ZX Spectrum Next (Page 1 of 2)

Looks pretty damn stylish. Too bad it's "just" another FPGA box, but yeah, with that design even I am tempted

Do you know if the AY and FM are made in fpga as well or if you can put a real AY chip in it? Anyway, in the case it can use expansions, we can always plug a real one into it (card such as Wonder AY are quite cheap).

I will probably not buy it (I already have a MiST), but it's very cool. I'm not very found of the design but it's well done anyway and quite faithful to the Sinclair spirit.

The only details at the moment is Audio AY-3-8912 or FM2149 chips (selectable) with stereo output.

Einar Saukas posted some details here, he's in contact with the author Victor Trucco:
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/52606

Hi Folks, I think the sound specs are yet to be 100% nailed but it is FPGA (SLX16) and is being billed as "TurboSound Next" with 3x AY-3-8912 + 2 x YM2413 FM (playable in sync) with stereo output. There is chat of a SID being included too which I assumed would cause a riot when I heard about it but was met with a generally favourable response. Expansion port for chip sound cards etc. 1mb of RAM as standard, HDMI, SD CARD (DivMMC). A "Just the Board" version available on the kickstarer for £99 delivered in August which fits in original Speccy case. Fancy cased version delivers in January. I should say I'm just quoting the sound specs I've gleaned from the Next FB group, I have no idea what it takes to implement any of it!

I know right? Can't believe it.
I've never followed a campaign so closely before, it's been a long but exhilarating couple of weeks + the time since it was first announced last year.
I pledged for an accelerated Next + a board. Nice that that board fits in the old speccy case too. If all is well the board ships in August.

Interesting video (below) from Jim Bagley where he talks about his vision for the Next as a standalone programing environment.
I think Jim has updated Zeus (which is included) with new instructions specific to the Next. It's exactly what I wanted to hear.

There was only a couple of us suggesting alternative sound specs but in the end their preference & size of the FPGA dicated their choices.
Victor did suggest he could design an external sound card in future, although he may have just been trying to shut me up ha,ha! Lyndon Sharp said he is working on a new tracker.

JB'S Q&A here: https://youtu.be/WQSgKp1B4xU

True.

Yeah, I assume it's the same LS. He's a member the Next Facebook group.
I asked his opinion during the discussions about sound on the Next. There was chat around the YM2413 FM being replaced with the YM2608 or the YM2203 until Victor T pointed out there simply wasn't enough LE's available to bring about any of the big FM chips.
Lyndon said: "I'd be happy with the 2413's big brother, the 3812. same but with 9 independent wave and adsr control rather just the global one."

Like I say, I don't know him but can certainly send him a message and point him in this direction.

Thanks!

Did you have this discussion before they upgraded to the SLX16? Maybe at least OPL2 will be possible after all, who knows On the other hand, I'll probably stick to the beeper anyways. I need those limitations, with FM I'd just be stuck tweaking sounds all day.

Thanks for the info. Seems that either way the Next will be totally overpowered in terms of sound capabilities It's basically a chip orchestra-in-a-box at this point. Especially pleased to hear that SAA support is on the list. Now we just need a decent tracker for all of this...

Spectrum Next Portal is live if anyone is interested. http://www.specnext.com
Pasted below a post by Fabio Belavenuto, "How to put those lovely sound chips to do your biding."

TURBO SOUND NEXT

The internal Spectrum Next and TBBlue Turbo Sound Next interface implements three selectable PSGs, giving access to 9 sound channels plus 3 noise channels. Additionally we have the MOS IC 6581, the Sound Interface Device, aka ‘SID’.

The selection of the current sound IC is done by writing a value in the I/O port 0xFFFD, as below:

Bit 7 = “1”
Bit 6 = Left audio (“1” enabled, “0” disabled)
Bit 5 = Right audio (“1” enabled, “0” disabled)
Bit 4 = “1”
Bit 3 = “1”
Bit 2 = “1”
Bits 1 and 0 as

“’11”: Selects the first PSG (default);
“10”: Selects the second PSG;
“01”: Selects the third PSG.
“00”: Selects the SID.
For example, to select the second PSG, sound on both audio outs:

LD BC,0xFFFD
LD A, 0xFE ; 1111 1110 binary
OUT (C), A

To select SID on right audio only:

LD BC,0xFFFD
LD A, 0xBC ; 1011 1100 binary
OUT (C), A

Commands and data are sent to the standard I/O ports and will be redirected to the currently selected IC.

(to set a register)
LD BC, 0xFFFD
LD A, XX ; select the register: 0 to 15 for PSGs, 0 to 24 for SID
OUT (C), A

(to write to the selected register)
LD BC, 0xBFFD
LD A, XX ; the register value, 0 to 255
OUT (C),A

(to read a selected register)
LD BC, 0xBFFD
IN A,(C)

Sounds awesome! I've backed the next too, hope they leave the sid in (think it was just a test).

How do you think 1-bit engines like zbmod will sound on it?

Will port contention still be there if selecting 48k mode ?

the main problem of the MiST is the DAC which is not made for great replay. The fpga arcade project seems better on this point (but I don't regret my MiST because I wanted something available right now):
http://www.fpgaarcade.com/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=107

Ah, didn't know that was him Been in touch with him via email in the meantime. Really looking forward to his sound driver. Might try to write a native tracker around it if I can find the time.