tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274Mon, 21 May 2012 19:44:32 +0000Ongoing Research and Development for the Plogue chipsounds (plogue.com/chipsounds), plogue XXXXXXXXXX VST/AU Effect and other retro computing geek stuff.http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)Blogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-284333551831146017Mon, 21 May 2012 19:44:00 +00002012-05-21T12:44:33.014-07:00 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/kT7IM9LYlEM/address-sniffing-eprom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/kT7IM9LYlEM" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2012/05/address-sniffing-eprom.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-4918337390288329229Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:26:00 +00002012-02-08T07:27:35.146-08:00 Can't wait to put it to good use. Its a major step up from my crappy PC-based USB scope. Thanks to EEVBlog for the great review.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/S6SwLejKRV4/new-scope.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/S6SwLejKRV4" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-scope.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-9151350075191639420Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:54:00 +00002011-12-23T05:54:19.212-08:00 Over concerns received about the possibility that the chips were fakes I decided to test a few of them right away  (Paypal customer is always right no? I might just get my money back if they are fakes) So first thing I did was to place two of those chips on my Bagman arcade board, and the sound was just as one would expect a normal AY-3-8910 (the old version). So at least they are not broken http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/nFxa-qMCaHw/ay8930-initial-tests.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)12<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/nFxa-qMCaHw" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/12/ay8930-initial-tests.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-1908776507227895646Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:34:00 +00002011-12-20T08:41:45.967-08:00 The AY8930 Enhanced Programmable Sound Generator is a very rare Microchip (who bought GI) version of the AY-3-8910. It includes better frequency range, noise, PWM and independent control of the envelope for each channel. I was lucky to find a stash of those chips and will soon try them on my AY-3-8910/YM2149F protoboard to see if they work and experiment with them, then for a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/6nZKV28e0fA/ay8930-sourced.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/6nZKV28e0fA" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/12/ay8930-sourced.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-3780063695308438337Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:58:00 +00002011-11-03T10:07:38.336-07:00 33 years ago a game caught the eyes (and ears) of many people in Japan, and later everywhere else. You can read the whole story here of course, but this is not the subject of this post. This post is about a little experiment I made in fixing and converting an original Midway Space Invaders motherboard to run in with JAMMA harness or standalone machine. A Few notes: -The coin input, and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/IP2pQACvcRs/jamma-space-invaders-experiment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/IP2pQACvcRs" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/11/jamma-space-invaders-experiment.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-5232339633360828035Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:38:00 +00002011-10-14T02:50:42.472-07:00 Wednesday Max and I went on an econoline field trip to bring back two classic cabinets in fair condition.   I will show our restoration progress in here as time permits. Work will progress slowly since this is really a pet/coding break/lunch break project for us.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/kNI4O7ak0wU/arcade-restoration-week1-acquisition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/kNI4O7ak0wU" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/10/arcade-restoration-week1-acquisition.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-4778418297415165152Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:37:00 +00002011-09-01T06:44:05.436-07:00Its Analog TV Death Day in Canada and to celebrate here are a few personal observations. While I sadly don't have access to any sort of statistics, just going to work each day using my bicycle I got to see lots and LOTS of Analog TVs on the curb. NO thanks to the imps at BestShop for turning customers away from the standalone ATSC->composite converters and towards new LCDs instead. "You know http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/77TyyuTQsb8/analog-tv-death-toll.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/77TyyuTQsb8" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/09/analog-tv-death-toll.