Introduction
Excitement is sweeping through the MSX community as the highly anticipated Wozblaster Reloaded v4.0 takes center stage. With a slew of upgrades, this iteration pushes the boundaries of MSX audio through the powerful Yamaha OPL4 chip, making it a must-have for both enthusiasts and developers alike.
What’s New?
At the core of the v4.0 lies its pièce de résistance: a whopping 2 megabytes of RAM, thanks to the CY62167ELL chip. This substantial memory boost opens up a world of possibilities, allowing for complex soundscapes, intricate music compositions, and memory-hungry tunes.
But that’s not all—still anchored by the high-quality Adafruit A1334 Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), the audio output capabilities have been further enhanced. The A1334 module, renowned for its exceptional signal-to-noise ratio and low total harmonic distortion, makes it the perfect choice for the MSX Wozblaster Reloaded cartridge.
Bill of Materials (BOM)
No more scavenger hunts! The BOM serves as your roadmap for sourcing components. From capacitors to resistors, everything you need is neatly organized in a downloadable table available on the project’s GitHub page here.
Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find:
| References | Value | Footprint | Quantity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCB | N/A | Printed Circuit Board | 1 | PCBWay |
| C1, C5, C6, C7, C10, C11, C13 | 0.1uF | C_0603_1608Metric | 7 | Ali Express |
| C2, C14 | 10uF/10v | CP_EIA-3216-18_Kemet-A | 2 | Ali Express |
| C8, C9 | 12pF | C_0603_1608Metric | 2 | Ali Express |
| R2, R3 | 1K | R_0603_1608Metric | 2 | Ali Express |
| R1 | 3.3K | R_0603_1608Metric | 1 | Ali Express |
| U1 | YMF278B-F | 80-QFP | 1 | The Retro Hacker Store |
| U2 | GAL16V8D | DIL20 | 1 | Ali Express |
| U3 | AM29F016B-120EC | SOP50P2000X120-48N | 1 | Ali Express |
| U4 | CY62167ELL | SOP50P2000X120-48N | 1 | Ali Express |
| U5 | UDA1334MOD | UDA1334MOD | 1 | Ali Express |
| Q1 | 33.8688 | Crystal_HC49-U_Vertical | 1 | Ali Express |
Programming the GAL16V8D
The GAL16V8D is a programmable logic device (PLD) that can be programmed to perform various logical functions and can be used to implement a variety of digital circuits.
It is used to implement the selection logic on the Wozblaster.
You need to use an TL866 programmer to program the GAL16V8D chip. The TL866 is a universal programmer that is capable of programming a wide variety of devices, including PLDs like the GAL16V8D.
On the project repository you can find the GAL16V8D.jed file that is required to program the chip. Follow the steps below to program:
- Connect your TL866 to your PC, insert the GAL16V8D chip in the programmer ZIF socket and execute the Xgpro app.
- Click the Select IC button and search for GAL16V8D. Click Select.
- Click load and select the GAL16V8D.jed for the Wozblaster.
- Click PROG.
- Uncheck the lock bit option and click Program.
- Wait until the chip gets programmed.
Programming the AM29F016B
The TL866 cannot be used the AM29F016B directly. You need a specific adapter to program the flash in parts or use a programmer that is capable to program memories with 48 pins. The AM29F016B is a TSOP-48 SMD chip.
To program the flash I used my SuperPro 610P programmer. But you can use the newer XGecu Black T48 TL866-3G programmers available on Ali Express. With a TSOP-48 to DIP-48 adapter, you can easily program the content of the flash from the YRW801-M – Yamaha – 1993.rom file available on the project GitHub.
Here are the steps to program the flash using the SuperPro 610P:
- Connect the programmer to the PC and execute the SuperPro 610P programmer software.
- Click Device and search for AM29F016B. Click OK.
- Insert the flash on the adapter, and the adapter to the ZIF Socket and lock it.
- Click Load file and select the YRW801-M – Yamaha – 1993.rom file. Click OK.
- Click Blank check to ensure you have a blank flash.
- If you receive a message saying Blank_Check OK, then move forward with the programming process. Otherwise, click Erase to erase the memory and wait until it gets erased.
- Click Program to start the programming process. After a few seconds you should receive a message saying Program OK!.
Open-Source Spirit
The Wozblaster Reloaded v4.0 embodies the spirit of collaboration, with design files freely available on GitHub. Developers and tinkerers are encouraged to come together, enhance, remix, and innovate. However, remember that the project is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. So, while remixing and building upon the material is welcomed, commercial use is strictly prohibited.
- If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
- You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
ATTENTION
This project was made for the retro community and not for commercial purposes. So only retro hardware forums and individual people can build this project.
THE SALE OF ANY PART OF THIS PROJECT WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORIZATION IS PROHIBITED!