Hi,
Do you have someone which can take it directly on Fujiama.. or you want to receive it by DHL/other? Officially a few MCs will be available in PTODT shop but I suppose not for long time :-) We have delay with distribution because of boxes design etc.. so ready to sell MCs still waiting for distribution. Probably I'll have boxes ready on Fujiama, so it's big chance to have full set :-)
BR pancio
Hi Pancio,
thanks for your offer.
I don't have anyone to pick up a midicar at Fujiama.
Think I'll habe to wait until they can be officially bought at PTODT shop in larger quantities.
I also want to buy it with a soundmodule installed so that my Atari can midi files without a synthesizer.
Perhaps you can inform me when the midicars for XL computers are officially available?
Best regards and have fun at fujiama!
patjomki
Hi,
Now the MIDIcar is officially available in shop on the Atarifan Web Page:
Best Regards, pancio
pancio schrieb: Hi,
Now the MIDIcar is officially available in shop on the Atarifan Web Page:
Best Regards, pancio
Hi pancio,
thanks for the info. I don't see the necessary soundblaster cards anywhere. Do you know how to get them at this shop?
Best regards,
patjomki
Hi,
You may find appropriate module on: https://www.serdashop.com/MIDI I'm using S2 and X2GS - both playing very well. In my opinion X2GS has better sound fonts and possibility to upload your own soundfont (I've never did it because it's playing amazing). Unfortunately, the price of X2GS is so expensive... Just little hint if you decide to choose S2... MidiCarPlayer has very useful feature: equalizer which work with S2 only :-)
Best Regards, pancio
Hi pancio,
thanks for your fast answer.
Is it possible to use S2 and X2GS both at the same time (as there is a nice, albeit rather expensive bundle https://www.serdashop.com/X2GS-S2-Bundle)?
Best regards,
patjomki
No.. inside MC you have only one DreamBlaster slot. Of course you may plug off one module and insert second (they have the same pin header). If you have some basic electronic knowledge you may use TTL TX signal (or signal from MIDI_OUT socket) and give it to MIDI_IN signal on second module to have playing both modules together :-)
BR
Well, I think I stick to the S2 module then. Its way cheaper and when you say that it plays well, then it is the way to go.
Best regards and thanks again for all the tips,
patjomki
Hi,
You welcome! If any question or issue, please let me know!
BR pancio
pancio schrieb: Hi,
You welcome! If any question or issue, please let me know!
BR pancio
Hi pancio,
if I had known that it is so difficult to get a MidiCar I would have get one from you.
I wrote an email to kontakt@ptodt.org.pl which is mandatory before they send anything abroad but they didn't reply. The email didn't bounce either so they must have got it.
Best regards,
patjomki
pancio schrieb: Hi,
You welcome! If any question or issue, please let me know!
BR pancio
Hi pancio,
if I had known that it is so difficult to get a MidiCar I would have get one from you.
I wrote an email to kontakt@ptodt.org.pl which is mandatory before they send anything abroad but they didn't reply. The email didn't bounce either so they must have got it.
Best regards,
patjomki
Hi pancio,
they answered, so today I ordered a MidiCar for my XL. :D
Do you know if it fits when there is also a FujiNet plugged into the SIO port of my computer?
Best regards,
patjomki
Hi patjomki,
Sure, there is no problem to have connected both at the same time :-)
Best Regards,
signal-2023-09-04-211831_002.jpegsignal-2023-09-04-211831_003.jpegsignal-2023-09-04-211831_004.jpeg
Your set... signal-2023-09-04-213616_002.jpegsignal-2023-09-04-213616_003.jpeg
Hi pancio,
great and thanks again for your fast reply.
Can't wait to use it in my own programs.
Best regards,
patjomki
Hi,
The parcel is on his own way :-)
Thanks for the info.
Hi,
I received information that you were not available when UPS attempted delivery...
This is tracking number:
which contains address where you may pick up parcel.
I hope it's not a problem for you.
Best Regards, pancio
Hi pancio,
no problem at all. I hoped that one of my neighbours would be available but ubfortunately this hasn't been the case.
So I just pick up the parcel tomorrow.
Best regards and thanks four your support
Frank
P.S.: The only thing that drove me crazy was that on the note I found in my postbox was written that the shop closes at 8pm so I went there just to find out that it already closed at 6 pm.
Hi pancio,
today I received my s2 card for my midicar.
Now I want to use it but where is the documentation for it (including programmer's manual)?
I also want to use the midicar player. I downloaded the version without drivers from github but when I start it from DOS 2.0 it doesn't start.
Best regards,
patjomki
Hi,
You may find documentation related to hardware on my page: https://systemembedded.eu/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=51
In download section you may find PeBe's player which is working under SpartaDosX and probably under DOSX The main reason why we chosen Sparta is possibility to use directory tree.
Run program is very easy: DX: X MCP158 /AD580
Where DX - drive which contains MCP, MCP158 - player MCP158.COM, /AD580 means: use MC on Address D580.
MCP should working with auto detection but sometimes (for XE) it doesn't work properly and address should be given manually.
If you have any issue with MCP - please leave message to PeBe - he is very kindly and want to help.
Do you have power mod for PBI inside your Atari? It's necessary if you want to power MC directly from Atari PBI bus. Appropriate details you may find on my page related to MIDIcar topic. (first, long post).
Best Regards, pancio
pancio schrieb: Hi,
You may find documentation related to hardware on my page: https://systemembedded.eu/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=51
In download section you may find PeBe's player which is working under SpartaDosX and probably under DOSX The main reason why we chosen Sparta is possibility to use directory tree.
