MindsEye Question

Hello ALL,

New member, but an old timer when it comes to owning one of your machines, and I need your help.

I bought the MindsEye back in 89-90 and I need to make sure I have the correct power supply. Certainly wouldn't want to destroy my unit by using the wrong supply.

The unit had been sitting idle for some time.

The goggles (which look like ski goggles) foam around the mask were crumbling apart, so I glued felt around them last night. They look really good now.

Located the manuals and looked to make sure the power supply info was listed inside, NOPE nothing about what voltage/hz/watts. I think I have the right one but need to be for certain. The one I think is the ONE is 120V~60Hz 11W.

:hello2: Is this correct?!?!? :hello2:

I'm planning on using this during an Open Meeting coming up in a couple of weeks, however, I need to do some MindsEyeing before then, to ensure everything is working properly :)

Your help is greatly appreciated. I tried locating Robert Austin, but failed in my quest. And found that MindPlace had taken over his old Synetic Systems.


Oh and before I go, Mind machines have really advanced since I purchased mine. Now it looks as though you can carry them in your pocket. Mine looks huge in comparison :icon_redface:


TIA,
MagickMuffin

I should have stated the Output, instead of the Input :icon_rolleyes:


The one I think is the ONE is Output: 7.5 VDC Positive ring.

Hello MagickMuffin and welcome!

Do you mean the Mindseye Courier?

If so, that product had a rechargeable battery pack, which, if it has not been replaced yet, may not hold much or any charge by now.

I will however try to find out what the spec of the power supply is supposed to be.

-Andy.

Hello Andy, thx for the welcome!

Nope, this isn't the Mindseye Courier. It is labeled as the MindsEye Audio/Visual Synchronizer. It did not operate on any batteries at all. Just an input for the power supply. It measures 8.5" X 12" it is huge compared to the newer ones.

If you're still in contact with Robert Austin maybe he could help us with this issue.

Like I mentioned this was one of the first types of brain machines ever put on the market and we cough up $1000. to own one.

If I had the funds available I would really like to purchase the Procyon AVS. Perhaps we will be able to in the near future. Definitely thinking about applying for the affiliate program once we finish our website.

I took some pics and can email them to you along with my phone #, as I have tried calling but the phone hangs up before anyone answers it.

Peace,
MagickMuffin

Greetings--

I think that 7.5 volt supply is the correct one, but honestly would need to locate. I designed that old MindsEye of yours, but that was 22 years ago... :-)

The MindsEye used the same sound chip that the old Commodore 64 utilized--still my favorite audio output from any light and sound machine. I wish such ICs were still available.

It was large, but pretty robust, and it did have outputs for two users, the ability to modulate incoming sound, etc. Glad your system has survived all these years!

-Robert

Hello Robert,

So glad that we found each other. We have taken really good care of your baby ;=D

Would the voltage be indicated on the mother board/circuit board?!?!?

Do you think it would be okay to try the supply we have without damaging the unit?!?!?

Like I mentioned in my OP, I'm getting ready to present this at an Open Meeting and need to make sure it is in excellent working order before then.

I did plug the adapter into the unit but didn't plug it into a wall socket, and it fit very snuggly.

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

So, I know it's been a while, but did the adapter you have actually work with the MindsEye?

Hi there Robert
I have the same question, I misplaced my charger and it ended up in a pile of my different chargers.
Any "input" as to what the chargers output is would be greatly appreciated.
Would you be able to confirm that 7.5 output is the correct one?
I would love to use my machine again...
Thanx
Alex
Mindseye Courier.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Robert Austin

Greetings--

I think that 7.5 volt supply is the correct one, but honestly would need to locate. I designed that old MindsEye of yours, but that was 22 years ago... :-)

The MindsEye used the same sound chip that the old Commodore 64 utilized--still my favorite audio output from any light and sound machine. I wish such ICs were still available.

It was large, but pretty robust, and it did have outputs for two users, the ability to modulate incoming sound, etc. Glad your system has survived all these years!

-Robert

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I found a MindsEye supply! It's 12 volts DC, 1000 ma, center pin is ground. Plug appears to be 5 mm in diameter, 9 mm long. You might be able to get away with something in the 800 ma range...
-Robert

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Robert Austin

I found a MindsEye supply! It's 12 volts DC, 1000 ma, center pin is ground. Plug appears to be 5 mm in diameter, 9 mm long. You might be able to get away with something in the 800 ma range...
-Robert

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the power supply that came with my mindseye (of ebay) is a commodore 9.5V 1A PSU.
We were in contact indirectly via Regina mostly through your ebay account. Thank you for providing me with a copy of the mindseye manual.
There are still some open questions. Such as what type of ski goggles were used to built those goggles? my machine was poorly packed by the ebay seller and the heavy machine and PSU crushed the foam and goggle frames into crumbles. the LED boards do work gladly. but I need to find affordable ski goggles to fit them in. does not make sense to buy high end uv filtration anti fogging and what not ski goggles if you use them for a mind machine lol.

Robert, do you know or can find out how the mindseye goggle LEDs are wired? I am looking for a way to mod all those single color orion/sirius goggles I bought through Regina off ebay to use on this mindseye. probably more comfy than those old school ski goggle type. though as those seem to be regular cat 5 cables with a lot of wires they might have more features like individual controlling single LEDs maybe? that of course a signal cable of a sirius/orion goggle set might not be able to do without using a multi pin cable, and changing the actual LED wiring inside the goggles.

