Hi!, I have bought an FM Stero PAK which unfortunaly came without any manual. Is there any way to get the sound output of the PAK thorought the A/V output of my NMS8245 (i.e. mixed with the PSG audio) ? If the only choice is to connect the sound output of the PAK to an amplifier, then I have a little problem because I have no amplifier at hand!

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi mouser!

The FM output goes through the MSX, so you will get the sound mixed with PSG. I don't remember if the sound is a bit weak in the 8245. If it the case (and someone more confirm it) you should add some resistors to get a more balanced sound between PSG and FM. Check Hans Otten's web, DIY section. If an explanation exists, sure you can find it there.

Thank you for your reply, but I cannot get any sound from the FM through the TV speakers. However, if I plug a headphone on the PAK output I hear the FM sound (at a extremely low volume, i think it is a non amplified output). Maybe is something wrong in the cartridge ?

Part of the (Dutch) manual:



additionally, start your MSX and see if everything works correctly by entering the command CALL FMPAK
...if nothing happens, or you get an error, the cartridge may be inserted improperly (or it's dirty).
If the program starts and you don't get sound, it's something else...

Thank you Samor, but I'm spanish and my knowledge of Dutch is less than zero. However with a bit of patience I think I can translate it using babelfish.

...and If I type CALL FMPAK a nice program starts from which I can play some predefined tunes. The problem is that nothing can be heared from the TV speaker only from the output jack female connector (and I have said at an extremely low volume).

The manual I have is in Dutch and German...you know German, perhaps?

Either way, it should output sound normally without needing to use any special cables.
Could be something with the 8245, like SaebaMSX said, or it's something with the FM-PAK indeed....
do you hear something if you turn up the TV's volume real high (be careful, though) ?
And, make sure the headphones (or other cables) aren't plugged in the fm-pak while you're trying to get sound through the TV.

Thank you for your help,

I think that there is something wrong with the cartridge, may be the jack is permanently connected ? Later I will test it more throughly, including using the RF output of the NMS8245. Also I have a MSX1 that I can use to test the cartridge (although I don't know if a MSX1 is up to the FM-PAK!)

One question is Fm pack good to buy for msx or should i look for other alternatives?Moonsound maybe?A second question is it better than scc of konami ?(scc gives 8 (3 of the are the psg)).

Depends what you want to use it for, nikodr. Most games only support one audio chip.

Well I have tested the STEREO PAK again with no success . I have set the volume of my TV SET to the max I can only hear the beep when booting the MSX and later nothing when I type CALL FMPAK. Also I have tried with ALESTE 2. Without the PAK you get the normal PSG sound through the TV. With STEREO PAK you get nothing on the TV. I am sure that a stereo amplifier will solve the problem but this is not what I was looking for.

BTW I have translated most of the manual page that Samor kindly posted and it says clearly that when no cables are plugged into the jack connectors the output will be through the monitor. Does it happened before the same to any of you folks ?

mouser, are you sure the 8245 is not causing the problem?
You can test it with a SCC cartridge or MSX Audio.

Another thing that i've experienced in the past is that the jack plug itself caused problems.
When the audio plug was removed the jack connector should switch to the internal amplifier but it didn't.
The internal mechanism of the jack connector was broken.

Hi shaiwa, I haven't any SCC or MSX Audio cartridge, but the megaflashrom scc is coming in a few days, so i will test the NMS8245. However my feelings is that, as you suggest, the problem is related precisely to the jack connector. In case that the SCC test ok I will try a refund from the seller even when I think that the cartridge is usable with an amplifier. The most strange thing with this is that I have tried to use the Line Input connector of my PC sound card and it does not produce any sound. Plugging a headphone lets you hear the music but at a very low volume.

I think I have the answer. I once had a FM Stereo Pac. If I remember correctly, the PAC has 2 jack plugs. You have te connect the audio out plug (Tulp) from your NMS8245 which has the PSG sound to one of the jack plugs on your Stereo Pac. Then you insert a jack to 2x tulp (left and right, black and red) into the other plug of your Stereo pac and connect the double tulp to a stereo (or a tv with tulp connectors). When you do this, you get a nice stereo experience. One speaker doing drums and psg and the other doing fm voices. Sounds nice!

Hope this will help

Hi Yum! Unfortunately the PAK came without cables (although I have the jack to 2 RCA cable), manual, etc ... Nevertheless, it appears that it should work without the cables, just mixing PSG and FM through the TV speaker. Do you remember the PAK not working unless all cables were connected ? Thanks for your help