VOGONS


FMonster, the monster of sound synth

Topic actions

Reply 160 of 275, by Tiido

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

There are 2 extra channels on OPM/OPP which none of the OPN chips have and I'm pretty sure most games etc. are pushing all 8 channels.

T-04YBSC, a new YMF71x based sound card & Official VOGONS thread about it
Newly made 4MB 60ns 30pin SIMMs ~
mida sa loed ? nagunii aru ei saa 😜

Reply 162 of 275, by matze79

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Whats the use of SEGA MD Sound inside a PC? is there any Software ?

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 163 of 275, by Fagear

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
matze79 wrote:

Whats the use of SEGA MD Sound inside a PC? is there any Software ?

Use: playback music from MD2, compose new.
Software: not known yet, wanted to be created.

New BIG soundcard: FMonster.
Covox Sound Master replica
Innovation SSI-2001 replica & DuoSID.
My audio/video collection.

Reply 164 of 275, by carlostex

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
Scali wrote:

We're currently working on reverse-engineering the FB-01 Z80 firmware and making a reimplementation in regular C, to be used for emulation in DOSBox or as a standalone Windows MIDI device.
Now I wonder... if you would put a YM2151 and some modern microcontroller on an ISA card (such as an Atmel, like the HardMPU), you could run the new firmware on there, and create an IMFC clone.
Might have to revisit that idea once the reimplementation works in software.

This would be awesome, tackling yet another rare sound standard.

Reply 166 of 275, by Fagear

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
awgamer wrote:

The FMonster has stereo Speech Thing but no Sound Blaster DAC/controller?

The FMonster itself will not have any DAC functionality. Optional daughterboard will have Speech Thing compatibility. Sound Blaster and/or another DMA-capable DAC is not planned. But it still can be added as another daughterboard.

A chocolate bar. 😁

2019-05-20 01.50.54.jpg
Filename
2019-05-20 01.50.54.jpg
File size
860.22 KiB
Views
2203 views
File comment
FMonster: chocolate bar of ICs
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
2019-05-20 01.52.11.jpg
Filename
2019-05-20 01.52.11.jpg
File size
800.66 KiB
Views
2203 views
File comment
FMonster: chocolate bar of ICs
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

New BIG soundcard: FMonster.
Covox Sound Master replica
Innovation SSI-2001 replica & DuoSID.
My audio/video collection.

Reply 167 of 275, by MrSmiley381

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
Fagear wrote:
What I plan to put onto main board of FMonter at the moment: = clock generator = DuoSID (2xSSI = 2xMOS6581) + address selector = […]
Show full quote

What I plan to put onto main board of FMonter at the moment:
= clock generator
= DuoSID (2xSSI = 2xMOS6581) + address selector
= CMS (Creative Music System = 2xSAA1099)
= OPL3 (1xYMF262)
= Tandy PSG (1xSN76489)
= Stereo OPL2 (2xAdLib/SB = 2xYM3812)
= CSM (Covox Sound Master = 1xAY8930)
= mixer/filter

And there will be an optional daughterboard, which for the moment is planned to host:
= MIDI host controller (HardMPU-compatible)
= Stereo 8-bit DAC (2xCovox Speech Thing = 2xADAD7524)
= OPN2 (Sega MD = 1xYM2612)

I'm throwing money at my screen but nothing is happening. Any idea why that is? Eh, we'll sort it out later 😎

This setup is pretty much ideal for running every sound option for Ultima VI. I'm also curious to see how hard we can finagle software to use all of these sound options alongside a primary sound card. For example, Ultima Underworld has dual-OPL2 support and I think Ultima Underworld II does as well. I'm hoping the software setup can point to something like a Sound Blaster Pro 2 using Sound Blaster Pro 1 settings, with the ports for the OPL2 support set specifically to the addresses on FMonster. Or, even better, being able to point all the dual OPL2 Pro Audio Spectrum games at this would be absolutely bananas.

Fagear wrote:

A chocolate bar. 😁

Add some copper heat sinks to these cards and call them peanuts.

Last edited by MrSmiley381 on 2019-07-13, 11:55. Edited 1 time in total.

I spend my days fighting with clunky software so I can afford to spend my evenings fighting with clunky hardware.

Reply 169 of 275, by dogchainx

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Seriously. You guys really don't want my kids to go to college....

