Electronics


SoundplayerNG - currently available -
It is about the integration of a card its 100% compatible Digiblaster and of a card network Virtual Net. This one is connected on the port printer of the CPC. This new more compact version of the interface completely replaces Soundplayer+ which consequently is not proposed any more.

The card part its makes it possible to have a sound restitution in 8 bits for the samples or the modules Digitracker and Protracker. The quality of the sound restitution is higher than that obtained with Digiblaster. This existing musical standard since now of the years is largely widespread; the large majority of CPCistes of the scene have a compatible card Digiblaster and many programs use them.

The network part makes it possible to use the plays Virtual Net such as Shoulder Dash, Last Action Not or Turbo Ball. This protocol network makes it possible to play to connect up to 256 CPCs and offers a flow of 60000 bauds. Nothing is brighter than to clash with 8 players in Shoulder Dash (clone of Boulder Dash) endiablé! The principle of the network Virtual Net was developed in 1996 by the Wizcat group. You can go to see the page of Virtual Net 96 for more details.

You can order SoundplayerNG in Rédac' and we will assemble it as soon as possible to you. Though it is about hardware this card is distributed in freeware and only the hardware is to be paid. Being given that there are three types of interfacing on CPC (IDE, Centronics and dB) and that various options are available, its cost of cost varies between 5 and 10 euros. To note however that the Réseau option is not yet available for the CPC+ because of a problem of printing compatibility of the port.

You will be able to find further information (description, diagrams, offset film) in number 20 of Quasar CPC. to place order of one or more SoundplayerNG contact Zik.

The Melody (ex-Soundplayer 2) - soon available -
 This new generation of card its offer of many possibilities hitherto unknown on CPC. The Melody is connected on the port expansion of your CPC and offers a sampler 8/16 bits stereo (max: 50kHz) and an output 8/16 stereo bits! Moreover, the card integrates mixer to make it possible to combine the output its standard of the CPC and the output its Digiblaster/Soundplayer(+/NG) (even Cd-rom) with that of the Melody; the duplex whole in full.

The Mélodie card will be soon available in freeware but the price of the components and the printed circuit amounts to approximately 50 euros. This card will of course be distributed with all the software necessary to manage the sampler and the new stereo output.

For more details contact Zik.

Cpc-isa Card 3 - soon available -
 Already a few times ago of that, Siou conceived famous Cpc-isa Card. This card allows the interfacing of cards ISA coming from the world of the PC on our good old men CPC. After the first functional version presented since 1997, Siou conceived then distributed version 2.1 since 1998. This "commercial" version allowed, in addition to the simultannée use of 3 cards ISA, the simple and effective assembly of the CPC6128 in a tower PC with format AT.

Siou not having more time to manage this project, it is Zik which takes the changing and soon a version 3 will propose to us. This new version will allow a mixed assembly in turns format AT or ATX (and more only AT as for version 2.1) like some small additional improvements.

Cpc-isa Card will be available to the neighbourhoods of 100 euros (with all cable-making nécéssaire with the assembly out of turn). Thanks to the work of Offset, Madram (of OVL), and soon RickD, the development of the drivers is already in hand on the three models of Cpc-isa Card version 2.1 existing what will certainly make it possible to distribute a certain number of software (of which a ROM of support ISA for Ramcard or Romboard) as of the output of the v3. Actuellement, a driver of Microsoft mouse on port COM as well as a tool for Soundblaster are functional. Pilots for reader CD-Rom and hard disk are in the course of writing and a manager of card Ethernet 10/100mb is being studied.

For information, Cpc-isa Card currently existing are used on the following configs:
Siou: Cpc-isa Card v1 (external model) with Soundblaster, card multi I/O (1xIDE, 1xFloppy, 2xCOM, 1xPAR), modem.
Offset: Cpc-isa Card v2.1 gone up out of case mini turn AT with CPC6128 (CRTC 4), Soundblaster Pro2, card Ethernet 3Com Pnp 10mb, card multi I/O (1xIDE, 1xFloppy, 2xCOM, 1xPAR). Moreover, the CPC is equipped with Ramcard 128k as well as VirtualNet96 card, of a CD-ROMx3 reader, a hard disk of 80Mo, a reader 3"and two readers 3"1/2.
Madram: Cpc-isa Card v2.1 (external model) with card its compatible Soundblaster16, card multi I/O (1xIDE, 1xFloppy, 2xCOM, 1xPAR).

For any further information contact Zik.

Reader 3"1/2
 You still work with your good old man reader 3"? Leave quiet and pass it on support 3"1/2! Not only the discs are much less expensive, easier to find and of greater capacity but in more the connection of a reader 3"1/2 of PC or Amiga is extremely simple. There is moreover a significant quantity of softwares making it possible to correctly manage the such drives ones even under Amsdos with for example excellent Parados, the ROM of update of our good old man CP/M published into 93 per Quantum Computing.

For more detail we advise you to order Quasar CPC number 14 in Rédac' because it contains a complete and detailed article with diagrams and list of hardware: all that it is necessary to connect yourself a reader 3"1/2 to your CPC or CPC+. For most curious, of the complementary files is appeared in numbers 16 and 19.

If you to be a little patient a textual file detailed with all the infos necessary to wiring and the management of drive a 3"1/2 will be soon available ici-même. If you have as of now questions to pose on this subject contact OffseT.

Repair of reader 3"
 These good old men readers 3"have beautiful being resistant and reliable they does not remain about it less than they have their heel of Achile. For a few years one has been able to note that a number of the readers 3"even become a little puffing require an anticipated retraire! Indeed, in these readers the principal drive is done via a belt… However it is a wearing part which, while taking age or following a long period of inativity will slacken. Result, one obtains "disc missing" even in the presence of disc or of the "read fail" when that adheres still a little but not regularly.

If you are confronted with such a problem you can repair your reader very simply! It is indeed enough to change your belt. Here procedure to leave the belt your reader:

  • To open your CPC (useless to disconnect anything, just to unscrew and open). On CPC+ there are three clips in addition to the screws to hold the closed keyboard.
  • To unscrew the reader 3"of the plastic hull of the CPC
  • To disconnect the tablecloth and the cable electric which go from the mother board to the reader (side reader)
  • If you have a CPC+ leave the reader 3"his protective metal cradle (there are 4 screws to demolish then it is necessary to make slip the reader forwards)
  • To pose the reader with back so that the electronic card is upwards
  • To unscrew the electronic card of the reader
  • To disconnect the catches which go from this card to the reader to be able sufficiently to raise the card to reach the belt (you will not be able to completely disunite the card of the reader in any event).
  • Withdraw the belt using your skilful fingers or of a small screwdriver. In all the cases always keep the reader head in bottom if not you are likely to make fall a small nail which is useful for detection of protection in writing and which holds in place only when the card is screwed.
  • Go in an unspecified store of sale of parts spare in electronics and ask a belt punt slightly smaller than that which you withdrew from the reader. You will have some for less 25F unless falling on a swindler.
  • Set up the new belt, reconnectez the catches which go from the reader to his card (attention the connectors and the wire are fragile), to screw up the card, to replug the reader with the mother board, close again your CPC.
  • Rejouissez you your 3"functions again as at the first day!


    • A last remark concerning the readers 3"of CPC+. It proves that these readers are of worse quality than those of the traditional CPC and it is thus "normal" that those can have evil to read certain discs. Do not try however to replace a reader of CPC+ by a reader of traditional CPC: interfacing is the same one but they are not compatible!

    If you need additional details contact OffseT.