Flashjacks firmware updated to Ver 1.5

por Aquijacks en 29-04-2019, 18:03 translated by Aquijacks
Tema: Software
Idiomas:

The Flashjacks cartridge by MRC user Aquijacks has received a firmware update.

Change log or version 1.5 (27/04/2019)

  • Firmware 1.5 via cable needed from previous versions. From here it can be done remotely.
  • NEXTOR driver update to version 2.1 beta1 r2.
  • Support software added. Now without SD card it shows a notification on screen.
  • Integrated firmware System backup/update Now you can update the firmware remotely without cables.
  • Track usage counters integrated into the support software.
  • Parameters edition of the config.cfg file through menus in the support software itself.
  • MSX clock speed optimized. Now it is stable from 1Mhz to 5.37Mhz.
  • Solved SRAM bug. Accessing subslot was not considered and corrupted the RAM when using the external Flashjacks RAM.
  • Beware of games that do not manage well the subslots like Ys II. In that case do not use the Flashjacks RAM if you want to use the SRAM.

On the other hand, the website acuariotuning.com has also been updated and has been renewed by another one called retromsx.

Relevant link: Flashjacks web-page
Relevant link: Informational Video

Comentarios (22)

Por hamlet

Scribe (4106)

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30-04-2019, 08:07

Good to see Aquijacks put so much engagement into this project. Thanks a lot!

Por Robby

Master (217)

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30-04-2019, 22:23

As a distributor from another hardware product i wouln't dare to communicate updates of my product on an international platform, of which people outside my country simply cannot obtain (at least not as a news-bulletin, at most as a topic). Even if it benefits the so called msx (international) developments in general.
An initial announcement of a new product is understandable, but firmware- and/or manualupdates can easily be obtained from other (direct or local) sources.

Por hamlet

Scribe (4106)

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30-04-2019, 23:38

Should we not have the freedom, even the right, to be allowed to inform ourselves about everything, Robby?
After all, information gives us ideas. And I don't want to miss them in the future either.
There is so much information every day that I simply filter it out and don't notice because it doesn't interest me. Nevertheless, I should give others the pleasure of sharing it. Thank you for your understanding to all who care.

Por Aquijacks

Champion (299)

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01-05-2019, 07:38

Robby, I disagree with what you say.
I believe that anyone in the world can be interested in the evolution of the project.
To give an example, I am interested in the Procyon project although I know I will never have it. It gives me ideas, and inspires my creativity.
In addition, the Flashjacks project, although it is not a commercial product, is all over the world. I have not sold to international countries but I know that through third parties, they have arrived. Even in the stands I attend (RU Barcelona, ​​etc ...), I have come to speak with foreign staff and even they have got a Flashjacks.
Finally Flashjacks is considered and has extensive dedicated software such as FDSK, FROM, DI and has even been considered in NEXTOR and game patches such as Nemesis III Enhanced.
I suggest you enter www.retromsx.com and see the scope of this powerful cartridge. The page is in more than six languages ​​and we are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, etc ... The knowledge of it is open worldwide and MSX.ORG is a way of communicating to that world.
I hope you understand.
Best wishes,

Aquijacks.

Por Hydragon

Paladin (751)

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01-05-2019, 10:12

There's only one powerfull cartridge for me and that's the MegaFlashROM, combined with an original fmpac and philips music module and Dal So Ri v2. I simply love this setup since every piece of hardware asin OPL4, FMPac and the Music Module have their own audio outputs, which can be much easier be controlled. A thing an "all-in-one" cartridge is missing, since nothing is ever the same on balance after all.

