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Pure Bollocks Issue 22_005
----------------------------------
* F A L C O N * I N F O
----------------------------------
WHAT? WHERE? HOW MUCH?
Yes, Falcons are with us (Or at least with selected mail-order companies in the
middle of nowhere), but not exactly at the cheap price we expected. A
combination of Norman Lamont's fucking up the economy and exchange rate, and
the scarce availability means that everyone is having to pay 50-100 MORE than
Atari's original rrp. And since the 1 meg Falcon is not with us, (And might
never be- see "1 meg mistake?") then that means you've gotta pay 945 MINIMUM
for a Falcon in Britain at the moment. Not very nice, especially as I've seen
386sx PCs with HD and VGA monitors going for 586!!! According to ST Report
Online, there's going to be more Falcons being shipped over, so perhaps the
price will start coming down, but I can't help feeling Atari might have fucked
up in a big way....
-----------------------------------
Some delightful Falcon Snippets
** The Falcon was on show at the Dusseldorf Muzike festival and, according to
Genie, even got a mention in "that luddite music paper" (his words) Melody
Maker. And if they can take their heads out their arses for a minute to
look at a computer, then it must be doing something right (as opposed to
the Atari execs)!
** One of the major exhibits was from Steinberg, who were launching their
Falcon version of Cubase Audio. Now this program on the Macs plays MIDI and
samples at the same time, but on the Falcon is a bit more special.... 4
tracks of digital hard drive recording! And this is the cut down version-
the full one controls 60 channels of MIDI data, 4 tracks of HD recording,
AND 4 tracks of stereo DMA samples, all with software, and a hard drive!!
It's like having Cubase, a digital 4 track and a soundtracker program all
in one! E-Magic (formerly C-lab) have also finished something similar. Like
we said in PB #21, it's all starting to merge together......
** Talking of which- we know of at least 3 companies going towards
implementing desktop video editing on the Falcon- Steinberg, E-magic, and
D2D, who were first out with desktop audio editing. As you can see, these 3
are currently known for just the audio side of things, but hopefully, not
any more.
** Still on music, a software company has finished making a MIDI player that
doesn't play through the MIDI ports at all, but through the DMA sound using
samples of GS standard sounds! This is the standard used by Roland for
their massively successful Sound Canvas. So if you've got a MIDI file that
uses Sound Canvas, but no Sound Canvas, then this could be for you!
However, I wonder what would happen if you put THAT together with the likes
of Cubase Audio!
** The finishing touches are being made to a packer that will make the Atomix
3.5 packer look positively stone-aged! I've heard rumours of the likes of
750K true colour images being packed down to less than 10K, and a depacking
time of about 2-3 seconds! The secret of the packer is it's use of the DSP
chip for it's packing and depacking algorithms.
** Apparently 50 new products were launched at the Huddersfield Computer show.
I haven't got any details, but perhaps we should say "Hooray for
Huddersfield!" (Ha ha!)
** Don't expect to be restriced by current screen modes. We've heard of
developement work that has resulted in using an interlace system to
generate a very large palette- colours in the MILLIONS! Also, increased
resolution in a couple of modes! Perhaps it won't be so long till the
problem with VGA "overscan" is sorted out!
** As for games, well the only 3 definate ones we know of are the ones
mentioned in ST Floormat- Space junk, the huge sprawling graphic adventure;
Steel Talcons, the great arcade helicopter sim; and Lamazap, another
tedious attempt by Jeff Minter to get us to play a Defender clone, even if
the graphics and sound are nice.
FALCON SPECIFICATIONS
=====================
Atari Falcon 030 Specifications
-------------------------------
CPU: Motorola 68030 32-bit microprocessor @ 16MHz w/32-bit bus
FPU: Motorola 68881/68882 @ 16MHz (optional)
DSP: Motorola 56001 Digital Signal Processor running in parallel @ 32MHz
w/ 32kWords (24-bit) of local zero wait state static RAM
ROM: 512kB
RAM: 1, 4 or 16MB(14MB usable) on daughterboard (RAM is 32-bit wide)
Expansion bus: Internal 'Processor-Direct' slot for 386SX emulation
(third party 386SX emulator nearly completed) or other
co-processors/etc.
Video: (See below for specific video modes/resolutions.)
