8bits4ever presents the revolutionary EMUFDC!

A few weeks ago, after 8bits4ever launched their F1 Floppy Emulator, they got feedback from MSX users who wanted a system-specific MSX cartridge with an integrated disk controller able to load disk images and mount them just like real floppy disks.

8bits4ever made it real! The Emu-FDC can not only read disk images from an SD card but it also can be used to connect real floppy drives through a regular ribbon cable.
The cartridge runs the well known FlashFloppy firmware and features a microSD card slot and a regular 34 pin floppy connector.
It can access floppy disk images from the SD card and external floppy drives simultaneously making it great for backup and preservation projects

PRODUCT INFO
The Emu-FDC integrates a floppy disk controller and a disk emulator into a single cartridge. The emulator can read floppy disk images from a SD card and mount them so the system can access them as real floppy disks. It also allows to plug real PC floppy drives through a regular floppy ribbon cable. No modifications to the drives needed.
It can be used in three different configurations:

Emulated drive A: only, working with images from the SD
Emulated drive A: and external drive B:
Emulated drive disabled. Two external drives A: and B:

The Emu-FDC is compatible with MSX-DOS (requires at least 64k ram to run MSX-DOS) and contains Disk BASIC v1.1 in ROM. It works in MSX/MSX2/MSX2+/Turbo-R machines.

Attention: Physical floppy drives must support DD operation and must be externally powered!

TECH SPECS

Disk emulator running FlashFloppy firmware
1x MicroSD slot
1x 34 pin floppy connector, supports 1 or 2 external floppy drives
Internal 0.91" 128x32 OLED display
DD/DS support (360k or 720k per disk)
Runs Disk Basic 1.1. MSX-DOS compatible
MSX1, MSX2, MSX2+ and TurboR compatible

This product ships flashed with FlashFloppy firmware by Keir Fraser

Attention: Requires at least 64k RAM to load MSX-DOS. Machines with internal floppy drives might need those drives to be disconnected or disabled for the Emu-FDC to work properly.

The Emu-FDC will be available by mid November 2019 at the 8bits4ever store.

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Comments (44)

By enribar

Paragon (1224)

29-10-2019, 08:55

This point is very useful to me, since I own many floppy disk to preserve:
"It can access floppy disk images from the SD card and external floppy drives simultaneously making it great for backup and preservation projects".
So I really don't need a second SD reader connected to the MSX to save dumps?

By meits

Scribe (6571)

29-10-2019, 13:41

Take my cash if it can read DMK files

By fandenivoldsk

Supporter (16)

29-10-2019, 15:33

What is the best software to use if I want to copy a disk image to a real 3.5" floppy disk?

By zett

Hero (608)

29-10-2019, 16:31

that is realy cool

By OeiOeiVogeltje

Paragon (1438)

29-10-2019, 17:03

Meits wrote:

Take my cash if it can read DMK files

that

By 8bits4ever

Resident (54)

29-10-2019, 18:39

Meits wrote:

Take my cash if it can read DMK files

If you can share a couple of images we can test them

By correodiegols

Expert (77)

29-10-2019, 20:48

Hello, includes SCC+ or other sound chip?

By meits

Scribe (6571)

29-10-2019, 23:52

8bits4ever wrote:

Meits wrote:

Take my cash if it can read DMK files

If you can share a couple of images we can test them

I've sent you a few. I hope you get them to work.

By ro

Scribe (5059)

30-10-2019, 09:17

Ow, this might be one of those projects that could be vital to MSX preservation. I mean, how many of you have broken diskdrives? Right, I have too. I'm ordering.

By gdx

Enlighted (6429)

30-10-2019, 09:42

This interfaces looks great, it seems perfect for MSXs without FDD interface. It's impressive as 8bits4ever is responsive.

By Moniz

Champion (401)

31-10-2019, 17:45

Is this great device already sold-out or just not available to pre-order yet?

By ToriHino

Paladin (925)

31-10-2019, 18:28

correodiegols wrote:

Hello, includes SCC+ or other sound chip?

Sure, why not put an SCC in every device

By hamlet

Scribe (4106)

31-10-2019, 18:35

The device will be ready for shipping in a few weeks. We will give further informations.

By correodiegols

Expert (77)

03-11-2019, 12:03

But device contents SCC+ or not?

By Pac

Scribe (7103)

03-11-2019, 12:46

The specifications are clear. A feature like that would be listed for sure.

By Wolverine_nl

Paragon (1160)

06-11-2019, 12:56

correodiegols wrote:

But device contents SCC+ or not?

If it is not in the specifications, then not. Seems logic.

By meits

Scribe (6571)

06-11-2019, 13:08

Still curious if it can handle the DMK files I sent. That would give it deluxe value.

By sdsnatcher73

Enlighted (4291)

06-11-2019, 20:15

I have a Gotek for Yamaha Side Slot (by RBSC), which also runs flashfloppy but I have not been able to use DMK images on it...

By sunn

Expert (105)

07-11-2019, 08:37

" Machines with internal floppy drives might need those drives to be disconnected or disabled for the Emu-FDC to work properly."

Could EMU-FDC be configured as the 2nd drive? Or how do we disable internal floppy drives? Disconneting the cable every time sounds troublesome.

By 8bits4ever

Resident (54)

12-11-2019, 17:53

sunn wrote:

" Machines with internal floppy drives might need those drives to be disconnected or disabled for the Emu-FDC to work properly."