Run program is very easy: DX: X MCP158 /AD580
Where DX - drive which contains MCP, MCP158 - player MCP158.COM, /AD580 means: use MC on Address D580.
MCP should working with auto detection but sometimes (for XE) it doesn't work properly and address should be given manually.
If you have any issue with MCP - please leave message to PeBe - he is very kindly and want to help.
Do you have power mod for PBI inside your Atari? It's necessary if you want to power MC directly from Atari PBI bus. Appropriate details you may find on my page related to MIDIcar topic. (first, long post).
Best Regards, pancio
Well, documentation is sparse to be honest. So what I understand is that MidiCar doesn't work without an external power supply in an unmodified 800XL, right?
What about a 600XL? I have one to test it with it.
And if I understood correctly I need SpartaDOS X to run the midicar player?
Perhaps you know how I can access my AVG Cart when I enable Sparta DOS Xbin U1MB.
Best regards,
Frank
Hi,
600XL has power on PBI pins 47 and 48 so you don't need additional power/modification. If your 600XL is equipped with much memory - you may use it. Regarding SDX, I understand you have no access to partitions on your SD cart under SDX loaded from U1M right? I'm using SDX loaded directly from AVG CART - best method in my opinion because U1M has some non-standard methods to use $D3XX PIA's address area. I attached used by me SDX file. Just unzip it and put it to SD to main folder.
Really sorry - documentation is under construction...
Best Regards, pancio
pancio schrieb: Hi,
600XL has power on PBI pins 47 and 48 so you don't need additional power/modification. If your 600XL is equipped with much memory - you may use it. Regarding SDX, I understand you have no access to partitions on your SD cart under SDX loaded from U1M right? I'm using SDX loaded directly from AVG CART - best method in my opinion because U1M has some non-standard methods to use $D3XX PIA's address area. I attached used by me SDX file. Just unzip it and put it to SD to main folder.
Really sorry - documentation is under construction...
Best Regards, pancio
Hi pancio,
thanks for your help. My 600XL has an U1MB, too.
The jumper on my MidiCar was set by you to: PBI48 and not set to: PBI47.
Do I have to change anything to test it with my 600XL? And is a 10 Watts power supply sufficient? My 600XL has an internal 64K ram extension. U1MB, PokeyMax3, Sophia2, AVG Cart and a VBXE.
And what do I have to let tf_hh to change at my 800XL that I can use my main machine for MidiCar?
Edit: No, I don't have access to my AVGpartitions with SDX from U1MB.
Actually I even don't have more than one partition. I just use AVG Cart to access .car, .atr, .cas and .xex files.
Sorry for so many questions.
Best regards,
patjomki
Hi,
Don't worry. I'm here to help :-) 1. 600Xl has power on 47 and 48 so it's doesn't matter which one you using. You don't need to change power jumper in case. 2. MC consuming low power but if you have so equipped Atari, 10 Watts might be insufficient at all :-) 3. Best method is to have one FAT partition on SD for AVG direct access and a few Atari partitions visible under SDX on the same SD card. You may use FDISK program to do it. Always you may use external floppy connected via SIO with MC and MIDI files but using MCP with SD is perfect and so quickly. 4. 800XL has no power no 47/48 PBI's pin, in order to be compatible with 600XL you need to add connection between +5V and one or two mentioned pins. Most users have this modification to avoid external power PBI devices. If you haven't id or don't want to modify Atari with this mod, you may use external PSU +5V (+5V on center pin!) and take off jumper from J9 header.
Best Regards, pancio
Hi pancio,
have to admit that I didn't expect so much work to get the MidiCar running. One of the reasons why I hate PCs so much is fiddling with DOS/Windows/Linux what so ever just to keep it running.
Atari always has been plug&play for me. Insert a module or a disk and that's it.
So if I understood correctly the best way to upgrade my 800XL is to provide 5V on pins 47 AND 48 like in a 600XL, right? BTW, my 800XL also has an AVG Cart, a PokeyMax3, a Sophia2, an U1MB, a VBXE, a rapidus and a FujiNet (directly plugged into SIO) installed and 10 Watts are sufficient up to now (didn't measure it but my 800XL is rock stable).
Anyway, I absolutely want to avoid using an external power supply with MidiCar as it is too dangerous that a wrong one is used.
Guess I have some work to do with fdisking :shock: then. Don't know if I can manage this at this weekend as at the moment I feel quite exhausted. Keep you informed.
Best regards,
patjomki
Hi,
Actually, MC don't need any special things.. but MidiCar Player as best MIDI player working very best under SDX... MC as device don't need any special additional resources... it using only two registers on D5/D1 page. When I developed it I covered many difficult devices... Really sorry if you are disappointed... I hope PeBe will prepare working version for DOS2 or DOS II+. I may propose to you solusion with direct copy of my SD card - I'll prepare image for you and will send you link to image... Trust me, if you will start with MCP you will be very happy and any other MIDI is worst :-). If you will not able to run MC till tomorrow, I'll make SD image for you - I can't to do now because I'm on short mountain trip...
Yes it's easiest way... add power on 47/48 pin - in my opinion this approach is safer than external power.
Hi pancio,
enjoy your mountain trip I got it working. :)
PeBe provided an XDOS image and after I replaced the player against 1.58 it works with my 600XL. Unfortunately 800XL not so I have to do the modification.
But just to make sure 47/48 means 5V to both pins, e g. Pin47 AND(!!!) Pin48?
Best regards and I hope you had a fantastic trip to the mountains?
patjomki
Hi,
No... only one pin is needed - you may use both as well :-) I prefer this placed on top of the PBI (haven't possibility to check it now).
I'm happy that you run MC - let me know if any other issue approached!
Best Regards, pancio