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-6486856073900130267Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:20:00 +00002011-06-25T12:20:15.037-07:00Original Link being gone, it makes me fear the worst. I REALLY hope the reason isn't because of damn lawyers! Here are two other sources for the Teasers on the most thrilling documentary series since The machine that Changed the World: There's never been a computer documentary this well shot EVER, and nearly everyone I respect and admire in the industry took time to get interviewed. I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/LGY8ZSzZhoI/playing-revolutionhome-computer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/LGY8ZSzZhoI" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/06/playing-revolutionhome-computer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-5231958671460127623Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:40:00 +00002011-06-24T10:45:36.922-07:00 Charles MacDonald provided a circuit for me to try HERE Good news is that it now works after a few treaks. Just have to to a proper protoboard version now. I'll be receiving two different FM Units soon, the original and the "Australian Reproduction"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/4O8K_2oY-Dk/safe-us-sms-japanese-mod-in-action.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/4O8K_2oY-Dk" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/06/safe-us-sms-japanese-mod-in-action.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-3735459785895560910Tue, 07 Jun 2011 01:46:00 +00002011-06-08T07:00:47.750-07:00EDIT2: A new solution (much more invovled ) was suggested by Charles MacDonald this will be interresting to try. EDIT: Nice, I got my answers in that thread. I'll have to backtrack on when did this become a dangerous thing to try, FYIW I used 10k res to short pin 34. This MOD does not work on my SMS: I tried everything, including burning a Japanese BIOS which works great here: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/2D332w7Klls/reluctant-us-sms-that-didnt-want-to-be.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/2D332w7Klls" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/06/reluctant-us-sms-that-didnt-want-to-be.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-345131927939653431Tue, 10 May 2011 14:04:00 +00002011-05-13T10:00:06.509-07:00 Added Internal Picture: Theres a piezo in there... now if I could make it beep..... Horrible damage due to the leaking internal soldered 2x1.5v AA batteries (removed)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/EIO2v1D75IQ/does-not-compute.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/EIO2v1D75IQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/05/does-not-compute.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-6203434813832858930Wed, 04 May 2011 00:58:00 +00002011-05-03T18:24:20.421-07:00 (see third capacitor from bottom) ...  I hate that smell. From wikipedia: "Self-destruction and thermal runawayTantalum capacitors are under some conditions prone to self-destruction by thermal runaway. The capacitor typically consists of a sintered tantalum sponge acting as the anode, a manganese dioxide cathode, and a dielectric layer of tantalum pentoxide created on the tantalum sponge http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/YtN4-ZEV9Lk/great-adlib-fire.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/YtN4-ZEV9Lk" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/05/great-adlib-fire.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-3813800597769990014Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:03:00 +00002011-02-19T18:29:44.185-08:00As usual I need to step back for my obligatory back story. -VIC-20 from 1981 to 1985 -C64 from 1986 to 1994 (even logged onto my University account with it!) -Various PCs and Mac's from then on. Didn't see the word Amiga there? Normal, only very rich kids had them where I came from. Only relatively recently did I start to indulge in that world, and what a 'fun' ride this still is. Amigahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/SaoSBDAyalA/lamer-exterminator-orow-22-years-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/SaoSBDAyalA" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/02/lamer-exterminator-orow-22-years-old.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-9203332287371766831Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:17:00 +00002011-02-04T13:17:19.677-08:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/MdAr6jWUkdY/patience.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/MdAr6jWUkdY" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2011/02/patience.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-8991978402421016315Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:48:00 +00002010-12-23T11:48:52.327-08:00No updates for a while, its because I can't disclose my new stuff yet. Sad because theres LOTS of research in there. I'm hoping to post a glimpse at NAMM 2011.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/lC86oXIxymo/oh-yes-im-working-on-new-stuff.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/lC86oXIxymo" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/12/oh-yes-im-working-on-new-stuff.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-7730259069631775397Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:48:00 +00002010-11-05T12:33:26.669-07:00My previous post on the SID ADSR tables on the SID DIE left a question unanswered about the exact method by which the chip manages to apply the level changes in the envelopes at certain points in its decay/release stages. Lucky for us, Frank Wolf took upon the challenge, and I'm quite priviledge to be allowed to publish his research on this blog. So here is his analysis of that problem.... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/uL1-QbQZNII/new-research-on-sid-adsr.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/uL1-QbQZNII" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-research-on-sid-adsr.