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mouSTer – universal USB HID class device to db9 adapter

20 November 2021 Nessun commento
mouSTer - universal USB HID class device to db9 adapter.

Il dispositivo mouSTer consente di collegare qualsiasi mouse/joystick/gamepad USB (non con protocollo ps/2) al maggior numero possibile di vecchi computer e console.

Al momento le seguenti piattaforme retrò sono completamente supportate:

  • 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

…ed ancora altro:

  • 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.

Supporto futuro con piccole modifiche hardware per le console SEGA ed eventualmente PC XT.

Anche il supporto wireless per i gamepad è in corso, ma potrebbe volerci un po’ di tempo.

Anche il supporto wireless per pad come per Xbox360 con il dongle e molti altri. Siamo aperti anche a suggerimenti.

Gallery:

source: retrohax.net retrohax.net firmware

Nuovo firmware per The return of the Hybrid Sid Player v1.15

28 September 2021 Nessun commento

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)

Basato sul progetto di Markus Gritsch pubblicato negli anni 2011-2015 sul forum dangerousprotypes. Grazie 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:

Arduino ARMSID configurator with ARDUINO UNO by Nobomi

23 September 2021 Nessun commento
Arduino ARMSID configurator with ARDUINO UNO by Nobomi

Nobomi gia’ sviluppatore del famoso ARMSID e ARM2SID, ovvero un’ottima alternattiva sviluppata con STM32 del famoso chip sonoro del Commodore 64, ha reso disponibile una simpatica interfaccia via Terminale (putty) per aggiornare e modificare le configurazioni dell’ARMSID senza utilizzare il programma nativo che gira con Commodore 64.

Il progetto si basa su Arduino UNO REV3, dunque molto economico, i sorgenti sono disponibili su GITHUB e si puo’ acquistare QUI in versione KIT.

Nobomi ha anche azzardato un SIDPLAYER che gira sotto Windows e via seriale invia DATI e INDIRIZZI che vengono poi catturati dall’ARDUINO e inviati all’ARMSID e di conseguenza riproduce la musica ma non aspettatevi un SIDPLAYER perfetto, funziona ma non perfettamente.

Io comunque non lo autocostruito per questo motivo ma per modificare le configurazioni dell’ARMSID senza utilizzare il Commodore 64, questo mi tornerà utile per verificare eventuali problematiche quando implementerò nel SID Player “The Return of the Hybrid SID Player” lo switch in tempo reale tra 8580 e 6581 con chip sonoro ARMSID o ARM2SID.

Gallery:

Nuovo firmware per The return of the Hybrid Sid Player v1.14

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)

Basato sul progetto di Markus Gritsch pubblicato negli anni 2011-2015 sul forum dangerousprotypes. Grazie 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.

Mega Blaster 2 (Sega Megadrive Music player) by A.Lawrence

Mega Blaster 2

Il Mega Blaster 2 di Aidan Lawrence è un lettore di brani musicali (VGM) basati sull’hardware del Sega Genesis/Mega Drive e vengono utilizzati i veri chip audio per riprodurre la musica.

Il Player riproduce qualsiasi traccia musicale con un’ottima qualità utilizzando i chip YM2612/YM3438 e SN76489 PSG che si trovano nelle console Sega Genesis/Mega Drive.

Mega Blaster 2 è compatibile con i file .vgm e .vgz e può supportare sia YM2612 che YM3438 semplicemente modificando i DIP switch posti sul pcb.

Questo player non utilizza alcun suono emulato: solo i chip YM2612/YM3438 e SN76489 che riproducono i dati provenienti dai file vgm.

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

Nuovo firmware per The return of the Hybrid Sid Player v1.13

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)

Basato sul progetto di Markus Gritsch pubblicato negli anni 2011-2015 sul forum dangerousprotypes. Grazie 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.

Nuovo firmware per The return of the Hybrid Sid Player v1.12

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)

Basato sul progetto di Markus Gritsch pubblicato negli anni 2011-2015 sul forum dangerousprotypes. Grazie 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)

Nuovo firmware per The return of the Hybrid Sid Player v1.11

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)

Basato sul progetto di Markus Gritsch pubblicato negli anni 2011-2015 sul forum dangerousprotypes. Grazie 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.

