesome if you want to run a Fuzz into the first loop, so I had to modify my PXL8 Pro to have the buffer on a switch.
So, what the hell am I rambling about? Well, I already had the germ of an idea for a power supply using the 1032L enclosure. It's a bit smaller (4" "shorter") than the PXL4, but has more depth and equivalent width. I pinged @Robert and he had already been toying with the idea of a programmable switcher in a 1032L and he gave me some pointers, etc.
So let's look at the rough mockup:
Size dictated me pushing the switches closer together. As opposed to the 77mm switch to switch width of the PXL series, these are 54mm apart. Definitely more than say a 125B with dual switches, but not ALOT more. It's the best I can do.
Here is my desired outcome, actual programming and form/fit concerns notwithstanding:
1.) Loop Jacks will be vertically stacked Neutrik or equivalent:
2.) Like the PXL4, user has access to 16 total presets.
3.) Mute switch functions like it does on the PXL4/8 series: One press and release activates the tuner out/signal still live, two presses mutes the entire signal, press and hold for 2 seconds activates programming mode
4.) A new function for the mute switch will be that three presses switches you to "stomp mode", where all 5 footswitches get assigned to a loop for normal true bypass switching capability.
5.) Bicolor LEDs will be implemented on the Loop LEDs and Input Buffer LED. They turn blue in Stomp mode and the Input Buffer LED turns blue for the Fuzz Friendly Buffer..
6.) Trigger status works just as it would on the PXL8 series.
7.) Instead of external triggers with outputs, the Buffer section will be triggered internally to allow for presets with and without buffering to be enabled.
8.) I'd like to use the PCB mounted momentary soft switches
I've got a quick demo video and some photos of the internals to upload at some point today.
The main hurdle here is I'm a shit programmer who has never really worked with microcontrollers. I'd be willing to learn and help but I'm a brute force programmer type and I work best with already written code to modify.
On that topic, I spied this internally but I am not 100% sure what it is. I'm assuming it's some unused way to upload firmware to the unit. Could it be used in reverse?:
The end result here would be a pretty damn powerful and compact switcher, capable of coordinating a medium sized pedalboard. With 5 loops, you could accommodate a medium sized board with most of the standard 7-10 tap power supplies.
A proposal: Let's open source and try to figure out how to make a 1032L based, microcontroller brained, programmable effects switcher. The inspiration is my powerful yet simple to use Joyo PXL8 Pro switcher:
I love many things about the PXL8 Pro but really wanted something in the ballpark size of the PXL4:
What you get at the core of both of these is 16-32 presets. The PXL8 Pro has the advantage of a Tuner out, Muting system and 4 programmable relay controlled Trigger outputs.
On the negative side, however, the PXL8 series, as well as the PXL4, have fixed, non-switchable high impedance opamp buffers on the input of the first loop and the output of the last loop. This is troublesome if you want to run a Fuzz into the first loop, so I had to modify my PXL8 Pro to have the buffer on a switch.
So, what the hell am I rambling about? Well, I already had the germ of an idea for a power supply using the 1032L enclosure. It's a bit smaller (4" "shorter") than the PXL4, but has more depth and equivalent width. I pinged @Robert and he had already been toying with the idea of a programmable switcher in a 1032L and he gave me some pointers, etc.
So let's look at the rough mockup:
Size dictated me pushing the switches closer together. As opposed to the 77mm switch to switch width of the PXL series, these are 54mm apart. Definitely more than say a 125B with dual switches, but not ALOT more. It's the best I can do.
Here is my desired outcome, actual programming and form/fit concerns notwithstanding:
1.) Loop Jacks will be vertically stacked Neutrik or equivalent:
2.) Like the PXL4, user has access to 16 total presets.
3.) Mute switch functions like it does on the PXL4/8 series: One press and release activates the tuner out/signal still live, two presses mutes the entire signal, press and hold for 2 seconds activates programming mode
4.) A new function for the mute switch will be that three presses switches you to "stomp mode", where all 5 footswitches get assigned to a loop for normal true bypass switching capability.
5.) Bicolor LEDs will be implemented on the Loop LEDs and Input Buffer LED. They turn blue in Stomp mode and the Input Buffer LED turns blue for the Fuzz Friendly Buffer..
6.) Trigger status works just as it would on the PXL8 series.
7.) Instead of external triggers with outputs, the Buffer section will be triggered internally to allow for presets with and without buffering to be enabled.
8.) I'd like to use the PCB mounted momentary soft switches
I've got a quick demo video and some photos of the internals to upload at some point today.
The main hurdle here is I'm a shit programmer who has never really worked with microcontrollers. I'd be willing to learn and help but I'm a brute force programmer type and I work best with already written code to modify.
On that topic, I spied this internally but I am not 100% sure what it is. I'm assuming it's some unused way to upload firmware to the unit. Could it be used in reverse?:
The end result here would be a pretty damn powerful and compact switcher, capable of coordinating a medium sized pedalboard. With 5 loops, you could accommodate a medium sized board with most of the standard 7-10 tap power supplies.
on that but I guess it is programmable if I remember correctly
