Forum - With 'Light'. Music processor ZX-Speccy.

ZX Review #3-4
(C) Group 'Light',
Serpukhov, 1996.


      Music processor

         for the ZX-Speccy.


   This paper may be rather
likely be attributed to the "Problems of Development 
ZX-Spectrum". No s no secret that every year the ZX-Speccy 
develops more and more. Increased memory, connects the hard 
drive, etc. In this article will discuss ways to improve his 
musical capabilities. One of the rooms was proposed the idea of 
​​using ZX-COVOX, connected to the printer port. However, this 
type of construction of musical cards will take considerable 
processing power to generate the sound. And now a little 
retreat. 

     Oddly enough, but at the moment is as if
"Merging" Speccy and IBM. We have already
can be connected to Spectrum
IBM-ovsky keyboard, mouse, ...
So let's try and this time apply to the IBM-Technology-native.
It's about an 8-bit sound card which is already virtually made 
obsolete by IBM, but which has yet

Still, very good performance. It's a musical card
"ADLIB". The board itself has a very
compact size: 110x126 mm
without mounting bracket, and therefore
will not cause problems when installed in your computer. Among 
its advantages may also include built-in amplifier and volume 
control. 

   Consider the theoretical possibility of connecting this card 
to the Spectrum. This fee communicates with the computer the 
following signals: 



   B1 - GROUND

   B2 - RESET (O)

   B3 - +5 V

   B9 - +12 V

   B10 - GROUND

   B13 - 'IOW (I / O)

   B14 - 'IOR (I / O)

   B29 - +5 V

   B30 - OSC (O)

   B31 - GROUND



        A2 - SD7 (I / O)

        A3 - SD6 (I / O)

        A4 - SD5 (I / O)

        A5 - SD4 (I / O)

        A6 - SD3 (I / O)

        A7 - SD2 (I / O)

        A8 - SD1 (I / O)

        A9 - SD0 (I / O)

        A11 - AEN (O)

        A22 - SA9 (I / O)

        A23 - SA8 (I / O)

        A24 - SA7 (I / O)

        A25 - SA6 (I / O)

        A26 - SA5 (I / O)

        A27 - SA4 (I / O)

        A28 - SA3 (I / O)

        A29 - SA2 (I / O)

        A30 - SA1 (I / O)

        A31 - SA0 (I / O)



   Direction of signal input /
output (I / O) is given in relation to
computer (actually, given the signals the computer system bus).


   Consider a little more detail the signals:

 GROUND - "land" on your computer.

 IOW - the recorded signal at the port
input / output. Belongs to the system bus control. Active
is low.

 IOR - read signal from the
I / O port. Belongs
system bus control. Is active low.

 OSC - signal frequency of 14,318
MHz. Generated clock. Transmitted from the computer to an 
expansion slot system bus and can be used to clock the 
individual peripheral devices that do not have their own 
generator. 

 SD0 - SD7 - System Data Bus.

 SA0 - SA9 - System bus address. Used to address
memory and I / O devices.

 AEN - Address Resolution Signals
FPU. Involved in the generation of codes
management. Indicate
8-or 16-bit data transfer in DMA cycles.


   As can be seen from the description given
signals, or are already on the buses
ZX-Speccy, or easy to emulate. But instead we get
great music fee, which can be connected either to replace or in 
addition to AY.


   Those who liked the idea,
please write your ideas
at:


       142214, Serpukhov,

         st. Podolsky,

          d.107, kv.57.

or contact:


       142214, Serpukhov,

          st. Sovetskaya

          d.102, kv.44.


   Also, we appreciate any
information on the music board
"ADLIB" (scheme, programming techniques, etc.).