-hard plAYer- 8 bit tunes hardware player

[NiceGuyUK]

For people who miss the golden age of Atari music, you can recreate the magic of 8 bit music with the -hard plAYer-. [Tolaemon] put a lot of thought and work into this hardware player. From the AY-38912 programmable sound generator, which used to be in old computers like the Atari or Colour Genie, to working with the YM file format, each piece is put together with the utmost care. [Tolaemon] also provides his design, firmware (zip file), and parts list so that you can make your own hardware player

http://tolaemon.com/hplayer/

[d0us]

This looks amazing!!

But I am guessing it won't be able to do ST specific fx like buzzer or sidstyle?

[accxess]

That looks really cool!.. And Midi too .. maybe sid and buzzer can be added later. In that case I'm buying one!
/Tobias

[simonsunnyboy]

Uses .YM format...you guys are aware that the .YM fileformat (at elast in the incarnations i have encountered) is 50Hz only and all tunes with SID effects and other higher frequency register manipulation will sound different (and wrong) compared to a real ST?

[accxess]

Yes. But afaik it's the closest thing to a hardsid we got
/Tobias

[MiggyMog]

£355!!!!!

That's almost as Dear as the unafordable Falcon...

[accxess]

Yeah, but you can build it your self and get away a lot cheaper

[MiggyMog]

I am pretty sure the 'ST in a box' type project won't cost that when it's finished built though.

Still if it's available, and you want it that much then its a supply demand thing, just seems a bit expensive.

Like you say, for those that have the Skill,patience & inclination it could be done DIY cheaper.

[nativ]

Hi
Why not just have a Ym Midi cotroller? If you already have a keyboard with knobs on this is as easy as writing a piece of software? Even write an MROS module like EPSS that uses YM?
Although it's nice to see a standalone device.

Thanks

[accxess]

I have also thought about that, but hardware synth is kinda cool but then again a software synth is much more flexible and easy to update.
regards
/Tobias

[nativ]

)
Scribble Synth / ACE / Maxymyser?
Vz Editor and a bit of a sample editor. . . . . .All rolled into one.
Ability to run on an St or a 68k / dsp machine.

Just some thoughts!

CheerIO

[accxess]

Scribble Synth looks very cool

[Tolaemon]

Hi, I'm Tolaemon the maker of the -hard plAYer- . I was checking the visits of the project's home, and found this forum. I've read all your posts and I think that all them are very interesting.
I haven't started to implement the MIDI functionality yet. In fact I'm trying to write a good specifications before starting programming it. The initial hardware is the one you can see in the web, and I'll work over this one for one year maybe, but I would like to make a new board revision with some improvements later. The most important improvements would be the possibility of adding up to 4 YMs, and an LMC-1992 similar audio IC to improve sound quality. Pehaps, I'will also offer an optional design with a slectable analog distortion, or another interesting analog effect, to allow the user play a bit with AY sounds.
The synthesizer will play the notes received through it's MIDI IN port, and the idea is to let the user use it as 3 monphonic patch synth, or as a single patch with 3 notes of polyphony synth. Adding more AY's would increase the polyphony of the synthesizer. The instruments characteristics ( envelope, wave type, effects etc.) would be deffined with a PC application and then saved in the SD card ( sorry I'dont have MAC) . The synthesizer should be able to read the instruments saved in the SD card and use them to play the notes.
The used processor has not enough RAM to play user defined samples, but It will be able to work with PCM generated square, sine, triangle and ramp waves ( at least this is the initial idea )
As all you, I spend most part of my "life-time" at work, and It's difficult to me find spare moments to dedicate to developing this project, but I'm there, trying to advance, and be sure that I'll keep you informed about the important advances on it.
Any constructive opinion or sugestion will be welcome!

[havoc]

tolaemon: that mockup look sweet! sadly YM is a dead format, SNDH is the way to go :/

[Tolaemon]

Yes you are right, YM is a dead format. In fact I made a YM player in order to check the hardware capabilites, but the idea is to build the MIDI sintheseizer using AY-38912... hope I finish it some day...