Music 5000 in B-Em

[Coeus]

Music500.ssd

So that contains:

Code: Select all

--RW----- 00000000 FFFFFFFF          8 0000D9 !boot
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      1,028 0000D4 SYNCRON
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      2,820 0000C8 BRANDEN
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      3,046 0000BC MAPLE
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      2,668 0000B1 PRELUDE
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      5,997 000099 HANDOWN
--RW----- 00000600 00000600        605 000096 TOCCATA
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      4,804 000083 TLORDS
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      5,101 00006F TUBELLS
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      6,630 000055 POPCORN
--RW----- 00000600 00000600        543 000052 INDEX
--RW----- 00000600 00000600      3,163 000045 PRESET1
--RW----- 00000600 00000600     16,774 000003 image
--RW----- 00000600 00000600        215 000002 AMPLE

Upon booting we get this:

To get the menu of demo tracks one has to enter:

Code: Select all

"INDEX"LOADRUN

which gives this:

The disc on huininga.nl seems to have music files rather than AMPLE (containing &D7 null bytes, it's not going to do much).

There was a broken version of AMPLE floating around as it was on the disc that got included with B-Em.

As for the demo disc I found in the earlier post, it matched the version I remember receiving with the Music 500 back in the 1980s. It was a very long time ago but I think I got a discount, possibly for an ex-demo unit as I bought it from a computer fair in Olypmpia. There was a stand there playing the demo tunes and, on hearing those, I decided I had to have one. Maybe the included the disk they had been using and, as it had AMPLE on it, I didn't bother with the tape.

I can record those of the tunes on the original tape that don't match the previous disk but it will have to be this afternoon.

[Coeus]

For my own reference, but in case it is useful to others, here are md5 sums of the files transferred from the tape:

Code: Select all

dc620ffcd150dfc1159c1463725bc9c0  AMPLE
ea88756250b11142e21bb22fc1f18dfd  !boot
3b1834bc06870e834d4d255008b44bb0  BRANDEN
a69c77d72a12a54539ffbd9ed8e813f7  HANDOWN
b719c5510854c0aec75f421f58c390ed  image
b19baf1ff6ef9ffd64ee26918e115a79  INDEX
62ec7d3d9a104578c92f73fcb337b89e  MAPLE
ed27e5d9d49ecc064b6417ff55de2fdc  POPCORN
b983cb481429887901f58a7a30ab2854  PRELUDE
9672a4964bdb39c77694bd193587279c  PRESET1
ed1c695b6eecfcd9d322efe7ffde9004  SYNCRON
51f4ce3f9099a980fb765f3d9fccb7e9  TLORDS
7126c4734c6e935c0d0ae8ef58719587  TOCCATA
27b3309c9b2e08fb089b6c17d01ce028  TUBELLS

[Coeus]

Recordings of the demos on the cassette that came with the Music 500 are at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... share_link I have included a copy of the SSD for reference.

[hoglet]

Recordings of the demos on the cassette that came with the Music 500 are at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... share_link I have included a copy of the SSD for reference.

Thanks for these recordings, and for adding the output filter options to B-em.

I think it makes a a big improvement to the sound quality, which is now (to my non-musical ear) very close to the original. And in audicity the output spectra look very similar as well.

One small issue I noticed in the UI is it's possible to untick a filter (by selecting it a second time), yet the filter remains selected. It would be nice if this removed the filter, so you could use it without any filter present (i.e. the old behaviour). Or maybe add that as a third menu option?

Now I just need to figure out a way of including a similar filter in the FPGA implementation, which desperately needs it as well.

Dave

[CHRISJJ]

--RW----- 00000600 00000600 605 000096 TOCCATA

To get the menu of demo tracks one has to enter:

Code: Select all

"INDEX"LOADRUN

which gives this:
m500_2.png

I see the disc cat's TOCCATA is absent from the INDEX menu.

As for the demo disc I found in the earlier post, it matched the version I remember receiving with the Music 500 back in the 1980s. It was a very long time ago but I think I got a discount, possibly for an ex-demo unit as I bought it from a computer fair in Olypmpia. There was a stand there playing the demo tunes and, on hearing those, I decided I had to have one. Maybe the included the disk they had been using and, as it had AMPLE on it, I didn't bother with the tape.

Perhaps from Aries Computers at the Acorn User Show July 1986 Barbican:

p 12. https://archive.org/details/AcornUser19 ... ew=theater

where the price was dropped:

https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/user/custom ... ochure.pdf

?

[CHRISJJ]

Recordings of the demos on the cassette that came with the Music 500 are at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... share_link I have included a copy of the SSD for reference.

I see:



from which TOCCATA is missing.

You might want to include the cassette labels and retain filenames as much as possible.

