Hi again,

As far as I know, in most cases audio cartridges can be made to work 
NEARLY perfect with turbo-circuits, but often not 100% perfect.

The problem here is essentially in the turbo-circuit (6/7 MHz. or my 
own MSX super turbo): when the computer is running at turbo-speed, 
and some music device is accessed, the turbo-circuit will switch back 
to the standard 3.58 MHz. But no matter how it does this, in practice 
at least for a bit, the machine will still have run one or more 
clock-cycles on turbo-speed, AFTER the particular device was 
accessed, before the system is actually switched back to a lower 
speed. This problem also goes for other than music devices, but for 
these other devices, this seems to be no problem in practice.

Different turbo-circuits perform differently here, but not that much. 
The only real solution would be a more sophisticated circuit. 
Possible to make it, but: more complicated, bigger, more expensive, 
less reliable, ....

To let an audio cartridge work with turbo-circuits, these basic steps 
are needed:

Construct an independent clock-source, as required for the cartridge 
(usually 3.58 MHz.).

Make sure the connection to the computer's clock signal (cartridge 
pin 42) is disconnected. Preferably do this close to the 
cartridge-connector, that makes it easier to see what's been 
modified.

Connect the 'cartridge-side' of this clock signal to the independent 
clock source.

At least for MSX-Music (FM-PAC/K) and MSX-Audio cartridges (Music 
Module), the turbo-circuit will have to be switched back, when this 
device is accessed. In the 'standard' construction of turbo-circuits, 
these are switched back upon access to ANY I/O-port (using Z80 
IORQ-signal). In that case, all is well. But in some cases, it might 
be switched back only on access to certain hardware, like the VDP 
(and maybe nothing else). If so, I suggest you go back to the 
'default' construction, by hooking up the Z80 IORQ-signal to 1 of the 
inputs on the turbo-circuit.

If these steps are done properly, no software modifications are 
needed.

SCC seems to work fine on 7 MHz. (probably even higher), if supplied 
with a fixed 3.58 MHz. clock. I wouldn't know about Moonsound 
(haven't got one to try)

When you need a crystal oscillator: you could use a circuit like I 
used in my MSX super turbo circuit, preferably with somewhat higher 
capacitor values (47 pF or such). It's better to construct this from 
single components for 2 reasons: cheaper (ready-made crystal 
oscillators are usually more expensive, I wouldn't know why, but they 
are), but more important: it's easier to fit such single components 
in a cartridge somehow, if little space is available. Sometimes, you 
can also use parts of the circuitry already in such a cartridge.


Greetings,

Alwin Henseler    ([EMAIL PROTECTED])

http://huizen.dds.nl/~alwinh/msx     (MSX Tech Doc page)
http://www.twente.nl/~cce/index.htm    (computerclub Enschede)


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