Por Pencioner

Scribe (1564)

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01-05-2019, 10:49

MegaFlashROM is indeed a great device but FlashJacks is worth it. Even if you consider that you don't need any OPL sound from FJ and don't use it, there's still a lot of other nice possibilities. Say, automatic save of SRAM area (like Carnivore 2 has but with C2 you have to run a utility after reboot while FJ will save your file when you reboot without any extra actions), as an example. Some other options are great too. So while MFR was greatest one for a while, now it gets another very strong competitor, and if we vote, i'd give my vote to FJ

Por Hydragon

Paladin (751)

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01-05-2019, 12:52

Well how would you balance the channels correctly, like FAC4 demo which just uses MSX-Audio in which you set balance in middle, same for PSG and MSX-Music with some games and demos, while there's also Moonblaster Stereo which has to be properly balanced with PSG and MSX-Music on left channel and MSX-Audio on right channel. How would you achieve that with such "all-in-one" cartridge?

Por Aquijacks

Champion (299)

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01-05-2019, 13:53

The flashjacks has a powerful audio chip.
It is not the typical DAC installed in some cards. Flashjacks has an integrated audio processor with active filters, audio frequencies up to 100Khz 21bit stereo.
This chip has the possibility of several simultaneous audio inputs / outputs, which allows by synthesis in the FPGA to create a powerful mixing table of all the synthesized chips and an auxiliary line input. All in stereo and without loss of quality.
Flashjacks accepts the mixing in fully digital auxiliary inputs, such as Moonsound, OPL4 and other devices and integrates it digitally in its audio output.
I know that there are people who use it to remaster MP3 music, CDs and other formats since Flashjacks allows you to extract pure audio with zero noise.
I attach an image of the Bootmenu so you can see the level of configuration of the Flashjacks audio chip.

In youtube of retromsx.com you have variety of videos recorded with the audio of the Flashjacks so that you can have a demonstration of its sound.

Regards. :)

Por Hydragon

Paladin (751)

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02-05-2019, 13:53

So live balancing when needed is not possible, since every time, I would have to reboot the MSX to launch this boot menu and re balance over and over. It would have been better if every audio device had it's own output which you can jack in, and correct balance accordingly but that's not possible. and when it comes to recording and remastering output I prefer losless audio over MP3.

Por Victor

Champion (509)

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02-05-2019, 14:24

Hydragon wrote:

So live balancing when needed is not possible, since every time, I would have to reboot the MSX to launch this boot menu and re balance over and over. It would have been better if every audio device had it's own output which you can jack in, and correct balance accordingly but that's not possible. and when it comes to recording and remastering output I prefer losless audio over MP3.

Yes... That's a great idea... 5 Jack IN connectors, and 5 Jack OUT connectors. in a cartridge.... Yes....

Por gdx

Enlighted (6213)

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02-05-2019, 14:44

I'm sure that it's more easy and we obtain a best sound with the Flashjacks method if the chips are correctly emulated. By cons contacts cartridge seem to be tinned. This tires the slot contacts faster.

Por Pencioner

Scribe (1564)

Imagen del Pencioner

02-05-2019, 15:02

@Hydragon I'm not sure what MP3 are you talking about. Somebody used FJ cartridge to make some MP3's, it doesn't have anything to do with lossless or not lossless in the cartridge itself (which has pretty good mixer in FPGA according to manual - 96Khz, with samples of 24bits per channel). I would suggest you to read more carefully what people are saying instead of paying that much of effort to throw dungs at other people's production Big smile

PS just wonder, do you make fun out of talking crap about things you didn't have in your hands? we don't see fun of it, it looks quite ugly btw, you speak like you invented whole lot of devices and yours are best, but you just use others' inventions for your precious streaming, no? Big smile

Por Hydragon

Paladin (751)

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02-05-2019, 18:45

It wasn't supposed to be funny at all pencioner, yes I'm sceptic about it, hence the questions and instead of an actual answer he comes back with abunch of text but no actual answer on the question. Well if you think that's normal, funny or ugly, well that's good or you. If the questions were properly answered I could have been interested in maybe getting one, one way of another. So if you think asking questions looks ugly, I suggest to you to take a look in a mirror.

Por Victor

Champion (509)

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02-05-2019, 19:12

Hydragon wrote:

So live balancing when needed is not possible

"No. It's not possible."

Here is your answer.

