VOGONS


First post, by dreamblaster

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Hi,
I'm making progress on the design of a parallel port gameblaster (creative music system).
This uses 2xSAA1099 soundchip. We will also make a TSR.

CMSLPT.png
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I'm not sure if this will stay a prototype / demo project
or will become a product in the shop (as kit and/or presoldered board).
In any case you can expect a demo soon 😀

Last edited by dreamblaster on 2018-01-09, 21:39. Edited 1 time in total.

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Reply 4 of 68, by dreamblaster

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hmm it will not fit the same 3d printed case

Visit http://www.serdashop.com for retro sound cards, video converters, ...
DreamBlaster X2, S2, S2P, HDD Clicker, ... many projects !
New X2GS SE & X16GS sound card : https://www.serdashop.com/X2GS-SE ,
Thanks for your support !

Reply 5 of 68, by Great Hierophant

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This is a very interesting concept, but how will you distinguish writes to SAA1099 one from SAA1099 two? Creative Labs used a pair of addresses for each chip to separate data writes, but your parallel port has one data port. The easiest way would be to use a pair of control port lines to control write access to each chip. The control port has four bits, so for each chip one bit can toggle write enable and one bit can toggle the address/data select (A0) pin.

Unfortunately, while this sounds simple and does not require any more logic than perhaps an inverter, it just won't work in a Tandy 1000, which is limited to three control bits. I would suggest using a 74LS139 for directing the write enable bit, that way you only need three control bits.

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Reply 6 of 68, by chartreuse

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Great Hierophant wrote:

Unfortunately, while this sounds simple and does not require any more logic than perhaps an inverter, it just won't work in a Tandy 1000, which is limited to three control bits. I would suggest using a 74LS139 for directing the write enable bit, that way you only need three control bits.

You'd only need three control bits as-is. You can tie /WR to /CS on each chip, so 2 lines to select which chip, and 1 line to select A0. Alternatively you might be able tie /WR low permanently and select only with /CS, though I don't know if the SAA1099 latches A0 on /WR or /CS

Reply 10 of 68, by matze79

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SIDLPT is nothing new, and already around 😀

http://www.loper-os.org/vintage/parallelsid/parasid.html

What we really want is, Soundblaster LPT.

ESS Audio Chip on LPT Port 😁

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Reply 11 of 68, by chartreuse

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matze79 wrote:

What we really want is, Soundblaster LPT.

ESS Audio Chip on LPT Port 😁

Problem I see with that is that games will typically be doing DMA transfers to the soundblaster. The parallel port might start showing its speed limitations there. Not sure how the TSR would properly handle doing the transfers in the background as well. That and the lack of available lines for chip selects, (would need to have and address and data latch type set-up).

Reply 13 of 68, by hard1k

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^ a PCI YMF7x4 via PCIe-PCI bridge adapter would do, I guess.

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Reply 15 of 68, by appiah4

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Stop making things I want to buy. Please.

Ok ok just go ahead and make more. 😀

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Reply 16 of 68, by dreamblaster

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CMSLPT01.jpg
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CMSLPT01.jpg
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Visit http://www.serdashop.com for retro sound cards, video converters, ...
DreamBlaster X2, S2, S2P, HDD Clicker, ... many projects !
New X2GS SE & X16GS sound card : https://www.serdashop.com/X2GS-SE ,
Thanks for your support !

Reply 19 of 68, by carlostex

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Hi, i have good news to report.

At the moment i'm patching games with CMS support to work on different ports other than the default 220h. I have an original CMS/Game Blaster card which conflicts with the Sound Blaster Pro 1 i have, so i decided to change the port on the CMS card for 210h. I already have several games working using a non default port. I'm still trying to figure out other tough ones, and i actually would appreciate if someone with asm programming experience could help me on this project. There aren't a lot of games left to patch, and after properly documenting it will be very easy to make a program to just patch games for any port we wish. I don't see any problem with patching to port 0378h.

I already managed to defeat the auto detection routine in a game called Altered Destiny, which requires a true CMS/Game Blaster card. Now the game will also work in a normal SB with CMS chips in any port i want. I have other games patched too, but still some tough ones to go.