Finally got a good workflow in designing DMD-animations now.
The original plan was to use Flash to create sequences as I've seen a couple of people do on the internet, but the user interface is horrible. Downright awful.
So now I'm back to using proper video editing programs instead which is a much nicer experience!
Maybe it's because I'm used to it - but basically it took me a couple of hours to generate a simple video using Flash compared to just a couple of minutes using video editing. Not to mention the horror of altering something...
I've also got more or less a 100% preview possibility with a DMD-emulation "filter" than I've created, including properly pixelating the image and bit-crunching it. Can't argue with realtime feedback!
Now I'll just have to find a decent VFX library for smoke, explosions and lightning...
Oh, the irony of using high end video editing software, plugins and HD movie material to generate a 128x32 pixel sized 3-bit image sequence...
Poor Man's Pinball!
A building blog for my homemade BioShock pinball machine!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Moving out, moving in!
We'll be moving to a new apartment in a couple of days - can't wait!
That of course means less updates for a while, but I hope that's all right since the coming updates will be worth the wait!
That of course means less updates for a while, but I hope that's all right since the coming updates will be worth the wait!
Tags
Lounge
| Feedback |
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Connecting connections!
Just posting a quick update today.
I've started to finalize cabling and replacing too long wires, color coding wires etc. That should help tremendously while debugging and/or servicing the board. Besides this I've started to wire up the servo and motor connections with their custom cables.
I'm also doing an updated version of the I/O layout of the board since the old layout got its walking stick rather quickly. The great thing is that this step is crucial when designing a PCB, so when the time comes it should basically just be a matter of placing the components in the drawing since the pin mapping is already made.
![]() |
| 1) Near completed motherboard. The tape retaining the lightboard is not the final version. I'll probably use red tape instead... |
Just a few more hours work and the motherboard should be complete!
Unless I've misplaced a wire. Or worse.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The power of JalapeƱos!
I'm finally finished with the lightboard! <insert fanfare here>
And guess what?
ALL ports are fully functional! <insert epic rock music here>
Let me repeat that -
All ports work, each and every one of them.
That's nothing short of a miracle!
It took me a while but now I've finally recreated the "blink" tutorial...
Now I'll just have to finish writing the lighting routine so I can hook this guy up to the motherboard!
Awesome!
And guess what?
ALL ports are fully functional! <insert epic rock music here>
Let me repeat that -
All ports work, each and every one of them.
That's nothing short of a miracle!
It took me a while but now I've finally recreated the "blink" tutorial...
Now I'll just have to finish writing the lighting routine so I can hook this guy up to the motherboard!
Awesome!
| Feedback |
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Another bank bites the dust!
The lightboard is now at 75% completion.
Another solder session and I'll be ready to test it out!
I'm thinking about designing a PCB to replace the motherboard, or simply purchasing either a P-ROC or Ben Heck's custom board. Personally I like Ben's version better, but the P-ROC is verified and used by numerous projects. But my "I can do it"-spirit says that a custom made PCB would indeed be very cool.
It will have to wait for a while - until the current setup breaks that is.
Another solder session and I'll be ready to test it out!
![]() |
| 2) My session companion. This or Blair's Death Rain chips... *drool* |
I'm thinking about designing a PCB to replace the motherboard, or simply purchasing either a P-ROC or Ben Heck's custom board. Personally I like Ben's version better, but the P-ROC is verified and used by numerous projects. But my "I can do it"-spirit says that a custom made PCB would indeed be very cool.
It will have to wait for a while - until the current setup breaks that is.
| Feedback |
Techvolution
It's no surprise that the computer industry is moving forward at lightning speed - but it's astonishing just how much things change over a few years.
I've decided to build a new computer and was happily surfing the net for parts. I decided to see how my old computer's graphics card would measure up to a modern one. Turns out... it doesn't.
It's almost ridiculous...
To be fair -
My current computer wasn't bought to do intense gaming, since I had my Xbox for that. But now the old box is obsolete and the next gen is around the corner (still "next-gen"?!). But I figure I'll return to computer gaming for a while as it also benefits in other ways, such as music production and game creation.
But it's always fun to see how far technology has come!
I've decided to build a new computer and was happily surfing the net for parts. I decided to see how my old computer's graphics card would measure up to a modern one. Turns out... it doesn't.
It's almost ridiculous...
![]() |
| 1) David and Goliath. |
My current computer wasn't bought to do intense gaming, since I had my Xbox for that. But now the old box is obsolete and the next gen is around the corner (still "next-gen"?!). But I figure I'll return to computer gaming for a while as it also benefits in other ways, such as music production and game creation.
But it's always fun to see how far technology has come!
Tags
Lounge
| Feedback |
Saturday, April 13, 2013
I'm back!
Got the new USB-port today and soldered it in place.
And it works!
![]() |
| 1) USB-port is good to go! |
![]() |
| 2) The tiny USB-port. The specs say "reflow procedure only". Phuh! |
![]() |
| 3) Powered up and ready to go! |
Tags
Chipkit,
Electrics,
Hardware - I/O
| Feedback |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)







