385 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(7 replies, posted in Commodore Computers)

akira^8GB wrote:

This is the only SID diagnostic tool you should ever use:
http://ploguechipsounds.blogspot.com/20 … hmark.html


I'll have a bash at that, thanks.

With regards to these bits:

Mono starts with an "init" patch, meaning none of the SID sound registers are set. Patches may not be loading or something

Does that mean that re-loading the patches could help? I'm not sure how to set the sound registers.

Thanks a lot.

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386 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(7 replies, posted in Commodore Computers)

akira^8GB wrote:

Mono starts with an "init" patch, meaning none of the SID sound registers are set. Patches may not be loading or something. It could also be a filter problem.

Hey,

Thanks! Any particular suggestions on what I can try to remedy/troubleshoot the problem?

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387 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(7 replies, posted in Commodore Computers)

dustfilledhobo wrote:

When reading your initial description I thought it was a SID with a dead primary voice, but I see you're able to get sound out of the diagnostics test.  so, I was obviously wrong. 

Your steps seem correct to me.  This might be a long shot, but have you tried cleaning the cart slot of the C64 and the pins on the MSSIAH cart?

Anyway, good luck!

Yeah, it's pretty strange. I haven't given it a good thorough cleaning, so it could be that dust is interfering somehow. I'll try that out today.

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388 Topic by unexpectedbowtie

(7 replies, posted in Commodore Computers)

Hello!

I dug out my old C64 and MSSIAH cart combo and got it rigged up with an external monitor, with the intention to play it using the mono synth program. Everything is working great, and the diagnostic tests show that the SID chip is fine - loud sounds coming out in response. The one problem is that when I get into Mono Synth and set it up to be played with the C64 keyboard, there's no audio output.

Here's what I'm doing in Mono Synth:

1. Go to Settings and set the MIDI option to 'C64 keyboard'.
2. Set the Synth to MIDI mode so the screen goes blank.
3. Play the keys with different Patches loaded.

I can hear some sort of change in the audio output - in that there's a very very quiet click or whirr at different frequencies depending on the patch, but there's no other output. No big SID sound like I'm getting from the diagnostics.

Am I doing something stupid? Probably... It's hard to read the dials so it could be that I'm missing something really obvious, but I'd have expected some sort of more audible output with at least one of the default patches.

Help :'(

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389 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(14 replies, posted in General Discussion)

herr_prof wrote:

also:
https://twitter.com/OliverSabin/status/ … 3368569856

It says he's in Glasgow now. Interesting. He must have seen the light and come over from Edinburgh.

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390 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(36 replies, posted in Other Hardware)

Another update for the sake of anybody who is trying this out later on.

I tested using the Midicloro app from ledfyr on a Raspberry Pi, using the Nanoloop USB Midi adaptor rather than connecting via the Arduinoboy, and it works! So a cheaper option to get USB MIDI devices to work for those who don't have an arduinoboy...

My Launchpad works as an input device as well, but the default note settings are all messed up, so it will require some more research to work out how to re-map the keys in Linux (only Windows/Mac are supported officially - boo.)

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391 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(35 replies, posted in Other Hardware)

my.Explosion wrote:

I was intrigued by the PO20 Arcade but I dunno. Still on the fence about getting even one of the pocket operators. Dunno how I'd fit it into my chain of gear. Eh. I'm looking forward to more info on the OP Z tho.

I've got the PO14, but I've not used the sequencer on it; just playing about with the sounds 'live' when recording. I'm pretty shit with the learning curve of new sequencers, so have found more use composing on LSDJ and then using MIDIOUT to something like a Korg Volca. Since the POs don't have MIDI input I've kind of shied away from using them a lot. They're cool, but more a fun sound creation gadget than useful for compositions (for me anyway).

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392 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(13 replies, posted in General Discussion)

Update: Got a message from Shaun today that he sent out to those who have purchased something recently. I won't go into specifics as it related to something personal, but he has been unable to properly deal with the site for the past few weeks because of family related problems - and is sending everybody who stills wants the orders out this week.

I'm glad to have heard back, and sorry to hear that he's had bad news. Wishing him all the best!

Go to forum: General Discussion

393 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(13 replies, posted in General Discussion)

nstory wrote:

And this gameboy modding stuff is a free time kinda deal, and people do have lives, so I understand if responses or dispatches aren't particularly prompt.

