How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

9 posts / 0 new
Last post
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 3 months ago
Joined: Sep 12 2011 - 23:19
Posts: 17
How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

I've built my own MESS for OS/X. I then launch with:

mess apple1 -cass code4+4.wav

So far, so good, I then type C100R, etc..., but how do I press "play"?

I've Googled for about an hour with no luck. The mess.org wiki has a ton of broken links. I would love to read the documentation if I could find it. Other searches has lead me to uses using MESSUI, which I am not using.

Looking for tips. Thanks.

Offline
Last seen: 6 years 3 months ago
Joined: Sep 12 2011 - 23:19
Posts: 17
Re: How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

I've built my own MESS for OS/X. I then launch with:

mess apple1 -cass code4+4.wav

So far, so good, I then type C100R, etc..., but how do I press "play"?

I've Googled for about an hour with no luck. The mess.org wiki has a ton of broken links. I would love to read the documentation if I could find it. Other searches has lead me to uses using MESSUI, which I am not using.

Looking for tips. Thanks.

For the benefit of others I'll reply to my own post.

To load a tape into MESS emulating an Apple-1:

  • If using SDL MESS (e.g. OS/X or Linux) and no UI, then you'll have to make sure you map the "uimodekey" to something you have on your keyboard. The default for Windows is SCROLL-LOCK and the default for OS/X is DELETE. BTW, the "delete" key on Macs is not DELETE but BACKSPACE. The DELETE key the MESS defaults to is the DEL key as part of the INS/DEL pair. I had to update mess.ini and change "uimodekey" to F11.
  • Start up MESS with something like this on the CLI: mess apple1 -cass foo.wav
  • Your .wav file will not work with low sample rates. I ended up using 48K. I could not find any documentation that specifies the correct rate. If I was less lazy I'd read the source.
  • To load a tape do the normal Apple-1 commands then...
  • Press F11 to get to partial emulation mode.
  • Press Tab to get the MESS Menu.
  • Select Tape Control, then Play.
  • When done, select Stop.
  • Slowly ESC out of the menus (if you press too many you will kill your session).
  • Press F11 to get back to full emulation mode. Important, do this before pressing any other key.
  • Examine your restore, etc...

Offline
Last seen: 11 years 5 months ago
Joined: Jan 27 2012 - 11:32
Posts: 37
Re: How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

I've been away for a few days so I haven't had a chance to read this thread. If you ever have any questions concerning MESS Apple-1 wave files, I'm sure I can be of assistance. I've made all the official A1 waves for MESS [except Corey986's version of Lunar Lander used with permission]. I might not be of much help with respect to MESS OS/X since I'm on a PC. However there shouldn’t be much difference in how A1 wave files are loaded.

"The mess.org wiki has a ton of broken links."

There was a fatal server crash about a month ago at MESS. MESS Wiki suffered a huge amount of data loss. It's going to take a lot of time to rebuild the lost data.

gsmcten's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 years 8 months ago
Joined: Oct 4 2005 - 18:52
Posts: 2629
Re: How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

Anonymous,

I have been following these discussions, but I am a bit lost when it comes to MESS.
Just what is it and how is it used?

Steven Smile

Offline
Last seen: 11 years 5 months ago
Joined: Jan 27 2012 - 11:32
Posts: 37
Re: How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

Anonymous,

I have been following these discussions, but I am a bit lost when it comes to MESS.
Just what is it and how is it used?

Steven :)


The best way to answer your first question is to give you some quotes from wikipedia.org and the MESS home page.

Multi Emulator Super System (MESS) is an emulator for many game consoles and computer systems, based on the MAME core. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi_Emulator_Super_System

MESS is a source-available project which documents the hardware for a wide variety of (mostly vintage) computers, video game consoles, and calculators through software emulation, as MAME does for arcade games. As a nice side effect to this documentation, MESS allows software and games for these hardware platforms to be run on modern PCs. [http://www.mess.org/]

What I really like about MESS is it strives for accuracy.

Now the second question is a little hairy to answer because there are some steps required to use MESS. I'll try to simplify things for you. This is the very basic way to run MESS. There are many options in MESS, but for now this is all you need to know.

In order to use MESS you MUST have the following:

01. The MESS emulator: http://messui.the-chronicles.org/ (Please don't ask me about MESS builds for Mac OS X... I'm an evil Windows PC user and have no knowledge of Mac's). I DON'T recommend downloading "New! MESSUNI" because that is experimental. I DO recommend you download MESS and MESSUI 0.145u8 (32-bit, for Windows XP) or 64-bit MESSUI.

02. BIOS files: Can be found on the Downloads section at http://www.retroroms.net/modules/news/ (You need to register first in order to get the Bios files).

An easier way to get the BIOS is go to "Pleasure Dome" they have a torrent with all mess bios on free leech (doesn't impact on your ratio). You need to register first. http://www.pleasuredome.org.uk/

03. Create a folder called "roms" where your mess.exe is, and put all your bios in that folder.

04. Click on mess.exe and you should be all set. Simply type the name of the system you want to emulate.

Note: In order to play a game on a particular computer system; Apple II for example, you'll need to have an Apple II cassette image, or disk image (karateka.dsk at http://www.virtualapple.org/karatekadisk.html). The good people at “RetroRoms” can help you find whatever you’re looking for.

Anyway I hope I helped. If you're still confused or have any more questions, please don't be afraid to ask.

Anon Smile

P.S. I prefer to use messui.exe instead of plain command line mess.exe. With messui.exe you can take advantage of cabinet pics, artwork, ingame snapshots etc. http://www.progettosnaps.net/mess/

Also with messui.exe it's easier to load disk images (karateka.dsk) because you can do it right from the GUI.

gsmcten's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 years 8 months ago
Joined: Oct 4 2005 - 18:52
Posts: 2629
Re: How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

Anonymous,

Thank you for the info and all the links. This gives me a whole new bunch of things to learn.

Like I said, I've been following the thread, but was not sure what I was reading about since I had never heard of it before. Now I have a better understanding. Smile

Steven

Offline
Last seen: 11 years 5 months ago
Joined: Jan 27 2012 - 11:32
Posts: 37
Re: How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

gsmcten

You're welcome. Sorry if I made MESS sound terribly confusing. It's really not. All you need is:

* The MESS emulator
* BIOS files
* Game ROMS (as an option)

MESS is a great emulator. I highly recommend it to anyone who is curious about old computer systems. It emulates many old computers such as: the KIM-1, the TRS-80, and just about every vintage Apple.

Regards,
Anon Smile

gsmcten's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 years 8 months ago
Joined: Oct 4 2005 - 18:52
Posts: 2629
Re: How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

Anonymous,

Its just another item on my growing list of things I don't know about and want to learn.
It seems to be growing the older I get. Smile

Offline
Last seen: 11 years 5 months ago
Joined: Jan 27 2012 - 11:32
Posts: 37
Re: How to load audio files into MESS emulation Apple-1

datajerk Smile

I sent you a PM. Please check you box.

Log in or register to post comments