I'm creating a development platform for DIYers and more.

Devi Ever · Post by **Devi Ever** » 10 Jun 2012, 21:37

Hope it's okay if I post this here... not sure if this is the right place.

I have an extreme amount respect for everyone here and I realize that this is as much a business venture as it is (what I hope to be) a useful platform for the DIY community, pedal makers, and engineers alike.

Anyhow. Details are here >> http://kck.st/LIZgbT

... and once the kickstarter is over with, I'll be continuing to develop the platform and provide information here : http://www.consolefx.com/

If you want to lock this thread down or delete it or move it, I understand. Once again, definitely want more people on board with this, but am hoping people will find it useful, and more than a novelty.

Feel free to ask me any questions and I will provide answers!

sinner · Post by **sinner** » 10 Jun 2012, 21:50

Oh, cool... Devi Ever

I'm not sure what it is, and what it does, I really should go to bed right now as it's late, and I'll back to read about it tomorrow, but...

I would love to draw some layouts for DIY cartridges if this is cool with you

Cheers

Devi Ever · Post by **Devi Ever** » 10 Jun 2012, 22:18

sinner wrote:I would love to draw some layouts for DIY cartridges if this is cool with you

YES YES YES!

This is exactly the kind of thing we want to push with the platform.

I'm hoping by the end of next week we will have a solid design document on the new cartridge specs. I'll attach a link to the old cartridge specs for those kinda curious as to the format of the little buggers.

Once again, this is the OLD design doc : http://www.mediafire.com/?g29nbhjhw8drisg

Fortunately with the new specs, we have room for an extra knob, more through hole components, and a few other possibilities we need to suss out that developers are going to hopefully enjoy.

OH, and we will be releasing a perf board variation of the Cartridge, so people can easily create layouts using that rather than having to build boards up from scratch.

DrNomis · Post by **DrNomis** » 11 Jun 2012, 07:25

Devi, it's okay to post here, to be honest we were all missing you after your forum got shut down, so, good to see you here again mate.....

And I wouldn't mind designing cartridges too....

Devi Ever · Post by **Devi Ever** » 11 Jun 2012, 08:23

DrNomis wrote:Devi, it's okay to post here, to be honest we were all missing you after your forum got shut down, so, good to see you here again mate.....

And I wouldn't mind designing cartridges too....

Awesome possum.

Hopefully enough people will get on board with the kickstarter so we can get this going this year!

DrNomis · Post by **DrNomis** » 11 Jun 2012, 08:41

I reckon it's a cool idea and concept you've got there Devi, there's alot of scope in it, the console could be just the thing for guitarists/bassists/keyboardists looking to create their own unique sounds....

coldcraft · Post by **coldcraft** » 11 Jun 2012, 12:29

very cool idea. I will be supporting this.

earthtonesaudio · Post by **earthtonesaudio** » 11 Jun 2012, 12:52

up up down down left right left right B A

Agreed · Post by **Agreed** » 11 Jun 2012, 15:24

earthtonesaudio wrote:up up down down left right left right B A

And I still can't get past level 3.

Nintendo hard.

JiM · Post by **JiM** » 11 Jun 2012, 22:39

Definitely a great idea, provided that the interface between the cardridge and the base pedal is an open standard and remains such.

There would then be two separate markets :

One for the utility boxes with jacks, pots and switch. There would be both cheap chinese version for bedroom players, and premium sturdy version for the gigging musician. And a big modular rack for the experimenter.
The other, with presumably much higher added value, for the FX modules. Like video game cartridges, or modular synth.

I think we can trace the concept back to R.G. Keen's FX Bus : http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fxbus/fxbus.htm

I'm a bit concerned by the perspective of gooped "boutique" modules, and by the potential temptation of some builders to embrace and extend the standard.
But at the same time, i'm enthusiastic about the ease of use as a DIY platform. Just having the breadboard on the bench, the pedal on the floor and a ribbon cable firmly connecting the two would be so much easier ! Now that the Beavis Board is no longer available, there is a good opportunity for such a product. And perfoboard/stripboard modules would allow quick and easy construction, without the hassle of the mechanical construction.

Did you think of:

specifying a label area on the visible edge of the modules ?
implementing a Poka-yoke (aka idiot-proof) design of the connector to prevent insertion in the wrong direction ? A notch, like in computer memory modules would do.
enabling hot-swap ? Longer contacts for power and ground would allow insertion/extraction without pop.
a convenient way to store a collection of modules, like a case or a wallet or a keychain ?

mwynwood · Post by **mwynwood** » 11 Jun 2012, 23:28

Interesting idea... reminds me a tiny bit of the "Inventobox"
https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8344
A breakout box with the mechanics in it (knobs, jacks, switches) and some way of adding and removing circuits (modules, cartridges, etc...)

mwynwood · Post by **mwynwood** » 11 Jun 2012, 23:30

Here's another one: https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2623

rocklander · Post by **rocklander** » 11 Jun 2012, 23:34

JiM wrote:implementing a Poka-yoke (aka idiot-proof) design of the connector to prevent insertion in the wrong direction ? A notch, like in computer memory modules would do.

this occurred to me also... it could be included in your (also good) suggestion to have power tags slightly longer, by making them deeper into the case, or shallower, or something...

