Tronix wrote on 2020-09-05, 18:26:

root42 wrote on 2020-09-01, 09:25:

One thing I am wondering: was the firmware of the original SB 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 ever dumped?

In 2019 TubeTime say in his twitter :

today i was able to confirm that i have a bit-accurate dump of the Sound Blaster CT-1351V202 DSP 2.02 firmware!

Pinging @TubeTime: is that true?

appiah4 wrote on 2020-09-03, 09:52:

Yeah it's a 89S51.. I will look into the arduino way. Any other programmers you can recommend?

TL866. Its ability to test 74-series logic is extremely useful when assembling such cards.

Jager wrote on 2020-09-05, 20:20:

appiah4 wrote on 2020-09-03, 09:52:

Yeah it's a 89S51.. I will look into the arduino way. Any other programmers you can recommend?

TL866. Its ability to test 74-series logic is extremely useful when assembling such cards.

Just make sure to get the TL866II Plus - all other models are usually fakes now. The successor to the TL866II Plus was released a while ago also (XGecu T56):
http://www.xgecu.com/en/

MJay99 wrote on 2020-09-05, 21:50:

Jager wrote on 2020-09-05, 20:20:

appiah4 wrote on 2020-09-03, 09:52:

Yeah it's a 89S51.. I will look into the arduino way. Any other programmers you can recommend?

TL866. Its ability to test 74-series logic is extremely useful when assembling such cards.

Just make sure to get the TL866II Plus - all other models are usually fakes now. The successor to the TL866II Plus was released a while ago also (XGecu T56):
http://www.xgecu.com/en/

So yeah, about that.. I guess this will do?

https://tr.aliexpress.com/item/32963724045.ht … searchweb201603_

For both reprogramming the Atmel and for checking all the 74LS chips I have on the board (and in stock?)

this is weird, there is the white programmer that looks like the previous ones and then there is the 125eur black one called T56

http://forums.xgecu.com/viewthread.php?tid=19&extra=page%3D1

what gives?

edit: ok the black one is the newest thing apparently they keep the 866II as a cheaper option

appiah4 wrote on 2020-09-07, 07:02:

So yeah, about that.. I guess this will do?

https://tr.aliexpress.com/item/32963724045.ht … searchweb201603_

For both reprogramming the Atmel and for checking all the 74LS chips I have on the board (and in stock?)

Yeah, that should be the one. It doesn't check every Logic IC on this planet (e.g. it doesn't do the 74LS688), but it has a very good basic set.
There's a list of all currently supported ICs in their latest version:
http://www.xgecu.com/MiniPro/TL866II_List.txt

This one is for the successor device (more expensive)
http://www.xgecu.com/MiniPro/T56_List.txt

keropi wrote on 2020-09-07, 07:29:

edit: ok the black one is the newest thing apparently they keep the 866II as a cheaper option

Exactly. They actually do have quite a good english website here:
http://www.xgecu.com/en/

With very frequent updates in their forum (though that seems to be chinese only, but downloads are easy to find):
http://forums.xgecu.com/viewthread.php?tid=20 … =1&extra=#pid23

MJay99 wrote on 2020-09-07, 14:29:

Yeah, that should be the one. It doesn't check every Logic IC on this planet (e.g. it doesn't do the 74LS688), but it has a very […]
Show full quote

appiah4 wrote on 2020-09-07, 07:02:

So yeah, about that.. I guess this will do?

https://tr.aliexpress.com/item/32963724045.ht … searchweb201603_

For both reprogramming the Atmel and for checking all the 74LS chips I have on the board (and in stock?)

Yeah, that should be the one. It doesn't check every Logic IC on this planet (e.g. it doesn't do the 74LS688), but it has a very good basic set.
There's a list of all currently supported ICs in their latest version:
http://www.xgecu.com/MiniPro/TL866II_List.txt

This one is for the successor device (more expensive)
http://www.xgecu.com/MiniPro/T56_List.txt

Ordered one of the 866II+ models, it should be good enough for 99% of what I would use it for. Let's hope it helps with my Snark Barker. At least I will know all my 74LS chips and my MCU is fine, so I can start replacing passives on the PCM circuitry one by one..

I'm new at this forum however I'm old.
My idea was to build a computer based on all DIY projects.
The Nuxt motherboard is ready but I ofcouse also need some sound.
Just soldered a hardmpu for midi but I'm also going to build this sb clone. My question was about the bracket.
I saw that there are some metal ones available. Could I buy one?

Hey, sorry. All the brackets are gone by now... but you can 3D print one.

