Digiblaster

[Leonie]

Sorry for german... miss the english words...

Ja ja, immer diese abgefuckte Englisch-Schreiberei...
Ein Theater ist das!
Wieso lernt der Rest der Welt nicht Deutsch?
Das wäre mal sinnvoll!

BTW: Ich bin der Meinung, dass der Digiblaster ein wenig nackig daherkommt. Mit Gehäuse würde er besser aussehen.

[Bryce]

Hi Leonie,
          try to stick with english in the english threads Yes it's a bit naked, but it's a lot of work cutting out custom housing from the generic boxes available and that would mean putting the price up quite a bit. It's also a very tight fit on the Edge-connector version, so a box wouldn't fit. If the end user wishes to add a box, they can customise it as they wish. Some people prefer the "naked" look anyway.

Bryce.

Außerdem, bin ich kein Deutscher, kann aber Deutsch sprechen, also hat "Der Rest der Welt" schon angefangen, Deutsch zu lernen Und die Engländer... naja, die müssen erst Fußball lernen, danach können die mit Sprachen anfangen

[TFM]

It's damn easier to learn english than german, but I'm not good in anything else than the Z80 language. (german translation: Manche Sachen sollte man auch wirklich im deutschen Teil des Formus bequatschen ;-)

Now, back to the Digiblaster. Bryce, do you have plans to make some more of the centronics vesion of the DB-III?

[Bryce]

Hi TFM/FS
          unfortunately I've now used up my entire supply of Centronics connectors, so I hadn't intended making any more. I will however put all the plans on the Wiki next week when I have time, so anyone can make one themselves. I have two edge connectors left, but they are promised to others and will be built next week.

Oh, wait, I have a finished circuit board (without components), you can have that if you like, if you have a connector (Schneid-Klemm Typ).

Bryce.

[TFM]

Thanks Bryce,

I'm not in a hurry since I will not see my trusty CPC for another 10.5 months. But if you ever decide to make another mini series of the digiblaster, then count me as customer.

Think it makes sense to wait for some people who want the DB-III, because then the circuit boards may be cheaper to produce.

[Bryce]

Hi all,
      to those who are interested in building their own DigiBlaster, I have now added all the required information and track layouts for both the edge and centronics version to the Wikis DigiBlaster page: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Digiblaster#DigiBlaster_V3

Bryce.

[mr_lou]

That's sweet Bryce! You've done a great job with this project.

I have a little heads up though.

On CPC464 with expanded memory and/or floppy, there's not enough room to plug in the OUT jack plug. Not a normal one anyway. It has to be one of those 90 degree bend ones then. See picture.

So I'll have to dig up a cable with one of those on.

I tried plugging my speakers to the IN plug instead, and it seemed to play ok though?

[Bryce]

Hi Mr_lou,
         glad you like it. I hadn't really thought about the issue of 464 with expansion, becasue I assumed most would be using it on a 6128, but you should be easily able to find a plug that fits in there anyway.

There's no problem using either socket as the output, the only difference between the two sockets is that using the IN means that you're passing the signal through all three capacitors (but this has absolutely no effect on the signal). The two additional capacitors are there to remove the DC "buzz" found sometimes on the AY output.

Hope you're happy with the build and sound quailty otherwise,

Bryce.

[mr_lou]

Great. Then I'll use the IN plug till I find a cable. I was just out now to the local electronic store, but they were out driving so I didn't get to talk with them.

The Digiblaster v3 is very neat. It kinda clicks on perfectly on my CPC464, and it's neat how little space it actually takes up.

I will start experiment soon, when I get some time.

[Bryce]

Yeah, I went for a "very low profile" design. On the 6128 it should be similar and also doesn't protrude above the top of the CPCs case.

Looking forward to hearing some "Hits",

Bryce.

[mr_lou]

I got my cable today. Must say it's neat to not need to switch cable.

Yesterday I tried connecting my new Digiblaster v3 to my CPC6128, and found that the music sounds distorted. It's much better on my CPC464. How can this be you think? Something wrong with my CPC6128?

The quality on my CPC464 is decent, although there is noise with low volumes, and playback in general gives a somewhat bubbly sound, as if playback it halted every 100ms for about 3-5ms.
The noise-at-low-volumes is probably just plain 8-bit, but what's with the bubbly sound? Part of Digitracker playback perhaps?

I've also noticed, that when switching between AY-output and Digiblaster output, the music is played at a slightly lower pitch on the Digiblaster than AY-output. This probably means it'll be a bit tricky to playback a STarKos track and a Digitracker track at the same time, while having them both tuned to eachother.
Nevertheless, having a STarKos track + Digitracker track played back at the same time surely must be on the ToDo list. We need a coder who can merge the two players somehow.

[Gryzor]

Oh wait - I was just reading reviews on DealExtreme and then switched pages and for a few secs I was really confused

[mr_lou]

I've just noticed another thing.

