Hello there.
I have made an "all in one" board for the X68000.
The board contain a MIDI system and a 8MB memory expansion.
As the design as reached it's final version, i'm showing it here.
Midi is configurable to multiple address/irq and can be switch off (if needed).
8Mb memory could also be put after system memory or be switch off.
If your system only have 1Mb, the total memory will be 9MB. if your system have 2MB, the total will be 10MB.
As the maximum memory allowable on the X68000 is 12MB, if you already have 6MB or 8MB, the total memory will be 12MB.
Configuration is made by rotary encoder.
Midi system have been written from scratch using pure pure vhdl language. Almost all the games are working.
The midi DIN is standard size so board will take place of 2 espansion card. Faceplate is according too.
Here is the picture :
(https://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/17/10/05/60/dsc_0218.jpg)
I may sell some in the future, price will be near 175€, PM me if interested.
Bye
Very cool. It's great to see another option for memory (+ MIDI)!
Hi!
I've recently picked up an Expert, and I've been cleaning and putting it in good shape (pico psu, scsi2sd, HxC sharing lines with original 5.25 floppy disk drives... as i'm new in the forum i'll put a post about my experience :-) )
So, i'm interested in this board:
do you have more info?
images/video about how it does perform?
it's just plug and play?
Thanks!
@htdreams It's almost plug and play, you have to select the correct configuration you want on the board (amount of memory already installed in the computer, midi or not).
And configure the computer to use this new amount of memory (via switch.x)
In games, you have different way to activate midi (via menu, key combination, etc) depending on the game.
great :-)
The midi implementation is similar in compatibility as the Midiori solution?
https://github.com/tdaede/midiori
Is there any compatibility list or tested games list?
Quote from: htdreams on October 01, 2020, 08:13:01 PMgreat :-)
The midi implementation is similar in compatibility as the Midiori solution?
https://github.com/tdaede/midiori
Is there any compatibility list or tested games list?
It's a completely different solution and code is written from scratch.
Actually, I haven't found any compatibility issue.
hi aje_fr
when will you sell some ?
merci
Hi! I'm also interested in this expansion board, do you have any more info or availability date?
Thanks!
Sending you a PM, very interested in buying one from you
Yes would be nice if we can purchase the card from you. Or will it be available on beep ?
Hi'
Sorry for delay, I had some trouble with fedex....
Some boards are availables, pm me if interested.
Bye
Hi just want to say I placed aje_fr board inside my XVI and it works very well. It is expensive but he also use expensive chips and he worked very hard so this is a fair price.
It's a very excellent economic solution as you can play all the games from hard drive due to high RAM and have Midi... So we don't have to attack each other on Yahoo Japan auction anymore. So if anyone here is thinking they shouldn't buy it... I recommend you get it quickly.
@CyothevileThanks a lot for your feedback.
Have fun with it
Hi all!
I've received my Midi and 8MB Card from
@aje_fr, beautifull built, and the black back plate is a superb touch, it looks very nice once mounted in :-)
(http://andresdepedro.com/img/retro/htdreams_rammidi_exp_3.jpg)
(http://andresdepedro.com/img/retro/htdreams_rammidi_exp_5.jpg)
(http://andresdepedro.com/img/retro/htdreams_rammidi_exp_4.jpg)
I managed to test midi output with Gemini Wing, I've got to look how to config games for outputting midi sound, as it seems there is not a standard way of doing so (at least for the little I've checked in)
However, I didn't managed to use RAM expansion, I've setup switch program to use up to 10 MB (as you can see in the following photos) but once in the Game selection Menu from the HDD image v4 I can only run 2MB games, and file browser shows only 1395KB free, as I have when I use default 2MB memory (my machine is an Expert with 2MB or ram)
I've changed the circular selector to 8MB (and I think this is not possible to do it wrong as selector shows the number active, and it's an 8 :-) )
Is there any other step to do to use extended ram?
I've installed expansion board on 2nd slot, as the back plate can only be put one way, and to match midi hole board must be installed in 2nd slot, is this correct?
(http://andresdepedro.com/img/retro/htdreams_rammidi_exp_1.jpg)
(http://andresdepedro.com/img/retro/htdreams_rammidi_exp_2.jpg)
Regards!
You must set the rotary encoder to 2mb. Its the amount of ram already installed in you system, not how much ram the card offers.
