Commander X16

Just finished catching up on all the videos related to this project.

I'm still confused about the Sound issue.  I really loved the "Beverly Hills Cop" sample so was looking forward to that.  Not sure if that's happening since I didn't catch a demo of the quality of the Vera Sound.

But one thing I really like is the RAM banking is now at $0000.  That makes me really happy, if only because I think I use to use that for ROM/RAM banking on the C64.  In my opinion,  IT'S WHERE IT SHOULD BE ?

Looking forward to more updates!

Nobody's sure what is happening, since the specifications have been frozen at "there are two designs in final testing and one or both will remain" for quite a while now.

If the YM2151 is in the final design, it's not based on exactly the same FM operator as the synthesizer in Beverly Hills Cop, but pretty similar ... straight out of the box, six operator synthesis can do more complex waveforms than four operator synthesis, but OTOH, since it would be under CPU control, you can do things like combine a pair of channels together for your instrument to get a more complex waveform.

The last prototype had a YM2151 and both PSG and PCM in the VERA, just like the emulator. The SAA1099 is no longer on it, and was never emulated, anyway. Kevin made no mention of any changes to the sound for the third prototype, so it looks pretty set right now. The FAQ is a bit ambiguous, mostly due to staleness, just like the 8BG videos are very old now, the last coming out right after the first prototype was up and running. The only difference in the sound since the R38 emulator is a change to the addresses for using the YM2151, which is reflected in the most recent commit to the repo, which will eventually R39.

When I look at the latest board just posted a few hours ago:


We can find a socket labeled "YM2151" at the bottom right. So I'm pretty sure the YM2151 will be in the final design - as is the VERA PSG/PCM. Personally I'm pretty pleased with that ?.

 

I never felt that the YM was in question ever since the successful demonstration of 8MHz bus compatibility. The SAA and AY PSGs were always on the bubble, so to speak, and as soon as VERA PSG was announced, I knew those chips were goners.