PiDP-1 S/N: 089 nearing completion

[sunnyboy010101]

I've posted in other conversations about my recent PiDP-1 build (nearly complete), but thought I should just put my observations etc. in my own thread.

I documented much of the process with commentary and thoughts on a website I built for this build:

https://huntrods.com/pidp1.html

It includes pretty much everything including my mistakes and corrections, as well as a few observations on the build.

Here's a photo (also on the website) of the current build. I have not wired up the USB connectors nor any panel interconnections. The electronics are out as is the finish operator panel as I'm waiting on a LED standoff.

-R

[sunnyboy010101]

I'm still missing the standoff for the last LED - supplied my Mike in Ontario and coming later this week. Thanks Mike! 

I installed the electronics in my console case today. Here are a shot of front and back. Yes, the IC's are missing (I always install them last), and the ribbon cable is 20cm instead of 10cm because I broke a connector (they are hard to get on!). And, the Pi-5 is missing as well, waiting on my bottom m.2 NVME hat.

Still, I think the console case looks great. I'll use this for initial testing and then move things over to the rack once it's verified working well.

-R

[sunnyboy010101]

My Raspberry Pi NVME bottom hat arrived today, so I moved the SSD from the top hat to the bottom hat. After some debugging (the NVME would not show up at all) and a bit of reconfiguring, it fired up and recognized the SSD which I'd set up as the virtual PiDP1.

I plugged it into the connector in the back of my console, and then fired it up. Of course the wireless failed (it has a bad habit of doing that). I plugged in a network cable and connected to the Pi-5 no problems. I ran /opt/pidp1/test.sh and it worked perfectly! (yes, there's a missing LED but I knew it would not be an issue to the test... it just won't light up). All installed LEDS worked perfectly, and testing the switches showed them all to be fully functional. Yay!

I then had to read the manual to find out how to get the 'real' PiDP-1 operating instead of the virtual panel which turned out to be a simple command. I then turned it on, loaded the snowflake tape and hit "load in". It loaded and the snowflake pattern appeared on my screen on the VNC connection to the Pi-5.

All is working as expected. The console version is a nice, neat little package that for now sits on my desk in front of the monitor (cabling issues with the network cable and power). Once I get the LED spacer and LED installed, I'll move it over to the rack and fire it up.

I have some photos and two videos (test.sh & snowflake) that I'll put somewhere (probably youtube) and link on my web pages as well as here.

-R

[sunnyboy010101]

Links to the two short videos. First testing.sh...  https://youtu.be/vElIThmc7aE

and second starting and running the snowflake tape...  https://youtu.be/i_QDtKeejMQ

[sunnyboy010101]

Quick update. I've been considering where to locate the finished rack PiDP-1, and have had several ideas. Today one of them came about due to an awesome marketplace deal. A local fellow was selling one of those mid-height rolling music racks, often used to hold a multi-track audio mixer. He was selling it for $30, so I immediately contacted him, drove over and picked it up.

It's going to be perfect!

[sunnyboy010101]

Here's another photo of the PiDP-1 rack mounted on the 19in music rack. I don't have the proper hardware to mount the 1U spacers (on order) so used twist ties to secure things. It is what I envisioned for mounting my PiDP-1 given the lack of accessible wall space, and the need to be able to move it as necessary. Once my HDMI screen arrives and I have things pretty much sorted out, I'll zip tie an extension cord to the rack base for power to the PiDP-1 off one of my UPS units (probably the one behind the rack in the photo that supplies that 19" vertical rack of synths in the back ground.

-R

[sunnyboy010101]

Whoops! It helps to attach the photo!!