ginkosynthese grains as DIY soon available!

[Mostin77]

It took me quite some time and a lot of messing about to get the Arduino working. Mostly due to me being a bit slow with the Arduino software and getting the right drivers etc.
I think the chipset is written on the board ic if I remember rightly, I needed a magnifier to see it though. You’ll need to match that in the software for it to work.
Good luck

[AntonWoldhek]

I'm really digging Kassen Oud's TriSync Code. Here's a rough lil demo of how it sounds.
Patch Note:
Sequence: SQ1
maths-> in2 of Grains -> LiveStock Mir (enveloped by Maths ch2) -> XAOC Belgrad filter -> makenoise erbe-verb
[video][/video]

[graycat]

I've been playing with some new firmware for the Grains if anyone's interested: https://github.com/graycatlabs/multigrain

Currently includes:

• Clock gen with frequency and duty cycle control
• Trigger-to-gate converter with configurable gate length and trigger skip probability
• A modified version of Janne G:son Berg's Grainsring with raw output CVs or quantization to semitones, major, minor and mixolydian scales (all relative to a 0V root and a 0-5V output, no calibration)

I just shorted C6 (AC coupling output cap) and added a 0.1uF across the output to filter the PWM signal a bit. Gives me clean enough gates/CVs for what I want.

[glennfin]

Problem solved... the arduino wasn't programmed. Installed the environment, programmed, and wah-la!. Now to figure this module out. I will try some alternate firmware when I get a chance.

Thanks for the reply. Alas, yet another kit with not enough information...
I'll see if I can setup the environment and flash the Arduino... after I figure out which version PCB I have.

1) how do I know if the arduino has been programmed?
2) If the arduino needs to be programmed, can it be done with a simple usb cable from a windows PC?

1)mine wasn’t programmed. I was also confused by wether it was programmed or not.

2)yep, should work fine.

[gnomenthusiast]

Edited Again :

1. There's definitely a design issue with the kit as received. I have re-flowed and checked all joints, continue to see some of the problems people have described.

2. The Arduino comes with no program, if you try to install cereals, it will give a warning during compilation and take what feels like an unnaturally long time to compile, but it will eventually finish and upload.

3. The module seems to work great via USB power with no case power. I don't see any problems using the module this way.

4. With case power applied and no USB, the issue is that the 3rd potentiometer has no effect after 1pm and the frequency drops out as you pass this setting.

I have not yet tried cutting the Jack 3 trace or installing a resistor, I'm looking into this now. Criminally low amount of documentation available for this, everything else I've received from Thonk has been way better.

[Shining Fields]

Has anyone else had trouble with their Grains no longer responding to the arduino program after an OS update? I updated my mac to High Sierra and now the arduino gets stuck in a loop of "not in sync" even after installing new drivers and getting arduino to finally recognize the grains in my USB port. Im bummed because i want to try out the new sketches!

[NeolithicElectrophones]

Anyone else install the Talko counter and try it out? A bit limited in its uses, but still fun to play around with speech and as a different timer of sorts.

[Mostin77]

Has anyone else had trouble with their Grains no longer responding to the arduino program after an OS update? I updated my mac to High Sierra and now the arduino gets stuck in a loop of "not in sync" even after installing new drivers and getting arduino to finally recognize the grains in my USB port. Im bummed because i want to try out the new sketches!

I recently put the framen and the drum software onto two of my grains. I didn’t have any problem at all other than having to go into the settings of the Arduino programme and selecting the right chipset for the Arduino. Also using high Sierra.

Seems this is pretty much the only relevant source of information on the internet regarding grains.

[Drilldoughzer]

I just received my Grains kit and on the build guide it says IN4148 diodes but I have BAT 43 diodes in my DIY kit... Can I solder them or I must get the IN4148?

Thanx!!

[Mostin77]

I just received my Grains kit and on the build guide it says IN4148 diodes but I have BAT 43 diodes in my DIY kit... Can I solder them or I must get the IN4148?

