The mouSTer device allows connecting any USB (not ps/2 protocol type only) mouse/joystick/gamepad to as many old computers and consoles as possible.
At the moment the following retro platforms are fully supported:
- Commodore 64/128/U64 NTSC/PAL
- MEGA65
- Atari ST/STe series
- Atari Falcon
- Atari 65XE/130XE/800XE
- Atari 600XL/800XL
- Atari 5200
- Atari 2600
- Amiga 500/600/1200
- Amiga 1000/2000/3000/4000
…more:
- It works with every mouse (also wireless mouse with dongle) and with every USB Gamepads.
- Config via USB flash drive – INI file + default config.
- Config transfer via USB flash drive.
- Firmware upgrade via USB flash drive (takes 3 seconds, of which 2 seconds is the time the bootloader needs to recognize the flash drive)
- USB Flash drives from 32MB to 32GB.
- Mouse emulation mode defaults – Amiga, Atari ST, joystick/gamepad.
- Emulating Amiga CD32 joypad. (default setting are for Sony DS4).
- Sony DS3 (wired) Pad Support.
- Sony DS4 (wired) Pad Support.
- Sony DS5 (wired) Pad Support.
- Xbox360 (wired) Pad Support.
Future support with minor hardware changes for SEGA consoles and possibly XT PC.
Wireless support for gamepads is also work-in-progress but it might take a while.
Also wireless support for dongle pads like Xbox360 and many more. We are also open to suggestions.
Gallery:
source: retrohax.net retrohax.net firmware
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v1.15 – 26/9/2021
Updated:
- Slightly improved the CIA timing, now the SID tune “https://hvsc.csdb.dk/MUSICIANS/P/Page_Jason/25_Hurts.sid” and probably some others they sounds fairly well without “clicking/noise/beeping” in some parts of the song. *
- Slightly improved the VBI timing, now the SID tune “https://hvsc.csdb.dk/MUSICIANS/S/Stinsen/Freeloader.sid” and probably some others they sounds fairly well without “clicking/noise/beeping” in some parts of the song. *
- When the (Auto/Random/Intro) MODE is used the brightness of the oled is restored on each change of music until the default timeout is reached.
* I’ll never stop saying we are far away from my personal feeling of absolute perfection but sound ok for 90% of peoples, luckily there aren’t many SID sound purists :-D
Many people still think that a SID played with a SID emulator on a Mobile Phone or PC sounds absolutely identical to the one played with the SID in the original hardware version :-|
Fixed:
Nobomi already developer of the famous ARMSID and ARM2SID, an excellent alternative developed with STM32 of the famous Commodore 64 Sound Chip, has made a nice interface via Terminal (putty) to update and modify the ARMSID configurations without using the native program that runs on the Commodore 64.
The project is based on Arduino UNO REV3, therefore very cheap, the sources are available on GITHUB and can be purchased HERE in the KIT version.
Nobomi has also ventured a SIDPLAYER that runs under Windows and via serial sends DATA and ADDRESSES which are captured by the ARDUINO and then send to the ARMSID and consequently plays the music but don’t expect a perfect SIDPLAYER, it works but not perfectly.
However, i did not self-build it for this reason but to modify the ARMSID configurations without using the Commodore 64, this will come in handy to check for any problems when i implement the real time switch in the SID Player “The Return of the Hybrid SID Player” between 8580 and 6581 with ARMSID or ARM2SID sound chip.
Gallery:
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v1.14 – 22/8/2021
Added:
- Illegal/undocumented opcodes to the CPU Emulator:
- ISC (Combination of two operations with the same addressing mode: INC, followed by SBC)
- Display emulation clock:
- I used the same position of the OLED display where the sid Subtunes are displayed (if are present), otherwise if the song doesn’t support subtunes it will displayed in the same position the type of clock speed emulation: |CIA| or |VBI|.
Fixed:
- DMP files additional information:
- Display of additional information of the SID when a DMP files is played but there are no additional information to display in the header of the DMP files.
