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MegaCD - CD interface for the ATARI


ndary

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More technical info: actually, MegaCD was basically Turbo2000 system transfered from tape (standard transfer speed 2270 Bd) to CD (transfer speed up to 22000 Bd). Each file had the header (17 bytes) and the body (always one block). Structure of header:

 

1 byte - file type identificator ($03 - binary file, for example)

10 bytes - filename

2 bytes - load address

2 bytes - file lenght

2 bytes - start address

 

See the attachment for original file transfered from MegaCD that I got from Jiri Richter, invertor of MegaCD.

 

F.

 

P.S. I have dump of Visicopy III cart somewhere, if you are interested...

ARAX.ZIP

Edited by _Fandal_
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Hello Yorgle

 

Why would you need a sio2cd interface when you can connect a CD-ROM or DVD ROM drive to a BlackBox? Check out my (AT)ASPI page at http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/aspi.htm

 

Greetings

 

Mathy

Is the MegaCD files stored in Audio format not in digital or file format??? is my understanding of the interface. But what a way to select each file, scroll through the track numbers till you get the one you want.......

 

James

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Hello Yorgle

 

Why would you need a sio2cd interface when you can connect a CD-ROM or DVD ROM drive to a BlackBox? Check out my (AT)ASPI page at http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/aspi.htm

 

Greetings

 

Mathy

Is the MegaCD files stored in Audio format not in digital or file format??? is my understanding of the interface. But what a way to select each file, scroll through the track numbers till you get the one you want.......

 

James

 

The files are stored in Audio format (WAV), but not the standard tape Wav format most of us familiar with.. its a compressed format to speed up the loading time. to select a file you need to Forward or Rewind to the desired track, then to press PLAY on the CD and ENTER on the ATARI from the 'loader driver' utility

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Hello Yorgle

 

Why would you need a sio2cd interface when you can connect a CD-ROM or DVD ROM drive to a BlackBox? Check out my (AT)ASPI page at http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/aspi.htm

 

Greetings

 

Mathy

 

Because

 

1. Most people don't have a black box

 

2. It is always fun to have other kind of devices. The more choice, the better.

 

 

And in my opinion the Black Box is the BEST ever produced Atari 8bit interface ever. But it has one disadvantage. It is so big. I like to use my atari 8bit on several places, and I'm moving around with it lot of time. A fast plug-and-play thing like MyIDE or any Sio2Whatever fits better to my needs.

 

that is why :)))

 

and besides that... you could post your answer on every (new) invented interface.

 

Why sio2SD? We already have BlackBox

Why sio2IDE? We already have BlackBox

Why sio2USB? We already have BlackBox

Why MyIDE? We already have BlackBox?

Why printerinterface? We already have BlackBox.

 

See my point?

 

It is always GREAT when people invented stuff for a8. Even when we don't need it at all. :)

 

Thanks

Marius

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Hello Marius

 

Why sio2SD? We already have BlackBox

Why sio2IDE? We already have BlackBox

Why sio2USB? We already have BlackBox

Why MyIDE? We already have BlackBox?

Why printerinterface? We already have BlackBox.

 

See my point?

 

First of all, most printerinterfaces are a lot older then the BlackBox. So that doesn't count.

The BlackBox doesn't have an SD, IDE or USB interface. You'ld have to add extra hardware to the BB, which in the first two cases can be existing hardware.

"SIO2..." is a nice concept. But CDROM drives are pretty big, compared to most other things you can plug into one of the interfaces you mention.

 

Why MyIDE? I have NO clue what so ever. Yes, I know what it is. But I just don't like it.

 

So no, I don't see your point.

 

Greetings

 

Mathy

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More technical info: actually, MegaCD was basically Turbo2000 system transfered from tape (standard transfer speed 2270 Bd) to CD (transfer speed up to 22000 Bd). Each file had the header (17 bytes) and the body (always one block). Structure of header:

 

1 byte - file type identificator ($03 - binary file, for example)

10 bytes - filename

2 bytes - load address

2 bytes - file lenght

2 bytes - start address

 

See the attachment for original file transfered from MegaCD that I got from Jiri Richter, invertor of MegaCD.

 

F.

 

P.S. I have dump of Visicopy III cart somewhere, if you are interested...

 

Having a dump of the cart would be good. I would like to build this. Does anyone know what kind of cart it is?

 

Thanks

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You said something like:

 

Why inventing/using the CD solution from this topic, when you could simply plug a CD ROM on a black box.

 

I say:

 

Most people don't have a blackbox, which is hard to obtain these days, and is very expensive too.

 

And my point is:

 

Coming with a rather "rare" and expensive interface like a BlackBox when someone comes with another solution, seems not to be fair to me.

 

So I don't see why someone should get a blackbox to hook up a CD rom, while he also could use this much cheaper solution described in this topic :)

 

Marius

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Hello Yorgle

 

Why would you need a sio2cd interface when you can connect a CD-ROM or DVD ROM drive to a BlackBox? Check out my (AT)ASPI page at http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/aspi.htm

 

Greetings

 

Mathy

 

You overestimate my sophistication regarding these matters. I'm simply a sucker for any new gadget that comes along. ;) My ever-evolving goal is to set up my 1200xl to be as stand-alone as possible, but still have near instant access to downloads from the internet. I see this as being most practically possible by using sio2sd and myIDE. Sio2sd allows easy transfer from my pc (i.e, internet) to my Atari without an ugly cord (please understand, wife hates ugly cords. Too many and the whole setup is history!). I haven't yet done this, but my understanding is that I can then transfer files from the sio2sd to myIDE harddrive and select programs right from the Atari. I can then keep the sio2sd tucked neatly away until I need to transfer more programs or I might even consider installing it internally.