16-bit BLiTTER @ 16MHz (also handles hard drive access)
Accepts external video sync to allow high quality genlocking
Overlay mode for easy video titling and special effects
Overscan support
Hardware-assisted horizontal fine scrolling
VIDEL (video controller) sits on 32-bit bus
Audio: Stereo 16-bit Analog-to-Digital DMA input
Stereo 16-bit Digital-to-Analog DMA output
Eight 16-bit audio DMA record/playback channels
SDMA sound/DMA co-processor
Ports: 128kB cartridge port
2 9-pin mouse/joystick ports
2 15-pin STe enhanced analog/digital controller ports (Atari also
has new analog controllers w/ a joystick, 3 fire buttons, and a
12-key keypad)
MIDI IN, OUT/THRU
Bi-directional parallel port
RS232C serial port
SCSI II w/ DMA
Analog RGB/VGA/composite video connector
Stereo headphone out (1/8" mini-jack)
Stereo microphone in (1/8" mini-jack)
DSP port (up to 1MHz data transfer rate)
RF modulator for TV hookup
Localtalk compatible LAN (up to 250kbaud transfer rate)
Misc: Internal 1.44MB 3.5" HD floppy
Internal IDE 2.5" hard drive (optional)
Pre-emptive mulitasking OS (MultiTOS) w/ adaptive prioritization
and inter-process communication (also 68040 compatible)
Realtime clock and battery backed up RAM
1040ST-style case w/ internal fan
North American availability in mid-October
Price: 1MB/no HD - $799 list
4MB/65MB - $1399 list
Resolutions available on the Atari Falcon030 (c) 1992 Atari Corp.
Written by John Townsend
=========================================================================
This document may be re-printed again and again as long as the Atari
copyright remains intact.
=========================================================================
A couple of notes: Unlike previous machines, there are just too many
resolutions to give each resolution a name. Therefore, I will do my best
to describe what the resolution is and which monitor it is on.
- NOTE: TV and a Color Monitor are the same.. by Color Monitor, I am
talking about the standard SC1224. By VGA, I mean a standard VGA
Monitor.
40 column modes ( "column" means the number of x pixels divided by 8)
---------------
4 color, normal, TV: 320x200, 4 colors, 2 planes
16 color, normal, TV: 320x200, 16 colors, 4 planes
256 color, normal, TV: 320x200, 256 colors, 8 planes
True color, normal, TV: 320x200, true color
4 color, interlace, TV: 320x400, 4 colors, 2 planes
16 color, interlace, TV: 320x400, 16 colors, 4 planes
256 color, interlace, TV: 320x400, 256 colors, 8 planes
True color, interlace, TV: 320x400, true color
4 color, normal, VGA: 320x480, 4 colors, 2 planes
16 color, normal, VGA: 320x480, 16 colors, 4 planes
256 color, normal, VGA: 320x480, 256 colors, 8 planes
True color, normal, VGA: 320x480, true color
4 color, line-doubling, VGA: 320x240, 4 colors, 2 planes
16 color, line-doubling, VGA: 320x240, 16 colors, 4 planes
256 color, line-doubling, VGA: 320x240, 256 colors, 8 planes
True color, line-doubling, VGA: 320x240, true color
80 column modes
---------------
2 color, normal, TV: 640x200, 2 colors, 1 plane
4 color, normal, TV: 640x200, 4 colors, 2 planes
16 color, normal, TV: 640x200, 16 colors, 4 planes
256 color, normal, TV: 640x200, 256 colors, 8 planes
True color, normal, TV: 640x200, true color
4 color, interlace, TV: 640x400, 4 colors, 2 planes
16 color, interlace, TV: 640x400, 16 colors, 4 planes
256 color, interlace, TV: 640x400, 256 colors, 8 planes
True color, interlace, TV: 640x400, true color
2 color, normal, VGA: 640x480, 2 colors, 1 plane
4 color, normal, VGA: 640x480, 4 colors, 2 planes
16 color, normal, VGA: 640x480, 16 colors, 4 planes
256 color, normal, VGA: 640x480, 256 colors, 8 planes
4 color, line-doubling, VGA: 640x240, 4 colors, 2 planes
16 color, line-doubling, VGA: 640x240, 16 colors, 4 planes
256 color, line-doubling, VGA: 640x240, 256 colors, 8 planes
and lastly.. there are compability modes for ST Low, ST Medium, and ST
High on both VGA monitors and SC1224 monitors. (On a color monitor, ST
High is achieved by using the interlace mode).
Also, the ST Monochrome monitor (the SM124) will work with Falcon030 as
well. However, it only supports one resolution: ST High Resolution.
All modes on a TV can be overscanned. This means multiplying the X and Y
resolution by 1.2. For example, modes with 320 pixels of horizontal
resolution (X res) will become 384 pixels across, and modes with 640
pixels will become 768 across. Overscanning is done in the X and Y
resolution. You can't do them independently. Special Note: On a VGA
monitor, overscan is "faked".. since the video hardware doesn't have the
capability to do overscan on a VGA monitor, we made it so that if a
overscan mode is set on a VGA monitor, you still see the normal size
screen, but the screen is a window onto the bigger overscanned image.
Make sense? We did this for compatibility. This way if a game that has an
overscanned starup picture can use the same pic on both the VGA monitor
and the TV monitor. Pretty cool, eh? <grin> [Oh ha ha ha! Yes, very cool!
John, ha ha ha! (Starts loading up his Uzi) -EGBSS]
BTW.. Overscan can NOT be set from the desktop. The AES and Desktop will
work just fine with it, but because you can't see the parts of the
screen, we thought that that option shouldn't be available from the
desktop. We don't want to confuse people. However, Overscan can be set
using a new XBIOS call (Vsetmode()).. so it is still available.