Desdog · Post by **Desdog** » 12 Jun 2012, 11:43

reminds me of my youth:

Don't understand what's so open source about cartridges? It's the exact opposite, like ... well nevermind. Seems like you are selling 90s boutique stompboxes in 80s packaging.
Is there a write-up of what this project is about, because frankly, that video gives me the creeps.

What's going to happen with the money if $20,000 is not reached? Would like to contribute but would hate to be ripped off and my money used to buy Gucci purses and fancy lingerie. I think I'm going to order an openstomp ... seeing jfet being phased out, this is the way to go: "draw circuit" on your computer, load unto stompbox and play...

coldcraft · Post by **coldcraft** » 12 Jun 2012, 15:45

if you read how kickstarter works, you only pay if it reaches the threshold.

culturejam · Post by **culturejam** » 12 Jun 2012, 16:09

Desdog wrote:Don't understand what's so open source about cartridges?

Maybe each one will come with a schematic? That would be interesting.

phibes · Post by **phibes** » 12 Jun 2012, 20:12

spam

It's a cool idea but I hate the whole *fund this for me* thing. This is just like the crap with Barry.

Devi Ever · Post by **Devi Ever** » 12 Jun 2012, 20:30

Desdog wrote:Is there a write-up of what this project is about

Yes. Scroll down :

Desdog wrote:What's going to happen with the money if $20,000 is not reached?

We're still going to move forward with the project, but it might not be until late next year that it's finally released. The kickstarter is going to allow us to do it my this christmas.

JiM wrote:Definitely a great idea, provided that the interface between the cardridge and the base pedal is an open standard and remains such.

Exactly. And to whoever was curious how this is open source... well... we will be releasing build / tech info for the cartridge enclosure, and various specs around the connector and how it sits in the enclosure as well as how the PCB works with the connector and various pots / expression out.

We're doing the heavy lifting of saying "You know what... this is the way it should be done, and done well... now let's make it affordable and get the standard going." and making it easy enough for anyone from the newest DIYer to the most experienced engineer to get on board and get a lot of use out of the format.

JiM wrote:There would then be two separate markets :
One for the utility boxes with jacks, pots and switch. There would be both cheap chinese version for bedroom players, and premium sturdy version for the gigging musician. And a big modular rack for the experimenter.

The other, with presumably much higher added value, for the FX modules. Like video game cartridges, or modular synth.

EXACTLY!

People may be scoffing at the idea of "old game cartridges as fx in this day and age" but truth be told it's never been as viable as it is now to do such a thing... and cartridges are still a part of our modern society (think portable game systems, memory cards, etc).

Also, the market is ripe for this kind of paradigm shift which will ultimately lead to MORE variation and MORE options than ever before in an industry that is quickly being over run by mediocre dirt boxes... because that's what sells at the higher price point needed to make a living in this biz.

JiM wrote:I'm a bit concerned by the perspective of gooped "boutique" modules, and by the potential temptation of some builders to embrace and extend the standard.

Ha ha. Yeah... it's probably going to happen somewhere... but the thing is... people will be able to easily build competing modules at the same price or less, which will hopefully keep those kinds of builders honest, or will push them out of the market... and they can go back to gouging customers in the stand-alone pedal biz.

JiM wrote:But at the same time, i'm enthusiastic about the ease of use as a DIY platform. Just having the breadboard on the bench, the pedal on the floor and a ribbon cable firmly connecting the two would be so much easier ! Now that the Beavis Board is no longer available, there is a good opportunity for such a product. And perfoboard/stripboard modules would allow quick and easy construction, without the hassle of the mechanical construction.

Bummer... I didn't realize the Beavis Board was out of production.

... but yeah, the Console platform is as much about the DIY community as it is about giving pedal makers an opportunity to get more designs out / offer less expensive alternatives.

JiM wrote:Did you think of:
specifying a label area on the visible edge of the modules ?

implementing a Poka-yoke (aka idiot-proof) design of the connector to prevent insertion in the wrong direction ? A notch, like in computer memory modules would do.

enabling hot-swap ? Longer contacts for power and ground would allow insertion/extraction without pop.

a convenient way to store a collection of modules, like a case or a wallet or a keychain ?

1) Do you mean to line up with the pots so people can know what each knob does depending on the cart? There will definitely be a suggested "design standard" for the front label so the title of each cart is viewable when stored, and so that the pot controls are easily viewable.

2) The carts will only fit one way.

3) Good idea about the hot-swap. This is something I'll definitely explore with Ken as we move forward on the final cart specs.

4) Ha ha... Keychain... these things are going to be pretty big... but yeah... as the platform grows, we'll find a good storage solution.

Devi Ever · Post by **Devi Ever** » 12 Jun 2012, 20:33

phibes wrote:spam

It's a cool idea but I hate the whole *fund this for me* thing. This is just like the crap with Barry.

Once again... I wasn't sure where to post this... will gladly be okay with it being moved to another forum if it needs to be.

Also... you should browse kickstarter and read up on the concept a bit more. In the past capital venturists and angel investors were the reason great creative projects could get started (and were sometimes ruined by corrupt investors).

The brilliant thing about *fund this for me* is that it allows people who passionately believe in an idea to get behind interesting projects that otherwise might never see the light of day in a world where people with big money are taking less and less chances with cool new ideas.

Post by **modman** » 12 Jun 2012, 21:02

Devi, I'm sorry (seems like I'm the only one to notice), but what up with that logo, darling?
Maybe I should register freestompboxes.org as a trademark?

I think it's a bold venture...to say the least.