I got the card last week. I use it in my XVI with already 6mb internal ram so my rotary is on 6mb and i now have 12mb.
The midi works fine, testet some games. One good game to test is Overdrive while it has an option menu on the beginning where you can test MT32, CM64 and SC55.
There is an tool "si.x" on the hdd image that shows you the amount of ram, no matter what you select in switch.x.
That helped me as i bought an 2mb expansion and si.x shows 6mb instead of 4mb. So my expansion was 4mb not 2mb as bought.
Thanks Jehuty for providing the solution.
Yes, the rotary switch is to select the amount of memory already installed on the computer, not the onboard memory. For not forgetting it, it's written on the board.
So for a expert, you need to put the switch on 2mb, the 8mb will be placed after your internal 2mb memory.
Hi! sorry for not posting this before
@Jehuty : thank you so much! thats it, and
@aje_fr is right, this is just written on the board itself, and in fact it already came configured at 2, in order to work on my expert, but I was somehow dumb enough to not read it and just assume it was for configuring the ammount of ram desired :-P
Anyway, This board from
@aje_fr is wonderful, works like a charm, has no problem at all handling anything you throw at, and Midi works flawelsly (I have a Roland sc88lv) with every game I've tested through
Any X68000 owner who doesn't have ram/midi solutions should get aje_fr's expansion board :-D
Regards!
Hi
@aje_fr - PM'ed you. Would love to grab one of your cards for my Pro which is on its way from Japan. :) Looks like a great expansion!
Having received one of these board just recently, I can say it is amazing!
I too can recommend this board. High quality and working great!
@aje_fr, I sent you a PM. I would like to buy one board.
Also pm'ed! This looks like the perfect x68000 upgrade card
Pm sent
Pm sent
I was able to combine this card with 2Mb on-board ram and the IO-Data SH-6BE-2/4M-1 (4Mb) for a full 12MB of ram. No issues at all so far :)
Quote from: Cyothevile on January 22, 2021, 04:30:48 AMHi just want to say I placed aje_fr board inside my XVI and it works very well. It is expensive but he also use expensive chips and he worked very hard so this is a fair price.
It's a very excellent economic solution as you can play all the games from hard drive due to high RAM and have Midi... So we don't have to attack each other on Yahoo Japan auction anymore. So if anyone here is thinking they shouldn't buy it... I recommend you get it quickly.
What internal ram board are you using? I am having a hard time getting the ram to work properly with a XM-6BE6AP internal ram board. keep getting errors in MTEST
I don't get any errors. I use that board and aje_fr board. runs perfect.
hmm I've been trying to work out the issue with aje_fr in pm. For some reason when I set the dial to 8 and 12m in switch.x, lhes only reports 8m. running mtest gives me an $00800000 address error.
Payment sent via paypal + postal address for 2 boards. :)
Card received. Works well !
Any change to get that back plate on grey?
Pm sent!
PM sent!
The "MIDI and 8MB card" looks awesome! Such a great idea to combine both upgrades into one expansion card!
Interested in x1 board!
PM sent!
Interested in x2 boards!
PM sent!
I'm still active ;-)
But components are almost impossible to source actually, please be patient.
Another wannabe customer here... Please PM me if/when you have more to sell.
Interested
Also interested when available
Interested!!
How can i buy this board?
Its Still available?
pm sent.
Hi Aje_fr, I am also interested if you are making new batch for year 2022. Let us know. Thanks!
I'm interested as well :-)
Me too, intrested!! :)
Hi, I''m interested as well.
When do you think you have it available again?
Also interested in one please!
Is this amazing project Dead? Is it on GitHub? WTB if avail. Thanks.
Also interested if it ever rises from it's grave (Altered Beast)
New X68000 owner here, would be nice if this project were revived. Subscribing.
One please if there is another run.
One board available !
Yes please, interested.
Interested as well
Interested.
I'm interested as well
Received AJE_FR's RAM+MIDI board last week, did some tests, it's really amazing. Incredible build quality, and the feature of being able to set it to start at 1MB of RAM is great, because you don't need to have the CZ-6BE1 (on the CZ-600) or the CZ-6BE1A (on the Ace and Pro) to bring the motherboard RAM to 2MB before you're able to start using any RAM in the expansion slot.
You just set it to start at 1MB and it just works. You get 9MB of RAM on said machines, or 10MB if you add the 1MB RAM card to the motherboard, or your computer has already 2MB on the motheboard.
