OpenEmulator 1.0 released

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OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Hello everybody:

I have the pleasure to announce that OpenEmulator 1.0 has been
released. What's new:

* The Apple-1 emulations are working. It is possible to emulate a
stock Apple-1, a Briel Replica-1 and a Achatz A-ONE. Every emulation
respects the memory maps and features of respective systems.
* There are many virtual monitors that can be plugged in an Apple-1
emulation: the Apple Monitor III (with high phosphor persistence), the
Apple Monitor II, a monochrome broadcast monitor, and a composite
broadcast monitor. The broadcast monitors allow fine tuning of the
video rendering.
* OpenEmulator is most probably the first emulator featuring a fully
functional Apple Cassette Interface Card (ACI). The ACI can be plugged
into any Apple-1 slot, and allows sending and receiving data to the
host audio system.
* OpenEmulator is definitely the first emulator with a CFFA1 expansion
card emulation. This card interfaces CompactFlash memory cards with
Apple-1 computers. It can be used in this emulation to move files much
more quickly than with the cassette interface.
* The audio recorder is capable of storing the sound output to a WAV
file, and can play back any of the following formats: WAV, AIFF, CAF,
AU, OGG, FLAC.
* OpenEmulator allows to connect devices dynamically to an emulation.
Just open the Hardware Library, and drag virtual devices to the
corresponding port.
* OpenEmulator features an advanced video rendering system, using GPU
shaders to implement advanced monitor emulation.
* OpenEmulator also makes it easy to change emulations internally.
Just edit the XML file and reconnect/reconfigure the software
components that make up an emulation.

With the best wishes,

Marc.-

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Oh I forgot :-).

http://www.openemulator.org

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

OK I tried it, BTW really nice old style CRT effect....

How do you load an AIF audio file into the cassette interface...

I reset the Apple I, entered C100R, but I didn't get a prompt for the address...
I got the audio controls all ready and loaded up my AppleBasic file, but couldn't get any further.

Thanks, I'm sure that I am missing something obvious....

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

To open an AIF file, the safest thing to do is to open the audio recorder (CMD+J). Otherwise, just drag it to the emulation window, and it will start playing. The timing for loading is tricky, follow these instructions:

* Open Audio Recorder, load AIF file, but don't play yet
* Type "C100R" and press ENTER
* Type "XXXX.YYYYR", where XXXX and YYYY are in hexadecimal, and should be available with the AIF file. Do not press enter yet.
* Now play the AIF file, wait til you hear a pure tone.
* Now press ENTER.

If you are lucky, it will load. If it doesn't work, try over and over. It is as tricky as it was on a real Apple-1.

If you are lazy, enter 9000R so you enter the CFFA1 interface card menu. Drag the "Apple-1 Software.po" disk image to the emulation. It should be mounted. Now you can load files from disk.

Best wishes,

Marc.-

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Tried that exact procedure and it hangs the simulator. BTW what fun is it using a "Flash Card Emulator". I want to pretend I'm using tape like in the old days...

Any ideas?

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Actually I think the Cassette Interface isn't working right.

When I enter C100R and then return shouldn't it be prompting me for an address range?
I think that is the issue. The open emulator says that the interface is connected. Do I have to mess with volume in the audio controls?

Thanks...
Corey

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Remember we are in 1976!

You enter C100R and ENTER, there is no prompt! Next enter F000.FFFFW and ENTER, that will start writing to the cassette interface, and you can use the audio recorder to store to disk.

To retrieve the data, enter C100R and ENTER, then 1000.1FFFR, then start playing back your recording, and when you hear the guard tone, press ENTER. And you should be able to read the contents of F000.FFFF back to 1000.1FFF.

Best wishes,

Marc.-

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

It might also be useful to edit the Toolbar menu, and add the Reset button. This is useful for resetting the computer.

I will add it by default in the next release!

Marc.-

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Marc,

Have you ever tried to import an original Apple I cassette recording in? Or have you only tried to write then re-read stuff created by your emulator. This could be the issue.

Thanks,
Corey

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Hi there!

Yes, I tried some tapes, like an original .MP3 recording that sounded very faded, but it loaded correctly. I'd be glad to receive any recordings you have trouble with. mressl@gmail.com

Marc.-

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

This looks very cool. Well done!

Can I upload a binary file to emulated machine memory?

Ken

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

I have already fixed several problems in OE :-):

* First one, the CPU timing was incorrect, so emulations were running 15% too slow.
* Second, there was a very subtle timing bug. OE uses audio as a timing base, and overdone instructions where not correctly taken into account.
* I just discovered an audio player bug, which is the real cause for all the cassette interface problems. There are random noise intervals which shouldn't be there.

Yes, you can upload binary files in two ways:
* As text in Monitor format, for instance:
40: a9 0 20 ef ff 38 69 0 4c 40 0
* As a binary file, using the emulated CFFA-1 card. Format a ProDOS disk, upload the binary file there, mount it in the CFFA1, and you are ready to go. Use an Apple II emulator for that purpose, it's the easiest!

Have you tried mounting the accompanying "Apple-1 Software.po" disk image?

What kind of binary file are you planning to upload?

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

I was planning to upload raw binaries of some of the Krusader sources I use to test the assembler. Didn't think of going via the CFFA - thanks for the pointer, but given it's an emulator I thought you might have had a back door.

I notice the Replica 1 ROMs you are distributing include version 1.2 of Krusader for 6502 and default to version 1.3 for the 65C02. I'd definitely recommend defaulting to the 6502 version and upgrading it to 1.3 (I think Vince does for the Replica 1). There are many improvements in 1.3, and the 6502 version includes the single step tracing in the debugger that I couldn't squeeze into the 65C02 version.

Ken

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

I just released OpenEmulator 1.0.1, which fixes all the timing and cassette interface issues.

Kallikak: thanks for your tip, I wasn't aware of that. I am actually using the Replica-1 ROM image, so I could add a switch that emulates the Replica-1 jumper to swap 65C02 and 6502 versions.

And if you want to meddle with the memory, just save an emulation to disk, and edit the XML file :-). Add RAM or ROM components at will, or add a second CPU that does parallel processing :-). It's just about playing with the XML.

Best wishes,

Marc.-

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Hey just wanted you to know this works awesome!!!!

I loaded basic using an AIFF file for a real Apple I, then loaded Wendell Sander's 20k StarTrek from an Apple I AIFF file and it worked great also....

Kept me entertained on two very long conference calls today Smile

Cheers,
Corey

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Re: OpenEmulator 1.0 released

Hi,
i have tried this nice emulator on my mac mini intel core 2 duo 1.83 ghz 4gb ram OS X LION, and i have noticed that it make a sound like a tac tac tac when i use the apple 1 emulator and the same sound when i write in the vince briel emulator. Is this normal?

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