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Building my first DRSSTC - Updated thread...

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Hydron

Thu Jun 16 2016, 08:31PM

Registered Member #30656 Joined: Tue Jul 30 2013, 02:40AM
Location: UK
Posts: 208

hahah yeah the MIDI problem isn't a surprise - I had exactly the same issue. For starters USB _HATES_ being around tesla coils (rather susceptible to common mode interference - it has a bus reset signal that isn't differential), and the cheapo converters are poorly designed to make it worse. I found the best solution short of buying or making a better MIDI source was to move it further away (I have a 10m optical cable).

Other than that, looks great, congrats! You should be able to get at least 2m streamers/arcs without much fuss, probably up to ~2.5 if you have the space and tune it right. (my coil has extremely similar dimensions and does a bit over 2m with no problems with OCD set to ~750-1000A)

nzoomed

Thu Jun 16 2016, 09:43PM

Registered Member #54503 Joined: Sun Feb 22 2015, 10:35PM
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 288

OK, thanks, i was suspecting its because its a cheap midi adapter, but i dont know what if any brands are better, there is not many midi adapters available in New Zealand.
Ill see if anything is better on ebay, i will try a tin foil box today and see if that improves everything.

Im keeping my fingers crossed for 2m+ streamers if i set the OCD up to 800A, i may look at upgrading the MMC to 1000A or higher rating, but thats probably overboard for a coil this size.

Graham Armitage

Sat Jun 18 2016, 02:58PM

Registered Member #6038 Joined: Mon Aug 06 2012, 11:31AM
Location: Salado, TX
Posts: 248

I found by wrapping the USB-MIDI cable around a large ferrite toroid helped significantly. Did not eliminate it completely and I had to move further away. It's the USB on the laptop that is the problem. That is why I eventually built the arduino based MIDI over Ethernet so I could have the laptop a LONG way from the coil. I occasionally still get a hanging note, but nowhere near as bad as the USB cable.

nzoomed

Sat Jun 18 2016, 10:12PM

Registered Member #54503 Joined: Sun Feb 22 2015, 10:35PM
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 288

Ive put a spare toroid that i was going to originally use for my GDT, but it was too small, so ive wrapped it on the USB cable instead, and its worked a beaut!

I had it hang on one note, but i was a little close to the coil, 5m away seems fine so far without any issues!

Oh, and with Anvil studio, is it possible to sync the actual MP3 recording of the song to the MIDI?
It seems people are doing this somehow.

Graham Armitage

Sun Jun 19 2016, 03:32AM

Registered Member #6038 Joined: Mon Aug 06 2012, 11:31AM
Location: Salado, TX
Posts: 248

Cool - glad that worked for you. Cheap and easy is always best

I have not tried synching the mp3 and MIDI together. Coming from two different sources I can imagine that's tricky to sync.

nzoomed

Sun Jun 19 2016, 05:27AM

Registered Member #54503 Joined: Sun Feb 22 2015, 10:35PM
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 288

Graham Armitage wrote ...

Cool - glad that worked for you. Cheap and easy is always best

I have not tried synching the mp3 and MIDI together. Coming from two different sources I can imagine that's tricky to sync.

I think people are doing it in FL studio, but i think they are creating the whole MIDI from scratch which would be a lot of work, and unfortunately im no professional musician even though i play guitar

nzoomed

Sun Jul 17 2016, 09:36PM

Registered Member #54503 Joined: Sun Feb 22 2015, 10:35PM
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 288

So I used it at a public show last week, and it awed the crowd.
Then it started to lightly rain, not recommended to use these in the rain! lol

The coil was sweet, but the fine water droplets seem to absorb alot of energy from the coil's arcs, and they were not as long, the arcs made a different sound, more like a popping i suppose. It also made the USB lock up issue alot worse.

Anyway i quickly switched everything off and told the spectators these dont like the rain, but they were pretty happy with what they saw :)

I have to laugh how the media get so much stuff wrong though!

Graham Armitage

Mon Jul 18 2016, 02:19PM

Registered Member #6038 Joined: Mon Aug 06 2012, 11:31AM
Location: Salado, TX
Posts: 248

Congrats on the performance. Crowds love a Tesla Coil. Brave man running it in the rain :) Interesting to hear the weather made the MIDI lockup worse. I will have to try during the next downpour - NOT !!!

nzoomed

Wed Jul 20 2016, 12:36AM

Registered Member #54503 Joined: Sun Feb 22 2015, 10:35PM
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 288

Graham Armitage wrote ...

Congrats on the performance. Crowds love a Tesla Coil. Brave man running it in the rain :) Interesting to hear the weather made the MIDI lockup worse. I will have to try during the next downpour - NOT !!!

I agree, water does not mix with electricity.

Anyway, i would love to learn more of the physics involved with the dampness and the MIDI issue.
Im only guessing this was the reason, it may not have been why, but I cant afford to have any failures with the MIDI on future performances.

Any ideas?
Ive got toroids on both ends of the midi cable.

Justin

Wed Jul 20 2016, 12:40AM

Registered Member #46164 Joined: Wed May 07 2014, 08:16AM
Location: California, USA
Posts: 89

If it has a plastic body like the inexpensive usb to midi converters you might try a shielding box or a similar arrangement.

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