Hey all. So I was over at Spritemind (first time on that forum) and ran into this open source/open hardware project
http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/vie … php?t=1470
Very excited reading through the thread and was looking into ordering a board run from OSH park. There is a 3 board min and the Sq Inches work out to $43 per board.
This is just the board: no parts, DIY assembly with a alpha prototype WIP project. I don't know any thing about the project other then what is posted on that thread so can't offer much help to anyone till I get my hands on one. But bear in mind that the prototypes have been built and work; and it looks like Aly James has been working/testing it and has posted a tease on his thread here. BUT I can't speak for him any help he can or can't offer.
IF there is interest, the boards would be at cost+shipping from US via USPS. Payment by PayPal due when boards arrive here from OSH Park (before I ship to you). Can't imagine it would be too much postage for a padded mailing envelope but that depends on your location.
I have to order in groups of 3 and I'd rather not consider more then 9 boards total at this point ( 8 boards up for grabs, MAX). I'll wait about a week to order so lets hear if your interested. 
Yogi
What would we be looking at a full price breakdown? I guess I didn't realize YM2612's are readily available.
Well the YMs can be had from ebay, I think I paid $5 about a year ago. then there is the Teensey2 ++ @ $24 and 4 LM386 and assorted other ICs, Resistors and Caps. I would guess about $40 to $50 in parts.
Hey all. So I was over at Spritemind (first time on that forum) and ran into this open source/open hardware project
http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/vie … php?t=1470
Very excited reading through the thread and was looking into ordering a board run from OSH park. There is a 3 board min and the Sq Inches work out to $43 per board.
This is just the board: no parts, DIY assembly with a alpha prototype WIP project. I don't know any thing about the project other then what is posted on that thread so can't offer much help to anyone till I get my hands on one. But bear in mind that the prototypes have been built and work; and it looks like Aly James has been working/testing it and has posted a tease on his thread here. BUT I can't speak for him any help he can or can't offer.
IF there is interest, the boards would be at cost+shipping from US via USPS. Payment by PayPal due when boards arrive here from OSH Park (before I ship to you). Can't imagine it would be too much postage for a padded mailing envelope but that depends on your location.
I have to order in groups of 3 and I'd rather not consider more then 9 boards total at this point ( 8 boards up for grabs, MAX). I'll wait about a week to order so lets hear if your interested.
Yogi
I have been quite busy last year doing a lot of non chip related development to expand my VST range, all of these turned out quite well;
still I have kept some interest into the FM chips, testing and refining an FMDrive MIDI to VGM converter with Valley Bell from VGMRip, which is ready by now and also preparing a future OSX port (for now I am finishing VLINN LM-1 Drums VST which is now crossplatform and will be released around late February ) FMDrive is more of a niche market so it will be cross-platform but later as time/investment permits.
I am also looking into Sega Saturn Monstrous FM chip territory...
I have been saddened by the whole GenMDM shipping fiasco, especially because I have been promoting LittleScale work a lot with FMDrive VST being compatible with it...and in the end, no one can find an interface, Seb kept it closed source and did not addressed remaining bugs or code errors. I have more than 1000+ FMdrive users around the world, I am sure these would have be at least 500+ GenMDM sold...
Now to the point;
Regarding the YM Hardware interface, I lost communication with foobat some time ago and didn't find the time to refine the teensy code myself yet.
But:
The hardware is fully working, supporting YM2612 or YM3438 (sounds better while being 99% compatible), the code needs to be redone because for now it only supports polyphonic assignment and do not support MIDI CC to Registers fully. The goal was to add an FMDrive VST mapping but via an external .cpp file which could be customized to any CC map to suit any control interface (being FMDrive VST or anything else)
I will try to contact again foobat about this but the good news is that IT IS OPEN SOURCE 
so yeah everything might benefit from the community input.
Most of the hard stuffs are already taken care of into the current firmware, so it is a matter of improving, not starting from scratch
I have the latest firmware so if anyone with appropriate knowledge might want to give it a go, I am available as time permits and will help when I got a chance.
The aim was to have an open source interface that people can built themselves or have them built by someone else.
Dual chip configuration permits any combination from 12 Voices = YM2612 * 2 or 12 Voices = YM2612 + YM3438 or fully 2* YM3438
Imagination is the limit, like redesigning the board to make it smaller with only one chip or replace the second one by an SN76489 PSG for a full Genesis board...
Still being hyper busy but I have a bunch of infos + latest .cpp beta firmware for anyone being interested into pushing the development further and faster.
Drop me a mail (you can find it at my website www.alyjameslab.com)
So good to hear your input You have indeed been very busy and I understand the limits on your time.( hope I didn't sound like I was'expecting' you to support this) And Yes, I was very excited to read that the plan was to have compatibility with the GenMDM CC assignments, and of course your FM Drive VST. That in fact was the kicker for me Having inter-op with FM Drive is my main goal with this.
I agree that it's a shame how things worked out with the GenMDM. And as you say, Seb could have developed a nice market for it. As talented and creative as he is, could have built a good cottage business if he had wanted to.
I've only just glanced at the source so far, but would very much like to get this baby running. As per the Youtube demos it's a good start so with some effort I'm sure progress can be made.
If there isn't enough interest in a board run I'll probably build it up on proto board. I have a YM2612 on hand ATM, but the 3438 looks very nice also. It sounds better then the 2612? It's MOR/MOL interface looks easier with the push/pull outputs so it might be a better choice.
At any rate, any experience with this project you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Yogi
So good to hear your input
I agree that it's a shame how things worked out with the GenMDM. And as you say, Seb could have developed a nice market for it. As talented and creative as he is, could have built a good cottage business if he had wanted to.
I've only just glanced at the source so far, but would very much like to get this baby running. As per the Youtube demos it's a good start so with some effort I'm sure progress can be made.
If there isn't enough interest in a board run I'll probably build it up on proto board. I have a YM2612 on hand ATM, but the 3438 looks very nice also. It sounds better then the 2612? It's MOR/MOL interface looks easier with the push/pull outputs so it might be a better choice.
At any rate, any experience with this project you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Yogi
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