CPC - 4 Dollar MP3 Player over USART

[LambdaMikel]

Hum...

Reducing the CPC to a remote control is a pity... 

See, this is exacly why I don't like DMA either 
Reducing the Z80 to a remote control for the sound chip is a pity as well  - every component should work as hard as it could, even if it exceeds its capabilities (just kidding...)

[TotO]

Yes, that's an impressive demo that uses 4Bit DMA... played on the emulator.
I don't have a real CPC Plus here, so I cannot try it. The uploader claims it sounds better on a real CPC Plus.

Yes, it is. (and display better too)

[kawickboy]

Even the Prehistorik 2 DMA track was (and is still) quite impressive for 1992.

[LambdaMikel]

... let's add PCM channels a la Amdrum type of sample playing to a tracker for the non-DMA CPC also. If that's at all possible.

[GUNHED]

Using the Z80 as remote control? Maybe that's a bit harsh. Else CRTC, PIO, PSG, FDC must get out of the CPC ;-)

[LambdaMikel]

Using the Z80 as remote control? Maybe that's a bit harsh. Else CRTC, PIO, PSG, FDC must get out of the CPC ;-)

... and DMA! Damn DMA it makes the Z80 CPU lazy!! 

[GUNHED]

Take Slim fast! 

[LambdaMikel]

... and in principle I agree that MP3 playing over a module such that the MP3 data is not streamed from the CPC is lame, but the serial interface / UART of LS 3 is not lame. So the MP3 module is just one application. I hope that the SF3 will allow to stream the MP3 data from the CPC, or at least allow to upload from the CPC to the SDCard such that it can be played from there then.


For sample playing, for decent quality (and this depends on your notion of PCM quality - as I said, I am a snob in that regard and consider 4bit insufficent, given that I have a couple of high end synthesizers at home), there is no other choice IMHO as well.


Of course it is more impressive and nicer if everything could be done with the on board hardware of the CPC. But the point of hardware extensions is to go beyond what is possible with the CPC hardware alone, right?


In the same sense, the RTC is also lame... but it offers some functionality which elsewise would not be available. So that's the point of hardware extensions. 

[TotO]

Using the Z80 as remote control? Maybe that's a bit harsh. Else CRTC, PIO, PSG, FDC must get out of the CPC ;-)

I don't remember the CRTC, PIO, PSG, FDC to only have to acknolage "play", "stop", "prev track", "next track" commands to work. 

[LambdaMikel]

I don't think that discussion leads to anywhere besides annoying each other.
Maybe enough is enough and we can stop here. 
I think we all understand each other's point of view. More is unnecessary.
I consider this thread closed.

[TotO]

Annoying? 

Nec engineers was not anoyed because the PCE was a remote for the Super CD-ROM.
What is important is how it is used (inside cartridge, game slots, audio boards, ...) And this topic if fine for that.

[LambdaMikel]

Yes but I would find it more constructive and more beneficial if somebody tried to connect the MP3 module to the usifac which could result in a cheap lame MP3 solution for all of CPCkind

[TotO]

Sure, it is always better to have the time to prototype... Hope to be able to do some test with the MiniBooster after the MegaSound.

[LambdaMikel]

Sure, it is always better to have the time to prototype... Hope to be able to do some test with the MiniBooster after the MegaSound.

I think any working UART / serial should do. But USIfAC would still be considerably cheaper than MiniBooster, or?


In the end, we are all going to want that SymbiFACE 3 anyhow, so....


As I said, ideally this gets soldered into the next version of Dandantor Mini, this one seems to be the most feasible solution for game cartridge developers if they wanted to add MP3 music to their games. Wondering if @Dandare is thinking about this already.

[TotO]

A MiniBosster module on the SPI port cost few euros and can be used by 100+ peoples.
But sure, for a standalone expansion there is probably better to do!

SymbiFace 3 is just an other way to do it with many extra features for SymbOS users.

[LambdaMikel]

A MiniBosster module on the SPI port cost few euros and can be used by 100+ peoples.
But sure, for a standalone expansion there is probably better to do!

SymbiFace 3 is just an other way to do it with many extra features for SymbOS users.

... most mini MP3 modules are UART / serial though... SPI MP3 is not so common, and the ones I saw are more expensive (> 20 $). Which one did you see? SPI != UART...


UPDATE: if I search on Amazon or Ebay for MP3 SPI, I dont get any matches.

[TotO]

... most mini MP3 modules are UART / serial though... SPI MP3 is not so common, and the ones I saw are more expensive (> 20 $). Which one did you see? SPI != UART...

OK! (I have not checked that)

[LambdaMikel]

OK! (I have not checked that)

Right... so you will have to find a way to either use a MiniBooster SPI port as UART TX, or connect to the UART of MiniBooster, then you will have many many options for cheap MP3 boards.

[LambdaMikel]

That's the only SPI MP3 player I can find:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/VS1053B-MP3-shield-board-with-TF-card-SPI-interface-for-Arduino-MP3-AAC-WMA-MIDI/231521485857?hash=item35e7c18421:g:wE4AAOxyaURThY8T

[TotO]

Right... so you will have to find a way to either use a MiniBooster SPI port as UART TX, or connect to the UART of MiniBooster, then you will have many many options for cheap MP3 boards.

The module can use SPI or UART. Well... It is not for tomorrow. 

[LambdaMikel]

And this one mentions "SPI" in its name, but that only refers to the storage, not the MP3 player itself, which is again UART controlled:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/MP3-Voice-Module-USB-Multi-Channel-Voice-Control-SPI-FLASH-Amplifier-for-Arduino/271915187358?hash=item3f4f687c9e:g:3sUAAOSwT6pVkCyj

[LambdaMikel]

The module can use SPI or UART. Well... It is not for tomorrow. 

Yes I know that... UART is better for cheap MP3 as explained.

[Dandare]

I think any working UART / serial should do. But USIfAC would still be considerably cheaper than MiniBooster, or?


In the end, we are all going to want that SymbiFACE 3 anyhow, so....


As I said, ideally this gets soldered into the next version of Dandantor Mini, this one seems to be the most feasible solution for game cartridge developers if they wanted to add MP3 music to their games. Wondering if @Dandare is thinking about this already.

Hi, thanks for the suggestion. Ill check with game developers to get their input.

[GUNHED]

I don't remember the CRTC, PIO, PSG, FDC to only have to acknolage "play", "stop", "prev track", "next track" commands to work. 

Yes, they need even less service, they just do their job.    It's the old discussion: Where you like to draw the line? 


EDIT: Ah, we're back on MP3 topic. Very well!