Gimmick / Sunsoft 5B Audio?

[narshe]

Thanks goes out to krikzz for helping and providing all the necessary information to make your own Everdrive N8 FPGA bitstreams.

Where is this information?

[pld]

First of all, thanks for the efforts you put into this Necronomfive.

I used to speedrun Gimmick for a short period and I am owning the original Famicom cart which I am playing on my AV Famicom. I played through the game on my Famicom Everdrive with the latest mapper update to check if there are any differences compared to original cart.

Sound:
The soundtrack is way, way, way better than before and finally enjoyable but it still does not sound as powerful and voluminous as on original cart. Sound effects (jumping sound, starshot sound etc) are also finally there and since the last update they sound like they are supposed to sound.

Gameplay:
Gameplay wise I haven't noticed any differences or anomalies. I got the same sprite flickering as on my original cart so everything's correct here

I am very satisfied with this mapper update though I still have one thing that bothered me a little bit but I don't know if this has to do with the mapper or with the Everdrive itself. The sound volume is way lower than on original cart.

I hope I could help a bit

[Necronomfive]

Hey pld,

thanks for your thorough report!

Regarding the low sound volume: do you mean the overall sound (all music+sfx), or just specific parts?

It is expected that the levels of the NES/Famicom sound channels are going to drop slightly once the FPGA actively drives the external audio pin. You can see the same effect when you start "Akumajou Dracula" on the Everdrive N8.

It's partly due to Everdrive N8 circuit design, but also due to the difference in output characteristics between a real Sunsoft 5B chip and the FPGA. Sunsoft 5B has a real analogue DAC, while the FPGA is feeding a digital I/O pin with a massively oversampled (50MHz sampling rate) and dithered waveform of the audio waveform signal.

BR,

Necronomfive

[pld]

Regarding the low sound volume: do you mean the overall sound (all music+sfx), or just specific parts?

yes, overall sound is lower compared to original cart

[Great Hierophant]

On my Famicom AV, with the audio mixing set to HI, the expansion audio samples appear to be in balance with the internal audio.  The expansion audio sounds accurate, which is probably the first time I have been able to say that about the E8.  Good job!

[btrim]

I don't have a cart to compare, but here's output from a modified NES-101 and modified ED, I think the ED mix is set to low, but both sounded "ok" to me.

https://youtu.be/qkaMTmi6Uz8

[KRIKzz]

i guess that mix level settings have no any effect over this mapper, probably Necronomfive's  mapper does not handle this option

[Necronomfive]

Hello KRIKzz,

it's no problem to implement different mixing volumes, I just need to know how the OS tells the mapper (which map_cfg[] bit).

BR,

Necronomfive

[KRIKzz]

Hello KRIKzz,

it's no problem to implement different mixing volumes, I just need to know how the OS tells the mapper (which map_cfg[] bit).

BR,

Necronomfive

map_cfg[6]

Thanks goes out to krikzz for helping and providing all the necessary information to make your own Everdrive N8 FPGA bitstreams.

Where is this information?

http://krikzz.com/pub/support/index.php?dir=everdrive-n8%2Fdevelopment

[Necronomfive]

Hi KRIKzz,

thanks for your help!

I have uploaded a new version here:

http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=50208122714712053393

Changes:

-> Famicom / NES native channel output is now louder
-> Mapper supports LO/HI mixing volume settings from OS configuration menu
-> PRG RAM is now 64K for home-brew purpose

Give it a try and let me know if there are any iprovements/regressions.
If it's good, I consider this the final release!

BR,

Necronomfive

[xamphear]

I have uploaded a new version here:

This is awesome. You are awesome. Do you have any way for people to send you donations as thanks and incentive for more mappers?

[Ryoandr]

Hi KRIKzz,

thanks for your help!

I have uploaded a new version here:

http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=50208122714712053393

Changes:

-> Famicom / NES native channel output is now louder
-> Mapper supports LO/HI mixing volume settings from OS configuration menu
-> PRG RAM is now 64K for home-brew purpose

Give it a try and let me know if there are any iprovements/regressions.
If it's good, I consider this the final release!

BR,

Necronomfive

This version has extra channels really quiet, on my 2 AV Famicom systems ; one uses nesrgb amp, the other uses a rebuilt audio circuit to make it identical to original famicom. The previous version sounded very close to recordings and emus.

[darcagn]

Excellent to see someone working on improving the mappers! The sound is a lot quieter, though, than the sound I get from my reproduction copy of Gimmick!, and it sounds a little off as well. But it's definitely a great start!

[Necronomfive]

This version has extra channels really quiet, on my 2 AV Famicom systems ; one uses nesrgb amp, the other uses a rebuilt audio circuit to make it identical to original famicom. The previous version sounded very close to recordings and emus.

Ok, I changed the sound generation back to the old method, but still keeping the new options (HI and LO mixing volumes selectable via OS menu).

This version is available here:

http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=05251361785486878822

The sound is a lot quieter, though, than the sound I get from my reproduction copy of Gimmick!, and it sounds a little off as well

Can you point out one specific track/soundeffect which sounds "off"?

Thanks and BR,

Necronomfive

[RetroDanâ„¢]

Wow, now that's the type of community support I like!  Like many people, I have been frustrated by the Everdrive's incomplete Mapper 69 support.  This is most welcome to see.  Fantastic job, Necronomfive!