Do you still have the manual? I have the same unit bought way back then and lost the manual. As I recall it was very short. Is there any way you could scan it and email it to me?
Thank You!
zzzang

MindsEye Courier Manual is here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andy

Manual is here.

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Thanks for the super quick reply Andy.
My unit is the Minds Eye Audio/Visual Synchronizer
The closest thing I see is the Minds Eye Courier.
I'm just wondering if the functions are the same.
I guess I can simply give it a try.

Update...
The unit I have is the Minds Eye Audio/Visual Synchronizer and I bought it brand new when it first came out. The courier manual is for a different machine. Any help on finding this manual would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely
zzzang

Sorry - I thought the units were similar in operation.

I'll find out if there's a manual floating around and let you know. If/When we find it, we'll scan it and add it to the archive section.

Hi, Matt-- That 9.5 vdc supply should work, if the polarity is correct. I think we used Smith ski goggles with the MindsEye, but don't recall the model... and I doubt that they are still making it, given the constant evolution of ski goggle designs. Sorry this is taking you so long to get up to speed with! Yes, lots of improvements over the years since I designed the MindsEye, which I based loosely upon the Commodore 64 design and memory map. I do miss those SID audio synthesizer chips; we also used those in the PC Synergizer board for DOS computers in the early 90s, and they are now scarce as hens teeth...

MindsEye Plus Manual is now available here.
Hopefully it's closer to what you're looking for than the Courier Manual.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MattM

Such as what type of ski goggles were used to built those goggles? my machine was poorly packed by the ebay seller and the heavy machine and PSU crushed the foam and goggle frames into crumbles. the LED boards do work gladly. but I need to find affordable ski goggles to fit them in. does not make sense to buy high end uv filtration anti fogging and what not ski goggles if you use them for a mind machine lol.

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I purchased my MindsEye brand new back in the day, and the foam on the ski goggles also crumbled because of the age. I had some black felt and glued it around the goggles and it seems to work really well. Definitely a lot cheaper than rigging up new goggles.

I just noticed that the frames were busted as well, so perhaps my suggestion will not work. However, I will leave my post up in case someone else has this issue with the foam crumbling away.

Peace

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Robert Austin

I found a MindsEye supply! It's 12 volts DC, 1000 ma, center pin is ground. Plug appears to be 5 mm in diameter, 9 mm long. You might be able to get away with something in the 800 ma range...
-Robert

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This helps tremendously, I'll have to see if I can find this specific supply. We acquired so many "wall warts" that I'm almost certain I can find something in our boxes of them. Thanks for the help!

I found these Smith Ski Google's for $9.00 on Amazon, they look like they will fit the lite board...http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I think They are called the Cascade Classic

I just had my original Mindseye Plus shipped out to me. It has been in storage for 15 years. Googles where falling a part but the machine seems to still work well. Ports for two users. I just finished my first session in 15 years...Sweet!

My Smith's Cascade Classic ski goggles arrived today! At first the Light assembly would not fit into the goggle, until I next took a pair of strong kitchen scissors and trimmed the ends of the light board and a bit at the top careful not to harm the circuitry. I carefully worked the light board into the goggle and it fits like a glove! Then I had to try it out with a nice long Mindseye session. This thing is just like new!

I've tried the available manuals but they do not seem to apply to my MindsEye audio/ visual synchronizer. If any one has a copy I would greatly appreciate a PDF file if at all possible. Medical expenses have forced me to liquidate some items and I'm looking to sell this unit with both goggles............
Everything is fully functional except the goggles really need some new foam as there isn't much left.
Thank You for your help and time....

Sorry for the late reply but I actually just found these links on the site:

Will either of these manuals apply to your machine?

http://www.mindplacesupport.com/Down...ier-manual.pdf
http://www.mindplacesupport.com/Down...PlusManual.pdf

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neuroasis

Sorry for the late reply but I actually just found these links on the site:

Will either of these manuals apply to your machine?

http://www.mindplacesupport.com/Down...ier-manual.pdf
http://www.mindplacesupport.com/Down...PlusManual.pdf

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above files are no longer available. I lost the mindseye manual provided by Mindplace when I bought a used unit some years ago (could be close to 10 years already not sure) and I have misplaced the power supply.
I am not sure what voltage it needs. 9 or 12v I assume. I don't want to fry it.
I wonder if there are any schematics available of the circuit boards even.
I find this machine fascinating as it has the SID sound chip from the Commodore C64 inside and wonder what else I could do with it. like externally controlling the SID maybe via midi with some addons.
maybe anyone has some ideas or copies of the manuals still.
`

404 link above , but I found the new link/s:
http://mindplacesupport.com/really-old-legacy/

Synetic Systems MindsEye Plus Manual

http://mindplacesupport.com/download/582/
and

Synetic Systems MindsEye Courier Manual

http://mindplacesupport.com/download/585/

the links on here are also dead:

http://mindplacesupport.com/forum/co...-Documentation
maybe you can edit the website / forward to new page for "really old legacy devices"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MattM

the links on here are also dead:

http://mindplacesupport.com/forum/co...-Documentation
maybe you can edit the website / forward to new page for "really old legacy devices"

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That page shouldn't be accessible. It's from the old website and all links in the archive will be broken. No idea how you even found it! ;-)

I'll have to figure out how to hide that page, thank you for the heads up!

Guess the answer to the MindsEye power supply conundrum is "it depends." I built the first 100 using whatever surplus parts I could find at Jameco etc. and think the center pin was ground, while later versions used a more standard 12 v dc 1000ma supply with the sheath as ground, as normal. This was definitely the case for the MindsEye Plus, the best of the several versions that emerged from my garage...