[Fpga-synth] MIDI-controller and the Arcade Extender

[Colin Hinz]

 On Tue Jul 24  9:24 , "Magnus Wedmark"  sent:

> I've got a working design using a simple monophonic SIN-synth
> and using the PC as a MIDI=>COM-bridge, but now I have designed
> and finished an extender-board called "Arcade Extender" fitting
> a 2*20 0.1" standard connector that I would like to try out. It
> is specified to be optimal for FPGA-based synth-applications,
> emulator-applications (C64, TRS-80 , VIC-20, Amiga, Atari ST
> and more), new SOC-platforms and more.
>
> I have 10 professionally made boards from the first batch.
> See it at:
> http://wedmark.se

Sweet! Since I have one of the S-3 (not S-3E) boards, I'd be
especially interested in one of these.

> I have already soldered 2 of them for me and a pal and I will
> start out by validating all connectors for correct function.
> I already got the VGA, PS2 and LineOut tested and these are
> working great.
>
>
> Then I will try to sell the rest of them (8) to anyone wanting
> one. I sell the unpopulated PCB with a BOM (bill of materials)
> for you to finish. It also comes with PDF-schematics. Email me
> if you are interested but please feel free to comment it on the
> list for some TRAFFIC! :-)

What would be approximate cost be for the bare board? And how "findable" is the memory card connector?

>The board comes with some nice additions to an existing FPGA-dev.board-connectors like:
>
>- MMC/SD-card (SPI only)
>- A 64/Amiga/ST-Joystick port (with 2 additional buttons specified)
>- VGA-output with 4096 colors
>- MIDI-in port
>- PS/2 connector (extra for simultaneous mouse+keyboard)
>- LineOut connector Stereo-sound ("Space-Invaders" Look-alike sound)

Is the interface to the MMC/SD card fast enough for real-time sample playback and recording? (Sorry, I'm not very knowledgeable on MMC/SD.....my hardware experience with memory cards is with Compact Flash, which is super-simple from the hardware perspective but for software requires a disk OS.)

:: Colin ::