MIDI and 8MB card

[spectreman]

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.

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.

[rezb1t]

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.

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.

[bobrocks95]

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!

[armitage]

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!

Maybe you can find an XVI owner who wants to sell theirs

[bobrocks95]

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!

Maybe you can find an XVI owner who wants to sell theirs

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!

[TinaTurner]

The arananet etarikashikoshi midi + ram card is back on pre-order if anyone is interested: https://www.arananet.net/pedidos/product/etarikashikoshi-x68000-8mb-ram-midi-board-preorder

I've pre-ordered one but will jump on an AJE version too if another run comes up again.

Cheers!

[spectreman]

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!

Maybe you can find an XVI owner who wants to sell theirs

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!

X68000 XVI have 16MHz CPU speed, and X68030 model has 25MHz CPU as standard, no need to overclock.

Etarikashikoshi midi + ram DOES NOT WORK with these models, but the manufacturer (Arananet) still does not indicate it on the site.

[bobrocks95]

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!

Maybe you can find an XVI owner who wants to sell theirs

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!

X68000 XVI have 16MHz CPU speed, and X68030 model has 25MHz CPU as standard, no need to overclock.

Etarikashikoshi midi + ram DOES NOT WORK with these models, but the manufacturer (Arananet) still does not indicate it on the site.

For anyone who isn't on Twitter, Arananet said that they have a new firmware for XVI 16MHz support.  68030 support is still unknown.  Not sure why they aren't advertising this or pointing it out to anyone

[spectreman]

@bobrocks95: Probably because he knows that users are not willing to spend more money on shipping (which should be at his expense) and to get a firmware update that hasn't actually been verified.

They don't take care of the site at all by updating the MIDI+RAM images and they don't notify their customers by sending an e-Mail.

[rezb1t]

Good news! I hope the new firmware does work on 68030 and high clock speed machines. I'll most likely buy another in the future if it gets confirmed working with ~24mhz machines

[spectreman]

I had my Etarikashikoshi 8MB RAM + MIDI Board updated and I can confirm that it works well with XVI at 16MHz.
Compatibility with X68030 not verified.

For those interested in updating their Etarikashikoshi, they will only have to pay the shipping costs (tracked shipping).

I am of the opinion that if the manufacturer had equipped the card with Micro-USB to update the device it would have been better.

https://www.arananet.net/pedidos/product/etarikashikoshi-x68000-8mb-ram-midi-board-preorder

[spectreman]

For those wishing to purchase Etarikashikoshi for the first time, the MIDI card is black, there is a backplate for the tower models.
The backplate comes in two colours, black or light grey, but if you don't give your preference, the black one will be sent to you.

A tip for assembly:
It's not easy to mount an expansion card on the X68000, the expansion slots are damn hard.

Get two square felt for chairs, fold them in half, now you can use them to protect your thumbs when you put pressure on the corners of your MIDI card or other device.

When you screw in the backplate, do not overtighten the screws, because it will bend towards the inside of the slots.

[TinaTurner]

Just received my Etarikashikoshi but there is no manual.

1. Is there any way to set the amount of ram like on aje?

2. Any documentation in the pi midi connector requirements?

[spectreman]

Etarikashikoshi 8MB RAM+MIDI unlike the aje_fr model, is not compatible with systems that only have 1MB basic RAM, 2MB is required to install it.
Installation instructions are indicated on the site.

You only need to set the following value on switch.x:
MEMORY: 10240KB
Press enter.
Go to the last item at the bottom of the menu and press Y to save.
Press the reset button.

The USB port is only for direct connection to the PI-MIDI device.

PI-MIDI does not include the Raspberry PI, you will have to purchase it separately.
Supports Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+, B, and B+, Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, and CM4 series.

https://www.arananet.net/pedidos/product/pi-midi-1-3-a-baremetal-mt32-emulator-using-raspberry-pi

[amazin]

Friends, I've been informed by Edu Arana that he has a new batch of pre-orders for the Etarikashikoshi open, as of 2024/07/25, same price, 110 Euros plus shipping.

https://www.arananet.net/pedidos/product/etarikashikoshi-x68000-8mb-ram-midi-board-preorder

They all come with the new firmware for 16MHz machines.