Hello,
I've already posted some of the issue so I'll attempt to post the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I ordered a very inexpensive controller by the name of M-VAVE which also is referenced by the model "Chocolate". It has 4 buttons, a 2 digit 7 segment LED display and a 1/4 phone jack for external pedal or switch control. It has a metal case and the switches are of the 2 piece design used in higher priced unit and have a solid feel. Before installing the provided app I ran it through some tests and was disappointed with the lack of control with Midi Translator. I could view the send/receive data but could not re-translate it with MTP. I contacted support for MTP and they confirmed that due to the 7 segment display programming that i was not able to do any further translation to the midi data. I then installed the provided app which initially provided the data that I needed. I'll provide a link to the demo of the data information that I thought was sufficient.
The following day I was going to dig in with midi tools on hand but ran into some rather big hurdles. In program A mode all the PC values are all at a value of 00 and only on release of the button. Also if the button is held down too long there is no action taken. Program B and C only display values as HEX data which for the average person means nothing. In custom mode you have control over both on and off messages and no restriction to time of the press action. Also you have control via the external switch. Unfortunately they only address the 4 buttons and no banks allowed. I could make that work but already I'm down a custom feature. Advanced Custom control also offers some great features but only for the 4 buttons with no banking.
As mentioned, if I could modify the actions with MTP (Midi Translator Pro) I wouldn't be here typing this post. I've found many Arduino topics referencing the 74HC164 micro controller along with an Arduino board that makes me think that I could still use the existing components and reprogram the unit to my liking with the Arduino product. The unit also features blue tooth connectivity which would be a bonus to keep intact. I'd prefer to use single LEDs on each button for better visibility. Is this possible to accomplish or am I barking up the wrong tree?????
It's not a microcontroller. It's just a shift register.
You'll have to figure out what sort of chip it uses and if that can even be reprogrammed. If so then you can maybe do what you want, but it won't be simple. Unless you have access to the source code on that unit, you'll have to reprogram everything in it from scratch. If you're going to do that then you might as well send this thing back to where you bought it from and build your own that works the way you want.
I suggest you follow Delta_G advice, it appears you do not have the tools and skill set needed to do what you want. There is a for hire section where you could pay to have somebody do it for you.
Thanks for answering my question. There are 4 other chips on the board. Two relate to the lithium battery charging system and the other 2 relate to the bluetooth system. The controller app provides instant access to the various modes. The foot controller does not require the app to function but only provides the last mode that was updated by the app. As to where the code is retained with the components on the board is beyond me which I have been made aware of. I suppose disconnecting the battery for a time period and then reconnecting it would tell me on startup that there is no code logic available and throw some type of error or warning. As I mentioned there are a couple of modes that would provide the midi output to do what I need but as for controlling the 7 segment display that's a definite no.
I was hoping to provide a cost effective foot controller for the ever growing DSP Plugin market that also extended standard midi capabilities.
I'll have to re-evaluate and take a different approach.
As you mentioned it's a rabbit hole that I just do have the time to pursue. However, how does one ever obtain the necessary skill sets if one never tries? I do understand your point and perhaps I'm just being oversensitive...lol
Without being able to read the part numbers, my guess would be the following: U2 is a flash memory chip, U3 is the main microcontroller and wireless chip, U4 is a shift register that drives the display.
By asking, which you are doing. That square thing with pins coming out all four sides and JL on the top maybe the controller. Knowing the number would help.
I did send you relatively clean images showing the part numbers. I disconnected the battery twice, once for 5 mins and then 10 mins. In both cases the board lit up in the same mode both times. The battery has been disconnected for about 2 hours now. If I put a voltmeter across U2 or U4 I'm still measuring a small voltage. U4 has dropped from 0.25 volts to 0.2 volts over the 2 hours and U2 has dropped from 0.36 to 0.33 over the same time period. Across the battery connection pins the voltage drop is the same as U2. Obviously something is retaining voltage? I shorted the two electrolytic caps at the start. Does that seem correct as far as the ic's retaining voltage? The battery voltage value stamped on it is 3.17v. Is there a safe way to discharge the voltage values on both ic's or should I just wait until they're both at 0?
