I have a philips music module that i got years ago with my first msx2 vg8235.I would like to ask wether it is possible to use an external memory mapper as way to increase the time i can sample audio.

In the module it has an audio sampler.However with the 128kbyte that vg8235 and nms8280 have you can't sample much.

Now on my nms8280 i use an external memory mapper of 4mbytes.Would it be possible with a hack or something to make the module understand that memory mapper and use it to store the samples?

2)Can somebody explain me how this module records the audio?Does it use any onboard ram on the module or it uses the msx memory area for the samples?(If it uses any custom ram then that means that what i said before is wrong and can't be done).

Thank you!

The Music MOdule has its own internal sample RAM. YOu cannot sample to main RAM. The standard sampleRAM is only 32kB, but it can be easily expanded to 256kB, so increasing the sample time by a factor of 8. Alas, not many programs make use of that. Sampbox4Macro is the most advanced one, I suppose.
I'm sure you can find the instructions to expand the sampleRAM on the net.

Sampling to and from main RAM is possible, but cumbersome. The MusMod will in that case only act as AD/DA converter, and the Z80 needs to read/write the sample bytes in a tight loop.

The Y9850 Application Manual, pages 31/32 describe rather well how to set up the MusMod for ADPCM sample read and playback.

AuroraMSX that sounds nice!However can i use sampbox4macro for that work?

UPDATE:Yes just checked it.It uses all of the available 4mbytes to sample and it gives 539 seconds (not bad at all!)

However with this program the volume is very low and i have to adjust the tv at the max volume to hear.Why is this?Volume is always set at 255,and by changing the volume by the cartridge it does not affect it at all

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However with this program the volume is very low

Are you sure it's just with that program? That sounds (heh) a bit odd to me.

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and i have to adjust the tv at the max volume to hear.Why is this?Volume is always set at 255,and by changing the volume by the cartridge it does not affect it at all

Two possibilities:

• You've got a Philips MSX, which are known for having troubles with the audio circuitery. Use the outputs on the MusMod instead of the sound output of the MSX
  
• If you already have the MusMod hooked up to your stereo directly and the sound is still barely audible, the problem lies in the MusMods amplifier. Depending on your electronics skill you can try to repair it yourself or ask e.g. RepairBas...

I've been looking for sampbox4macro a long time. Could you contact me? Or if it's freeware nowadays, could you upload it somewhere?