Thanx!!

If they have been supplied with a kit I’d imagine they have been substituted for the IN4148’s. You could compare the data sheets for both to check they are of simular values

(Edit. I just checked my modules and they have blue BAT diodes too)

I’ve built lots of modules now that come as a kit (some with photos) and the described or pictured components swapped out with no mention of it. As a beginner this can be really confusing especially if there are multiple teams swapped out. In the past it has slowed some of my builds down to a halt by hours of googling and checking parts against others in uncertainty, BUT I’m glad in a way as it has helped me understand and learn more about electronics instead of learning how to follow instructions. It has also made me more confident about sourcing my own part for builds too...so it’s more good than bad...I wonder if companies don’t leave a note explaining swapped parts for this reason?

[Drilldoughzer]

I built t it last night abd works perfectly...

[BlueSGL]

Something I did to tighten up tuning YMMV (I take no responsibility for stuff suddenly stopping working or your house burning down etc...)


open the firmware

find the line

Code: Select all

int pwmv = analogRead(SYNC_CONTROL)+(analogRead(SYNC_OFFSET)/5-205);

and replace with

Code: Select all

  int pwmv = (analogRead(SYNC_CONTROL)+(analogRead(SYNC_OFFSET)/5-205)) * 1.01;

Alter 1.01 to taste, remember you need to disconnect the unit from USB and power it from your PSU test any changes to the firmware.

[a773]

Just sold my last grains today. Buyer would like to have alternate firmwares + original ones available, but they are no longer available on the website. Anyone knows what's up and where to find them?

http://www.ginkosynthese.com/product/grains/

[khyber]

I found some here on Thonk's website: https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/ginkosynth ... l-diy-kit/

Would be great to see all these collected in an official Github repository or something. Maybe I'll put one together this weekend. Not sure where other Grains firmwares might reside though

[ukemi]

I found some here on Thonk's website: https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/ginkosynth ... l-diy-kit/

Would be great to see all these collected in an official Github repository or something. Maybe I'll put one together this weekend. Not sure where other Grains firmwares might reside though

Great idea. It would be very nice to see all the firmware available on a github.

[fluxmonkey]

I found some here on Thonk's website: https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/ginkosynth ... l-diy-kit/

Would be great to see all these collected in an official Github repository or something. Maybe I'll put one together this weekend. Not sure where other Grains firmwares might reside though

https://www.ginkosynthese.com/grains-codes

[forestcaver]

Is there a schematic available ? (I couldn’t find one after searching). Looking to fix a non-working first edition (?) Grains built by someone else. Havent started looking into it yet... (if there isnt a schematic I’ll just trace it... but looking to save a bit of time)

[Jarno]

There's not that much on there IIRC, I've built two, and they both worked right away.
Is there code on the Arduino, and is it an Arduino with the CH340 IC?

[forestcaver]

There's not that much on there IIRC, I've built two, and they both worked right away.
Is there code on the Arduino, and is it an Arduino with the CH340 IC?

Not sure if there is code on it - I cant connect to it either via usb or icsp (and I can connect to a different nano via both methods) so it could be software or a damaged nano. I can see it as a serial device so drivers are ok.

The reason for the schematic was to check exactly what the protection diodes do and to see if the nano can survive the module being reverse powered. I suspect the module was reverse powered and am wondering if the nano is damaged.
The nano is soldered to the board so will probably remove it, add headers and try the other nano....

As an aside - for the version *without* the 5v regulator on the Grains pcb (cant see a version number on it), is the 10k pull down resistor needed on the lower left jack?

[Jarno]

It's been years since I built mine, so I cannot comment on that.
Bummer that the arduino is soldered on though, would have been a quick repair if it was on headers (well, not sure how the availability of them is these days).

But, so there are protection diodes, Arduino should be ok then, unless they are placed in the wrong direction.
Do you know if the module has been functional before?