But a day shy of two weeks, and if you can't get a reply, then I guess you just have to do whatever to get your money back.

Definitely. I don't even really care if it takes weeks for things to arrive, as long as I get some sort of communication about it.

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394 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(13 replies, posted in General Discussion)

nstory wrote:

I've had a similar problem where he stopped responding to me after a while.

I was talking to him about a custom commission. It was all set to go ahead, he was just waiting for a restock on some parts. Then he stopped replying to my emails.

Emailed him again a year later to try again for a different commission, no response at all.

So I've had no success with him, but he does come recommended by others, including ASM. So perhaps we've just been unlucky or he's just real busy at the moment.

Boo sad I've opened a PayPal dispute, which I hate doing - but don't see any other way of getting the cash back, and it takes 20 days from when you open it before they will decide in your favour anyway, which is frustrating.

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395 Topic by unexpectedbowtie

(13 replies, posted in General Discussion)

On the 10th of January I ordered a Chrome DMG screen cover and backlight from GameboyModsUK, over on http://www.gameboymods.co.uk/

I've never ordered from them before, but anything I saw about the site seemed positive. However, I've still not received anything. I've emailed two different addresses twice, and had no reply. I text the number listed on the site on Thursday, and they replied to say they'd get in touch today - which they haven't.

I'm pretty disappointed as it means that even if they come through on the order, I probably won't buy anything from them again. Even the parts I ordered from Hong Kong arrived in less than a week.

Has anybody else had similar problems?

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396 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(66 replies, posted in General Discussion)

I just released a 5 track EP (http://chipmusic.org/forums/post/238695/#p238695), and am working on tracks for a longer release that have a fuller, bassier sound than just the Gameboy chips alone. Trying to get over a vocal hump too...

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397 Topic by unexpectedbowtie

(0 replies, posted in Releases)

After moving flat, getting married to an American, and fighting with the British immigration system to get the new wife over to the UK, I'd fallen off the wagon musically for a while.

I've finally kickstarted things again, and was working on putting together a new album - but some of the tracks that had been half-written in the void years naturally sounded pretty different to the newer stuff, so I decided to throw them together in an EP. It's mostly Nanoloop, with a smattering of LSDJ, and is fairly chilled out - not too sample heavy.

You can get a hold of it for free over here:

http://unexpectedbowtie.com/2016/01/22/ … something/

Be gentle.

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398 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(21 replies, posted in Nintendo Handhelds)

Ledfyr wrote:

Thanks for all the positive comments. I'm glad to hear this can be of use for someone other than myself.


@cyberic: I think what you want is possible. From what I've read on the Arduinoboy GitHub page it seems like the LSDJ Master sync mode sends the song row position as a MIDI note message.
This note can probably be changed to a Song Position Pointer message. It feels like the best solution is to modify the Arduinoboy code to achieve this.

@unexpectedbow: Sounds like a nice setup! May I ask which USB-MIDI adaptor you use? (I will add it to the list of supported devices).

Just some cheap rubbish!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262043252427? … EBIDX%3AIT

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399 Topic by unexpectedbowtie

(0 replies, posted in Tutorials, Mods & How-To's)

I thought I'd try my hand at controlling a Korg Volca using LSDJ as an external sequencer, inspired by the thread where jefftheworld showed off his mad skills:

http://chipmusic.org/forums/topic/15978 … org-volca/

I ran into so much hassle doing it (outdated software, cheap knockoff Arduino boards, etc), that I put together a blog detailing the problems I ran into and how I fixed them (with lots of great help from NeX), and then a short video to show the blasted thing actually working in the end:

http://unexpectedbowtie.com/2016/01/20/ … rduinoboy/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZfVMUw19_c

Hopefully it'll be useful to somebody at somepoint, or at least amusing to watch my ridiculous n00bishness as I stumble about trying to make sense of this stuff.

The one thing I'm not sure about is whether or not my Arduinoboy's LED sequence is messed up or not. When the button is pushed, it goes (in order) LED: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1+2, 1+2+3+4+5, repeat. I'm sure it wasn't like that before, but it seems to work okay so I am going to try ignore it.

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400 Reply by unexpectedbowtie

(2 replies, posted in Collaborations)

This is an oldish thread, but I've fired you a PM anyway!

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