SuperSoniqs announces MIDI-PAC

SuperSoniqs just informed us that they are busy with developing a MIDI-PAC cartridge. The MIDI-PAC reroutes MSX-Music to external MIDI interfaces such as keyboards, MIDI modules and synthesizers. The cartridge will feature the following:

Mini USB connector on the cartridge works with extension cable to normal MIDI connector
LED on the cartridge to check for MIDI data
FLASHROM
Support to change preset mappings to other MIDI instruments
An editor program with advanced functions and to reflash the flashrom
FM-PAC emulation

SuperSoniqs hopes to show the prototype at the next Nijmegen fair.

Relevant link: SuperSoniqs (site updated)

Comments (28)

By NYYRIKKI

Prophet (2771)

11-11-2009, 21:32

Wow, now I can write:

PLAY #2,"CDE

...instead of:

PLAY #1,"CDE

???

To think out loud, I'm really puzzled of what this is all about?

- For what purpose this is meant for?
- Is this MSX-MIDI compatible?
- Does this have "PAC"-compatibility? (=SRAM for games)
- Is this meant for emulating bad sound emulation of early fMSX-releases on real hardware?
- Is this software emulation or some I/O based tweak?
- Is this a product or a consept?
- Is this anyway releated to USB exept using non-standard connector?
- Does FM-PAC emulation mean memory mapped I/O rerouting to MSX-Music compatible chip (normally on I/O bus) / memory mapped MIDI emulation?
(FM-PAC is similar to MSX-Music exept memory mapped I/O support option and SRAM)

I don't mean to be rude, I just don't understand... anything...

By Google

By RobertVroemisse

Ambassador (1134)

11-11-2009, 21:47

WOW!

With all these new neat expansions, the demand for slotexpanders must be HUGE!!!!!!!!

But I like the idea a lot. A good reason to replay all my favourite MSX games with FM-Pac support. Price?

By KdL

Champion (360)

11-11-2009, 22:03

very nice idea!!

By boomlinde

Resident (48)

12-11-2009, 01:50

Cool idea! Why not include SCC emulation while you're at it?

By boomlinde

Resident (48)

12-11-2009, 02:08

So let me get this straight; does this provide MIDI in or out? I think both could be very useful. With OPLL emulation and all maybe there could even be a stand-alone synthesizer mode!

By MsxKun

Champion (445)

12-11-2009, 09:32

Yay! So it can play Moonblaster Fm tunes direct to MIDI-OUT?

By RobertVroemisse

Ambassador (1134)

12-11-2009, 11:32

How does the interface handle the custom/software voices of the FM-Pac? Patches?

By Meits

Paragon (1523)

12-11-2009, 18:18

By MsxKun on November 12 2009, 09:32
Yay! So it can play Moonblaster Fm tunes direct to MIDI-OUT?
I already do that with a tweaked MBWAVE (which requires philips music module or turboR GT)...
Still I'd like to have this cartridge... IF I can connect it to synths that do not have USB, though still the good ol' 5 pin DIN connectors.

Will there be a special tracker for it, or is it just a MIDI replacement for the music/audio trackers we got?
Soundtracker 1.0 with MIDI... LOL Hayo, that renders FST pro obsolete

By WORP3

Champion (357)

12-11-2009, 20:28

Wow i came here to answers some questions, but seeing all of the reactions i really don't know where to start

- For what purpose this is meant for?
In the first place it started so i could play xak without all the ssch ssch drums !

- Is this MSX-MIDI compatible?
Nope it's not
- Does this have "PAC"-compatibility? (=SRAM for games)
Yes it can be used as a fm-pac after you upload a panasoft rom, no sram support
- Is this meant for emulating bad sound emulation of early fMSX-releases on real hardware?
Don't no about the early music emulation but yes it's hardware.
- Is this software emulation or some I/O based tweak?
Software based emulation.
- Is this a product or a consept?
Working on the product right now, made a working proto some years ago.
- Is this anyway releated to USB exept using non-standard connector?
Nope just using the mini usb connector because a midi connector doesn't fit inside a msx cardridge
- Does FM-PAC emulation mean memory mapped I/O rerouting to MSX-Music compatible chip (normally on I/O bus) / memory mapped MIDI emulation?
(FM-PAC is similar to MSX-Music exept memory mapped I/O support option and SRAM)
No msx music emulation/rerouting to an other chip, no sound output at all, only midi.