 

Getting back to this sio2cd setup, I just think the maker of this items deserves praise for the mere "doing of it".

Edited by yorgle
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  • 11 years later...

How about an SIO 2 CD device? Much faster than cassette speed. What is the cheapest small device that can interface with a CD/DVD data drive RPi?

Plausible?

 

Just a thought.

 

I know that they can already be connected to a PBI device, but I was thinking about a device for everyone.

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How about an SIO 2 CD device? Much faster than cassette speed. What is the cheapest small device that can interface with a CD/DVD data drive RPi?

Plausible?

 

Just a thought.

 

I know that they can already be connected to a PBI device, but I was thinking about a device for everyone.

 

One can run AspeQt on RPi and expose data on the CD-ROM to Atari. Fun? Yes. Practicality? Not much. CD-ROM has small capacity compared to contemporary SD cards and is much slower.

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Oh how the steps are made, CD was the birth (back then) of a new way to have, listen to and transport music and information for the masses.....Now, almost redundant....12yrs article span...(CD lifetime larger). Its actually so great to see for our Atari and the masses....Flying cars actually out there NOW, gets more like the Jetsons every day :)

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Oh how the steps are made, CD was the birth (back then) of a new way to have, listen to and transport music and information for the masses.....Now, almost redundant....12yrs article span...(CD lifetime larger). Its actually so great to see for our Atari and the masses....Flying cars actually out there NOW, gets more like the Jetsons every day :)

 

Still waiting on the hooverboard though ;)

 

Mathy booted his atari of a CD-ROM:

 

http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/boot%20cd.htm

 

Has anybody ever connected one to MyIDE?

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just reading Mathy's page and am interested in his connecting a zip drive and booting from that.

 

can this be done without a black box?

 

I've an old Iomega zip100 usb gathering dust, so would be interesting to put it to use.

Edited by Guest
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Oddly enough the Hoverboards exist but they need super cooled conductors as the track...Really sweet to see...

 

That's not a real hoverboard. It needs an underground rail and, most importantly, needs to be refueled with liquid nitrogen every 10 minutes. I guess I had to be more specific. I have seen other hoverboards based on maglev-like technology. Still waiting on a real hoverboard ;) Total freedom and anti-gravity :D

 

We probably have to wait until "they" are able to generate anti-gravitational waves. Way after they start understanding gravity in the first place.

 

As for Mathy, the man is mad :)

 

(great work really)

 

Thought a little about connecting a CD-ROM to a MyIDE (1). It can only read the first 256 bytes because it's not a 16-bit IDE interface. And CD-ROMS cannot be switched to 8-bit operation (which CF cards can, for example). But, you could just use the first 256 bytes of each 512 byte sector, similar to how it handled harddisks fifteen+ years ago.

Edited by ivop
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Oddly enough the Hoverboards exist but they need super cooled conductors as the track...Really sweet to see...

 

[youtube video]

That's not a real hoverboard. It needs an underground rail and, most importantly, needs to be refueled with liquid nitrogen every 10 minutes. I guess I had to be more specific. I have seen other hoverboards based on maglev-like technology. Still waiting on a real hoverboard ;) Total freedom and anti-gravity :D

 

We probably have to wait until "they" are able to generate anti-gravitational waves. Way after they start understanding gravity in the first place.

 

As for Mathy, the man is mad :)

 

(great work really)

 

Thought a little about connecting a CD-ROM to a MyIDE (1). It can only read the first 256 bytes because it's not a 16-bit IDE interface. And CD-ROMS cannot be switched to 8-bit operation (which CF cards can, for example). But, you could just use the first 256 bytes of each 512 byte sector, similar to how it handled real harddisks fifteen+ years ago.

Edited by ivop
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The problem is our want or need to isolate a complex system into non interdependent parts and prevents a full understanding of gravity and the waves involved. Gravity is the function of more than one discipline in science. There have been a number of experiments using low temperatures to fix or lock items apparently floating as if weightless.... but my thoughts have been about the density of the atmosphere such experiments have been conducted in.

 

Gravity waves are capable of faster than thought possible speed in the sense that both bodies or masses move at the same time and the effect is always one of attraction and intensity. This has the advantage of halving the distance or any such wave as it is a bifurcation. Because of the complex systems involved the wave must not pull on the other body such that it is permanently pulled out the gravity waves it naturally resides in, to do so pulls it out of it's natural state and orbit. (This is disastrous if you can't stop what you put in motion). Some theory exists that we may need to do just that to escape our galaxy when the demise of it approaches. I better stop before everyone eyes glaze over. Volumes of ideas and thoughts on the subject. I fear the discussion of particles, energy, and other waves pushing objects away from the gravitational bodies that should pull them in followed by the equilibrium of all forces and how they act rotating through space might break the internet. So we'll just have to leave it here for now. :)

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