Por Aquijacks

Champion (299)

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02-05-2019, 20:37

Calm.
I bring you some examples all of the Flashjacks.
Listen to it with good headphones:

- Nemesis III Enhanced. DualSCC stereo.
Nemesis3 Enhanced.mp3
- Firehawk. Only FM Stereo.
Opening_Fire_Hawk Theme.mp3
- Running Fray. FM stereo only
Running_Fray.mp3
- Jarre was my daddy. External line input Music Module + FM stereo Flashjacks. (The stereo is incredible).
30 Jarre Was My Daddy.mp3
- Robotto MSX Demo. Only PSG Stereo.
ROBOTTO_DEMO Stereo FJ.mp3

As you can see, nothing similar exists in the market. Exceptional sound, in real stereo. The stereo is achieved through left + center + right channels shifted by 180 degrees to give depth sensation.
It is not the stereo that of left FM, right PSG.

And I repeat, calm and tranquility.

Por ToriHino

Paladin (855)

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02-05-2019, 20:34

Your examples sound great! Even more a pity that we cannot obtain it Tongue

Por sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3954)

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02-05-2019, 21:05

ToriHino wrote:

Your examples sound great! Even more a pity that we cannot obtain it Tongue

I agree, really a pity. @AquiJacks: have you considered partnering with some third party that would do sales, shipping, support? I am thinking of maybe 8bits4ever or SuperSoniqs. The MSX community outside Spain will certainly be very happy if this great product became available to them!

Por Pencioner

Scribe (1564)

Imagen del Pencioner

02-05-2019, 21:58

All fine hydragon, forget it. You have civil rights to use any new hardware in untested setup first time for live streaming and then claim it to be most shitty shit in the world if something is not working, LOL. i wouldn't sell you any hardware if i'm hardware maker, just in case

Sorry for offtopic, i'm not posting any offtopic anymore

Por sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3954)

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02-05-2019, 22:47

Aquijacks wrote:

And I repeat, calm and tranquility.

Agreed! Hydragon is (I believe) very much accustomed to his current setup. And having separate outputs on all musical cartridges and running them through an analog mixer has indeed the advantage of being able to balance the individual chips outputs while listening. Something that indeed cannot be done with FlashJacks or Carnivore2 or GR8NET.

These devices of course have other strengths. The spatial stereo effect being one of them for FJ. Not needing a mixer, slot expander and all those cartridges (which are getting harder to acquire for reasonable prices) being the second.

Personally I love all these devices and still prefer to also run individual cartridges through a mixer (just because the original chips bring nostalgia the new devices cannot)...

Por Aquijacks

Champion (299)

Imagen del Aquijacks

02-05-2019, 23:18

The original chips are unique and irreplaceable.
Their virtues and their defects make them unique.
I understand wanting to mix them analogically and with original chips. The sound is the exact one of that time.
The flashjacks improves everything but obviously it moves away from the original chip. In that there is no discursión.
The same goes for the original MSX. Each of them are special. It is not the same as a current MSX with FPGA or a Raspberry.

Por konamiman

Paragon (1198)

Imagen del konamiman

03-05-2019, 08:02

sdsnatcher73 wrote:

@AquiJacks: have you considered partnering with some third party that would do sales, shipping, support? I am thinking of maybe 8bits4ever or SuperSoniqs. The MSX community outside Spain will certainly be very happy if this great product became available to them!

See, Aquijacks? That wasn't just my crazy idea, there's actually more people that think the same! Wink My suggestion was more ambitious though, and included finding a partner for the manufacturing part as well.

Por sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3954)

Imagen del sdsnatcher73

03-05-2019, 08:15

konamiman wrote:
sdsnatcher73 wrote:

@AquiJacks: have you considered partnering with some third party that would do sales, shipping, support? I am thinking of maybe 8bits4ever or SuperSoniqs. The MSX community outside Spain will certainly be very happy if this great product became available to them!

See, Aquijacks? That wasn't just my crazy idea, there's actually more people that think the same! Wink My suggestion was more ambitious though, and included finding a partner for the manufacturing part as well.

And honestly it’s not a crazy idea Wink