Any USA sellers of the Orpheus-II yet ?

keropi wrote on 2024-10-04, 17:09:

so besides PCMIDI functionality this board also has: - pcb upgraded to 4 layers - an OPL3 with the output filtering stage from t […]
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so besides PCMIDI functionality this board also has:
- pcb upgraded to 4 layers
- an OPL3 with the output filtering stage from the AdLib Gold
- dual LPT DACs configured to respond to any combo of LPT1/LPT2 in single or dual-dac modes
- Rainbow Arts SoundMan mode ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjVs7IppnPk , basically FM + simple DAC )
- extra functions can be turned on/off individually with the dip switch - all are actual hardware and not software that can be controlled in some other way

As-is the pcb is packed to the max 😁 but it's still a protoype/test board. Not sure if all stuff make sense - perhaps the most useful feature is the OPL3 as it can be used alongside other cards that do not have a real yamaha one.

I _love_ that feature list. I'm contending with trying to cram adlib and mpu-401 alongside other boards into limited slots and that board seems like a wish list I didn't even know I wanted. Would definitely buy.

Oh, only now realized that rev 1.1 has been a thing. Would have loved to have one.

RobDangerous wrote on 2024-10-19, 07:27:

Oh, only now realized that rev 1.1 has been a thing. Would have loved to have one.

it is still possible as there actually 3 extra boards remaining (due to round number that needed to be ordered at factory)
and as a general update the ETA of factory packages is sometime next week - when received will start adding the legacy chips

keropi wrote on 2024-10-19, 07:47:

RobDangerous wrote on 2024-10-19, 07:27:

Oh, only now realized that rev 1.1 has been a thing. Would have loved to have one.

it is still possible as there actually 3 extra boards remaining (due to round number that needed to be ordered at factory)
and as a general update the ETA of factory packages is sometime next week - when received will start adding the legacy chips

Oooh, how can I order it? 😀

RobDangerous wrote on 2024-10-21, 16:58:

Oooh, how can I order it? 😀

these extra boards are long gone by now...

I moved my Orpheus II from my Pentium III machine to my "new" Pentium II machine. It took a lot of prayers, trial, and error, but I eventually got the Orpheus configured in DOS with Ultrasound support.

One problem: I can't read from my floppy or CD drives after calling ULTRASND.BAT. I can switch drive letters, but the second I try to read anything, I see 1-2 seconds of activity and then the drive just stops. I'm left with a blinking cursor on a new line and have to reboot to break out of it.

If I skip ULTRASND during startup, everything works fine, except for GUS support of course. Windows 9x is fine, and booting from these drives is fine.

Has anyone else run into this?

keropi wrote on 2024-10-21, 17:36:

RobDangerous wrote on 2024-10-21, 16:58:

Oooh, how can I order it? 😀

these extra boards are long gone by now...

Ah, damn 🙁

Renaissance 2K wrote on 2024-10-22, 00:21:

I moved my Orpheus II from my Pentium III machine to my "new" Pentium III machine. It took a lot of prayers, trial, and error, b […]
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I moved my Orpheus II from my Pentium III machine to my "new" Pentium III machine. It took a lot of prayers, trial, and error, but I eventually got the Orpheus configured in DOS with Ultrasound support.

One problem: I can't read from my floppy or CD drives after calling ULTRASND.BAT. I can switch drive letters, but the second I try to read anything, I see 1-2 seconds of activity and then the drive just stops. I'm left with a blinking cursor on a new line and have to reboot to break out of it.

If I skip ULTRASND during startup, everything works fine, except for GUS support of course. Windows 9x is fine, and booting from these drives is fine.

Has anyone else run into this?

Maybe it's loading into high memory in a place that it used by the BIOS to access these drives. That's my best guess.

Kahenraz wrote on 2024-10-22, 10:04:

Renaissance 2K wrote on 2024-10-22, 00:21:

I moved my Orpheus II from my Pentium III machine to my "new" Pentium III machine. It took a lot of prayers, trial, and error, b […]
Show full quote

I moved my Orpheus II from my Pentium III machine to my "new" Pentium III machine. It took a lot of prayers, trial, and error, but I eventually got the Orpheus configured in DOS with Ultrasound support.

One problem: I can't read from my floppy or CD drives after calling ULTRASND.BAT. I can switch drive letters, but the second I try to read anything, I see 1-2 seconds of activity and then the drive just stops. I'm left with a blinking cursor on a new line and have to reboot to break out of it.

If I skip ULTRASND during startup, everything works fine, except for GUS support of course. Windows 9x is fine, and booting from these drives is fine.

Has anyone else run into this?

Maybe it's loading into high memory in a place that it used by the BIOS to access these drives. That's my best guess.

How mysterious.

Just tried it out with some games that read from the CD during gameplay (Tomb Raider, WarCraft) and it still seems to work fine. It's just browsing the drives from the DOS prompt that doesn't work. I guess I can live with that for now.

I have never heard of such an issue with the Orpheus soundcards - where floppies do not work. The drivers of both Crystal and Interwave parts do not load anything in memory , they initialize the chips and quit. Only ULTRAMID is a TSR for the interwave portion and this is loaded when something needs it.

In other news local assembly of legacy chips on the preorders has started, I work the queue as cards are getting made.

Dear friends!
Wondering, if there is any chance to get an Orpheus II LT (or, big one)? Maybe, anyone have an "excess" which he want to rid off? 😀
Looking for any opportunity... (Desperate...)
Best regards.

Is there any chance to order Orpheus II?

Sheff wrote on 2024-10-30, 11:19:

Wondering, if there is any chance to get an Orpheus II LT (or, big one)? Maybe, anyone have an "excess" which he want to rid off? 😀
Looking for any opportunity... (Desperate...)

They occasionally show up on Ebay. I'd suggest setting up a saved search and that way you'll get notified when one appears for sale.

Any updates on the red Orpheus II?

Duffman wrote on 2024-11-08, 07:12:

Any updates on the red Orpheus II?

packages received on the 24th , since then it's soldering->testing->shipping
just working down the queue

My Red Orpheus Final Edition card is almost here.

Mine just arrived today, and honestly? It's even prettier in person than it looks on the photos.

Now I just gotta reinstall Win98 on my Pentium PC, unless I can somehow make the Orpheus II coexist with the existing CT4180 I have in it at the moment.

All of this IRQ juggling is a bit before my time 🤣 and my ignorance of the subject really shows

My card arrived today also but I didnt have time to grab it from the mailbox. Tomorrow I'll open the red beauty.

I am so excited but not yet contacted. I suppose the queue is loooong. 😀