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-2469317632491873487Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:31:00 +00002010-10-12T16:31:29.809-07:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/cK3vlWp8qiw/plogue-chipsounds-running-on-vmachine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/cK3vlWp8qiw" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/10/plogue-chipsounds-running-on-vmachine.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-6332601689156821742Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:27:00 +00002010-09-29T07:28:47.148-07:00 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/PFxdN8-KS2o/rgb-vs-composite-snes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/PFxdN8-KS2o" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/09/rgb-vs-composite-snes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-649790713636615072Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:42:00 +00002010-09-10T09:03:02.391-07:00Poor MOS6560, it could so much better outside a VIC-20! For chipsounds 1.0, I got the help of eslapion from the Denial forum to analyze the RC filter output of the VIC-20. Eslapion got me to learn how to understand the link between the resistors and capacitors and how to extract the exact low pass filter coefficients that was needed to implement in DSP. It simply turns out to be a 1.6Khz one http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/AWVAYTWADRc/vic-20-crs-bad-waveform-clipping.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/AWVAYTWADRc" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/09/vic-20-crs-bad-waveform-clipping.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-7697721445810827720Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:25:00 +00002010-08-21T07:56:34.705-07:00People following my twitter might have been wondering what that Canadiana Road Trip stuff was a'boot yesterday. It was about salvaging a pile of 50 arcade boards from certain death. My Pirate Map pointed to a secret location near Ottawa, Ontario, so went, dug up, and found the treasure! (yes that's the trunk of MY CAR) A quick evaluation can be made to about 65 soundchips on these. (some http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/aKbb5do8_qA/x-marks-spot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/aKbb5do8_qA" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/08/x-marks-spot.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-467991500873491697Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:34:00 +00002010-08-07T07:05:00.859-07:00I use MAME differently than you I'm pretty sure. You can sort games by name, company, date, but usually I sort entries by 'sound'. For a guy like me, its both salivating and dangerous... for my finances. There are a few sound chip gems that are only found on obscure PCBs. However, a side effect of the omnipresence of MAME is to somewhat lower the price on used game PCBs on Ebay. Why would http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/cTF5e0Pe3GE/30-minute-jamma-supergun-audio-test.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/cTF5e0Pe3GE" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/08/30-minute-jamma-supergun-audio-test.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-6867657651292597645Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:38:00 +00002010-07-21T10:38:47.129-07:00 teh curves.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/xgpJLsX1w9k/curves.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/xgpJLsX1w9k" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/07/curves.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-8481111338523426775Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:34:00 +00002010-06-18T08:35:13.447-07:00ZIF (Zero insertion force) sockets are a great way to reduce the wear on chip pins when you need to swap them often, which is as you've guessed  what I need. A simple 28PIN ZIF socket like this: Can be used to quickly swap SIDs to run tests. Video: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/3XD11X-xjzE/zif-socketed-c64-for-sid-chip-swap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/3XD11X-xjzE" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/06/zif-socketed-c64-for-sid-chip-swap.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-7244477065995164942Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:55:00 +00002010-06-04T11:55:37.970-07:00 Thats sadly not my car, can't have custom plates in Québec. Oh well.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/MbT_xA3inmA/best-registration-plate-ever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/MbT_xA3inmA" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/06/best-registration-plate-ever.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668226949459652274.post-9118391913473708779Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:33:00 +00002010-05-31T17:33:03.513-07:00 A full day spent figuring that chip's sound generation again. Recorded the two separate output pins in a multitude of ways, but there seems to be signal bleed whatever I try (even removing the chip and lifting one of the pins of its socket from the circuit) This is not your typical PSG.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/devblog/~3/oJ1PaqvszSQ/ill-get-you-1771.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (plgDavid)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/devblog/~4/oJ1PaqvszSQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/2010/05/ill-get-you-1771.html