20-09-2014 :

New batch of 5V CPLD's for the MIDI-PAC

Got our hand on a new large batch of 5V Xilinx CPLD's that will be used for the future MIDI-PAC's.
We where also able to get all of the old tooling working and we just succeeded in programming the first of those devices !
The re-layout of the PCB can now start which will secure a steady delivery of new MIDI-PAC's.

11-08-2014 :

Orbit PCB layout has started

After completing the design/schematics of the Orbit project, it's now time to start working on the layout of the main PCB board. This process will take some time as the design incorporated 728 components. Also a lot of traces will require additional attention because of the needed matched impedance.

01-08-2014 :

Styles CD preview added to music player

With our new music player present on our website, it seemed no more then logical to add the Styles soundtracks made by Jan to our playlist. All numbers are made using a MSX as sequencer/synthesizer and MIDI equipment for the additional instruments. The numbers have been shortened to prevent misusing off the various soundtracks.

12-07-2014 :

New WORP3 website online.

Hurray, We just finished migrating our old website to the one you are seeing now. This new website will give us the possibility to add new stuff more easily, we programmed a stripped version of CMS into it. This will let us just edit items, instead of changing the source code. A lot of old stuff has been upgraded, also a lot of new stuff has been added. Overall the new website lets us show new stuff more easily. It's now also possible to link a specific page or news item more easily. All of the old website features are still there, so you won't be missing any of that. More new stuff will be added soon. Enjoy the new look.

10-04-2014 :

Short Orbit update

Just a short Orbit update so you won't get the wrong idea that we aren't working on it. Orbit is alive and kicking but to by honest, the amount of work on the design was a bit underestimated. The complete Orbit schematic design is ready and at the moment we are verifying that all of the FPGA connections made in the design are correct and not conflicting with the FPGA internal requirements. After the verification has been completed we will order the last remaining components and continue with the PCB layout. Hopefully we can order those prototype PCB board somewhere during the summer.

31-08-2013 :

New MIDI-PAC firmware version 0.80

It turned out that in Aleste the rhythm track is somewhat behind the musical tracks.
After some investigation it seems that Compile is changing the volume of a specific rhythm instrument,
after they activated it. Since Aleste only uses the snare drum in most of its music,
it sounds like the rhythm comes one step behind.
After someone quickly scanned through other Compile products,
it turned out that not only Aleste suffered this oddity.
Another notable Compile game that suffers this issue as well is Golvellius 2.
Therefore this issue is now informally referred to as the "Compile bug".
The new 0.80 version will fix this delayed rhythm problem so get it out of the download section while it's still hot.

21-06-2013 :

General update

20-03-2013 :

MSX music pack update

The MSX music pack which can be found inside the download section, has been updated.
You now can find a lot more OPX files, basic files, psg musics and moonblaster songs.
Have fun!

31-01-2013 :

MIDI-PAC Midi file player

Although the player is far from complete, I won't keep you waiting any longer.
The player will work fine with most single and even multi-track midi files, but:

02-01-2013 :

Fresh new year

First off all, we wish you all a very happy, peaceful, lucky, healthy and prosperous new year !

A new twitter account has been created which makes it easier to inform you on our smallest updates. so if you are interested you can follow us at twitter, just click to follow button at the top of my webpage.

28-11-2012 :

Parts for the second prototype has been ordered

Just a short update on the progress.
Besides the development of the mainboard, which is in full progress. I did find me some time to order the newly adjusted plastic parts which will enable me to complete the second prototype.

01-10-2012 :

New pcb boards assembled/updated Orbit pictures

The components for the newly received pcb boards are assembled and all of them are placed inside the front of the housing. I've also added some new, higher quality pictures of the Orbit project.

Go see the Orbit project page for the newly and better pictures.

19-09-2012 :

The first three boards arrived

After waiting a couple of weeks I finally received the first three pcb boards. I will assemble those pcb very soon and fit them inside the front of the Orbit housing.

25-06-2012 :

First prototype painted and assembled

The additional work on that breaking machine is completed and with it, I managed to bent those sheet metal plates within the specified tolerances. After the metal work was finished, I went looking for an appropriate color which in the end became the metallic like color gun grey (satin finish) !
Overall I'm very pleased with the result of the first prototype.
I will now focus my attention on the electric side of the project, starting with those small PCB's that are going to be placed inside the front.

