Difference between revisions of "Amdrum"

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(Technical Specifications)
Line 27: Line 27:
 
* Port usage: Write 8bit unsigned sample data to Port FFxxh. The D/A converter is mono and has only one channel (mixing multiple channels is to be done by software).
 
* Port usage: Write 8bit unsigned sample data to Port FFxxh. The D/A converter is mono and has only one channel (mixing multiple channels is to be done by software).
 
* The Amdrum software uses port FFxxh. The playback routine also scans the keyboard. The lower 8-bits of the I/O port come from the last value of the C register used to scan the keyboard.  
 
* The Amdrum software uses port FFxxh. The playback routine also scans the keyboard. The lower 8-bits of the I/O port come from the last value of the C register used to scan the keyboard.  
 
Partial dissassembly of player:
 
exx   
 
ld      a,(bc)
 
add    a,(hl)
 
ex      de,hl
 
add    a,(hl)
 
inc    hl
 
ex      de,hl
 
inc    bc
 
add    a,80h
 
inc    hl
 
exx   
 
out    (c),a
 
ld      b,0f6h
 
in      a,(c)
 
ld      c,a
 
xor    05h
 
out    (c),a
 
ld      a,0f4h
 
in      a,(66h)
 
ld      (404eh),a
 
out    (c),c
 
 
ld      b,0ffh
 
nop   
 
nop   
 
nop   
 
exx   
 
ld      a,(bc)
 
add    a,(hl)
 
ex      de,hl
 
add    a,(hl)
 
inc    hl
 
ex      de,hl
 
inc    bc
 
add    a,80h
 
inc    hl
 
exx   
 
out    (c),a
 
  
 
The five chips on the single-sided PCB are:
 
The five chips on the single-sided PCB are:
Line 84: Line 44:
 
* [[Media:ZN428.pdf|ZN428 Datasheet]] - 8bit D/A Converter
 
* [[Media:ZN428.pdf|ZN428 Datasheet]] - 8bit D/A Converter
 
* [[Media:TL064.pdf|TL064 Datasheet]] - Quad Amplifier
 
* [[Media:TL064.pdf|TL064 Datasheet]] - Quad Amplifier
 +
 +
== Partial dissassembly of player ==
 +
exx   
 +
ld      a,(bc)
 +
add    a,(hl)
 +
ex      de,hl
 +
add    a,(hl)
 +
inc    hl
 +
ex      de,hl
 +
inc    bc
 +
add    a,80h
 +
inc    hl
 +
exx   
 +
out    (c),a
 +
ld      b,0f6h
 +
in      a,(c)
 +
ld      c,a
 +
xor    05h
 +
out    (c),a
 +
ld      a,0f4h
 +
in      a,(66h)
 +
ld      (404eh),a
 +
out    (c),c
 +
 +
ld      b,0ffh
 +
nop   
 +
nop   
 +
nop   
 +
exx   
 +
ld      a,(bc)
 +
add    a,(hl)
 +
ex      de,hl
 +
add    a,(hl)
 +
inc    hl
 +
ex      de,hl
 +
inc    bc
 +
add    a,80h
 +
inc    hl
 +
exx   
 +
out    (c),a
  
 
== Kits ==
 
== Kits ==

Revision as of 15:53, 13 January 2010

Company logo
Box and Manual for the Amdrum

A drumkit by the British company Cheetah.

The drumkit was able to play 8bit sound samples.

Quality of the playback was nice, considering the time and price.

The samples were read from the suplied tapes.

There were serveral tapes with different themes!.

Along with the Amdrum came a sequencing program.

It was possible to copy the samples to disc, but the sequencing program had to be patched!

Amdrum was probably Cheetahs version of the SpecDrum (As revealed on the PCB "AMSTRAD SPECDRUM")

No CPC emulator supports the Amdrum. To hear 'Amdrum' in action the Spectrum emulator Spectaculator emulates the SpecDrum.

No other software than Cheetahs own sequencer is know to use the Amdrum.

Technical Specifications

  • Uses I/O Port FFxxh (Write only), ie. only /IORQ, /WR, A15-A8 are decoded. A7..A0 are not decoded, and /RD isn't used, too.
  • Port usage: Write 8bit unsigned sample data to Port FFxxh. The D/A converter is mono and has only one channel (mixing multiple channels is to be done by software).
  • The Amdrum software uses port FFxxh. The playback routine also scans the keyboard. The lower 8-bits of the I/O port come from the last value of the C register used to scan the keyboard.

The five chips on the single-sided PCB are:

74LS30N Single 8-input NAND Port decoding, /ADDR_MATCH=LOW when A8..A15 all HIGH
74LS32N Quad 2-input OR Port decoding, /DAC_WRITE when /ADDR_MATCH, /IORQ, /WR all LOW
SN74LS04N Hex Inverters purpose unknown? (used in the analog part, not for Port decoding)
TL064CDP Quad Amplifier no info how the 4 amplifier stages are used?
Ferranti ZN428E-8 8bit DAC mono one-channel 8bit D/A converter (unsigned samples)

Partial dissassembly of player

exx     
ld      a,(bc)
add     a,(hl)
ex      de,hl
add     a,(hl)
inc     hl
ex      de,hl
inc     bc
add     a,80h
inc     hl
exx     
out     (c),a
ld      b,0f6h
in      a,(c)
ld      c,a
xor     05h
out     (c),a
ld      a,0f4h
in      a,(66h)
ld      (404eh),a
out     (c),c
ld      b,0ffh
nop     
nop     
nop     
exx     
ld      a,(bc)
add     a,(hl)
ex      de,hl
add     a,(hl)
inc     hl
ex      de,hl
inc     bc
add     a,80h
inc     hl
exx     
out     (c),a

Kits

Afro Kit Covertape

Electro Kit Covertape

Latin Kit Covertape

Tapes

Amdrum Tape

Afro Kit Tape

Electro Kit Tape

Latin Kit Tape

Pictures

Manual

Reviews / Commercials

Weblinks

Site about the SpecDrum

Review of the Spectrum version

Another review

Other playback devices

Videos

AmDrum on Amstrad CPC (emulated with JavaCPC)

{{#ev:youtube|0z-jGDOzwGQ|400}}

A presentation(from around 1985) of the ZX Spectrum version of the Amdrum(Specdrum), also mention of the upcomming Amstrad CPC version

{{#ev:youtube|m6R_W9CZWGU|400}}

Download