What an idea!
Essentially topic was opened in the fourth
room "ZX-club" in Article V. Mayatsky "More
just about COVOX ".'s name and concept headings
came later. Defining the idea rather
simple: Enough talk, is not it time
thing to do ...
Having read and heard plenty of breathtaking ideas of
computer hardware in general, you can fall into pessimism and
with distaste an eye on your Speccy, sorry about the lack of
money or that live far from the places where these same ideas
slowly, gradually implemented. Then, of course: why do COVOX,
when in St. Petersburg this topic was closed and going to
overwhelm Russia General Sound. But we have something you do
not live in St. Pete!
You can not delay the case in the long
box, with minimal cost, to test
something from the "closed" to those here and now!
Easily, in terms alien theoretical calculations, the move to
reject the simple things. Much harder (and much nicer) to
perform an experiment: roll up their sleeves, very simple thing
to do. Perhaps this thing turns out to be not so trivial, but
the result of actions surpass forecasts ... Argue is preferable
to complete on a reason: experiencing your own!
Some of the topics relevant to Barnaul (not only) users:
1. Sound: covox, sound drive (see "ZX For
mat ", 6).
2. Modem connection for ZX Spectrum - let
and simple, but the last "field research
pytaniya.
3. Peripherals:
hard disk, keyboard, IBM.
4. Memory expansion.
It is desirable not only to gather and experience, but also
to document their research: overview (which is available on
this topic in the press), report (charts, tables, descriptive
text), and practical advice.
If you are ready to provide services to upgrade the
Spectrum, or are looking for partners to test the modem, or,
conversely, need a qualified professional assistance for
hardware, .. Serve deployed (To the extent you have no limits)
ads.
And finally: the conceptual or theoretical articles will
also find its place in section.
*
(C) PREDATOR
The main drawback covox'ov - is
that they can not operate without the support of the processor.
In general, this reduces to not all his benefits. Even if the
CPU spends all his time to the ejection of bytes, and then the
sound is not enough quality. I mean the inability of
professional work with audio on computers Spectrum. Available
at 128th and more powerful machines, three-channel
FM-synthesizer (ie, music by coprocessor AY) clearly does not
satisfy the demands of music-maker'ov. Recently, a new device
for playing digital music without the computer's CPU - this
General Sound. Alas, despite all its possibilities, there are
also some disadvantages. Some of them are added the already
high (as Spectrum's standards) price.
Realizing some time that
covox really promising device, I thought about General Sound. A
small digression: covox not promising device because Z80 is
clearly not pull it. Previously it was assumed that system
performance will be increased, and along with it, it will be
possible really support covox, but reworking the entire fleet
of vehicles is not possible, as development, and acquisition of
user new car.
So, first question was
reducing the price of General Sound. Alas, there is almost no
hope, because the cost of GS (215 t.r) close to the cost of the
product.
Price Sound Drive 2 (since our device will be called)
will of course be less than the price GS, but not as much as
I would like. But the hardware has surpassed SD2
GS. The most important difference - the greater the amount of
Memory: 1 Megabayt (on GS - max 0.5 mb).
SD2 will be software compatible with the GS, so
that buying SD, you buy yourself SD and more
GS. Nothing will be lost. Giblets SD
will be quite different. In particular, we have no idea about
the internal schema GS, but for program is not important -
Ports and Commands will be the same.
Separately, about formats. Will support the team format
*. STM and, most total, *. MOD. By the way, the board will be
installed capacity of 2.4 kb ROM with bootloader OS Sound
Drive. This again will reduce price and give you the
flexibility to change players and fix bugs without pereshivki
ROM.
Alas, it is so far only in
Our thoughts and something on paper, but there
reason to believe that the case will be brought to an end.
After a month and a half exactly scheme will be ready, perhaps
- the loader. Time of start of production is not conjecture.
Circuits and firmware ROMs will be available to enthusiasts and
could zhelezyachniki assemble the device.
For those who are already going to buy
General Sound can say: if you wait another two or three months,
you will be able to buy a more powerful device at a
low price. Yes, and software that supports
GS (and SD) will be more.
In describing the GS has been said that
the sound quality will be closer to "Amiga". A "Amiga" quality
- as in Audio CD! With a part of its Spectrum SD, you
can really do sound.
By the way, IBM'ovskih sound blasterah is
shestnadtsatibitny only one channel, while
SD - four chetyrnadtsatibitnyh! Plus a full hardware
independence. The IBM PC, of course, some sound cards
equal-power SD, but here the price they
from $ 200 and above. So it is now, and we
something to be proud.
Technical Information:
SOUND DRIVE 2
CPU: Z80H/12mhz
ROM: 2-4 kb with OS-loader
RAM8: 1024 kb (SIMM)
INT: 44.2 khz (CD'shnoe sound quality!)
Channel 8 bit + 6 bit volume control: 4
Outside i / o ports: as General Sound.
Inside i / o ports: as Sound Drive 2!
