<![CDATA[ChipMusic.org - Why do we settle for EMS?]]> 2011-12-15T17:25:14Z PunBB https://chipmusic.org/forums/topic/5607/why-do-we-settle-for-ems/ <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Nanoloop and lsdj were more or less developed in parallel (with nanoloop starting 1-2 years earlier). In the beginning, we both simply bought flash carts in bulk, put our software on them and sold these carts as nanoloop/lsdj carts. However, flahs carts were expensive and manufactorers were sued by Nintendo so that they more and more disappeared. Johan kept selling flash carts and probably at some point decided to distribute the software only and leave the cart business to others. For nanoloop, I decided go "mass" production with ROM carts (like commercial games but from the same shady Hong Kong based companies as the flash carts). This went well for a few years, but it was difficult because production was very slow and often suddenly cancelled alltogether. I therefore wanted to design my own PCB with flash and just get the plastic shell from China (nanoloop 1.3). At that point I asked Johan wether we should join forces and develop a cart that would suit both, lsdj and nanoloop. He said he would "come back to me" - which he never did. So the nanoloop cart became a nanoloop-only cart.

I think there is no EEPROM or flash in the standard cart model because at the time when the Game Boy was released (1989), such parts were too expensive or didn't even exist. Flash is also much slower compared to SRAM which can be used real-time, like and extended RAM (and unfortunately it can also be wiped just as fast). However, today, flash is cheap and fast enough, allthough it is still tricky to handle.
It would probably be difficult to make an lsdj-version that runs on a nanoloop-like flash-only cart.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/oliver 2011-12-15T17:25:14Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84303/#p84303 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> nitro, is there anything you think you can do? sad

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Frostbyte 2011-12-15T02:52:16Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84265/#p84265 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> nitro2k01 wrote:

Correction: Phrases go to FE. FF is used internally for storing empty steps.

mind blown!

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Victory+Road 2011-12-13T13:41:27Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84136/#p84136 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> The only real issue I've experienced with my EMS cart is the whole driver issue, and even then it's only really an inconvenience.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/pulseflux 2011-12-13T12:00:59Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84133/#p84133 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> nitro2k01 wrote:

justinthursday: Should've used LittleFM... Can store save data in flash, but only on bleepbloops.

Go on...

]]> https://chipmusic.org/thursdaycustoms 2011-12-13T05:24:28Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84103/#p84103 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Correction: Phrases go to FE. FF is used internally for storing empty steps.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/nitro2k01 2011-12-13T05:17:01Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84100/#p84100 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Phrases go to FF, chains go to 7F smile

I've yet to experience real problems with either of my EMS carts, but I've come frighteningly close.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Victory+Road 2011-12-13T05:14:21Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84099/#p84099 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Frostbyte wrote:

Ah, basically I just opened up the file and everything is corrupted and messed up. Phrase 99s, tempo keeps going to 40 and whatnot. All kinds of crazy stuff. All my other tracks are good to go though

That happens to me.
I used to get phrase 3As and 40 tempo as well. Basically, if not too much is corrupted, you can fix it all up manually.

Also, because the 3A/99 phrases are empty, running a quick Clear Song Data from LSDJ should clear them right off.

I thought LSDJ phrases only went up to 7F...

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Chainsaw+Police 2011-12-13T05:06:52Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84097/#p84097 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Ah, basically I just opened up the file and everything is corrupted and messed up. Phrase 99s, tempo keeps going to 40 and whatnot. All kinds of crazy stuff. All my other tracks are good to go though

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Frostbyte 2011-12-13T03:56:23Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84088/#p84088 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Frostbyte: Tell me the more. I might be able to help.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/nitro2k01 2011-12-13T03:38:00Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84087/#p84087 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> GOD DAMN IT. I just lost one of the project files for one of my best tracks. UGHH

]]> https://chipmusic.org/Frostbyte 2011-12-13T03:34:17Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84086/#p84086 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> justinthursday: Should've used LittleFM... Can store save data in flash, but only on bleepbloops.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/nitro2k01 2011-12-13T03:15:37Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84085/#p84085 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Love my EMS cart. Had nothing but problems with my Bleep Bloop. The battery holder literally fell off and I lost my sav of course.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/thursdaycustoms 2011-12-13T03:01:00Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84082/#p84082 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Moriokun wrote:

Seems like the problem isn't the cartridge designs, it's the lack of collaboration between LSDJ's software and the Cartridge maker.  Seems like LSDJ needs to be written specially for a certain cartridge, Not the cartridge trying to meet LSDJ.

Well, LSDJ is written for a specific cartridge - that is, it's written for any gameboy cartridge with a battery (which is most of them).

Of course there could be LSDJ-specific cartridges or cartridge-specific LSDJs, but that presents three problems. First, it could mean that LSDJ would have to be rewritten, which would be a huge pain in the neck. Second, it would mean that the new version of LSDJ wouldn't run on the EMS/BleepBloop/SmartBoy carts that everyone already has. Third, it would mean that you couldn't run anything other than LSDJ on the cartridge (unless it was also specifically designed for it), which would be disappointing for anyone who wanted to run Carillon/Tetris/Pokemon or anything else. It would basically make LSDJ more nanoloop-ish in design, and I think that the more 'open' seeming separation between hardware and software that LSDJ has is one of the reasons a lot of people prefer it.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/nick 2011-12-13T00:48:11Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84073/#p84073 <![CDATA[Re: Why do we settle for EMS?]]> Moriokun wrote:

Seems like the problem isn't the cartridge designs, it's the lack of collaboration between LSDJ's software and the Cartridge maker.  Seems like LSDJ needs to be written specially for a certain cartridge, Not the cartridge trying to meet LSDJ.

In no way, shape, or form is this true.

]]> https://chipmusic.org/PlainFlavored 2011-12-13T00:30:12Z https://chipmusic.org/forums/post/84072/#p84072