Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

HxC Floppy Emulator Ensoniq Keyboards/Samplers support
Jeff
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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Jeff »

Western wrote:Hello Jeff,

I already stated, I’ve bought SD and USB HxCFloppyEmulators from Lotharek shop and now I’m testing them on my Ensoniq TS-10 and ASR-10.

First, I tested USB HxCFloppyEmulator and found that EPS floppy images (.ede) emulates normally on both TS-10 & ASR-10. I could see and choose every file in the root, but couldn’t load anyone of them. "Disk has been changed" message appears at attempt to load any file. After this TS10 returns back to Load screen.

I decided to compare “Disk change” signal on pin 34 going from real FDD and from HxCFloppyEmulator . I have found some difference:
- Real FDD gives only ONE “Disk change” pulse on pin 34 from logic “1” to logic “0” and back to “1” (“Ready” condition) at the beginning of the first FDD access (MO) after Floppy disk change. At this moment ensoniq’s OS reads the FAT table from floppy disk and memorizes it. On all further file accesses ensoniq’s OS never rereads FAT until next Disk change.

- HxCFloppyEmulator gives “Disk change” pulses at EACH file load attempt. So, at each file access OS forced to abort loading and reread the FAT. After this system returns back to Load screen.

To avoid this I’ve cut a wire from pin 34. There are pull-up resistors on FDD controller’s bus side, so opened “Disk change” line has passive “1” level. After that HxCFloppyEmulator began work absolutely normally with .ede image filles.
Except the fact that before each new disk image load I must manually give “Disk change” pulse ( “short” pin 34 to the ground). It forces OS to read FAT of the disk.

Is it possible to update software to do the behavior of “Disk change” signal similar to real ensoniq’s FDD?
There are also some issues with other formats (.eda, .edt). But I still check it carefully and only then write.

You do a great job!
Thanks,
Youriy.
Are you using the USB or the SD version?

Western
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Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:17 pm

Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Western »

I have both. But now I'm checking USB HxCFloppyEmulator.

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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Jeff »

If your disk change signal is at the pin 34 , this means that you need to change the floppy interface mode to PC 720K or PC 1.44MB

What is the original floppy disk drive model ?

Western
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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Western »

SONY
MODEL MPF420-1

Jeff
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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Jeff »

Western wrote:SONY
MODEL MPF420-1
Try this :

Menu USB HxC Floppy settings and status -> In the mode part uncheck "Auto"
If this is an HD image choose "IBM PC 1.44MB".
If this is an DD image choose "IBM PC 720kB".

Western
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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Western »

OK, I'll try to do everything you told, then replay

Western
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Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:17 pm

Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Western »

Jeff, you are right.
EDE-images emulates normally when I choose IBM 720k mode manually. The behavior of "Disk change" becomes normal and file's loading too. I checked also EDT DD-images. It seems, there is no problems with DD-disk emulation. They works OK with IBM 720k mode choosing.
But there is some inconvenience to remember the type of disk (720k or 1.44M) for all images. And how can I do it for SD-version of emulator?

Is it possible to update software to recognize the mode automatically?

With HD-images there are some problems.
When EDA HD-image (IBM 1.44M mode choose) emulates, I can see and choose any file in the root, but when try to load it, synthesizer freezes at all. The only way is to switch it off. At the same time, a real floppy with this EDA image written on it, works OK.

When EDT HD-image (IBM 1.44M mode choose) emulates, "Disk error - Bad directory" message appears when I try to open disk on TS-10.

I 've got HFE image (with second copy of HxCFloppyEmulator soft run) from USB-emulator connected to FDD cable instead of PC floppy drive. Then I compared it with HFE image I've got from real floppy with same image written on it, and found some difference. (I checked the same with DD-images - no difference in HFE files was found). So, it seems, incorrect emulation of HD-images observed.
I tested USB HxCFloppyEmulator connected instead of PC floppy drive with free Omniflop software. It recognizes loaded ensoniq's DD-images normally. But HD-images doesn'n recognize too.
I also did diagnostic tests of USB HxCFloppyEmulator and same real floppy in PC drive with this software. Disk Maps are different:
This is a disk map of real EDT HD- floppy disk:

OmniFlop Wizard v2.3a
OmniFlop Driver v02.03.0001
AS D04 #53 H2
c00h00x00MFM C00 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01} N02
c00h01x00MFM C00 H01 R{01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00} N02
c01h00x00MFM C01 H00 R{04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01 02 03} N02
c01h01x00MFM C01 H01 R{04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01 02 03} N02
c02h00x00MFM C02 H00 R{04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01 02 03} N02
c02h01x00MFM C02 H01 R{04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01 02 03} N02
...............................................................................................................................

