Category: hardware

  • GameBoy Advance as a MIDI synthesizer Project appeared!

    GameBoy Advance as a MIDI synthesizer Project appeared!

    The AVR-code is implemented as a bootloader, with the GBA code as the ‘main program’. This may seem weird because the main program is ARM-code to be executed by the GBA and completely unusable by the AVR, but it has the advantage that the main code can now update the ARM code over the MIDI port. Basically, this makes it possible to convert a newer version of the synth code to a .mid-file. When you send this file to the MIDI input, the firmware gets updated.

    The GBA code that sits in the rest of the AVRs program memory is the actual synthesizer. It is divided in three parts: a routine that receives MIDI bytes from the AVR, an user interface to display on the GBAs LCD, a tiny sequencer and the routines that actually make the noise. The routines export most of the knobs and settings the original GameBoy hardware has to the user interface and MIDI control channels. It also has a polyphonic DDS-based soft-synth, with modifiable waveforms.

    Sprites mods – GameBoy Advance as a MIDI synthesizer – Software.

  • SIDblaster appeared

     

    SIDblaster/USB is a portable PC SID-synthesizer. Hook it up to your USB-port and you’re good to go. It is designed to work with a MOS 6501 SID. If you need to use a 6500 or 6502, the RNM-0512S needs to be replaced by a 5V to 9V DC-DC regulator.

    via SIDblaster

  • Flavor’s NGPC USB Linkmasta + new Flash Cartridge

    Somehow this thing went past unnoticed by me. Which is madness, because the NGPC is probably my favourite handheld console EVER. Too bad I sold mine recently. I wasn’t using it for a long time but before I touched a Gameboy with LSDJ, I used to make some noise in a band with an NGPC loaded with a Soundtool. The sound is similar to the GB but much cleaner and you can do crazy shit with the 16 bit CPU.

    Anyway, Flavor, who is a well known, long time dev for the Neo Geo Pocket, is developing with some others a USB reader/writer and a new flash cart for these lovely machines. Hopefully this will spur a new batch of development for this lovely machine. Seems he is only hand-making these units for developers so if you are interested get in touch with him ASAP.

    The website with all the info and progress is right here, and you can see above a video of a prototype linker in action.

  • GVM1 appeared

    The GVM1 is a video mixer that will adjust its own video sync signal, to the video sync signal that is being send into it. Most standard video mixers will buffer the image information, and send out each frame separately according to there own video sync signal. Most likely resulting in a 1 frame delay of the video signal.

    GVM1

  • Internal Stereo SID board appeared

    This is a compact, feature-filled dual-SID board, designed to provide a proper way to mount a second SID inside your C64 or C128 without resorting to the old piggyback hack. Variations available to fit most C64 and C128 computers. Second SID can be placed at any 32-byte boundary from $DE00 to $DFE0, and it works in the $D420-$D4E0 range also. C128/C128-D users can also use $D700-$D7E0. Easy no-solder installation – just move your computer’s SID chip onto the Stereo SID board, plug it into the motherboard SID socket, and connect a few micro-hook clips. Get yours today!

    There are also some interesting pre-orders, including a external cartridge sid add-on, a sampler module, and a four channel audio player dealie.

    via Digital Audio Concepts – Products.