Re: Apple II Music Format

[Ralph <rwhyre@gmail.com>]

On May 26, 7:17 pm, Steve Nickolas
<lyricalnan...@usotsuki.hoshinet.org> wrote:
> On Sat, 26 May 2012, Daniel Kruszyna wrote:
> > The Apple II doesn't have a music format -- something similar to the AY, SID,
> > and NSF formats for other systems.  Do we need one? Do any emulator coders want
> > to help design and implement such a format?
>
> Some sort of AY format would be nice to be able to run music off the
> Mockingboard... xD
>
> -uso.

Sounds like a nice and feasible project, as there are only a few types
of "music hardware"...
MMI, Don't Ask software (D/A converter), ALF Products, Mountain
Computer, Sweet Microsystems,
Applied Engineering, and Apple made sound hardware for the Apple II
series - Apple used an Ensoniq chip in the //gs.

The Mockinboard and alternative PSG (programmable sound generator)
chips like the AY-5-8910
would be a starting point, but the technical capabilities of Apple
sound cards varied widely.

Viewing the page at http://shiru.untergrund.net/1bit/pivot/entry.php?id=91,
the existing
AY format seems to require Z80 emulator, coming from the MSX and ZX
spectrum worlds.

A first step might be to create an "AY6" alternative kind of container
that requires 6502 and 65c02 support instead of Z80 emulation,
but can handle Atari, CBM, Apple, and MTU-130 (music workstation from
1982).


Good luck!