When connecting AY-through, and I play something using Digiblaster, then the Digiblaster output is also played in the CPC-speakers. Is this safe? Maybe there should have been some diodes afterall, preventing the signal to go back into the CPC?

[Bryce]

Yeah, the Digiblaster sound goes back into the CPC (to the speaker too), but it's not a problem, there's nothing there it can break

As far as the bubbly sound is concerned (I think I know what you,re referring to), this seems to be a side effect of how the samples are played by the CPC, not an effect that the Digiblaster could cause.

If the sound seems different on the 6128 you may need to clean the contacts on the 6128 Printer Port? They should sound identical.

Bryce.

[TFM]

As far as the bubbly sound is concerned (I think I know what you,re referring to), this seems to be a side effect of how the samples are played by the CPC, not an effect that the Digiblaster could cause.
If the sound seems different on the 6128 you may need to clean the contacts on the 6128 Printer Port? They should sound identical.
Bryce.

Further... Which kind of player are U using? And... are U playing AY and DB at the SAME time?

(Never blame the hardwhore if you can blame the softfare, ehh... hardware, software!)

[mr_lou]

Further... Which kind of player are U using? And... are U playing AY and DB at the SAME time?

I'm using Digitracker, and only Digiblaster output.

[TFM]

I'm using Digitracker, and only Digiblaster output.

Hmm, ... Digitracker should be ok... and as long as you only use Digiblaster output the cpu time should be nice.

However, to verify that the issue is not a software problem you can also try the Star Track Sample I made... download:
http://www.colorado-boys-muenchen.de/users/futureos/files/Fraktal&StarTrek.zip

If this also sounds "bubbly" then it's not a software issue. Else if it sounds like it shall do, the problem it not a Hardware issue. (Well, just blame the opposite ;-)

And especially ... GOOD LUCK!!!

[mr_lou]

However, to verify that the issue is not a software problem you can also try the Star Track Sample I made...

I can't write the DSK with either of the two utilities I'm using. 

One just gives med "Bad format", and the other util is complaining a lot more....

MAGIC:    MV - CPCEMU Disk-File
Disk-Info

TRACKS:    80
HEADS:    2
TRACKL:    1300
00: 0-2-9-4E-E5 [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ]
00: 1-2-9-4E-E5 [1 Could not write sector 1
2 Could not write sector 2
3 Could not write sector 3
4 Could not write sector 4
5 Could not write sector 5
6 Could not write sector 6
7 Could not write sector 7
8 Could not write sector 8
9 Could not write sector 9
]
01: 0-2-9-4E-E5 [1 Could not write sector 1
2 Could not write sector 2
3 Could not write sector 3
4 Could not write sector 4
5 ^C

[Devilmarkus]

The problem is that the disk uses a non-amsdos format, so you will also not be able to read it (only with Future OS roms and 3,5" floppy)

TFM means:
Come, get this disk for free and then buy Futore-OS for 99€99 to watch it

[Devilmarkus]

Here's the sample:
[youtube=LPYBy-F-8s4]fos[/youtube]

[TFM]

I can't write the DSK with either of the two utilities I'm using. 

Can you try CPCdiscXP? This works fine.

If no, have you covered the second hole on the disc? Sorry for that, but I've no idea what else it could be.

[TFM]

The problem is that the disk uses a non-amsdos format, so you will also not be able to read it (only with Future OS roms and 3,5" floppy)

No, that's wrong. The disc has the Vortex standard format, you can read it with XD-DOS, V-DOS and FutureOS.

But this it not the problem! Like I understand it, the problem it writing the disc image to a real 3.5" disc (which shall be DD or have a covered hole). CPCdiscXP (amog others) usually do well.

TFM means:
Come, get this disk for free and then buy Futore-OS for 99€99 to watch it

Markus, FutureOS is free for everybody - except for you. For you the price is now 999 Euro, but you save the 99 Cents. Isn't that great :-)


Markus, another thing: Your presentation of the sample plays too quick. You can use WinCPC (or even better a real CPC!) to hear it in the correct speed - you Dragonbreed! 

[mr_lou]

Can you try CPCdiscXP? This works fine.

I can try CPCdiscXP later, when I'm less lazy to switch on my Windows machine.

If no, have you covered the second hole on the disc? Sorry for that, but I've no idea what else it could be.

I only use real DD discs.

[Devilmarkus]

Today my Digiblaster arrived!
Thanks, Bryce for building it!

It's a bit too large but I had my CPC 6128 on a carpet so it worked good.

I quickly made an audio test.
JavaCPC Digiblaster vs Bryce Digiblaster III

Results:
(Bryce's Digiblaster III)
(Emulated Digiblaster)

[Leonie]

Both versions sounds similar, maybe Bryce´s hardware baby sounds slightly better.
Basically, both versions sounds a bit too scratchy.
It sounds like the samplerate isn´t that high.
What is the Digiblaster´s maximum samplerate?