NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

On the creation of AY or Beeper music, including the packages used to do so.
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Pegaz
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NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Pegaz »

Yesterday I came across a fantastic SID emulator for Russian Spectrum models (Pentagon / Scorpion / Profi / ATM, etc) based on Simon Owen's SidPlayer and I can say that it works great. :)
The standard version requires a TurboSound interface, but there is also a basic version, which works on any Russian model with AY chip.
Each version comes with a lot of SID tunes, and there is also a conversion tool as the Total Comander plugin.
I tested the basic version (NSID_Emu r0244) for Pentagon and Scorpion with Fuse and Spectaculator and the sound quality is surprisingly good, recommend trying the Supremacy tune, its awesome!
https://anonfiles.com/B1f0z914od/NSID_r0244_Pentagon_7z
https://anonfiles.com/L0Zbze12of/NSID_r0244_Scorpion_7z
Also I tested the standard TS version with the UnrealSpeccy emulator and of course it sounds fantastic.
I didn't quite understand how to use the +3 version and whether its possible to run this emulator on standard Sinclair/Amstrad models, but here is the original thread with all the details and download links:
https://zx-pk.ru/threads/31677-nsid_emu ... ctrum.html
 
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by lister_of_smeg »

Pegaz wrote: Mon Jun 08, 2020 9:37 pm I didn't quite understand how to use the +3 version and whether its possible to run this emulator on standard Sinclair/Amstrad models.
You need a DivIDE/MMC device with ESXDOS firmware using it's TR-DOS emulation, as the Beta Disk Interface is incompatible with +2A/+3. It won't work on any of the earlier models, as it utilises the +2A/+3's special paging mode.

It runs and sounds great on my +3 w/ DivMMC. Well, the tunes that don't suffer from slowdown do...

Thanks for the heads up :)
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by azesmbog »

Pegaz wrote: Mon Jun 08, 2020 9:37 pm I didn't quite understand how to use the +3 version and whether its possible to run this emulator on standard Sinclair/Amstrad model 
On 3+ models it works only with divMMC, it doesn’t work with standard models, since it is necessary to replace the ROM zero page with RAM. There are both fresher versions, and versions that work with a real SID chip, or versions for ZXUno
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stupidget
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by stupidget »

I get this screen on my +2a with a DivMMC:

Image

but when I select any of the tracks I get some corruption on the screen and nothing happens.
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by azesmbog »

Is + 2A model compatible on port # 1FFD with 3+?
If compatible, and can substitute RAM in the zero page - then you need to try the version with 3+, for example NSID r0244 +3 Slow
or NSID_Emu_TS r0274 +3 Slow.trd
https://dropmefiles.com.ua/ru/VPC72UBN
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by azesmbog »

Stable version with new interface:
https://zx-pk.ru/threads/31677-nsid_emu ... ost1072862
Experimental version, "as is", with support for muz files:
https://zx-pk.ru/threads/31677-nsid_emu ... ost1073138
Plays ancient SID files (The current collection contains 15655 MUS files):
http://www.c64music.co.uk/
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Pegaz
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Pegaz »

Tried with Spectaculator and SpecEmu in Pentagon mode, but it wont work.
It loads the sid file and then returns to the menu...
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by azesmbog »

Pegaz wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2020 9:50 pm Tried with Spectaculator and SpecEmu in Pentagon mode, but it wont work.
It loads the sid file and then returns to the menu...
This is normal behavior for the 128th model.
The program uses a zero RAM bank - I mentioned that above.
Therefore, there are so many versions - either 3+ or the Pentagon 256-512-1024 model, which can connect RAM instead of ROM. The specifics and limitations of the program itself, apparently nothing else.
Well, basically it works well on real models 3+ \ 2+, and also on ZXUno and the Next.
In emulators it works for Unreal and also in the Caesar emulator.
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Seven.FFF »

azesmbog wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2020 8:34 pm Is + 2A model compatible on port # 1FFD with 3+?
Yes it is. Any black +2A or +2B can do all-RAM mode.
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Alcoholics Anonymous »

Pegaz wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2020 9:50 pm Tried with Spectaculator and SpecEmu in Pentagon mode, but it wont work.
It loads the sid file and then returns to the menu...
On the Next it works in Pentagon 1024 mode. So Spectacular and SpecEmu are likely only doing the normal Pentagon 128. The Pentagon 1024 uses additional bits in port 0x7ffd for memory page number and has an additional i/o port in 0xeff7 that allows the rom to be replaced by ram bank 0.
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Pegaz »

It works best on UnrealSpeccy emulator with SID on xxCF port, but I wanted to test with other emus and versions as well.
For example, the TS version works with Spectaculator and some other emulators, but only on the Scorpion model, which means that 1024 Kb is not necessary as limit.
I also noticed that the older TS version v0274 gives better sound quality than this latest v0416, which is very strange.
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

because NEO SPECTRUMAN was banhammered from zx.pk.ru
the new release will be here

NSID_Emu_TS r0625
https://www.mediafire.com/file/yclhww9a ... 25.7z/file

the new version uses ZX0 v1.2 packer by Einar Saukas
a various bug fixes, optimisations
added reflesh button in file menu and catalog backup
(now catalog doesn't load every time (which are relevant for real floppy drives (which went extinct : ) )
mus player now integrated
fixed ATM1 memory overwrite

after major internal changes +3 "FAST" version no longer available (+3 "slow" still working)
maybe in the future it will be fixed...

as always profi interface mb02 and mb03+ versions haven't been tested ^_^
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Pegaz »