[CHRISJJ]

For my own reference, but in case it is useful to others, here are md5 sums of the files transferred from the tape:

Code: Select all

dc620ffcd150dfc1159c1463725bc9c0  AMPLE
ea88756250b11142e21bb22fc1f18dfd  !boot
3b1834bc06870e834d4d255008b44bb0  BRANDEN
a69c77d72a12a54539ffbd9ed8e813f7  HANDOWN
b719c5510854c0aec75f421f58c390ed  image
b19baf1ff6ef9ffd64ee26918e115a79  INDEX
62ec7d3d9a104578c92f73fcb337b89e  MAPLE
ed27e5d9d49ecc064b6417ff55de2fdc  POPCORN
b983cb481429887901f58a7a30ab2854  PRELUDE
9672a4964bdb39c77694bd193587279c  PRESET1
ed1c695b6eecfcd9d322efe7ffde9004  SYNCRON
51f4ce3f9099a980fb765f3d9fccb7e9  TLORDS
7126c4734c6e935c0d0ae8ef58719587  TOCCATA
27b3309c9b2e08fb089b6c17d01ce028  TUBELLS

Worth including in the reference package, I suggest.

[CHRISJJ]

We need the original Music 500 cassette image. Someone must have it as UEF...

Going by the file names (contents unchecked though) https://www.stairwaytohell.com/bbc/arc ... c500_B.zip

I see:



I recall no such release. The Music 500 package cassette was published by Acorn Computers Ltd.

BTW, any idea why the "B" in the UEF names?

[Coeus]

I see the disc cat's TOCCATA is absent from the INDEX menu.

When run, that file prints a message that the piece has been removed for copyright reasons. A file of the same name appears on some of the other discs which plays Widor’s Toccata. As Widor only died in 1937 his Toccata would have still be in copyright.

If it has been Bach’s Toccata and Fuge it would have been in the public domain,

Perhaps from Aries Computers at the Acorn User Show July 1986 Barbican:

It could very well have been. The only thing I know for sure was it was after September 1985 so that it’s certainly a possibility..

[CHRISJJ]

I see:

... TOCCATA is missing.

Perhaps related to the fact that this "Music 500.ssd" gives:



Since I don't recall such a deletion in 1984, I tried the source "Music500-Side1_B.uef" but it was unable even to load this file or even to show the catalog:



Perhaps B-em V2.2 is bugged on zero-length files?

Attempted the latest B-em "pre-release" but got bumped back to the 21st C:



No installation instructions were included and no version number found:

[james]

... TOCCATA is missing.

Since I don't recall such a deletion in 1984,

Though that is my (admittedly hazy) recollection of what I found on the tape of my new Music 500 back in the ‘80s. TOCCATA removed for copyright reasons.

[james]

Attempted the latest B-em "pre-release" but got bumped back to the 21st C:

As a temporary work-around you could try the browser-based jsbeeb at https://bbc.godbolt.org

Cassettes > From STH archive > Filter: music500 > click "hardware/Hybrid/Music500_B.zip"

Back at the CLI, and with a dose of patience:

*TAPE
*OPT 1,2
*.

However, for side 2, it appears necessary to download and extract the zip, then use Cassettes > From local file > Browse: Music500-Side2_B.uef

BTW, I suspect the "_B" in "Music500_B.zip" means it's for a Beeb (eg, see https://www.8bitkick.cc/playuef---bbc-micro.html), rather than an Electron with "_E" (see https://www.8bitkick.cc/playuef---acorn-electron.html) </i don't know. i'm just searching, loooking and drawing conclusions>

[CHRISJJ]

As a temporary work-around you could try the browser-based jsbeeb

Thanks. I had done so. I got a similar fail.

BTW, I suspect the "_B" in "Music500_B.zip" means it's for a Beeb

Thanks. FTR, this is therefore not the cassette side B referenced in the User Guide.

[Diminished]

Sorry, what exactly is the issue with the Music500_B.zip tape? (Yes, _B is for a Beeb and _E for an Elk.)

I recall no such release. The Music 500 package cassette was published by Acorn Computers Ltd.

Music500_B.zip looks to me like an Acornsoft tape, as it has the zero-length V1 file:

Code: Select all

# 5:  filenames: "V1"
      length:    00000000 (0)
      loads:     ffffffff
      executes:  ffffffff
      blocks:    00

Many early Acornsoft games had these same V1 or V2 files. (We even have the software that was used to create them.)

[CHRISJJ]

Sorry, what exactly is the issue with the Music500_B.zip tape?

Now found. a) my user error, in expecting screen output upon tape end, and; b) B-em looping the playback, which I presume is a bug.

I now find TOCCATA on side B, mislabelled by Acorn as Side 2, and nothing to do with the transfer filename's "_B".

Music500_B.zip looks to me like an Acornsoft tape, as it has the zero-length V1 file
...
Many early Acornsoft games had these same V1 or V2 files.

