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Fantastic thanks its all sorted now.  At first it wasnt working as the newer m4l editor wasnt passing midi notes through the effect, even though version 1 would.  Connected midi in to midi out within the m4l device and it resolved the issue.  Dont know why it was only happening to me though, is everybody else having separate ableton midi tracks for the midi notes and m4l editor?

Thanks for that!  a hackspace has just opened nearby and I've been playing with the laser cutter, wanted a nice way to etch panels for my DIY modular synth and what you've described is EXACTLY what I need

I see  "GenMDM is currently not available for preorder." - batch number 2 is moving forward then. 

As for the postage issues, seeing as people are still wondering where theirs is I'm not worried.  But everyone who is waiting, can we all make a deal with eachother?  Let us know on here when you get them, and where you are located - then we can all figure out when to worry lol

Seb, I would be interested in knowing an answer to Aly James' question also.  I know my Meeblip would freak out some times when i was automating it too much and that was a single voice.  But then it is also doing the math to generate the waves, and I imagine GenMDM is less processor intensive.  I suppose if it is really an issue you can reduce the refresh rate within the M4L editors tho, or get a second one - oh wait I am

Not wanting to shoot you down but the midibox control logic for the midibox yamaha opl3 is the equivalent of what Seb has done with GenMDM but with a later generation FM chip.  Id recommend that project (provided youre brave enough to attempt soldering/desoldering a surface mount OPL3) if you want a DIY FM synth, but I dont think any code would be transferable to GenMDM.  Seb wants control over his code anyway.

What I had in mind was simply a dedicated MIDI controller that sits between your sequencer and the GenMDM - pretty much the MIDIbox64.   I had an Arduino in mind simply because it seems to be the most popular in DIY microcontrollers, but the supporting circuitry and pseudo code would be applicable to pretty much any microcontroller.  In fact MIDIbox projects use the same technique to scan pot values, the analog in AIN boards have 4 4051 analog multiplexers on a board. 

A 4051 multiplexer/demultiplexer allows you to route 8 analog signals down a single line, by giving each of these 8 data lines an address.  You can only read one line at a time, but you switch between each address faster than a human will perceive, so we see it as all being read at the same time.  The output of the 4051 would be connected to an analog input on the microcontroller, as well as the address lines. 

The pseudo code would be:
select address 0, read analog input.  scale analog value range to parameter value range. 
If parameter value is not previous parameter value, change to new value and print to MIDI output and LCD.
Select address 1, read, etc.

MIDIbox is lovely in many ways, I'm working on my second MIDIbox SID now.  I'm not sure a MIDIbox64 device would actually be able to provide control over every function, but i've not built a MIDIbox64 so I'm not certain.  It certainly will get close to the 64 analog inputs limit, I'd have to look carefully at all the parameters first to be sure.  There are over 100 CCs to change so probably wouldnt be feasible to have 1 knob/button per function, and so I was thinking of having separate pages for each operator (eg. cutting the operator control knob requirements from 36 to 9). I dont know if you can get MIDIbox to allow one knob to have different functions, depending on the state of digital inputs.

The best advice I an offer is to get talking to people over on the MIDIbox forums, they will be best able to help and are very active and friendly.  I suspect the LPC core will be the wrong thing for this for this project, I think you need to go with a PIC18F.

I'm UK based and its not arrived here yet.  Once you think about xmas shipping increase, xmas/new year public holidays its not unreasonable for it to take 2 months.  I got my email around 15th November so I'll be worrying on the 22nd.

TSC, what are you stuck on?  There isnt really a need for a manual.  Have you installed the max4live devices?  Have you seen the basic hardware and software setup video on his blog/YouTube?  Beyond that setup the rest is all down to you.  If you are struggling to use it then perhaps you need to do some research into FM synthesis.  Even if you watched some videos on for example Roland DX7 programming or Native instruments FM8 techniques the principles are the same.  As for saving presets, this is down to you capturing the MIDI CCs you have edited.  One way to do this so you no longer need to be running Ableton would be to record the MIDI coming from the channel with M4L on it, and export this MIDI file to another DAW.

if its going the pre-programmed avr route I think most people would be fine with just the chip, schematic and perhaps a breadboard layout.  With the arduino at least, all other required components you can pick up at any electronics shop.  The only issue ive had with some microcontrollers is sourcing correct inductors when needed, or occasional  crystals or resonators.

I think alot of people would appreciate this mod, and it would allow you to retain complete control over the code.  Thanks for mulling it over - I also love having moments of electronic inspiration come to me in dreams.

Hey Seb, I've just ordered a second one.  The first is still in the post, but I'm sure it'll arrive any day now. 

I know you've been using the teensy for the usb interface.  I dont have any experience with it myself but I'm using the arduino and mbed microcontrollers alot so I should be able to pick it up.  Just wondering how you feel about me modding the hardware and/or code?  Not for resale of course, and anything I did that was fully functional I would make available to everyone else.  I'm just hoping to fit a 5 pin din midi in, as i am MPC and HW synths only when I play live