Go see the Orbit project page for some more pictures.

10-05-2012 :

Orbit progress update

As developing the Orbit projects isn't only related to developing electronics and firmware, becomes clear when you are building your own prototypes. I've ordered a metal breaking machine to be able to get nice, accurate and clean sheet metal bends. Unfortunately this wasn't proceeding as planned as the breaking machine was far from precise and important settings weren't adjustable at all. So away with the notebook and in to the overall, let's do some metalwork!
I've made all kind of changes to all of the hinging points as they had way too much slack in them. The bending surface wasn't straight at all, actually the metal got already bend while clamping it. To correct this, I flattened the bending surface with a milling machine.
The mechanical stops for the fingers wasn't straight at all, this put all of the fingers out of alignment, which wasn't workable at all.
I've straightened the surface of the mechanical stops with a milling machine, the stops and the bending surface are both ok now. At the moment I'm working on adding two precise adjustable mechanical stops, so I can make really accurate bends, but even better I can get the same bend over different work-peaces. I'm making those two mechanical stops out of two modified calipers, one of those modified calipers can be seen on the pictures below.

So, luckily I can fix all of the bending problems, but it has taking some additional time. Hopefully I will be able to bends those metal sheets parts somewhere during the following week.

19-04-2012 :

Receiving the sheet metal parts

After a lot of specifying and fitting, I received the laser cut sheet metal parts. Luckily someone helped me out here as it's very hard to order custom metal parts here in the Netherlands while being a enthusiastic hobbyist, and not a big company. Go see the Orbit project page for some bigger pictures.

15-03-2012 :

Receiving the first plastic Orbit parts

After a lot of modelling and waiting, I finally received the newly plastic parts for the Orbit project.
You can find some more pictures on the Orbit project page.

23-02-2012 :

Receiving the first Orbit components

A bit delayed but the first load of components finally arrived. With those components all 3D models will be verified, mechanical stuff can be ordered after the verification. Orbit project page will be up after the mechanical stuff has been ordered.

06-02-2012 :

History page

The first version of our history page has finally been filled !

24-01-2012 :

Start of a new project "Orbit"

During the last MSX meeting in Nijmegen, our new and challenging project was introduced for the first time. For those who weren't present at Nijmengen, click on the picture or PDF below to get a glimpse of the project, the official project page will follow shortly.



Orbit leaflet (PDF)

05-01-2012 :

New MIDI-PAC beta version

I've made a new version that has a much better anti modulation algorithm in it. It will sound a lot better during playback of mgsel files and T&E soft games. Please let me know if you find something that is going absolutely wrong using this beta version. You can find the new beta version in the download section.

02-01-2012 :

New MIDI-PAC sample files

During the last holiday i managed to record some MIDI-PAC sample songs.
To get an impression on how some msx musics can sound, listen to one of them in the MIDI-PAC project page !

10-11-2011 :

New MIDI-PAC MPC file

Thanks to John Hassink, we have added a newly MPC file to our MPC collection.
The new MPC file is intended for the Roland XP-30 synthesizer.
As usually you can find it in the download section.

23-09-2011 :

Project page template changed

Duo to time shortness the final project page will still take some time to complete.
In the meantime i've updated the project page template so that a MIDI-PAC picture and the link to the site is present.
More to come in the neat future.

27-07-2011 :

MPCONFIG update

Thanks to KDL a bug with the drum volume/gain was detected within the MPCONFIG utility.
Problem has been fixed and the MPCONFIG version has been increased to version 0.41

23-07-2011 :

MIDI-PAC Applications update

I've fixed the Turbo-R problem for all of the MIDI-PAC applications.
You can find all of the updated versions including a new manual inside the download section.

19-07-2011 :

New version of the MIDI-PAC manual

I updated the MIDI-PAC manual as the older version didn't have any explanation on the newly added functions of the MIDI-PAC and the MPCONFIG utility.

As usual, you can find the new program inside the download section.

