Changes

Play2CPC

1,853 bytes added, 10 April
Play2CPC is an evolution of the [[Plus2CPC]] adapter which includes new major features:
 =Features=* Extra audio capabilities(Yamaha OPN3 soundchip)
* Sound mix into the CPC speaker or stereo audio jack
* Full [[Plus|Amstrad Plus]] ROM decoding
* Extra on-board V-ROM (512K RAM expansion mapped as ROM) for amazing new AAA games
* General purpose programmable raster interrupt
* Compatible with standard Amstrad cartridges and new extended formats
* Support for RW cartridges to save/update games, scores and settings
* Boot switch and reset button commodities
 
[[File:Play2cpc sticker.jpg|500px]]
 
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=Compatibility=
===C4CPC: Compatible=== 
The C4CPC can already be used on the Plus2CPC and Play2CPC cartridge adapters.
The Play2CPC allows allow to program a compatible blank cartridge from the CPC. No USB plugneeded.
==PlayCity=GX4000: Not fully compatibleCompatible with cartridges but not the device===The Play2CPC offers 3 more audio channels onboard, as opposed to the PlayCity which offers 6 more audio channels onboard.
The Play2CPC is not usable on the GX4000 because the GX4000 does not have a CTC chip, as opposed to the PlayCity which includes one CTC chip onboardan expansion port.
The Play2CPC use device itself must be connected to a computer, but the default configuration of most of the PlayCity programs, like ALCON 2020cartridges you write can be later used on a GX4000.
The few programs using 9ch AY will be not replayed, because it was not on the ===PlayCity base spec.: Partially compatible===
==Dandanator: Not compatible==It is not compatible, because Unlike the Play2CPC use Amstrad standard ROM paging and cartridge for new CPC games[[PlayCity]], while the Dandanator use GameBoy Advance cartridge Play2CPC is not equipped with a custom ROM paging through Z80 opcodes for new Speccy portsCounter Timer Circuit chip. The Play2CPC use the default configuration of most of the PlayCity programs, like ALCON 2020.
==GX4000: Compatible Sound capabilities are also quite different. The Play2CPC is equipped with cartridges but not an obscure soundchip, the device==OPN3 (ymf288). It offers 3 SSG chans, 6 FM 4-op chans and 6 digidrum chans.The Play2CPC PlayCity is not usable on the GX4000 because the GX4000 does not have an expansion portinstead equipped with 2 SSG soundchips offering a total of 6 SSG chans, but no FM and no digidrum chans.
The device itself must So the few PlayCity programs using 9ch AY will be connected to a computernot replayed by the Play2CPC.Also, but programs using the cartridges you write can FM and digidrums capabilities of the Play2CPC will not be later used replayed on the PlayCity. However, the CRTC cursor raster interruption mechanism is identical in PlayCity and Play2CPC. ===OPL3 soundchip: Not compatible=== Despite having similar names, it's important to note that the OPN3 soundchip is not compatible at all with the OPL3 soundchip (such as the one found in the [[Willy|Willy OPL3 soundcard]]). ===Dandanator: Not compatible=== It is not compatible, because the Play2CPC use Amstrad standard ROM paging and cartridge for new CPC games, while the [[Dandanator]] use Game Boy Advance cartridge with a GX4000custom ROM paging through Z80 opcodes for new Speccy ports. So, games like [http://theswordofianna.retroworks.es/ The Sword of Ianna] won't work on the Play2CPC<br>
=Flyer=
[[File:Play2c12.jpg]]
 
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=Technical information=
You can use the &F888I/O Ports:* &F988 audio ports : read status 0 or select a page 0 register (for SSG, digidrums and the first 3 FM chans)* &F984: read status 1 or select a page 1 register (for the last 3 FM chans)* &F888: read/write to the selected register You can also use the CRTC cursor registers to program the raster interruption ([[NMI]]) located at &0066. Both works  The OPN3 soundchip is a light version of the OPNA soundchip with some functionalities removed: no external ADPCM, no Composite Sine Mode and no GPIO. 6 digidrum instruments are included in the internal ROM of the soundchip. Relevant datasheets:*[[Media:YMF288.pdf|OPN3 (ymf288) (Japanese)]]*[[Media:YM2608J Translated.pdf|OPNA (ym2608) (English)]] [https://framagit.org/offset/play2cpc-acepansion Play2CPC ACEpansion] on PlayCity Framagit <br> = Links =*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2608 Wikipedia article about the OPNA and OPN3 soundchips]*[https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/play2cpc-plus2cpc-ii-extra-sound-channels-and-rewritable-cartridges/ Topic on CPCWiki forum]*https://abalore.com/play2cpc/*[https://youtu.be/FJlKaRWNP9Ub Demonstration of Play2CPCusing its FM sound chans]*[[File:Megasound.zip]] The only available software at the moment that makes full use of the Play2CPC soundchip
= Resources=[https[Category://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/play2cpc-plus2cpc-ii-extra-sound-channels-Music and-rewritable-cartridges/ Topic on CPCWiki forumsound]][[Category:Peripherals]][[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Cartridges]]
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