- CPU timing:
- Some months ago when i wanted to fix the timing of the 6510 CPU emulator i made an unforgivable huge mistake :-D
- Random Playing Mode:
- The load routine try to load a index of a file that don’t exist and everything freeze.
- File error handling:
- When an load error occurs and you are in the TUNEINFO mode the player don’t back to the FILE Browsing mode.
The Mega Blaster 2 by Aidan Lawrence is a hardware Sega Genesis/Mega Drive video game music (VGM) player that utilizes the real sound chips.
Play any Genesis track on-demand with brilliant sound quality on the actual YM2612/YM3438 and SN76489 PSG synthesizer chips that were found in the real Genesis consoles.
The Mega Blaster 2 is compatible with both .vgm and .vgz files and can support both the YM2612 and YM3438 simply by changing the DIP switch values.
This unit does not use any emulated sound – these are the real chips playing back logged data from the vgm files.
Features:
- Your choice of the original YM2612 (OPN2) or YM3438 (OPN2c) sound chip with the ability to swap on-the-fly using the DIP switches on the side of the board. Or, if you already have the sound chips, you can just order the board without any chips for a discount.
- A custom analog stage based on the Kunoichi Labs design on a four-layer PCB for flawless sound quality and stellar amplification.
- No additional power supply required, only a single USB connection.
- Support for file folders to organize your sound tracks.
- On-device file browser.
- Native VGM and VGZ support on-device, no decompression required.
- Brand-new VGM engine written from the ground up allows for accurate playback speeds for even the most computationally intensive sound tracks.
- Huge 64Mbit SPI RAM IC allows for giant PCM samples, allowing sample-heavy homebrew soundtracks to play with ease.
- Automatic YM chip authenticator. If your YM2612/YM3438 is damaged or not authentic, the Mega Blaster 2 will detect this at startup and alert you to it.
- All sound chips included with the Mega Blaster 2 bought from this site are verified to work correctly.
- DAC Stream support for homebrew soundtracks.
- 4 play modes: Loop, In-order, Shuffle ALL tracks, and Shuffle just a single directory.
- Custom looping options.
- An OLED display that’s grounded directly to the power input for zero analog interference.
- An adjustment potentiometer for the SN76489’s volume.
- A custom boost->linear power supply design for optimal audio performance.
- On-board class-AB headphone amplifier IC (TPA6111A2)
- Extremely easy firmware updates that require no external tools other than a computer. Just drag-and-drop an update file to the device as if it were a flash drive. That’s it.
Gallery:
Video:
source: aidanlawrence.com github.com
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v1.13 – 3/8/2021
Added:
- Illegal/undocumented opcodes to the CPU Emulator:
- RLA (Combination of two operations with the same addressing mode (Sub-instructions: ROL, AND))
- From an idea of Faber Pixel we have also added other information of the SID file on the small OLED screen (information available in the header of the file).
- With a frequency approximately of 7 seconds, the Load Range, Init Address and Play Address in hex addresses will be displayed on the screen alternating with the information of the SID Name, Author and Copyright.
Sample:
- Range: $1000-$2275
- Init Address: $1000
- Play Address: $1003
Obviously the displayed address range is the real memory occupation.
Fixed:
- The visualization of the SID Model of the tune that is playing every 5 seconds alternated between the playback mode icon. (Thanks Gianluca Renzi)
- Missing the file error handling in the subSong subroutine.
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v1.12 – 18/07/2021
Updated:
- Improved a little bit the file error handling.
- If you try to load a SID Stereo file a message “Stereo SID detected, but cannot play it!” will be displayed on the OLED screen.
- Modified the modality of visualization of the SID Model of the tune that is playing.
- Now the display of the SID Model is alternated between the playback mode icon approximately every 5 seconds.
Added:
- Message during the boot that warns a checking of the USB storage and the correct filesystem mounting of the USB pen drive.
- Added six duplicate and probably useless opCodes, we are speaking about the “NOP” (they are $1A, $3A, $5A, $7A, $DA and $FA)
- Added one opcode absolutely useless for our use, we are speaking about the “JAM”.