Nuovo firmware per The return of the Hybrid Sid Player v1.1

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)

Basato sul progetto di Markus Gritsch pubblicato negli anni 2011-2015 sul forum dangerousprotypes. Grazie 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)

Nuovo firmware per The return of the Hybrid Sid Player v1.05

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)

Basato sul progetto di Markus Gritsch pubblicato negli anni 2011-2015 sul forum dangerousprotypes. Grazie 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:

Nuovo firmware per The return of the Hybrid Sid Player v1.04

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall & Gianluca Renzi (RetroBit Lab)

Basato sul progetto di Markus Gritsch pubblicato negli anni 2011-2015 sul forum dangerousprotypes. Grazie 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 + SID 8580R5 running on Olimex PIC32-T795

Hybrid SID Player with a real SID 8580R5 running on Olimex PIC32-T795

Hybrid SID Player con SID 8580R5 e dev board Olimex PIC32-T795:

Dopo aver provato il SID Player di Bakisha e aver aggiunto alcune funzionalità (es: Big LCD ILI9341 / Real Sid) il tutto ovviamente con l’aiuto di Bakisha, grazie Branko

Ho voluto anche provare l’Hybrid SID Player di Markus Gritsch. Lo schema (omettendo alcuni componenti) e il firmware sono rimasti invariati e sono stati rilasciati alcuni anni fa (2011-2012) da Markus Gritsch nel forum di Dangerous Prototype.

Poiché la scheda DEV CUI32 dove era stato sviluppato l’Hybrid SID Player non è più disponibile da molti anni, ho utilizzato la scheda DEV PIC32-T795 di Olimex basata sullo stessa MCU PIC32MX795F512H.

Ho dovuto fare un hack sulla scheda di sviluppo PIC32-T795 perche’ i due piedini della MCU utilizzati per l’encoder rotativo non erano disponibili perche’ utilizzati per l’RTC, mi e’ bastato rimuovere dalla scheda PIC32-T795 il MHz Crystal e due condensatori, quindi ho dovuto saldare due fili direttamente sul pcb della dev board.

Lo scopo di tutti questi esperimenti è apportare alcune modifiche hardware e nuove implementazioni al progetto finale che sceglierò e quindi creare un circuito stampato all-in-one e renderlo pubblico a chiunque voglia costruirlo. 

Gallery:

Video:

Microscopio digitale a basso costo

Digital Microscope at low cost

Non completamente soddisfatto del precedente acquisto, la cam della Eakins con la C-Mount LENS da 100x, ho voluto provare un’altro modello di cam sempre della Eakins a basso costo con C-Mount LENS da 150x.

Mi rintengo molto soddisfatto di questo ultimo acquisto.

Punti di forza che nella precedente cam mancavano:

  • Selezione 16:9/16:10/4:3 (importante perche’ utilizzo un monitor 4:3)
  • Funziona anche con monitor con ingresso DVI (cavo da HDMI a DVI) , la precedente NON funzionava.
  • Molte piu’ opzioni per regolazione dell’immagine, tra cui una importante che e’ la regolazione della Riflessione della luce, le saldature Riflettono in modo significativo la luce.
  • Due fori standard 1/4″-20 per il fissaggio.
  • Sensore CAM molto piu’ sensibile, si potrebbe utilizzare anche senza luce aggiuntiva.

Gallery Eakins 100x cam precedente

source: aliexpress.com

Gallery Eakins 150x cam nuova:

source: aliexpress.com

TFW8b C64 Kung Fu Flash Cartridge by Kim Jørgensen

TFW8b C64 Kung Fu Flash Cartridge by Kim Jørgensen

La Kung Fu Flash per C64/C128 è una cartuccia multiformato sviluppata da Kim Jørgensen e assemblata da TFW8b.

L’utilizzo è molto semplice, ti bastera’ copiare i files in formato CRT, PRG o Dxx su una Micro SD formattata FAT e sei pronto per iniziare, inoltre il firmware è aggiornabile tramite scheda SD.

Lo stampato è costruito secondo i soliti standard elevati di TFW8b con il connettore dorato e installato nella custodia stampata (injection molded).

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

STM32F407VET6 (168Mhz Arm MCUs) SID Player by Bakisha

STM32F407VET6 (168Mhz Arm MCUs) SID Player by Bakisha

Ho voluto provare il SID Player di Bakisha anche con la Development Board basata su MCU STM32F407VET6 (post precedente: STM32F401CCU6) ARM Cortex-M4 a 32bit che funziona a frequenze fino a 168 MHz.

Dopo alcune modifiche hardware e software sono riuscito a utilizzare il supporto SD Card, pulsanti e LED presenti sul pcb.

Quello che vorrei fare e’ installare uno schermo LCD TFT compatibile con questa DEV Board e modificare il software per visualizzare le varie informazioni che ora vengono inviate tramite seriale.

L’MCUs di questa DEV Board arriva fino una frequenza di 168 Mhz e di conseguenza non dovrei avere problemi a gestire lo schermo LCD senza portare via cicli preziosi al SID Player.

Vi lascio ad alcune foto e un video.

 Gallery:

SDCARD SDIO (Native) to SPI1 Pins:

Video:

source: github.com/Bakisha/STM32-SID-PLAYER