07-06-2011 :

MPCONFIG update

In combination with an one chip MSX, the FM-PAC drums where corrupted or not playing at all !
Problem has been fixed and the MPCONFIG version has been increased to version 0.34

02-05-2011 :

New MPCONFIG update

Thanks to KDL and Marcel, two small problems where detected within the MPCONFIG program.
So here it is, a brand new version of the MPCONFIG program !
As usual, you can find the new program inside the download section.

26-04-2011 :

New MIDI-PAC version

The waiting is finally over, here is the newly and much improved MIDI-PAC version ! The new version (0,50) does pack a lot of changes as can be seen below:

• Used a new and more efficient compiler
• Rewritten the OPLL original to MIDI voice conversion
• Optimized the data handling from the CPLD to get a better response on faster msx
• Lowered the priority of the midi volume handling
• Lowered the priority of the midi modulation
• Lowered the priority of the midi voice handling
• Removed handling of channel 7, 8 and 9 when in Rhythm mode
• Added blinking red led when midi buffer is full
• Added original modulation
• Added Roland bank switching
• Fixed: Hanging midi notes problem
• Fixed: Instrument modulation wasn't reacting on edited value
• Fixed: bug inside the write to MIDI directly function

12-04-2011 :

MIDI-PAC Update bulletin

Thanks to Jorrith, we now have a new MIDI-PAC configuration file. This time it's for the Korg super sound module, thanks Jorrith !
You can find the new KORG_GM.MPC file inside the download section.

The new MIDI-PAC version is almost ready and will be released very soon. You finally be ably to do voice bank switching on the Roland modules and enjoy a much improved OPLL to MIDI conversion !

19-02-2011 :

First release of the MIDI-PAC manual

It has taken me a lot more time that i had anticipated but here it is, the first release of the MIDI-PAC manual, hurray !
I've added the manual to the download section, so get it while it's still hot.

04-02-2011 :

New MIDI-PAC MPC file

Thanks to Jorrith we now have a new MIDI-PAC configuration for the MT32 !
You can find the new MT32.MPC file inside the download section.

21-01-2011 :

New MIDI-PAC software pack

After a lot of very late evenings i finally got the MIDI-PAC configuration tool ready for use. The program will run under MSX-DOS and will give you the possibility to reconfigure all of the MIDI-PAC settings. During programming i didn't had a working Turbo-R at my proposal so it's probably best to run the program in Z80 mode only, just to avoid some timing issue's. I will test the R800 mode right after i'm finished writing the manual.

I've constructed a MIDIPAC.ROM that will let games see the MIDI-PAC as a music device. With this rom you can use the MIDI-PAC as a real FM-PAC or music replacement. The rom doesn't have a basic extension, so no support for "play #2" like statements.
It's always possible to replace the rom inside the MIDI-PAC using the MPFLASH utility.

I've also added the Nijmegen release of the MIDI-PAC firmware and a short movie to the download section.

10-01-2011 :

Giant msx music pack has been added to the download section

21-12-2010 :

New version of the MIDI-PAC PCB did arrive

The waiting came to an end, when I finally received the new batch of MIDI-PAC pcb's.
I did a quick peek on the delivered quality and I can inform you they are just perfect !

20-12-2010 :

Download section rewritten, added some more MIDI-PAC utilities

20-12-2010 :

ACE Sound studio programmers documentation added to the download section

Found the programming documentation I used during programming the music program.
Inside the documentation there is a lot of info on the bios, buildup, commands, file structure etc.etc.
Remark: The music program has been written using a turbo-r, I never tested it on an other MSX !

16-12-2010 :

MSX Music program has been added to the download section

Almost by accident,I found an old MSX music program that I wrote a century ago. As i'm not doing anything with it, or planning on going too, i've decided that i'm going too donate it to the MSX community. Maybe some newly MSX programmer can learn something from it or at least get some experience from it. It support only the MSX music but is able to load moonblaster, ACE and Amiga module files.
It's all free of charge and you can do with it what ever you want to ! All of the batch files (to assemble it with GEN80) are included, so are a lot of example songs.
I never finished the program for the full 100% but the most important functions are implemented. Have fun with it !

28-11-2010 :

MPUPDATE utility for MSX-DOS placed within the download section

24-10-2010 :

First two MIDI-PAC modules have been shipped