Fixed:
- Fixed some opCodes Addressing mode (Accumulator Addressing instead of Immediate Addressing)
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v1.11 – 22/06/2021
Updated:
- Decreased more than before the brightness of the display after 10 seconds if no activity is done on the buttons or encoder.
- Slighty improved the timing (CPU cycle) of the 6510 emulator but we are far from my perception of absolute perfection :-D
Added:
- Illegal/undocumented opcodes to the CPU Emulator:
- RRA (Combination of two operations with the same addressing mode (Sub-instructions: ADC, ROR))
- Automatic hardware SID switch between ZIF Socket #1 and ZIF Socket #2 (example if it is made only for 6581 or 8580).
- This features is included in the prototype pcb. The swap will be displayed by a led placed on the lower part of the ZIF Socket.
- Improved a little bit the file error handling.
- If you try to load a file not supported a message “Wrong file format” will be displayed on the screen.
- If you try to load a RSID file format a message “RSID detected, but cannot play it!” will be displayed on the screen.
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v1.1 – 30/05/2021
Added:
Firmware Upgrade.
- The update can be done in three ways, one is automatic.
- 1) The automatic firmware installation is done in case the bootloader doesn’t find any valid application installed.
- 2) By pressing the SW1 button at the same time with the reset button or at power-on and released it.
- 3) Using the file browser (the same used to browse the *.SID / *.DMP files), just choose the file with the firmware and it will be installed.
- A status bar with a scrolling bits displays the writing status of the firmware.
- The firmware update file must be copied and NOT renamed to the root directory of the USB flash drive.
- Added some illegal/undocumented opcodes to the CPU Emulator:
- SRE (LSE) Combination of two operations with the same addressing mode (Sub-instructions: EOR, LSR)
- DCP Combination of two operations with the same addressing mode (Sub-instructions: CMP, DEC)
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v1.05 – 18/05/2021
Updated:
- Made a single subroutine for the index eeprom write instead of repeating it many times in the code.
- Increased the display time of the sid model to 3 seconds.
- The action to clean the data in the eeprom has been changed.
- Now for reset the default settings just hold down the MODE button during boot until the message “Reset Default Settings” appears and then release it, the player will reboot.
Added:
- Faster than hell! :D
- Now when you are in the browsing sid files section you can also use the PREVIOUS or NEXT buttons to quickly scroll the list in both directions.
- You are Sleeping ? :D
- If you fall asleep while you listening a SID tunes and you are in the browsing sid files section after 30 seconds the player will automatically switch to the tuneinfo/vu-meter view mode. (available only if you are playing SID o SID/DIGI tunes , no DMP)
- Added some illegal/undocumented opcodes to the CPU Emulator:
- SHA
- SHS
- SBC ($EB)
- ASR
- ANC
- ARR
Fixed:
- The playing time of a song runs even if it wasn’t playing anything, this happen only at the first time when you power-on or reset the player and you haven’t chosen a song to listen yet.
- Fixed SBC & ASL and some others cpu opcode.
- Finally also these sid tune now works correctly:
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v1.04 – 02/05/2021
Updated:
- Browsing files enhancement.
- There is no longer block on the first and last file of the list, it resumes browsing from the first or last (like Next/Previous).
- Improved a slight the timing of writing on the real SID (CS – Chip Select Signal).
Added:
- Reset Default Settings (Clear EEPROM Data).
- When you are in the BROWSER mode hold the MODE button for 4 seconds and the player clean all data in the eeprom and reboot.
- Added some illegal/undocumented opcodes to the CPU Emulator:
- SLO
- AXS (SBX) *1
- LAX *1
- SAX *2
- SHY
- SHX
- Finally these sid tune now works correctly:
- Wasted_All_These_Years (*1 & *2)
- Party_Horse (*1 & *2)
- Lunatico_side_1 (*1)
- Intertwined (*1 & *2)
Fixed:
- The problem of a folder with more than 255 sid files, starting from the 256th the index is not written to the eeprom.
