Month: July 2011

Top panel cnc jig

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Welp, this is the last jig I needed to make for beatseqr production. It holds the top panel portion of the case so the cnc router can do it’s job. When I was just making one beatseqr at a time I had much much less efficient jigs to hold things on the cnc table, so this is a huge improvement. I’m getting repeatable results that I’m happy with when I cut multiple cases in a session. There’s less guess work, less waste, and less cursing… So overall a good situation.

Also on the final infrastructural push, I designed and built a fume extractor for soldering. Which makes me happier when I’m hunched over a circuit board soldering for hours. Here are some photos :

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Tools: Alesis IODock for iPad

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I just got my Alesis IODock for iPad. It solves some serious live performance problems for me!! Here they are:

1. Playing my iPad live is awesome, but keeping it powered up is a decision between power and midi data. Previously, I would plug in the camera connection kit for midi or a power plug. No more. The IODock has power to keep my iPad charging while in use, and a square style USB port.

2. Speaking of midi… Previously I’d have to connect a midi out usb device from my computer to a midisport UNO connected by the camera connection kit to the ipad. Giant hassles! Now with the IODock, I just go directly from the computer to the dock. No midi devices whatsoever between the computer and the iPad. Sweet!!

3. Flexible outputs… Since there are quarter inch output jacks and a headphone jack, I can use whichever I need to. Sometimes playing live, I can experience the iPad being too quiet… The headphone jack on the IODock gets *crazy* loud. So I have options for different mixing environments.

4. Looks professional. Always helps. Ima cover up this giant Alesis logo post haste, guys. (Sorry Alesis.) But the case looks good, the tilt is nice. A definite plus.

And I guess there are a bunch of other things that are in this box, but the items above cover the price of admission for me! Well done Alesis. This seems like it’s going to be a great product.

-steve