This is a disk map of the same as floppy EDT HD- image emulated with USB HxCFloppyEmulator:

OmniFlop Wizard v2.3a
OmniFlop Driver v02.03.0001
AS D04 #53 H2
c00h00x00MFM C00 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c00h01x00MFM C00 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c01h00x00MFM C01 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c01h01x00MFM C01 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c02h00x00MFM C02 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c02h01x00MFM C02 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
............................................................................................................................

This is a disk map of real EDA HD- floppy disk:
OmniFlop Wizard v2.3a
OmniFlop Driver v02.03.0001
AS D04 #53 H2
c00h00x00MFM C00 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01} N02
c00h01x00MFM C00 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01} N02
c01h00x00MFM C01 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01} N02
c01h01x00MFM C01 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01} N02
c02h00x00MFM C02 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01} N02
c02h01x00MFM C02 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 00 01} N02
................................................................................................................................

And this is a disk map of the same as floppy EDA HD- image emulated with USB HxCFloppyEmulator:

OmniFlop Wizard v2.3a
OmniFlop Driver v02.03.0001
AS D04 #53 H2
c00h00x00MFM C00 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c00h01x00MFM C00 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c01h00x00MFM C01 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c01h01x00MFM C01 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c02h00x00MFM C02 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
c02h01x00MFM C02 H01 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 00 01} N02
...........................................................................................................................

You can see, that in both cases a real HD floppy has 20 sectors per track (00-13 hex), and emulated only 19 (00-12 hex).
DD-disks has the same maps, so emulates normally. As example:

OmniFlop Wizard v2.3a
OmniFlop Driver v02.03.0001
AS D04 #53 H2
c00h00x02MFM C00 H00 R{02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 00 01} N02
c00h01x02MFM C00 H01 R{01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 00} N02
c01h00x02MFM C01 H00 R{01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 00} N02
c01h01x02MFM C01 H01 R{01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 00} N02
c02h00x02MFM C02 H00 R{01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 00} N02
c02h01x02MFM C02 H01 R{01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 00} N02
.....................................................................................

I wanted to upload HFE files for more information, but couldn't. It seems, there is a limitation for size of uploaded files. Do you need them? Tell me, how to do it better (may be, use some file hosting?)

It would be great if all types of images become available,
All ASR-10 & TS-10 users will thank you for such a great design!


Regards,
Youriy

Jeff
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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Jeff »

Hi,

I have adjusted the number of sector per track in HD mode :
The interface mode for ASR-10 and TS-10 is now ok.

https://hxc2001.com/floppy_drive_emulat ... t_beta.zip

Waiting for your feedbacks !

Western
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Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:17 pm

Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Western »

Hi Jeff,

I tested HxCFloppyEmulator_soft_beta using USB HxCFloppyEmulator with EDA & EDT HD-images. I t works normally now. It's great! Thanks. Next step I'll check all this with SD-version of HxCFloppyEmulator. I think, everything should be OK. After all tests I'll try to do a video for Showroom about ASR-10 and TS-10 work with HxCFloppyEmulators.

One more question.
Is it possible to add support of .GHK Ensoniq image file format and .IMG format of OmniFlop software? There are a lot of ensoniq's images in these formats. I've compared .GHK images with EDE, EDA and EDT images using WinHex software. The "bodies" of images are the same, and only headers (first 512 bytes) differ. OmniFlop's .IMG image has no header, and all the image is the same as a "body" of corresponding .GHK or EDE, EDA or EDT images. If you have no information how to transfer data between these formats, I'll try to find it out.

Regards,
Youriy.

P.S. One comment on the hardware: if the USB HxC Floppy Emulator is connected to the FDD cable, and a synthesizer is OFF, the software does not see it. USB HxC Floppy Emulator status shows: “USB HxC Floppy Emulator not detected!”. USB reconnecting doesn’t help. The only way is disconnect FDD cable and connect again (it’s inconvenient) or switch ON synthesizer before USB connection.

