Hi all!
I have some news I hope you like. I'm working on a new version of the MSX-Audio BIOS and I now need some beta testers.
What's new:
1) Support for the E6h system-timer (aka Turbo-R timer). Now you'll be able to use the MSX-Audio in R800 mode, just like the MSX-Music;
2) Separate BIOS versions for the FS-CA1, NMS-1205 and HX-MU900. The HX-MU900 is the generic and most standard one. The other versions have specific portions of code to work-around their out-of-standard maker choices:
2.1) NMS-1205 proprietary mute-switch;
2.2) FS-CA1 proprietary mute-switch;
2.3) More elegant work-around than Panasonic did to "fix" their mistake on the MK-port pinout of the FS-CA1;
Note: The HX-MU900 has a standard mute-switch (SP-OFF based);
3) NMS-1160 Music Keyboard support;
4) Music Keyboard auto-detection between the HX-MU901 (49 keys) and NMS-1160 (61 keys);
The auto-detection routine will discover the Music Keyboard type and change the keymap accordingly. To use it:
- On a 49 keys keyboard: just press the last key.
- On a 61 keys keyboard: just slide your finger on at least 5 consecutive white keys in any direction.
I myself don't have any of those two music keyboards, so I'm pretty much coding in the dark, based on the NMS-1205 and HX-MU901 service manuals (tks, HansO!).
I believe this BIOS should also work fine on a FS-A1WSX/WX on 5MHz mode even without the system-timer. I'm not sure if it will work on any MSX with a 7MHz Z80 without a system-timer. Please note that the system-timer is detected without requiring a MSX Turbo-R. This means anyone can fit a homemade system-timer on a Z80 turbo MSX to get its benefits.
I tested my BIOS on a expanded HX-MU900 (256KB SampleRAM) connected to two *real hardware* configurations:
1) Panasonic FS-A1ST (512KB RAM)
2) Gradiente Expert 1.1 (64KB RAM) + floppy interface (with Adriano's excellent Fast!ROM)
What needs to be tested:
1) Music keyboards HX-MU900 and NMS-1160 (*1)
1.2) Hot swapping between music-keyboards. Auto-detection must work (just follow the procedures described above)
2) Extensive tests on BASIC musics with as many configurations as possible
3) Turbo Z80 MSXzes (either 5MHz or 7MHz)
*1: The HX-MU901 cannot be directly connected to a NMS-1205 without an adapter. The same applies to the NMS-1160 to be connected to either the HX-M900 or the FS-CA1. Those adapters are simple to build and I can publish its schematics if anybody wants.
Now, the files:
http://frs.badcoffee.info/files/MSXAUDIO12_NMS-1205.ROM.zip
http://frs.badcoffee.info/files/MSXAUDIO12_HX-MU900.ROM.zip
The FS-CA1 version still have some bugs I'll need to iron out before releasing it.
Best regards,
FRS

