[ZX Spectrum Core] New Update

[Sorgelig]

Z80 format is basically the same as SNA format - it's snapshot of memory. This is the worst option to keep the game collection.

[squid4]

I was hoping to add "Recreated ZX Spectrum Keyboard" support to this core but I think the USB keyboard support is in the MiST firmware that would need changing not the core itself. This keyboard, in "Game layer" mode replicates the ZX keyboard exactly, like Symbol Shift, Caps Shift but in Qwerty mode acts just like any normal keyboard but with special key combinations to get things like function keys, control etc. so Symbol/Caps Shift don't work in the core.

It sends a down character and up character for each key in "Game layer" as documented in http://sinclair.recreatedzxspectrum.com/downloads/recreated_sinclair_zx_spectrum_developer_guide_placeholder_ZX%20Keyboard%20Technical%20Document_a15_v1_1a.pdf. I can't see a way to do this in the core as the firmware supplies the PS2 keycodes, not keyup/keydown codes, so would need access at a lower level. The latest Fuse emulator supports this keyboard.

[seastalker]

I use my Recreated ZX Spectrum Keyboard with the Raspberry pi3 but more recently use it via usb with the Mist. Admittedly, having not grown up with a speccy, being able to navigate menus, launch a game and even find buttons to move the player character around is not 100% proof all is functioning as it should. Being such a small niche group of us, do you have any suggestions as which mode is better to work with? Game layer or PS2 mode?

[MasterOfGizmo]

USB and PS/2 also isn't more than just key up and key down events. I'd expect everything to already be in place to give you a nice setup. It sounds like in Game Layer mode it would just send raw USB key codes for every key. The MIST firmware does all the USB handling and then translates USB keycode into PS/2 keycodes and sends them to the core. The core than gets key up and down events for all individual keys. The spectrum core translates these events back into something the speccy inside expects.

The issue i expect is that in the default key mapping some of the keys on the speccy keyboard wouldn't match exactly what the core is expecting as e.g. there is no established rule to map speccy keys to PC keyboard layouts. But the MIST firmware has a means to swap keys. So if you find some mapping needs to be adopted you can just configure this in the mist.ini

And of that doesn't work you can always add some special support to the firmware. Someone did that for his keyrah which does similar with the amiga keyboard.

[squid4]

Thanks MasterOfGizmo for the answer. The problem with it is that instead of the usual, for example pressing key '1', press you get keydown 1, release you get keyup 1. In game layer mode pressing '1' you get keydown 'a' & keyup 'a', release '1' you get keydown 'b' & keyup 'b'.
It's probably not worth the effort for the tiny number of people who have this keyboard.

[slingshot]

But it must be some delay between the two events, and in this case, it's the same as if you press and release the key.

[seastalker]

So if a mist .ini file is edited, then it may work. I'd have to really dive in on the Speccy, but if I create one for myself, I'd certainly share it for the other small group of us.

[MasterOfGizmo]

In game mode it sends one keydown and keyup on _one_ keypress and another different pair of down and up events on release? That sounds super strange. Why would one want something like that?

Who produces this? Can you ask them for a firmware that just sends raw and simple key down and up events?

[DanyPPC]

@Sorgelig:

is it possible to have the porting of last ZX Spectrum Core for MiSTer to MiST with Z80 files support ?

[Sorgelig]

@Sorgelig:

is it possible to have the porting of last ZX Spectrum Core for MiSTer to MiST with Z80 files support ?

Ask slingshot - he is in charge of MiST version of ZX core now

[slingshot]

Ask slingshot - he is in charge of MiST version of ZX core now

So I officially promoted
Maybe in the distant future - the core support three disk formats and .tap files, it's adequate for almost everything. Z80 of course is good for snapshots coming from emulators. But then SNA would be more useful, since ESXDOS on real machines can create them.

[Sorgelig]

But then SNA would be more useful, since ESXDOS on real machines can create them.

SNA format is not stream friendly. It has some data in the backward order, so you receive the memory content and only after that you receive the required info how it should be placed in the memory.
If i remember correct there is converter from SNA to Z80.
Actually, i've added Z80 support not for snapshot function (ZX core cannot make snapshot) but because of large set of Z80 files floating around. It was popular to save originally protected or tape-only games in Z80 format right after loading. Nothing to do with snapshot of game play.

[DrOG]

...But then SNA would be more useful, since ESXDOS on real machines can create them.

Actually there exists a ZX Spectrum 48K core with .sna support:
http://joco.homeserver.hu/fpga/mist_zx48_en.html
I think it worths to read, as the author describes how he managed to work the .sna loading.
This core is not so sophisticated as the one Sorgelig made, and video output is PAL-only 15kHz over SCART (no VGA).

[slingshot]

Will take a look later maybe. Since all games have cracked .tap file and/or converted to TRDOS, it's not a high prio for me now.

[DanyPPC]

I think there are some games working in only z80 format, but it remains at your discretion to add support.
Thanks anyway.

[desUBIKado]

The Sorgelig's old spectrum core has support for .SNA and .Z80 files by esxDOS NMI browser.

http://www.forofpga.es/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=112 (in spanish)

http://www.forofpga.es/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=152 (in spanish)

[DanyPPC]

Ok, I have old core + spectrum.rom and esxdos, but I prefer new core with z80 support, obviously if possible.
I see MiSTer has a new core with z80 support, for this I asked this new feature for MiST too. Nothing other.

[desUBIKado]

I understand you, but with old core you can enjoy with ZX1PACK and MyDivMMC pack compilations.

[desUBIKado]

I would go crazy if there was support for "General Sound 512" in the Spectrum core

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HGmi4AYdCI

[slingshot]

That sound card is a more powerful computer than the Speccy itself

[Newsdee]

Wow, MOD soundtrack on ZX Spectrum... that's amazing.
Is there a list of games that support it?

[Sorgelig]

GeneralSound up to 4MB is already implemented on MiSTer version.
As for MOD player, the TSConf (ZX mod) core is much more suitable.

[desUBIKado]

Wow, MOD soundtrack on ZX Spectrum... that's amazing.
Is there a list of games that support it?

I found this page where there are up to 40 games adapted to make use of the General Sound.

[desUBIKado]

GeneralSound up to 4MB is already implemented on MiSTer version.
As for MOD player, the TSConf (ZX mod) core is much more suitable.

It would be fantastic if there was a TSConf (ZX mod) core on the MiST board. There is already in other similar boards like the ReVerSE-U16

https://zx-pk.ru/threads/23528-reverse-u16.html

https://github.com/mvvproject/ReVerSE-U16

[slingshot]

Don't be so excited about GS support on MiST, it's even eats up almost all BRAM on MiSTer
It simply won't fit (and as I wrote before, it's a more powerful extension than the base machine itself - use Amiga if you want to play MODs).