Western
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Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:17 pm

Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Western »

Jeff,

I tested EDE files with updated software. The The behavior of "Disk change" stays old for this image type - I can't load any file - "Disk has been changed" appears again. TS-10 & ASR-10 can use EDE image files, but "Disk change" must be corrected as for EDA & EDT images.

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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Jeff »

Western wrote:Jeff,

I tested EDE files with updated software. The The behavior of "Disk change" stays old for this image type - I can't load any file - "Disk has been changed" appears again. TS-10 & ASR-10 can use EDE image files, but "Disk change" must be corrected as for EDA & EDT images.
Hi,

Can send me by email some of these problematic file images ?

Western
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Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:17 pm

Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Western »

Jeff wrote: Can send me by email some of these problematic file images ?
File sent

Jeff
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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Jeff »

Western wrote:
Jeff wrote: Can send me by email some of these problematic file images ?
File sent
Ok thanks.

In fact there are a problem here since the Ensoniq EPS use the shugart mode. I cannot change the floppy interface mode for Ensoniq EPS users.
So for the moment you have to force manually the mode to "IBM 720k".
To avoid this kind of conflit i need to add a new parameter to force the floppy interface mode into the HXCSDFE.CFG file. (this is maybe more logical by this way)
this will be done into the next firmware.

apart this issue do you confirm that all is working on TS-10 & ASR10 ?

Western
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:17 pm

Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Western »

Jeff wrote: In fact there are a problem here since the Ensoniq EPS use the shugart mode. I cannot change the floppy interface mode for Ensoniq EPS users.
So for the moment you have to force manually the mode to "IBM 720k".
To avoid this kind of conflit i need to add a new parameter to force the floppy interface mode into the HXCSDFE.CFG file. (this is maybe more logical by this way)
this will be done into the next firmware.

apart this issue do you confirm that all is working on TS-10 & ASR10 ?
OK. Let us wait for a new version firmware with parametric interface mode forcing (although, for my TS-10 this beta-version should be good if all EDT, EDA & EDE were the same IBM "Disk Change" logic). Sometimes it seems, that file loading with HxC floppy Emulator is slightly slower than with real floppy disk. It is possible this is a subjective opinion. I'll check and compare more. In global I see, that for TS-10 (and TS-12) Ensoniq all is OK now.

For ASR-10 there are some problems. Different file errors sometimes occurs. I compared the work of USB HxC FloppyEmulator and real floppy with same image written on it. Real floppy never gives errors.
Small EDA-images work better (less errors). Big files from big images sometimes freeze loading ("Step" LED flashes slowly or stops flashing at all). Different error messages appear on the screen such as "File operation error" "Floppy software error" etc. But sometimes all files load good. I'll try to research the problem more. I can send you EDA, HFE and Omniflop IMG files of the same disk if needed.

Thanks,
Youriy.

Jeff
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Re: Ensoniq ASR-10 and TS-10

Post by Jeff »

Western wrote:
Jeff wrote: In fact there are a problem here since the Ensoniq EPS use the shugart mode. I cannot change the floppy interface mode for Ensoniq EPS users.
So for the moment you have to force manually the mode to "IBM 720k".
To avoid this kind of conflit i need to add a new parameter to force the floppy interface mode into the HXCSDFE.CFG file. (this is maybe more logical by this way)
this will be done into the next firmware.

apart this issue do you confirm that all is working on TS-10 & ASR10 ?
OK. Let us wait for a new version firmware with parametric interface mode forcing (although, for my TS-10 this beta-version should be good if all EDT, EDA & EDE were the same IBM "Disk Change" logic). Sometimes it seems, that file loading with HxC floppy Emulator is slightly slower than with real floppy disk. It is possible this is a subjective opinion. I'll check and compare more. In global I see, that for TS-10 (and TS-12) Ensoniq all is OK now.

For ASR-10 there are some problems. Different file errors sometimes occurs. I compared the work of USB HxC FloppyEmulator and real floppy with same image written on it. Real floppy never gives errors.
Small EDA-images work better (less errors). Big files from big images sometimes freeze loading ("Step" LED flashes slowly or stops flashing at all). Different error messages appear on the screen such as "File operation error" "Floppy software error" etc. But sometimes all files load good. I'll try to research the problem more. I can send you EDA, HFE and Omniflop IMG files of the same disk if needed.

Thanks,
Youriy.
About the disk read can you try to increase the usb buffer size ?
(Settings -> USB HxC Floppy Emulator status -> USB packet size setting.)

Have you tried the SDCard Floppy emulator ?

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