smith%nrl-aic@sri-unix.UUCP (02/03/84)
From: Russ Smith <smith@nrl-aic> A recent note on the net mentioned an s100 music board which used the 8910 chip to generate three voices as well as interface to Atari joysticks and/or burgler alarm, etc. Digital Research Computers (of Texas) sells a six voice s100 board (two chips) for less than $90. It has four bidirectional 8 bit parallel ports (provided by the chips) brought out to IC sockets. I've had one for a number of years and am very pleased with it. The chips don't provide GREAT tonal quality but that's okay by me. In the past I've used the parallel ports to scan a 44 key organ keyboard (44 SPST switches, a VERY BIG burglar system). Worked without a hitch. Right now I've got three of the ports driving a pen plotter (one I've previously commented about on the net) and one of the ports reading a, ta-da, Atari joystick (5 SPST switches). In all cases the chips provided all the interface circuitry. Hooking things up only required a lot of long wires...(well, actually the organ required a couple of latches to scan 44 keys with two 8 bit ports). Russ <Smith@nrl-aic>
SHahn@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA (02/04/84)
From: Sam Hahn <SHahn@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> I agree that the DRI sound board looked great, but LOOKED great is the rub. I called them up a couple of months ago, hoping to buy one, but they told me they were no longer selling that board, and no, I couldn't convince them otherwise. Has this changed? Is the board back? Let me know if it is. -- sam -------
GUBBINS@RADC-TOPS20.ARPA (02/07/84)
From: Gern <GUBBINS@RADC-TOPS20.ARPA>
>From what Russ and others have said the DRI sound board when it was
available sounded like a good deal, although, based on all your comments,
it lacked about $20 worth of reliable connectors (IDS, etc..) and
proper register latching to maintain output signals (on the I/O ports)
while reading the input ports and preventing the application from an
external I/O bus conflict (say Joystick inputs interfering with the output
signals...) - because of the bi-directional bus on the chip. If this
is not the case (I will not know until I can see a wiring diagram or such)
then they are retailing (without the expensive connectors I'll be using)
the device for the cost it will take me to produce mine. If I do sell
to other than just friends, do I have to charge sales tax? What are the
legalities here? Do I need a CPA? Are there any other S-100 sound
boards out there?
Cheers,
Gern
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