Could EMU-FDC be configured as the 2nd drive? Or how do we disable internal floppy drives? Disconneting the cable every time sounds troublesome.

The Emu-FDC should be seen as "B" or "C", depending on how many drives you have on your machine, so you won't be able to boot from it.

By 8bits4ever

Resident (54)

12-11-2019, 17:59

Meits wrote:

Still curious if it can handle the DMK files I sent. That would give it deluxe value.

Sorry, we haven't been able to test them yet (very busy ATM). Hopefully we find some time to do it in the coming days. Thanks for the files by the way!

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3648)

27-11-2019, 21:49

Got my hands on the pre-production prototype, thanks to 8bits4ever. The overall impression is very positive. I will make some enhancements for the device and test them next week.

By meits

Scribe (6571)

17-11-2019, 21:38

8bits4ever wrote:

Meits wrote:

Still curious if it can handle the DMK files I sent. That would give it deluxe value.

Sorry, we haven't been able to test them yet (very busy ATM). Hopefully we find some time to do it in the coming days. Thanks for the files by the way!

No problem. I received your mail and am happy you gave it a shot. If you want to know more about the format, I'm not the man with the answers. I guess the openMSX guys could tell you more if you might want to give it a future go.

By Robby

Master (219)

26-11-2019, 11:33

Grab your chance

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3648)

27-11-2019, 21:52

Experimenting with the buttons design for this cartridge. The buttons will be printed in black PLA, the gaps will be filled with white UV-hardened white resin or with matching parts printed in white PLA.

By hamlet

Scribe (4106)

27-11-2019, 22:06

Beautyful!

By Robby

Master (219)

28-11-2019, 14:42

Aren't these buttons already present on the initial batch, as for sale on the 8bits site?

By sunn

Expert (105)

29-11-2019, 10:07

Robby wrote:

Aren't these buttons already present on the initial batch, as for sale on the 8bits site?

They seem to be missing from the picture at least. And I don't think they have any carts for sale yet.

By Robby

Master (219)

29-11-2019, 10:46

They did, just a matter of timing....

By enribar

Paragon (1224)

06-12-2019, 11:09

I really don't want to miss this device, and so... is it possible to pre-order?

By Robby

Master (219)

06-12-2019, 11:35

No pre-order AFAIK. Just a matter of looking frequently on their website, when out of stock isn't displayed anymore and the item can be selected/ordered.

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3648)

08-12-2019, 21:47

I created 4 sets of buttons and a cap for the FDD connector of this cartridge. Not ideal, but it works. The holder for the buttons is attached to the cartridge's case with a piece of thin 2-sided adhesive tape. Some pics:

The models can be downloaded from here:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4029309

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

26-12-2019, 03:19

I've managed to make use of the device recently, and I find it very convenient, super easy to use. So far, I've only used it with Yamaha CX5mii/128 and it makes this machine very useful, may be I should upgrade it to msx2. I'll test the device with other machines with built in floppy drive soon.

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

01-01-2020, 01:58

So, on Panasonic MSX2+ (FS-A1WX) I managed to boot Fray by holding down Ctrl key during boot up. Which apparently disables two drive simulation making external drive A: and internal B:.

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

01-01-2020, 12:28

Works on A1ST turbo R the same with Ctrl on boot up.

By sunn

Expert (105)

15-01-2020, 17:31

st1mpy wrote:

Works on A1ST turbo R the same with Ctrl on boot up.

Many thanks for this! My cart is still in the post.

By sunn

Expert (105)

18-01-2020, 01:29

Received it today and it works great. But a couple of problems: if I try to run the English version of Golvellius 2 it gets stuck after clicking ”start a new game”. Funnily enough, I have the same problem with Sofarun. So far I can only play it if I write the images to a real disks. Any solution?

Turbo R St version of Undeadline (2 disk version): after inserting disk 2 it complains: not enough basic variables.

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

18-01-2020, 19:52

Tried the golvellius 2 English on wx. Without pressing Ctrl on boot, it hangs at start new game. With pressing Ctrl on boot (needs to be pressed for a long time), it works.

Undeadline, search in this forum, I'm not sure the issue is resolved.

By sunn

Expert (105)

20-01-2020, 08:34

You got Golvellius 2 working? Amazing. I have tried all sorts of image copies. Did you try the one found from generation-msx.nl/ ?

By sunn

Expert (105)

20-01-2020, 19:15

Golvellius 2 works! In the boot keep CTRL pressed until the rightmost led (red kanji text) blinks in the Turbo R.

By sunn

Expert (105)

06-02-2020, 13:53

Undeadline works if you use the original dsk and this ips patch. https://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/development/turbor-games-...

By Jan Bos

Supporter (9)

21-10-2020, 23:21

Last week I received mine, together with an SX1Mini+. They work great, can run images from it and I now also have connected a disk drive. I now want to create images from my discs, on the SD card in the Emu-FDC. How can I do that?

By Robby

Master (219)

22-10-2020, 13:50

Hi Jan,
On msx you can use this utils: https://www.msx.org/downloads/getdisk-putdisk-v20
Otherwise you can do it on a windows pc (incl usb floppy) with:
http://www.lexlechz.at/en/software/DiskMgr.html

Greetings,
Robbert-Jan :D

By Jan Bos

Supporter (9)

26-10-2020, 20:04

Thanks Robbert-Jan, I got it running.

Would be a great feature for the FDC EMU when you just could make an image of a disk in a connected drive directly to the SD Card, without software on the MSX.

8bits4ever presents the revolutionary EMUFDC!

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