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But I suspect many games detect FM-PAC by bios, and so without bios games only use PSG

Indeed. All games test for the MSX-MUSIC and FM-PAC ROM, although some may just assume it's there.

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I don't think there are many good games that use FM-PAC. SCC is way more important to have.

o.O
If that's what you think, you've been missing out on some of the best MSX games available!

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I don't think there are many good games that use FM-PAC. SCC is way more important to have.

I dont know about others, but the games I like most in MSX are the ones that come from Compile and some from Microcabin. And almost every game that are MSX2 from those companies uses FM-PAC.

imho, Complie is working with MSX Audio as well, and even better then FM-PAC

FS-A1FX has no FM-pac built in imo, look at picture: http://www.faq.msxnet.org/msx2p.html there is no note sign right under the arrow keys, all other 2+ models of panasic with fm-pac built in have a note sign there

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imho, Complie is working with MSX Audio as well, and even better then FM-PAC

Almost no-one has a genuine MSX-Audio cartridge. Without that, those games don't have any Audio-like sound . Of course, you can do poke -54,35, which will 'change' your Philips Music Module into a MSX-Audio, but still... Performance sucks.

POKE -54,35
CALL SYSTEM

I was just wondering...
Is the Panasonic A1-WX the best MSX2+ that was ever build?
Taken the fact that it can run on 6Mhz and has the FM-Chip.
BtW, I hear everybody saying that the VRAM expantion to 192KB has no use.
Well.. my Wavy 70FD2 has 192KB VRAM and I used it a lot when using copy software that uses the memmory mapper. Also copying by using the 2 drives was (for the time being) fast.
Anyways a Panasonic A1-WX in my collection would be very welcome
Anyone already tried to hook this machine up to the IDE interface when running on 6Mhz?

-Q

poke -54,35 ??

What is the difference between MSX-Audio and the Philips Music Module??? It's all OPL-1, I'd say... Well I don't know whether the sample unit is included in the MSX-Audio 'spec'... (at least the Toshiba MM has one but without sampleram, and afaik the Yamaha MM doesn't have a sample unit at all).


~Grauw

p.s. kuuno the IDE interface should have no trouble whatsoever with the 6 MHz (which is actually more like 5.36 orso).
p.s.2. the Fastcopy software utilized expanded VRAM...

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poke -54,35 ?? What is the difference between MSX-Audio and the Philips Music Module???

FM BASIC

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I was just wondering... Is the Panasonic A1-WX the best MSX2+ that was ever build?

WX and WSX are two best MSX2+ systems:

- Z80B with heatsink allowing 6MHz mode
- all the Kanji roms for folks who care about it
- FM-PAC
- easy cheap upgrade to 512KB

WSX is great if you need S-Video, and don't mind no cassette interface (my case)
WX is great if you need cassette interface, and don't mind no S-Video

Thanks everyone guys! The vendor had also a WSX, and I could negotiate with him. I bought the WSX. YYYYuuuhuuuu!!!! I am damn happy! The best MSX2+ in my house, it is almost unbelieveble.

Unfortunately, now I have to wait "only" 2 *entire* months, so I can start using it

I agree with dhau. WSX has those great features, and I do care for S-Video and even if I could, I would never use cassete interface (15 minutes to load 32KB, I don't have patience).

Congratulations!

The only big concern you might have is replacing the flat floppy drive belt or the whole floppy drive in this unit.

Another concern is the fact that 110-120 V puts a lot of preassure on transformator, so it might be a good idea to use external downstep converter (120 -> 100 Volt) or remove transformator and add an external power suppy to provide 5 and 12 volts

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Another concern is the fact that 110-120 V puts a lot of preassure on transformator, so it might be a good idea to use external downstep converter (120 -> 100 Volt)

If you have one, great! But usually it's not required at all. Just check if the outside of the case (upper left corner) gets more than handwarm, it shouldn't.

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or remove transformator and add an external power suppy to provide 5 and 12 volts

You'd probably have to mess up your brand new MSX2+ though, such a shame...

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I would never use cassete interface (15 minutes to load 32KB, I don't have patience).

FYI
If you are going to save in metal gear, you may need cassete interface.
And you don't need to wait 15 minutes to load 32K.
Using turbo loaders like MicroWAVer you can load a 128K game in just 2-3 minutes.

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poke -54,35 ?? What is the difference between MSX-Audio and the Philips Music Module???

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FM BASIC

More exactly, it's the MSX-AUDIO BASIC that is more extended than the MSX-MUSIC basic : it contains extra instructions for PCM samples (like in Turbo-R) and extern music keyboard; the FM instructions are the same but CALLMUSIC is replaced by CALLAUDIO.

More info on this Dutch page :

http://www.mccm.aktu.nl/millennium/milc/gc/topic_26.htm

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You'd probably have to mess up your brand new MSX2+ though, such a shame...

Lol, people don't have to act like total idiots. You can just unscrew/unsolder transformator and replace the psu cord in a way, that if you want to sell it later, you can put everything back as it was originally in like 10 minutes.

Second thing: at least in Canada with at least my WSX, if you leave it on for more then 10 minutes, transformator starts charring: the fumes are disturbing and smell is awful.