Ditto dr.zeissler's question.....

386DX-40MHz-8MB-540MB+428MB+Speedstar64@2MB+SoundBlaster Pro+MT-32/MKII
486DX2-66Mhz-16MB-4.3GB+SpeedStar64 VLB DRAM 2MB+AWE32/SB16+SCB-55
MY BLOG RETRO PC BLOG: https://bitbyted.wordpress.com/

Reply 170 of 275, by Fagear

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
dr.zeissler wrote:

Any idea when this mighty card will be released and how much it will cost?

dogchainx wrote:

Ditto dr.zeissler's question.....

Sorry, I still didn't test all debug modules... 😢
I presume it will be great if first full-length prototype will be ready in hardware until 2020.

New BIG soundcard: FMonster.
Covox Sound Master replica
Innovation SSI-2001 replica & DuoSID.
My audio/video collection.

Reply 171 of 275, by dr.zeissler

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

I did some further testing on my setup. AFAIK the OPL3 is really good on my CS 4236, but OPL2 sounds strange/weird.
So OPL2 and MPU401i would be nice.

Retro-Gamer 😀 ...on different machines

Reply 172 of 275, by Fagear

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Just a very small update.
Did I tested even one debug board?.. Nope. 😢
But I've made another version of HardMPU-based block, more suitable for FMonster (narrow and tall, with jumpers on the top edge). 😐
Some components were changed, so it does not based on the original schematic. But should still work like one.
Total block width: 31.8 mm.

MIDI_2019-07-22_01.png
Filename
MIDI_2019-07-22_01.png
File size
65.7 KiB
Views
1894 views
File comment
MIDI (HardMPU-based) @2019-07-22
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Current FMonster mockup (CLK, 2xSID, CMS, OPL3, Tandy PSG, 2xOPL2, CSM (AY), mixer):

2019-07-22 23.33.24.png
Filename
2019-07-22 23.33.24.png
File size
665.51 KiB
Views
1894 views
File comment
FMonster @2019-07-22
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

FMonster "2nd stage" mockup (MIDI synth, HardMPU, OPN2, 8-bit DAC):

2019-07-22 23.33.10.png
Filename
2019-07-22 23.33.10.png
File size
212.89 KiB
Views
1894 views
File comment
FMonster's "2nd stage" @2019-07-22
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Too much work, repair projects, Covox Sound Master needs to be updated and worked on, BLASTERBOARD needs to be assembled and shot on video in a process and so on. 😵

New BIG soundcard: FMonster.
Covox Sound Master replica
Innovation SSI-2001 replica & DuoSID.
My audio/video collection.

Reply 174 of 275, by Fagear

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

PCBs are still not tested... 😢
But I've moved the project a little bit further.
Small update for MIDI host block (due to WaveBlaster header integration into design).

MIDI_2019-08-01_01.png
Filename
MIDI_2019-08-01_01.png
File size
70.83 KiB
Views
1802 views
File comment
MIDI (HardMPU-based) @2019-08-01
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Interface parts with external connectors were added as well as internal WaveBlaster header.

Next, some things were re-thought in process of integrating all of the blocks into FMonster main board.
Now it is not just an outline and some blocks that were thrown in. 😎

I've tried to implement the sound mixer.
At first I thought that I'll pull output traces from each block to the right side of the board and then mix all of them there. But I quickly realized that there will be no place for all those traces on top of the board. AND I have to squeeze WaveBlaster header between those somehow. 😐 So, I've transitioned to an idea of "distributed mixer" with "pseudo-differential" buffers to prevent ground loops via outputs of multiple blocks.

Here is debug block of the mixer (with low-pass filter):

Mixer_2019-08-01_01.png
Filename
Mixer_2019-08-01_01.png
File size
61.89 KiB
Views
1802 views
File comment
Mixer @2019-08-01
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

After several iterations of buffer amp design I've managed to squeeze it into 7.7 mm of height.
Than I've redesigned ISA bus along the bottom of the card.
And... CMS (Creative Music System) block didn't fit in between. At was the tallest block (about ~70 mm). Last revision of it was made almost a year ago. So... It was time to retrace CMS block. 😈
And I've done it.
New version is 2 mm thinner and (what mattered most) more than 10 mm lower. And now it fits. 😎

CMS_2019-07-28.png
Filename
CMS_2019-07-28.png
File size
131.99 KiB
Views
1802 views
File comment
CMS @2019-07-28
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

In the process I've added two linear regulators (one for each SAA1099, because one regulator will not supply enough current to both SAAs).