There's a reason for both

Chris (former Publications Editor at Acornsoft)

[Coeus]

Now found. a) my user error, in expecting screen output upon tape end,

As far as I know, the tape format does not have an "end of medium" marker. On a real BBC micro, if you catalogue a tape and the tape player reaches the end of the tape the BBC Micro is none the wiser and keeps searching until you press Escape.

and; b) B-em looping the playback, which I presume is a bug.

This is from before my time but it is probably a feature. It means with a tape loaded, you don't have to remember when to rewind it - if you issue the command to load a file that is on the tape, it will eventually find it.

[CHRISJJ]

Thanks.

This is from before my time but it is probably a feature.

feature noun /ˈfiːtʃə/ "a distinctive attribute or aspect of something."

Agreed!

But not an authentic one.

It means with a tape loaded, you don't have to remember when to rewind it

... and the only way to know there's nothing more to find is by spotting the repeat by eye, which fails if there's a genuine repeat on the tape.

I'd vote for this being a) documented b) a checkbox c) off by default - for accuracy (there is after all a "Rewind tape" command).

Thanks.

[Coeus]

I'd vote for this being a) documented b) a checkbox c) off by default - for accuracy (there is after all a "Rewind tape" command).

The tape handling in B-Em is undergoing an overhall, see: viewtopic.php?p=402113#p402113

I am not going to make, possibly conflicting, changes at the same time. I'll mention in in the other thread and, if Diminished doesn't pick it up, I can do it after his work is merged.

[CHRISJJ]

Thanks.

[Coeus]

Windows release with the new filtering code: https://github.com/stardot/b-em/releases/tag/m5000-filt This also fixes the missing libssp-0.dll

[CHRISJJ]

Windows release with the new filtering code: https://github.com/stardot/b-em/releases/tag/m5000-filt This also fixes the missing libssp-0.dll

Thanks, but same fail here (Windows 7 64-bit Pro):

[KenLowe]

I had the same issue with the missing dll. Copying the dll file from the attached zip over to the B-Em executable folder fixed it for me.

[CHRISJJ]

Thanks for the workaround, but I'll wait, so I will be verifying the fix.

[Coeus]

Release updated to include the file.

[CHRISJJ]

Thanks.

Using b-em-98830d1-w64.zip on WIndows 7 Pro 64-bit.

* Missing DLL fix confirmed.
* The program's ALT+TAB task switcher icon is an OS default rather than the Owl of e.g. V2.2
* On Model BBC B+128K, start-up and reset show one or two variably placed red blocks on screen https://i.imgur.com/C4W3T5X.png, fading away in ~1s. One can appear during disc operation https://i.imgur.com/sZL4stw.png
* On Model BBC B+128K, with AMPLE ROM https://i.imgur.com/2ZfHHCu.png , ROM menu can fail to show it https://i.imgur.com/LhH8jZ3.png
* Model > BBC Master 128 fails to start a language ROM https://i.imgur.com/wdP9lgZ.png
* Default settings has f1 operating F0, and nothing operating F9 (HMS jukebox)

[CHRISJJ]

What's the meaning of "48" here, please?

[Coeus]

* On Model BBC B+128K, start-up and reset show one or two variably placed red blocks on screen https://i.imgur.com/C4W3T5X.png, fading away in ~1s. One can appear during disc operation https://i.imgur.com/sZL4stw.png

These are on-screen LEDs. You can change this behaviour with Settings->Video->LED Location and Settings->Video->LED Visibility. There should be labels too. I will see if I can reproduce the lack of labels.

[Coeus]

* Model > BBC Master 128 fails to start a language ROM https://i.imgur.com/wdP9lgZ.png

What does the CMOS config have for the language to start?

* Default settings has f1 operating F0, and nothing operating F9 (HMS jukebox)

Yes, in physical keyboard mode the mapping is based on location i.e. it maps PC keys in the equivalent position to BBC Micro keys so as the BBC micro starts from f0 and the PC from F1, F1=f0. There are two options to change this:

• Logical keybaord mode (under Settings->keybaord) which changes the mapping so the BBC micro key activated should match the legend on the PC keycap. This includes changing shift state if necessary.
• Re-map the keyboard to your own preference with Settings->Keyboard->Remap Keyboard

[Coeus]

What's the meaning of "48" here, please?

It is the binary version number of the ROM, i.e. the byte at &8008 in the ROM, displayed in hex.

[CHRISJJ]

These are on-screen LEDs.

Coo... Never noticed those on my Cub monitor

You can change this behaviour with Settings->Video->LED Location and Settings->Video->LED Visibility.

Thanks. I also did https://i.imgur.com/F7a3tcx.png .

There should be labels too. I will see if I can reproduce the lack of labels.

Thanks.