MOONSOUND

MoonSound

Some general info about MoonSound can be seen in the textfile [OPL4.TXT]. It was written by Remco Schrijvers of Moonsoft.

What is a MoonSound?

MoonSound is a high-quality 16-bit wave table and FM soundcard for MSX computers, based on the Yamaha OPL4 standard.

What are the specs of the MoonSound card?

• Yamaha OPL4 sound processor (YMF-278B-F)
  • 100% OPL1/OPL2/OPL3 compatible (note: the MSX-Audio is also OPL1 compatible, so MSX-Audio software that doesn't use the MSX-Audio ADPCM part can be used on the MoonSound)
  • OPL4 is an independent CPU with it's own memory so even a `slow' 3,5 MHz MSX computer is able to replay high quality samples with minimum of CPU power
• wave table part: 24 PCM channels (stereo: adjustable in 16 steps for each channel; replay frequency upto 44.1kHz)
  • Replay of 8-bit, 12-bit or 16-bit data
• 128kB SRAM for own samples, upgradable upto 2MB of SRAM
  • MoonSound V1.0 has 128kB SRAM and no socket for a 2nd SRAM IC
  • MoonSound V1.1 and V1.2 have 128kB SRAM (in a socket) and a socket for a 2nd SRAM IC
    • 128kB SRAM (Part number: SONY CXK581000AP, Memory Capacity: 1M-bit, Function: (128k × 8-bit) LL, Access: 70 ns, Pins: 32, Package: DIP)
    • 512kB SRAM (Part number: HITACHI HM628512LP-7, Memory Capacity: 4M-bit, Access: 70 ns, Pins: 32, Package: DIP)
• FM part: several choices can be made, stereo: left, right or both. Channels:
  • 18 2-operator FM channels
  • 15 2-operator FM channels + 5 FM drums
  • 6 4-operator FM channels + 6 2-operator FM channels
  • 6 4-operator FM channels + 3 2-operator FM channels + 5 FM drums
• 2MB wave table ROM (Yamaha YRW-801) with (approx.) 330 samples, mostly 22kHz 12-bit
  • Compatibility with the General MIDI standard (128 melody sounds and 47 percussion sounds)
• Socket (stereo mini jack) for stereo output
  • MoonSound V1.0: mounted on the top of the cartridge
  • MoonSound V1.1 & V1.2: mounted on the right side of the cartridge
• Almost no noise (from hardware) = top quality sound output
• Cartridge box (same size as Philips NMS-1250 modem), grey colour, nice label with printed "MoonSound" in gold colour
• 1 cable: mini jack to 2 × cinch; stereo. For connecting to amplifier
• 1 manual in B/W

• Yamaha YMF278B (OPL4, Application Manual) (this is the complete manual)
• Yamaha YAC513 (2-Channel Floating D/A Converter)

Is there any software supplied with it?

Yes, there are 2 editors (delivered on two 720kB floppy disks):

• Moonblaster for MoonSound Wave V1.x
  • supports 24 wave channels
  • MSX-DOS2 compatible (256kB RAM required)
  • Harddisk installable
  • Requires at least MSX2 with 128kB RAM and 128kB VRAM and SS floppy disk drive
  • R800 compatible
• Moonblaster for MoonSound FM V1.X
  • It supports 18 2-operator FM channels or 6 4-operator FM channels + 6 2-operator FM channels + 6 wave channels
  • MSX-DOS2 comaptible (256kB RAM required)
  • Harddisk installable
  • Requires at least MSX2 with 128kB RAM and 128kB VRAM and SS loppy disk drive
  • R800 compatible

  Both programs resemble the wellknown Moonblaster V1.4 for MSX-Music/MSX-Audio.

Where can I find the newest MBWAVE and MBFM editors?

• MBWAVE 1.16: MoonBlaster for MoonsSound Wave V1.16 (Update by Marcel Delorme 2004)

Is MoonSound able to replay Amiga [.MOD] files?

Yes it is, till now there are the following programs which are able to replay [.MOD] files:

• [MMP.COM] - [mmodply.lzh] - MoonSofts MOD player for MoonSound V1.11 (1995)
• [NMP.COM] - [nmodply.lzh ] - NOP's MOD player for MoonSound V1.0 (1995)
  • Requires 128kB RAM with DOS1 or 256kB RAM with DOS2
  • Harddisk installable
  • Mouse/Keyboard controlled
  • Nice GUI
  • Many MOD Commands supported
  • Many options in the player menu
• [MPCOM8.COM] - [modplay8.lzh] - NOP's/Yobi's 8 channel MOD-player (actually, it's NOP's replayer improved by Yobi)! For MSX-DOS(2).

  Has someone got newer versions of these MOD players? Please mail me!

Is MoonSound able to replay [.MID] files?

Of course, and you can also just capture MIDI data from a MIDI-in port and send it to the OPL4 which replays it! Programs that can do this:

• Midi2Opl4 - Version 0.6 - Date 01/22/97, made by Erik Maas. It uses the MIDI-interface of the Philips NMS-1205 Music Module. Requirements: MSX2 computer with 64kB RAM, 16kB VRAM, SS disk drive, MoonSound cartridge, Philips NMS-1205 (MSX-Audio cartridge) and a MIDI cable. Plays data from MIDI-in port directly on MoonSound.
• Meridian now also has MoonSound support! Check it out!

Are there any [.MWM] or [.MFM] replayers?

The only replayers on the web are for MBWave files as far as I know:

• [wavedrv.lzh] - Moonblaster Wave driver for MoonSound by Marcel Delorme 2001 (newest version). The official MBWave replayer by the authors of MBWave. Replays files made in MBWAVE 0.92 until the newest version. On the site there's also a DOS2 TSR version present.
• [opl4repl.lzh] - [.MWM] MBWAVE replayer V1.03c for MoonSound by Edwin v/d Heide 1997

  Tip: Press [I] to get the [I]nfo screen. Features:

  • Autoload of [.MWK] sample files
  • Possibility of disk change (re-read of the floppy disk)
  • Shuffle play
  • Adjustable fader
  • VU-meter
  • Real time status screen over all 24 wave channels (Nice feature!)
  Requirements:
  • MSX2 computer, 128kB RAM, 128kB VRAM and SS floppy disk drive
  • Works on Harddisk too after executing [MAP.COM] - [map.com]

But on the FutureDisk for example, is always an other replayer present.

Where can I find technical (programming) info about it?

Some technical info can be found here. Everything about the registers etc., is in it. This file has been downloaded from Maurizio's hardware page where more info can be found on several stuff.

Where can I buy it?

Contact Sunrise for MSX (Rob Hiep)