Hybrid SID Player with a real SID 8580R5 running on Olimex PIC32-T795.
After trying the sid player of Bakisha and have added some features (es: Big LCD ILI9341 / Real Sid) of course with the help of Bakisha, thanks Branko
I also wanted to try the Hybrid SID Player by Markus Gritsch. The schematic (omitting some components) and the firmware are untouched and released some years ago (2011-2012) by Markus Gritsch on the forum of Dangerous Prototype.
Since the CUI32 DEV Board where is born the Hybrid SID Player is no longer available from many years, i have used the DEV Board PIC32-T795 from Olimex based on the same MCU the PIC32MX795F512H.
I have made a hack on the PIC32-T795 development board because the two pins used for the rotary encoder are not available because they are used for the RTC, i just had to remove the MHz Crystal and two capacitors from the PIC32-T795 board, so i have solder two wires directly on the dev board pcb.
The purpose of all these experiments is make some hardware changes and new implementations to the final project that i will choose and then make an all-in-one pcb and make it public to anyone who wants to build it.
Gallery:
Video:
Not completely satisfied of the previous purchase, the Eakins cam with a 100x C-Mount LENS, i wanted to try another model of cam at low-cost always of Eakins with a 150x C-Mount LENS.
I am very satisfied with this latest purchase.
Strengths that are missing in the previous cam:
- 16:9/16:10/4:3 selection (important because i use a 4:3 monitor)
- Also works with monitors with DVI input (HDMI to DVI cable), the previous one don’t work.
- Many more options for image adjustment, including an important one which is the Adjustment of the Reflection of the light, the welds Reflect the light significantly.
- Two standard 1/4″-20 holes for fixing.
- CAM sensor much more sensitive, it could also be used without additional light.
Gallery Eakins 100x Previous cam:
source: aliexpress.com
Gallery Eakins 150x New cam:
source: aliexpress.com
TFW8b C64 Kung Fu Flash Cartridge by Kim Jørgensen.
The Kung Fu Flash is a multi format C64/C128 Cartridge Developed by Kim Jørgensen and assembled by TFW8b.
The use is very simple, just copy your CRT, PRG or Dxx files onto a FAT formatted Micro SD and you are ready to go and also the firmware is upgradable via SD Card.
Built to the usual TFW8b high standards with the obligatory gold edge connector, served in our own injection molded case.
Kung Fu Flash Supported File Formats:
- Cartridge (CRT)
- Disk image (D64, D71, D81)
- Program (PRG, P00)
- Firmware update (UPD)
Kung Fu Flash Supported Cartridges Formats:
- Standard CBM cartridge (8k, 16k, Ultimax)
- Action Replay v4.x/v5/v6
- KCS Power Cartridge
- Final Cartridge III(+)
- Simons’ BASIC
- Fun Play, Power Play
- Ocean type 1
- Epyx Fastload
- C64 Game System (C64GS), System 3
- Dinamic
- Zaxxon, Super Zaxxon
- Magic Desk, Domark, HES Australia
- Super Snapshot v5
- Comal-80
- EasyFlash
Gallery:
TFW8b C64 Kung Fu Flash Video:
source: KimJorgensen/KungFuFlash thefuturewas8bit.com
I wanted to try Bakisha SID Player also with the STM32F407VET6 (previous post: STM32F401CCU6) ARM Cortex-M4 32bit MCU based Development Board which runs at frequencies up to 168MHz.
After some hardware and software changes i was able to use the SD Card support, buttons and LED on the pcb.
What i would like to do is install a TFT LCD screen compatible with this DEV Board and modify the software to display the various information that is now are sent via serial.
The MCUs that uses this DEV Board reaches a frequency of 168 Mhz and consequently i should not have problems of CPU overload taking away precious cycles times of the SID Player.
I leave you with some photos and a video.
Gallery:
SDCARD SDIO (Native) to SPI1 Pins:
Video:
source: github.com/Bakisha/STM32-SID-PLAYER
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