Today, I tried the MB03+ version for the first time, on the lnxSpectrum emulator and got interesting results.
I tested r0274, r0416 and latest r0625 version and I can say that each newer version sounds worse, than previous ones. :?
The r0274 sounds glorious in TS mode, the r0416 also sounds clean and good but much quieter, while the new r0625 has a playback issues, due to occasional crackling and skipping.
I don't know what is the cause of this, but in general, my experience is that older versions give a cleaner and nicer sound...
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

hmm it's a bit strange
can you make a small disk image 32...64MB with different versions of player?
and sound recordings of "occasional cracklings"?

also check pentagon version on unreal for comparsion

configurated unreal
https://www.mediafire.com/file/r87pn340 ... .0.7z/file

it should sound the same
if there are no bugs about which I don't know
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Pegaz »

Well, you can try it yourself, I used a 15Gb hdf image already prepared for MB03+ and just added NSID trd images with hdfmonkey.
The emulator and instructions on how to do it are here:
viewtopic.php?p=56843#p56843

I also tried it on your unrealspeccy, the latest r0625 sounds just as good as r0416 (no crackling), but r0274 still sounds noticeably cleaner and louder here.
Then I tried r0274 on unreal with SAA support and got almost the same sound quality as MB03+ version on lnxSpectrum emulator, which sounds more powerful than any others, simply rocks!
Maybe that's the answer, because MB03+ also supports SAA sound...
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

Pegaz wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:30 pmThen I tried r0274 on unreal with SAA support and got almost the same sound quality as MB03+ version on lnxSpectrum emulator,
i tryed latest unreals by deathsoft and by ts-labs with saa1099 on
but no crackling at all
also i tryed old unreal 0.37.3m with saa1099
everything sounds as it should be

well
let's assume that is a conflict between saa1099 and ts
i will check lnx emulator later
...
Pegaz wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 7:50 pmbut much quieter
that's how it should be
but "much" it's just К = 0,90
because the resonance of the filter can increase the volume
and this was ignored in the r0274 version

sid master volume (d3...d0 $18 reg) added since r0309
which additionaly reduced the volume in some .sids
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

Pegaz wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:30 pm Well
try this version
http://www.mediafire.com/file/p59f3km9o ... ff.7z/file
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Pegaz »

Thanks, this version works ok, the crackling and skipping is gone.
Still, I have to say that the MB03+ r0274 version still sounds best and noticeably louder or simply more pleasant to listen to.
A good example is the Supremacy tune, where the part between about 1:05 and 1:20 (just before the crescendo), sounds strangely quiet, like it's missing something.
In the r0274 version this is not the case, it also has a noticeably pronounced echo at the very beginning of the tune, just like in the C64 original.
All these are my impressions as a user, I am not an SID expert and I believe that the new versions are more internally compatible, but this MB03+ version just seems superior, although I don't know why. :)
It should be noted, that I am testing the MB03+ version with the only emulator that supports this interface - lnxSpectrum, but very good one.
We may have a more complete impression if some of the mb03+ owners, tests program on the real hardware.
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

Pegaz wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:42 pm Thanks, this version works ok, the crackling and skipping is gone.
Presumptive diagnosis
incorrect\wrong AY counters emulation in lnx emulator (undocumented AY part)
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

i'm using "portamento protection"

because registers are written separately
there is some problem when some dividers writing
$100 -> $0FF
$0FF -> $100

fail №1
$1 00 - 427,2460938 Hz
$0 00 - 109375 Hz click + phase loss (write H)
$0 FF - 428,9215686 Hz (write L)

fail №2
$0 FF - 428,9215686 Hz
$0 00 - 109375 Hz click + phase loss (write L)
$1 00 - 427,2460938 Hz (write H)

i'm using this trick
$0 FF - 428,9215686 Hz
$0 FF - 428,9215686 Hz (write FF in L)
$1 FF - 214,0410959 Hz (write H)
$1 00 - 427,2460938 Hz (write L)

It should work but I'm not 100% sure, what exactly is going on real AY
Pegaz wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:42 pm n the r0274 version
I also broke the "triagle waveform" a little during the calibration process :)
now it sounds quieter than necessary
and I can't find time to re-calibrate it (it's kinda long to do)
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Pegaz »

NEO SPECTRUMAN wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:38 pm
Pegaz wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:42 pm Thanks, this version works ok, the crackling and skipping is gone.
Presumptive diagnosis
incorrect\wrong AY counters emulation in lnx emulator (undocumented AY part)
Yes, you are right, this is definitely an emulator issue.
I just tested this latest Pentagon version with UnrealSpeccy and that silent part in Supremacy sounds perfect.
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

just build last Hard SID versions

NSID_Player_Pro r0626 (HardSID on xxCF)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/m584w68s9 ... 29.7z/file

NSID_Player_Pro r0626 (HardSID on AY Ports)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/o4inmu1f6 ... 29.7z/file

also last +3 versions as always have some not critical bugs :)
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

crappy single AY version

NSID_Emu r0626
http://www.mediafire.com/file/qf7ntt1an ... 26.7z/file
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by Szk »

Hi [mention]NEO SPECTRUMAN[/mention] I've recently heard about your programs NSID and S98 players for the TSFM and would like to try them, but looks like all previous download links you provided here and on ZX-PK.ru are removed? Is there a place where we can get your latest versions? Thank you! :D
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Re: NSID_Emu - SID Player for Spectrum

Post by NEO SPECTRUMAN »

Szk wrote: Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:02 pm a place where we can get your latest versions?
latest for turbo sound
NSID_Emu_TS r0632 (unstable)
https://anonfiles.com/N0fap540u0/NSID_E ... nstable_7z
https://dropmefiles.com/iNP0L
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