I haven't tested the MIDI functionality yet, but the card is detected by games with MIDI tracks.
Can't recommend AJE_FR enough.
I hope he can get more cards to help all enthusiasts out there. The product is trully amazing!
Cheers
-Amazin
3 boards available now ;)
interested, Pm sent
Interested. PM Sent!
I would like one, too 👍
Interested, PM sent.
Just received my board from aje_fr! I can't recommend it enough, it works perfectly!
I did have an issue initially where the RAM wasn't working properly, but this is because I tried to put a 2MB Galspanic RAM board in at the same time as this 8MB expansion. For whatever reason this doesn't work, but honestly, who needs more than 10MB of RAM on an X68000 anyway! :P
I tested MIDI to a Roland SC-55 and it sounds great!
I'd like one when there are more boards available.
I have received my card from aje_fr today as well. Shipping from France to Australia only took 9 days (31/10 to 9/11!)
Have configured the machine and it can see the full 10Meg. I have not dragged out my MT-32 yet but when i select midi the software doesn't hang so confident thats all working too.
Very impressed i must say!
I have received my card from aje_fr today . thx for all
Card arrived from aje_fr, many thanks.
I have installed it with full memory and MIDI side seems to be working as you can select MT32 on Final Fight now.
I am waiting for a MIDI DIN cable to arrive to connect my MT32-PI and hear the lovely sound!
Any other MT32-Pi user's here? Any specific settings in the .cfg?
I mainly use it with my Amigas and DOS PC via Gameport and SoftMPU.
It's been a couple years since I used my mt32-pi but I think the default settings worked fine. If you have trouble I can send you my cfg.
Quote from: incrediblehark on November 10, 2023, 10:40:10 PMIt's been a couple years since I used my mt32-pi but I think the default settings worked fine. If you have trouble I can send you my cfg.
I got my MT32-Pi running on my DOS PC via a Serial connection cable I made.
I tried on my Amiga with a MIDI cable and I got a Break error, same as X68000.
I was using it via a different Amiga HD image, so it might be a software issue. I will see if I still have the old Amiga HD image that I know it works from before (but this was also an old MT32-Pi firmware, I am now using the latest 13.1).
With the MIDI + 8mb card, only the MIDI is detected on Rotary Dial Position 1, so I am confident the card is ok. I think it is my MT32-Pi with the MIDI connection. Maybe I broke something when adding the Serial connection? I can't remember if I tried MIDI Port since adding the Serial as I was doing a lot of DOS MIDI.
Just an update - I bought some components and PCBs and built a new MT32 Pi hat, this time a:
https://github.com/chris-jh/mt32-pi-midi-hat
And it works ;) Getting sweet MIDI sounds out of FinalFight.
Interested. Send a PM!
I think I have found a bug in the MIDI card. With the After Burner II MIDI patch, the music plays way too fast to the point of breaking the music. I tested with a Roland SC-55, an MT32-pi, and also using the Roland UM-ONE mk2 USB interface to a Windows computer, just for testing.
To run the MIDI patch, do the following:
https://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=6277.0
Look for MIDI_TOOLS.zip attached to a forum post by incrediblehark.
You'll need to put this file on your X68000 hard drive and extract it, then run toMML.x on each of the .RCP files included. After this, run mcv.x on each of the .MDL files. Then once you have all 6 .mdi files generated, a config file must be generated as shown:
red.mdi
maximum.mdi
final.mdi
super.mdi
after.mdi
c202.mdi
read.txt
Make sure there is an extra line after read.txt in your config text file.
Also make a read.txt file and put whatever message you would like to appear at the launch of After Burner II.
After Burner II MIDI for SC-88
then run ablnk.x <config file name>
if all went well, it should generate ab2m.dat. From here, you need to copy ab2m.dat, ab2m.x, ab2mus.x and abipl.x over to Disk A of After Burner II and overwrite the existing files.
After this, launch After Burner.
Interested in getting 1 if it's available again.
I am interested in too....already sent a pm
Cheers
Interested in one of this if available.
Also interested in one if it's still available!
Also interested in one when (if) available again...
Interested in one as well if you are still making more, sent a pm years ago 😄
HI,
I would like to know if this card produced by aje_fr also works well on X68000 XVI with CPU set at 16MHz.
Is the memory detected correctly?
Does the MIDI part have a clean sound?
