I want to contribute my music and self-drawn pictures! But how?

Scribe (391)

13-03-2015, 23:08

Hello MSX community!

A few weeks ago I revived my good ole MSX2 Philips VG-8235 after many years sleeping in a corner of the basement.
The "retro-fever" has taken me, so I just looked at all the nice things I created 20 years ago.
Well, I think there are some nice hand-drawn pixel-art pictures and some interesting Soundtracker songs that I want to share with you. I am sure there are some treasures on my 3.5 inch disks that should be preserved for the future.

But... How do I get my beloved old MSX computer to communicate with this ultra modern Intel-based, internet-powered brave new world?

Question 1: What is / are the best way(s) to exchange files between an MSX and my IBM-compatible PC? I guess, a disk-drive on the PC could be a solution, but are there compatibility issues between the disk-file systems?

Question 2: I read about the SCC MegaFlashROM. This sounds like a very nice and straight-forward solution for exchanging files.... and much more. Is this a recommendation?

Question 3: What are the best ways to convert MSX Image-Files to standard PC-formats like PNG ore GIF?
Question 4: What are the best ways to convert MSX Soundtracker Files to MP3 or similar sound formats?

Any hints are appreciated!

By Grauw

Ascended (10772)

14-03-2015, 00:39

Hey, welcome . I’d love to see / hear those.

1. Disk should still work, although there are some gotchas
2. Definite recommendation
3. Loading them in an emulator and using its screenshot function works pretty well
4. Either play them on a real MSX and record them with your PC, or record them from an emulator (ymmv)

By CX5Mer

Champion (327)

14-03-2015, 03:27

Click on the link below to read how I've transferred downloaded software from PC to MSX. Obviously, you could just reverse this process.

BTW, what graphics package did you use and do you have the instructions for it?

http://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/hardware/what-should-i-do-...

By gdx

Enlighted (6221)

14-03-2015, 08:19

1. It depends on your use. SD/CF interface, Floppy disk drive emulator that support DSK files or a simple floppy disk.

By defdanny

Scribe (391)

14-03-2015, 13:26

Hello guys, thank you for the hints.

@CX5Mer: This link is helpful. thanks. What graphics package I used to use? Difficult, since it is nearly 30 years since I began with my MSX. just looked through my disk collection and found the following graphic tools.
- Philips MSX Designer (first graphic package)
- Final Graphics for Screens 5,7,8 from HSH Computer (I think this one I used very often.)
- Self-written Image editor called "The magical editor" with some nice features. But very slow and "special". When I am able to transfer my files to my PC I will upload this tool here.

I am not sure if these are all the programs, I have to check them out by the time.

By Jupp3

Resident (41)

14-03-2015, 13:34

With MegaFlashRom, you can simply remove MicroSD card, plug it into card reader, and insert to any computer with basic USB Massstorage support (basically any OS supporting USB at all)

As for Philips NMS, many models have rather terrible audio problems (bad quality PSG, barely audible PSG when using SCC etc.) - MegaFlashRom has rather "interesting" side effects with those models. It makes the entire system COMPLETELY silent. No idea why exactly.

Of course this can be fixed, but it needs hardware modifications to MegaFlashRom cart. So remember to ask about that before ordering! Also, not sure if your model is affected or not (my NMS 8255 definitely is)

By defdanny

Scribe (391)

14-03-2015, 14:03

@CX5Mer: Just checked my programs on disk: I forgot to mention "Dot Designers Club" fro T & E Soft. THAT was my favorite tool finally. I think grauw recommended it in the other thread you started:

http://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/hardware/what-should-i-do-...

Oh, I see you are a proud owner of an VG 8235 too! :)
I have the manuals and disks for the Philips MSX-Designer, the Philips MSX Home Office and the MSX Computer itself. All in German language. Also, there is the original MSX-DOS disk that came with the VG8235.

By defdanny

Scribe (391)

14-03-2015, 14:04

Hello Jupp3,
interessting. I never experienced any sound problems (PSG, SCC, Philips Music Module) with the Philips VG-8235.

By Louthrax

Prophet (2465)

14-03-2015, 16:24

Jupp3 wrote:

See these threads about 8250/55/80 mixing issues:
http://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/hardware/philips-nms-825082558280-mixing-issues
http://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/hardware/megaflash-scc-no-audio-all-several-games

The audio interface to the cartridge ports of these Philips models is badly designed (weird thing is that is was perfect on the older VG8235 !). SCC and MegaFlashROMs cartridges are "eating" the internal PSG sound, so you have a lower PSG volume with normal SCC, and no PSG sound at all with MegaFlashROMs.

I'm not sure about all the details, but you can either add a resistor at the sound pin of the cartridge (resulting in average audio-quality) or built a nice mixing-PCB as explained by Luppie, see the above threads.

But if you're using a MegaFlashROM SCC+ (SD), just use the alternate PSG provided by the cartridge (/P option in OPFX.COM & OPFXSD.COM). All sounds will come from the cartridge and the balance will be perfect (this is achieved by ROM-patching and won't work on all games).

By marcoo

Expert (111)

14-03-2015, 17:21

I have a USB floppy drive From teac format a disk on msx double sided and copy the files on it them put it in the USB floppy drive now you can copy it back on the pc

By CX5Mer

Champion (327)

15-03-2015, 00:50

defdanny wrote:

@CX5Mer: Just checked my programs on disk: I forgot to mention "Dot Designers Club" fro T & E Soft. THAT was my favorite tool finally. I think grauw recommended it in the other thread you started:

http://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/hardware/what-should-i-do-...

I now have three MSX2 drawing/paint packages. These are Philips Video Graphics/Designer (almost the same thing), AGE5, and Paint 4. Unfortunately, I don't know how to use any of them!

Please can you somehow explain to me how to use the Philips MSX Designer software. Ich spreche auch Deutsch!