Aucbvax.1558
fa.info-micro
utzoo!duke!mhtsa!ucbvax!CSTACY@MIT-AI
Mon Jun 8 01:24:13 1981
INFO-MICRO Digest V3 #46
INFO-MICRO AM Digest Monday, 8 June 1981 Volume 3 : Issue 46
Today's Topics: Sound - AY-3-8910 & 6802, Graphics - NEC,
Nixdorf query, Streaming Tape Drives,
Stepper query, MX80 cable query, N* disk query,
Home Computer Applications - Stock Portfolios
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Date: 7 May 1981 9:41:05 EDT (Thursday)
From: Carl D. Howe <CDH BBNT AT>
Subject: sound generator chips
I am looking for a nifty sound generator chip for use in making
sound effects for a small computer (i.e. bells, chimes, alarms, Bach
partitas, etc.). I would like the chip to be as programmable as possible,
relying primarily on inputs from the computer to determine what kinds
of sounds get made rather than on external capacitors and resistors.
Does anyone have any likely candidates?
Please send any replies to cdh@BBN-UNIX; the computer I
am sending this from is not often on the net.
Carl Howe
------------------------------
Date: 7 May 1981 1321-PDT (Thursday)
From: Lauren at UCLA-SECURITY (Lauren Weinstein)
Subject: sound chips
The obvious (only!) candidate is the General Instruments AY-3-8910.
I've been working with these for over a year. They are completely
oriented toward 8 bit I/O, have no external parts controlling the
sound, and contain 3 tone generators, a noise source, envelope
controller, etc. etc.
--Lauren
------------------------------
Date: 7 May 1981 1823-EDT
From: Bob Clements <CLEMENTS BBNA AT>
Sender: CLEMENTS at BBNA
Well, there is another alternative, although the AY-3-8910 does a
pretty nice job. It has been experimentally determined that the
Williams pinball machine people use a dual processor in their current
machines [Oooh wow! Modern technology!]. One 6802 processor handles
the game and scoring and lights and so on, and another 6802 is
completely dedicated to sound generation. It gets a code for a sound
(or sound sequence) from the master 6802 and generates it as 8-bit
samples which go to a cheap 8-bit D-to-A converter and thence to the
speaker. The results are better than the GI chip can do. (CDH come
over and listen to a Jericho some time for an example.)
/Rcc
------------------------------
Date: 05/27/81 01:54:54
From: DAN at MIT-ML
Re: NEC uPD7220 Graphics Display Controller (GDC) Chip
I've obtained most of the literature available from NEC on the GDC
chip. This includes a thick preliminary spec sheet, a report on the
chip given at the last ISSCC, and some other Xeroxed pages of stuff.
>From the spec sheet, the beauty as well as the complexity of the chip
shows through. This chip is no Motorola 6845, and thus even the spec
sheet is not detalied enough to give a perfectly clear description of
integrating the chip into a design, especially on the software level.
I've also contacted NEC a few times and here is the story on
availability: This chip was supposed to be ready this month, but
because of various delays, the earliest that the GDC will be available
is August. Because of the demand for this product, NEC will only be
able to supply very limited numbers per customer (for us University
people, this boils down to no more than two chips). In small
quantities (under 10), the chip will go for $150. Of course, when the
chip enters the full production phase in October or November, the
price will drop. Further, the people at NEC realized that the spec
sheet does not explain the details of using the GDC, so a 100 some odd
page uPD7220 User's manual will also be available in August.
If anyone has specific questions about the GDC, pleas drop me some
mail and I'll try to look it up in my spec sheet and get you a
(hopefully correct) answer.
Dan
------------------------------
Date: 30 Apr 1981 1420-PDT
From: Barry Megdal <BARRY AT CIT-20>
Re: Nixdorf LK3000 Modules
Does anyone know of a source for the serial and parallel interface
modules for the (now discontinued and on sale for $40 or so) Nixdorf
LK3000 Language Translator/handheld "computer"? There was a nice
RS-232 interface made, but none of the distributors have them, and the
factory wants $125. By the way, details of the display/keyboard part
were in July, 1980 issue of Popular Electronics. Thanks.
Barry Megdal.
------------------------------
Date: 4 May 1981 1934-PDT (Monday)
From: Lauren at UCLA-SECURITY (Lauren Weinstein)
Subject: streaming tape drives
I am looking for a "cheap" (haha!) streaming cartridge-type tape
drive suitable for backing up a 20meg Winchester. This device
should be S-100 compatible.
Anyone know of a standalone unit/controller that doesn't cost as
much as the disk?
Thanks.
--Lauren--
P.S. I AM interested in combined disk/tape units, but most of these
do not seem terribly cost effective (I know about the IRWIN unit).
I suspect a standalone unit will have to be used since several drives
will eventually be involved.
--LW
------------------------------
Date: 6 May 1981 1236-EDT
From: KSPROUL at RUTGERS
Subject: Stepper motors
Does anybody know what a Reluctance Stepper motor is, and what
is different about it from a normal stepper motor???
Any info would be helpful..
Keith Sproul
Ksproul@Rutgers
------------------------------
Date: 7 May 1981 (Thursday) 2054-PST
From: DWS at LLL-MFE
Re: Cable query for Epson MX-80
When purchased without a serial port, the MX-80 comes with a Centronix
type edge connector. A quick scan of the catalog stack fails to show
where one is available. Can anyone tell me where to get one?
(Centronix to DB-25) or should I roll my own?
Thanks,
Dave
------------------------------
Date: 28 May 1981 04:39-EDT
From: Barry A. Dobyns <BADOB AT MIT-AI>
I recently came across a N* single density controller sans
docs/software/schematic. I was wondering if N* still supports this
board (to the extent that they would sell me what i don't have) and
also wondered if there is a CP/M BIOS for the N* in the public domain,
or better yet a bios that integrates the N* and another controller
into the same system.
-tnx, barry
------------------------------
Date: 15 May 1981 10:18-EDT (Friday)
From: Andrew G. Malis <MALIS BBNE AT>
Re: Home computer for parents
My parents are considering buying a micro to keep track of their stock
market and investments portfolio, and to do taxes. They are strictly
users, not hackers, and at this point want to do as little programming
as possible (or have me do it if it's necessary). Thus, good packaged
software is a must. Word processing may be an added interest, but
only in the future. The two micros they are currently considering are
the Apple II+ with one drive, 32K, and a nice green-phosphor monitor,
and the TRS-80 Model III with two drives, 32K, and an RS-232
interface, for about the same money. They don't care at all about
games or graphics capabilities. I have had no direct experience with
either machine.
Does anyone have any recommendations or warnings concerning either
system (especially reliability and ease of use for naive users)?
Also, has anyone used, or perhaps just know of, any good software that
fits the bill for portfolio management?
If people send replies to me, I will put together a digested
summary of the comments for the entire list.
Thanks,
Andy
------------------------------
End of INFO-MICRO Digest
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