Unfortunately I purchased the model called Etarikashikoshi on the arananet.net site, which does not work at 16MHz, it only works with 10MHz systems.
The aje_fr ram + midi card works with no issues on a XVI
Quote from: spectreman on April 20, 2024, 04:03:39 AMHI,
I would like to know if this card produced by aje_fr also works well on X68000 XVI with CPU set at 16MHz.
Is the memory detected correctly?
Does the MIDI part have a clean sound?
Unfortunately I purchased the model called Etarikashikoshi on the arananet.net site, which does not work at 16MHz, it only works with 10MHz systems.
I can confirm that it works on XVI systems, my system can overclock to 24mhz and the aje_fr board works fine.
It does currently have a bug where After Burner MIDI files have too fast tempo, but I've tested many other games and this is the only one I found with an issue.
I also let aje_fr know about this bug so hopefully one day it can be fixed
Quote from: rezb1t on April 20, 2024, 01:33:27 PMQuote from: spectreman on April 20, 2024, 04:03:39 AMHI,
I would like to know if this card produced by aje_fr also works well on X68000 XVI with CPU set at 16MHz.
Is the memory detected correctly?
Does the MIDI part have a clean sound?
Unfortunately I purchased the model called Etarikashikoshi on the arananet.net site, which does not work at 16MHz, it only works with 10MHz systems.
I can confirm that it works on XVI systems, my system can overclock to 24mhz and the aje_fr board works fine.
It does currently have a bug where After Burner MIDI files have too fast tempo, but I've tested many other games and this is the only one I found with an issue.
I also let aje_fr know about this bug so hopefully one day it can be fixed
I doubt it can be fixed on this version, a hardware overhaul will be needed.
Can you set the CPU to 10 MHz and see if you have any beneficial effect?
Another test is to turn off memory expansion using the rotary switch. After Burner II should also launch with 2 MB of base memory.
With the dedicated MIDI rotary switch, you can change the IRQ addresses in 5 positions, you should easily reach them without removing the card.
You've probably already done these tests.
Quote from: spectreman on April 20, 2024, 08:59:49 PMQuote from: rezb1t on April 20, 2024, 01:33:27 PMQuote from: spectreman on April 20, 2024, 04:03:39 AMHI,
I would like to know if this card produced by aje_fr also works well on X68000 XVI with CPU set at 16MHz.
Is the memory detected correctly?
Does the MIDI part have a clean sound?
Unfortunately I purchased the model called Etarikashikoshi on the arananet.net site, which does not work at 16MHz, it only works with 10MHz systems.
I can confirm that it works on XVI systems, my system can overclock to 24mhz and the aje_fr board works fine.
It does currently have a bug where After Burner MIDI files have too fast tempo, but I've tested many other games and this is the only one I found with an issue.
I also let aje_fr know about this bug so hopefully one day it can be fixed
I doubt it can be fixed on this version, a hardware overhaul will be needed.
Can you set the CPU to 10 MHz and see if you have any beneficial effect?
Another test is to turn off memory expansion using the rotary switch. After Burner II should also launch with 2 MB of base memory.
With the dedicated MIDI rotary switch, you can change the IRQ addresses in 5 positions, you should easily reach them without removing the card.
You've probably already done these tests.
Yep I tried all IRQ settings and also disabling ram, also 10mhz mode with no changes unfortunately.
Just purchased an X68000 to refurb and posting here just to show interest and track if there will be another run of these in the future. Hoping to get one of these or the Etarikashikoshi board.
Thanks!
Quote from: bobrocks95 on April 21, 2024, 02:14:53 PMJust purchased an X68000 to refurb and posting here just to show interest and track if there will be another run of these in the future. Hoping to get one of these or the Etarikashikoshi board.
Thanks!
Maybe you can find an XVI owner who wants to sell theirs :D
Quote from: armitage on April 22, 2024, 12:27:49 AMQuote from: bobrocks95 on April 21, 2024, 02:14:53 PMJust purchased an X68000 to refurb and posting here just to show interest and track if there will be another run of these in the future. Hoping to get one of these or the Etarikashikoshi board.
Thanks!
Maybe you can find an XVI owner who wants to sell theirs :D
That's fair! I don't think I'll get into overclocking such old hardware (though I did see this odd CPU replacement board on Yahoo Japan Auctions that intrigued me) so I'd certainly buy one at cost if there are any disappointed XVI users with one!