-Cool idea! Why not include SCC emulation while you're at it?
Doesn't work that way, scc is sample based, not something you can emulate true standard gm midi But i do like the idea

-So let me get this straight; does this provide MIDI in or out? I think both could be very useful. With OPLL emulation and all maybe there could even be a stand-alone synthesizer mode!
Midi out, midi in wouldn't lead to anything because their isn't a sound chip inside the cartridge !

-Yay! So it can play Moonblaster Fm tunes direct to MIDI-OUT?
Yep you sure can.

-How does the interface handle the custom/software voices of the FM-Pac? Patches?
I was waiting for this question Just wait and listen

-Will there be a special tracker for it, or is it just a MIDI replacement for the music/audio trackers we got?
You can use all existing trackers, no need for a special trackers that is based on a msx music.

Hope to answer some of your questions, now let continue with the development !

Cheers,
Tjeerd.

By RobertVroemisse

Ambassador (1134)

13-11-2009, 12:38

Tjeerd, Do you have examples in mp3 format? Like, how will Aleste 2 sound with the MIDI-PAC and a Roland MT32?

By WORP3

Champion (357)

13-11-2009, 13:38

Not yet as i wrecked my prototype version
Don't want to waste a lot of time in repairing that one as i'm working on the new and much better version
But it's a good idea to put some mp3 on the site when i got it working again (somewhere mid. January)

By alexworp3

Expert (85)

13-11-2009, 17:23

well i think you can do it tjeerd
and we all are curious about it

At least some of us

By WORP3

Champion (357)

13-11-2009, 19:51

I can imagine that Alex, at least you got an idea what it going to look/sound like,
you did hear the first prototype

By RobertVroemisse

Ambassador (1134)

13-11-2009, 20:54

Alexworp3 and Worp3, are you two in any kind related to each other or something

By WORP3

Champion (357)

14-11-2009, 10:24

That was a long time ago, seem's he's still using the name we came up back then !

By spl

Paragon (1230)

14-11-2009, 15:30

Good idea!

By WORP3

Champion (357)

09-12-2009, 12:24

Update (8-12-09): New Midi-pac pcb are ordered

By alexworp3

Expert (85)

08-01-2010, 12:20

tjeerd i see that i am not the only one whos uses an old name still today.

btw how is the middipac going, you know i am still curious, also becaus i used to help you with that in the old days

By WORP3

Champion (357)

18-01-2010, 22:22

Off-coarse do i still use the name, i'm one of the three owners
Like my last post, pcb are ordered but they have some problems and are delaying the shipment
So there nothing more to do then to wait for the delivery !

btw I know, you did help a lot back then

By WORP3

Champion (357)

23-01-2010, 14:06

PCB did finally arrive, assembled five PCB for testing. Pictures of the pcb and cartridge are viewable on the SuperSoniqs webpage or @Nijmegen.

By WORP3

Champion (357)

27-02-2010, 20:16

Midi-pac hardware verified and all is working perfectly
We are now in the tweaking period, music is already coming from the synthesizer but is far from perfect !
Keep you posted.

By WORP3

Champion (357)

01-05-2010, 15:31

Midi-pac configurator program is working, it's now possible to configurate the midi-pac !
Bootloader is up next.

By WORP3

Champion (357)

25-06-2010, 10:51

Progress update:
I finished with the bootloader, so it's now possible to upgrade your midi-pac firmware using the configuration program.
Did send the first two prototype out today

By WORP3

Champion (357)

08-07-2010, 10:57

At last, i started implementing the conversion of the original sounds.

By WORP3

Champion (357)

10-08-2010, 20:02

Update:
And after a long time, i finally implemented the first original voice support to my Midi-Pac
Now it's time to finish it all up and prepare the hardware so it can be produced !

By WORP3

Champion (357)

10-09-2010, 11:12

After testing a lot of games i found out that some games didn't work that well, after a long time i figured out why and came up with a good working solution, everything is working again

By Retrofan

Champion (262)

16-09-2010, 19:23

Hi MeitsNearDark, where can the tweaked MBWAVE (which requires philips music module or turboR GT) be downloaded? (see post above) Thanks.

By WORP3

Champion (357)

23-12-2010, 18:36

Update:
New production batch of pcb did arrive, packaging box has been ordered at the printing house and almost all supporting msx-dos programs are functional
At the moment i'm working on a new configuration program that will run from msx-dos, this is also the last utility.

Also did a lot of work on the newly www.worp3.com website, you can find all MIDI-PAC related programs/updates in the download section!

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