AMSDAP - Amstrad MSx aDAPter - connecting any MSX I/O hardware to the CPC

[zhulien]

Has anyone tried the Franky graphics card on CPC?  Would it work in an AMSDSP?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnsLWkhikUs

https://map.grauw.nl/resources/sound/franky-9.pdf

https://supersoniqs.com/

[zhulien]

Franky PCBs available with build instructions here: https://shop.supersoniqs.com/en/msx-hardware/82-franky-pcb.html

[Prodatron]

Don't own this (only the successor called "PlaySonic"). Some SuperSoniqs hardware like the "Darky" double PSG card have problems, if the bus hasn't exactly the same clockrate like the MSX (~3,5MHz).
So I can't say, if Franky (Sega Master System graphic + sound) would work with the CPC and Amsdap. AFAIK it is using "switched" I/O, which would be ok on the CPC.

[zhulien]

Don't own this (only the successor called "PlaySonic"). Some SuperSoniqs hardware like the "Darky" double PSG card have problems, if the bus hasn't exactly the same clockrate like the MSX (~3,5MHz).
So I can't say, if Franky (Sega Master System graphic + sound) would work with the CPC and Amsdap. AFAIK it is using "switched" I/O, which would be ok on the CPC.

I was thinking that PlaySonic might be cool but then it looks like the 16meg of RAM onboard likely uses MSX mappers which means at least that bit of the card is likely incompatible with CPC right?  For an MSX, do you think the PlaySonic is a must have card or would Symbiface 3 be better?  (I only have 2 slots, and 1 is GR8NET).   Do you have a list of MSX cards known to work on CPC so far?

[Prodatron]

I was thinking that PlaySonic might be cool but then it looks like the 16meg of RAM onboard likely uses MSX mappers which means at least that bit of the card is likely incompatible with CPC right?

Yes, IIRC the PlaySonic has it's own internal "slot expander", so on the MSX it only works in a primary slot (like the GR8NET). I guess you can't use all features via normal I/O. I wonder if you can access its SID chip via I/O on the CPC as well, would be cool.

For an MSX, do you think the PlaySonic is a must have card or would Symbiface 3 be better?  (I only have 2 slots, and 1 is GR8NET).

Never used a SYMBiFACE 3 with an MSX. Is there any software support for it? GR8NET is one of the best multipurpose hardware for the MSX anyway.

Do you have a list of MSX cards known to work on CPC so far?

Tested:
Graphics9000 (+ Gfx-Nine, V9990 Powergraph, etc.)
MoonBlaster (+ OPL4 Shockwave, FM Blaster, and all the other OPL4 cards)
MP3MSX (+ SE-One)

Not tested:
most other MSX sound cards should work as well, as they are all I/O.

[TotO]

Franky is a very old VDP project that I have owned more than ten years ago.
Sure, it works fine connected to the CPC, like the MSX/MSX2 VDP do.
But, it will not benefit for the SymbOS usage (no high resolution).

[Mork]

most other MSX sound cards should work as well, as they are all I/O.

I am afraid, the Sound Module (Cartridge-Implementation by RBSC) SFG-01/SFG-05 will not work, because it uses memory-mapped I/O, rather than an I/O port ?

[Mork]

... not work because it uses memory-mapped I/O, rather than an I/O Port ?

[Prodatron]

What's the "Sound Module"?

If you are speaking about the "Music Module", which is officially called "MSX-Audio", this is I/O based (#xxC0, #xxC1) and could work with the Amsdap on a CPC as well.

[XeNoMoRPH]

I think @Mork is referring to this cartridge:   https://github.com/RBSC/SFG_Cartridge

" Yamaha SFG 05/01-S clone "
 
lI also have it connected to my MSX2.

[Mork]

Exactly.
It is also possible to connect the orignal SFG-01/SFG-05 via Adapter to the Amsdap.
You have to write to the adresses 3FF0H and 3FF1H to access the YM2151 OPM.
Maybe it would be possible to decode these memory adresses to CPC IO-adresses ?

[Prodatron]

Indeed the SFG-01/05 were memory mapped, when Yamaha used them in their CX-Models (MSX1 computers).
Didn't know that RB was/is producing them as a new catridge. The amount of different sound hardware for the MSX is just crazy, hard to keep an overview
It will require extra hardware to translate memory-mapped to I/O for the CPC, no idea how this can be done?

[Mork]

The Sony HBI-55 4K Bytes Data Cartridge works fine with the Amsdap.

[Prodatron]

The Sony HBI-55 4K Bytes Data Cartridge works fine with the Amsdap.

Cool, thanks for testing and sharing!

Ah yes, it is I/O based, using ports #B0-#B3 (#FFB0-#FFB3 on the CPC with Amsdap).

Did you already do something with it on the CPC?

[Mork]

Yes, I was able to read the content of the cartridge, formerly written to it with a Sony HitBit 75D. 
I used the information given here:
https://map.grauw.nl/resources/hbi55.php

[Mork]

I don't know the ports, but the Sega Master System Fm Sound Unit is IO-Port based:
https://etim.net.au/smsfm/smsfm.html

Soldered to the right pins - could it work with the Amsdap too?

[Prodatron]

I don't know the ports, but the Sega Master System Fm Sound Unit is IO-Port based:
https://etim.net.au/smsfm/smsfm.html

Soldered to the right pins - could it work with the Amsdap too?

It's not MSX hardware, so you would need another adapter between the MSX bus and the SMS bus. Or make an adapter directly to the CPC bus. If it's mostly a Z80-bus, it should work as well.

When reading about MSX and SMS of course I always have to think about the PlaySoniq catridge, which should partially run with the Amsdap as well, at least its SID chip (ports #FF2A, #FF2B).
But I didn't try it so far, as I still have to get a correct cable for the Audio output.

[Mork]

Yes, therefore I meant to adapt the SMS-connections to the right MSX-pins, didn't noticed, that I could also use a direct CPC - connection. 
But maybe a MSX-adaption would be better, so the unit could also be used with an MSX-computer.
Just worrying if it's really that easy because I can't find any hint in the net that someone else tried this before.

[Mork]

Can I use my Android-Tablet Charger (5V + 9V) as a PSU for the Amsdap?

[XeNoMoRPH]

Yes, but only the +5v side.

[Mork]

The USB-standard should choose the right voltage, there are no different lines for 5v or 9v. 

[darkhalf]

Just adding here that the Multiface II (clone) is not compatible with AMSDAP. CPC does not boot with only that particular board fitted (works fine in standard MX4 board)
https://www.va-de-retro.com/foros/viewtopic.php?t=8102

[Prodatron]

CPC does not boot with only that particular board fitted (works fine in standard MX4 board)
https://www.va-de-retro.com/foros/viewtopic.php?t=8102

That's interesting, thanks for the hint.
Strange that it works with the MX4 but not with Amsdap.

[HAL6128]

Hmm, maybe address decoding issue. The x-mass also don't work properly. Reading out a sector for example provides 8-bit data and then 8-bit filled with zeros.

[poulette73]

Indeed, I did the test yesterday : my CPC does not start if I plug my Multiface 2 clone into the AMSDAP.