Anyone anxious to try adding a PokeyMAX to their ST?

[Lynxpro]

Seeing that some folks have added semi-modern MIDI capable sound chips in their STs so various games can play MIDI soundtracks internally [and without having to resort to outputting it through the MIDI ports to external hardware], is anyone on here scheming on how to add a PokeyMAX FPGA wonderchip into their STs?

 

In addition to being able to do Quad POKEY, Dual SID, and Covox audio all at once, the PokeyMAX can also do Dual "PSG" [Dual YM2149] audio. That's 6 channels of "ST" audio. To my knowledge, no one has ever done a Dual YM2149 upgrade for the ST, although other platforms have similar upgrades available [although generally for the GI AY chip that the YM2149 clones in the audio department].

 

Seems like a worthy upgrade for the ST...

[Tillek]

No.

 

[snarkdluG]

But it is a substitute for Pokey at the moment?

 

The pinout for C012294 and YM2149 are not the same. Not even VCC is the same. So I don't see how you would use it at the moment in an Atari ST.

 

YM2149 is relative cheap so far but that maybe is beside the point? But PokeyMax was made because Pokey is so hard to find nowadays and/or expensive?

 

 

[Lynxpro]

14 hours ago, snarkdluG said:

But it is a substitute for Pokey at the moment?

 

The pinout for C012294 and YM2149 are not the same. Not even VCC is the same. So I don't see how you would use it at the moment in an Atari ST.

 

YM2149 is relative cheap so far but that maybe is beside the point? But PokeyMax was made because Pokey is so hard to find nowadays and/or expensive?

 

 

 

Did I claim it was pin compatible? No. It would have to be via a PCB. Or maybe a cartridge based PCB like the B.A.T.

 

PokeyMAX started out as a POKEY replacement due to the chips becoming scarce but then it was decided to expand its capabilities to what Atari Coin/Atari Games used in the arcades... Quad POKEY... 16 POKEY channels like in the Atari Star Wars arcade games. And then Dual SID was added. Then Covox. And then PSG [AY/YM2149].  

 

And yes, it can replace the POKEY in the A8 for its non audio responsibilities. For those desiring the Atari ST to have more, well, "Atari" ish DNA inside of it, this would be a means of doing so. The creator of the project even wants to add AMY support - you know, the audio chip that was supposed to have been used by the ST from the start - if he ever receives one of the mythical finished AMY chips designed by Sight+Sound or decent schematics and code. That's a big if since the Sight+Sound folks maintain everything was destroyed in a mysterious warehouse fire that they allegedly implied government intelligence agencies set.

Edited February 18, 2021 by Lynxpro