Ok thanks for the reply. Is that strong enough in such a thin wall thickness? It’s like 50 - 100 times less stiff.

root42 wrote on 2020-09-05, 18:58:

Tronix wrote on 2020-09-05, 18:26:

root42 wrote on 2020-09-01, 09:25:

One thing I am wondering: was the firmware of the original SB 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 ever dumped?

In 2019 TubeTime say in his twitter :

today i was able to confirm that i have a bit-accurate dump of the Sound Blaster CT-1351V202 DSP 2.02 firmware!

Pinging @TubeTime: is that true?

Yeah I was able to dump it. It was an enormous pain in the butt. 😂

But the firmware in the repo is not that dump.

The Сreative Labs CEO said in an interview :

CPC: Some hobbyists have found ways to clone old ISA Sound Blaster cards, ordering a pre-made PCB and soldering in the components (such as the Snark Barker in the video below). Given that Creative hasn’t made these cards for 25-odd years, do they have Creative’s blessing?
Sim Wong Hoo: We have no issues with individual hobbyists who are nostalgic about our very old Sound Blaster cards.

As far as I understand, nothing prevents from uploading SB 2.0 dump -)

TubeTimeUS wrote on 2020-09-23, 02:15:

root42 wrote on 2020-09-05, 18:58:

Tronix wrote on 2020-09-05, 18:26:

In 2019 TubeTime say in his twitter :

Pinging @TubeTime: is that true?

Yeah I was able to dump it. It was an enormous pain in the butt. 😂

But the firmware in the repo is not that dump.

There are some clues looking at the file in a hex editor 😜 How close is the clone to the real deal in terms of function? I've been wondering if it just matches it in functionality or if it's a direct clone apart from some identifiers.

Sukerbole wrote on 2020-09-22, 20:38:

Ok thanks for the reply. Is that strong enough in such a thin wall thickness? It’s like 50 - 100 times less stiff.

It's strong enough with good quality PLA. I upped the thickness of the bracket slightly to compensate and the print direction is picked so that it's rigid and unlikely to break at the angled part of the bracket.
It might be too flexible with a filament like PETG at this thickness though.

Thermalwrong wrote on 2020-09-23, 18:57:

TubeTimeUS wrote on 2020-09-23, 02:15:

root42 wrote on 2020-09-05, 18:58:

Pinging @TubeTime: is that true?

Yeah I was able to dump it. It was an enormous pain in the butt. 😂

But the firmware in the repo is not that dump.

There are some clues looking at the file in a hex editor 😜 How close is the clone to the real deal in terms of function? I've been wondering if it just matches it in functionality or if it's a direct clone apart from some identifiers.

It is very close in functionality but the code is quite different.

Thanks for confirming, I suspected that was the case. Both my Snark Barker and real SB 2.0 clone (same firmware) work fine in my experience so I've no issue with that. Also thanks for the presentation on what was involved with making the card and checking that firmware, it was quite an adventure overall 😀

The Snark Barker MCA is coming along nicely, TubeTime's Twitter thread shows the process 😀 : https://twitter.com/TubeTimeUS/status/1299181646755708928

Hello guys, it's me again, miss me? 😁

I have a new toy, the TL866II Pro programmer, so I thought I would start checking every IC on my Snark Barker's hosed digital audio circuitry, starting from the DMA all the way up to the audio out. I didn't get very far before I tested the DSP and got this:

No amount of removing and resocketing the DSP chip fixes the bad pin error. That is Pin 7, i.e. DAC6 line. I suppose I probably found the culprit?

Locally ordered a cheap DIP-40 89S51 (Apparently used, but OK..)

Congratulation and condolences... I hope you found the culprit for real this time. That was the chip I programmed for you, right? I hope it didn't get damaged in shipping! It was a new item from Mouser, and it's two brothers are working fine in my own SnarkBarkers. I hope the replacement will work!

root42 wrote on 2020-10-26, 13:27:

Congratulation and condolences... I hope you found the culprit for real this time. That was the chip I programmed for you, right? I hope it didn't get damaged in shipping! It was a new item from Mouser, and it's two brothers are working fine in my own SnarkBarkers. I hope the replacement will work!

Indeed it was, but to be fair I kept it in storage for over a year before I got to work on this project so I can't know if the damage happened in transit or in storage. Regardless, it doesn't matter. All it matters is that I want to get this card to work.

By this point I've invested more in ICs and tools to troubleshoot the problems that what it would cost to buy three seperate SB 1.5s online 🤣