The next achievement - I've finished the right side of the main board that was not touched before.
What was done?
- determined set of connectors (line output 3.5 mm, 2x MIDI outputs mini-DIN, MIDI input mini-DIN)
- added mounting points for Keystone 9202 metal bracket (I will not supply it, I will supply PCB bracket, but Keystone 9202 can be installed if desired)
- added output low-pass filter
- added MIDI interface circuitry

All that resulted in a clear line from which I can put all synth-blocks. 😀

fmonster_2019-08-09_01.png
Filename
fmonster_2019-08-09_01.png
File size
176.5 KiB
Views
1802 views
File comment
FMonster @2019-08-09
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
fmonster_2019-08-09_02.png
Filename
fmonster_2019-08-09_02.png
File size
226.51 KiB
Views
1802 views
File comment
FMonster @2019-08-09
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

And that is almost ready FMonster main board! 😎
Only AY (CSM) block is not ready yet, everything else is in place and is fully connected (ISA, power, output, mixer).

I've changed order of the blocks, now 2xSID (DuoSID) block is on the right side of the main board and clock circuit is to the right side of this block. This was done to decrease number and length of clock traces on the board. For example, the only part that requires 14.318 MHz is OPL3 block. And now it is right to the right side of clock block with a shortest clock line.

Also there was one problem with sorting synth blocks... The WaveBlaster header. It should be as closest to the right side of the main board as possible.
Because, first, MIDI data trace should be short to prevent interference and, second, not to overweight the right, not supported, part of the board.
But WaveBlaster header is pretty long and spans for overall distance between main board and optional MIDI synth board. So, if there will be an output level trimmer below the header - it will become useless. And that was the problem - I had almost none combination of blocks that will give me that long distance without any trimmers! But I've managed to find and implement one. 😈

New BIG soundcard: FMonster.
Covox Sound Master replica
Innovation SSI-2001 replica & DuoSID.
My audio/video collection.

Reply 178 of 275, by Fagear

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
AlphaC wrote:

Amazing work as always Fagear =)

DjLc wrote:

Nice work.

Thanks!

A small update.
I've got some respectable MIDI synths from Japan:
- classic Roland MT-32 (to test authentic games with Intelligent mode)
- Roland SC-55K (Karaoke version, without display and buttons, but for much cheaper; to check General MIDI)
- NEC XR385 (Yamaha DB50XG clone, also for much cheaper; for testing WaveBlaster header)

IMG_9333.jpg
Filename
IMG_9333.jpg
File size
355.2 KiB
Views
1678 views
File comment
Roland MT-32
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
IMG_9116.jpg
Filename
IMG_9116.jpg
File size
690.14 KiB
Views
1678 views
File comment
Roland SC-55K
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
IMG_9335.jpg
Filename
IMG_9335.jpg
File size
1.1 MiB
Views
1678 views
File comment
NEC XR385
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

I have some questions for everybody reading this thread.
1) If you have XR385 and/or any other "full-size" "WaveBlaster-compatibles" (like Creative WaveBlaster - CT1900, Roland SCB-55, Yamaha DB50XG, etc.) can you measure dimensions of your boards? And relative positions of mounting holes from edges? I can't get enough precision from photos and scans from Internet on those measurements...
2) If you have any "full size" ISA boards, can you measure dimensions of your boards? Are those in check with specs? If you have a case that has support for edges of long cards - do those cards fit in those cases?

IBMXT_card_spec.jpg
Filename
IBMXT_card_spec.jpg
File size
178.63 KiB
Views
1678 views
File comment
IBM card specs
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

New BIG soundcard: FMonster.
Covox Sound Master replica
Innovation SSI-2001 replica & DuoSID.
My audio/video collection.

Reply 179 of 275, by Tiido

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

I have been using these measurements for my WB cards (based on inches based 0.3175mm grid) :

WBcard.png
Filename
WBcard.png
File size
182.93 KiB
Views
1664 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

T-04YBSC, a new YMF71x based sound card & Official VOGONS thread about it
Newly made 4MB 60ns 30pin SIMMs ~
mida sa loed ? nagunii aru ei saa 😜