Options to MIDI Sync the NES? (Page 3 of 4)

Cool beans! I noticed the DropBox link is really just for the compo stuff you mentioned on NESdev? Guessing you're still working on the code and haven't released it yet? No rush if so, but when you do, I'd be happy to test it out!

In the interim, I may give FamiSlayer a go, but man not having to do any removing of headers and things is really tantalizing! So looking very much forward to seeing what you come up with, for both that as well as sync.

We do live shows so I tend to be in favor of what requires less work. What I saw of VegaPlay was pretty well in line with what I would need I think. I'd probably do a mix of having sub-songs on an NSF and multiple NSFs.

Better might be kind of relative. My band-mate likes the idea of physically changing out cartridges to make it look neat during a live show Not sure how that relates to flash carts save for saying if all our music won't fit on one, we'd have to switch them out. In actuality, that's not a big deal - we'd just coordinate our breaks so we switch carts then.

So I guess for me it doesn't matter much. Curious - what flash cart do you use? And, on that note, I noticed RetroUSB no longer carries plastic cases or their MMC board. I was kinda bummed out by that. Are these found elsewhere?

My gut feeling is the same as yours - that PowerPaks likely outnumber flash carts and other solutions. For us? We could easily do either, though.

On the PowerPak, switching ROMs requires a power-cycle (reset won't do it) but otherwise it's easy to do. That said, I would probably setup ROMs on the PP just like I would a flash cart - namely try to fit as many on a ROM as I could, keeping with song orders and things. An added benefit is emulation of extra sound chips (a shame those chips can't be had more easily ).

So I guess to answer your question, on the PP the workflow doesn't really have to change all that much compared to a flash cart.

Having said all that, damn the stuff at Infinite Nes Lives is awesome! Dude even provides the Sunsoft 5B, although while I thought Famitracker implemented it, it looks like that hasn't been done yet. Still that's very cool!

Well damn that all sounds nifty! There was user MidiBox project where the dude made a AY-3-8910 synth so that may exist as an option in the interim. But yeah if 5B is attainable that would be a much more integrated solution.

For now, though, just being able to sync the NES would be, in it of itself, quite fantastic, sound chips aside.

As an aside, really bummed to see RetroUSB doesn't carry much stuff now. E-mailed him to see if that's just temporary, but haven't heard back yet.

Oooh I'm a tad envious of your MB AY. That's on my list, although, yep, not the highest priority for me either.

As far as I can tell Pinout and Max operating Voltage range seems to be the major difference, but Functionally they are the same. And of course the 'HC165 is a newer chip and there is the general family differences between 74HC and CMOS.
  For these kinds of designs, if you are recycling a GamePad's cable, might as well recycle the chip also.
yogi

You know, I have been kicking around the whole issue of 'the cable'. Finding a source of NES cables is like impossible, so that leaves recycling old (new ?) controllers or extension cables.  I had noticed at INL's site he has CD4021 pulls from his USB mods so he may have cables also ( will have to ask him).

But then I was thinking of a internal mod with just a ribbon cable to the port 2 motherboard header. Downside is you can't move the interface to another NES and may interfere/disable a GamePad on port 2. For my case atm, I have a cable setup for prototyping but once it's done, I think I'll do a internal install. Would also cut down on extra gear, like in your case.

On a side note about the cable, you can't solder the wires in the (original) cable, so you have to use crimp connectors. They used a copper foil/nylon conductor, like a lot of headphone cables do. Don't know about  after market GamePads.
Just a thought
Yogi