I hope I haven't made any mistakes. I triple-checked this document in
search of errors and I couldn't find any. If you do find some, send me
Email on GEnie (to TOWNS) or CIS (70007,1135) and let me know.
-- John Townsend, Atari Corp.
P.S. Anyone who would like to reprint this message, please do so!
The smaller the number of times I have to type that message, the
more my fingers with thank you! ;-)
After looking at this one more time.. one point to clear up: By
saying SC1224 Color Monitor, I mean any Color Monitor that Atari
have manufactured for the ST/Mega/STE/MegaSTE computers. Clear
as mud? ;-)
Article: 00000 of comp.sys.atari.st
Path: xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: The REAL Falcon specs wanted!
Keywords: Falcon specs.
Sender: network-news@cs.ruu.nl
Reply-To: xxxxxxxxxx
Organization: Dept of Computer Science, Utrecht University, The
Netherlands
Lines: 470
In-Reply-To: yyyyyyyyyyyy yyy
I found this file on the local ATARI Company's BBS : (original in Dutch)
This article is written by Wilfred Kilwinger (Support Manager) for Atari
Briefing, the newsletter by Atari (Benelux) B.V. for the Atari user
groups. It was specifically stated that it could be reproduced. I have
translated it in English with the assumption that an English translation
would be considered the same as the original.
The original also contained a description of all the features of the
Falcon which have been reproduced here a zillion of times so I did not
include those.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATARI CUSTOM CHIPS
VIDEL
The VIDEL takes care of the video functions of the system including
overscan, overlay mode and true color graphics
COMBEL
The COMBEL is the system manager of the Atari Falcon030. This chip
controls all system functions. Also the BLITTER is built in in this chip.
SDMA
The SDMA is the Sound DMA and controls the sound part. We have built in a
unique matrix switch function in this chip (more details in the second
part)
KEYBOARD PROCESSOR
The keyboard processor has been improved and is now also suitable for high
resolution mice.
Besides the above custom chips the Atari Falcon030 has a number of
standard chips like the Motorola 68030 and 56001 DSP. Another important
chip is the CODEC in which the 16 bit AD and DA converters are located.
Video modi
As you can see in the survey of Operating System calls the video hardware
is complete sotware controllable. The following combinations can a.o. be
chosen:
Mode Resolution Bit planes Colors Palette
ST LOW 320x200 4 16 4096
ST MED 640x200 2 4 4096
ST HIGH 640x400 1 2 4096
True Color 640x480 8 256 262144
320x200 15bpp 32768 N/A
The last mode asks for some explanation. Here there is no color palette
but 15 bits per pixel to describe the pixel itself. The format is
RRRRRGGGGGXBBBBB. VDI supports this mode thus programs that have not been
written for this mode specifically can use it nevertheless.
X is the overlay bit and can be used for video titling and special
effects.
320x200 16bpp 65 N/A
This mode is called the slideshow mode, is not supported by the VDI, you
are on your own. X is an extra green bit.
True Color in 640x480 is not possible because of the bandwidth of VGA
monitors.
Mode Resolution Bit planes Colors Palette
VGA 320 of 640 1,4,8 2,16,256 262144 (Overscan
Video 200 of 400
With Video we mean the Atari SC-monitors, the TV modulator and/or the
composite video output.
All modes can be gegenlocked. With adaptors we convert the 15-pole video
bus to thee standard Atari or VGA connections.
|----|
- -
/ \
/ \
/ \
| |
-|--------|-
Matrix coupling
To make the system performance in the audio part as good as possible Atari
designed a miniature 'telephone exchange' that can easily connect the
source devices to the receiving devices. Also it is possible to make more
than one connection at a time.
Source devices
EXT INPUT ---*-------*------*------*
CHANNEL | | | |
| | | |
DSP ---*-------*------*------*
TRANSMIT | | | |
| | | |
ADC ---*-------*------*------*
| | | |
| | | |
DMA ---*-------*------*------*
PLAYBACK | | | |
DMA DAC DSP EXT OUTPUT
RECORD RECEIVE CHANNEL
Receiving Devices
Ports andn interfacing
DSP CONNECTOR (DB26 Female)
Pin Signal Pin Signal
1 GP0 14 GND
2 GP1 15 SRD
3 GP2 16 GND
4 P_DATA 17 +12V
5 P_CLK 18 GND
6 P_SYNC 19 R_DATA
7 n/c 20 R_CLK
8 GND 21 R_SYNC
9 +12V 22 EXT_INT
10 GND 23 STD
11 SC0 24 SCK
12 SC1 25 GND
13 SC2 26 EXCLK
SCSI CONNECTOR (flat 50 pins SCSI II Female)
Pin Signal Pin Signal
1-10 GND 37 Not Connected
11 +5V 38 +5V
12-14 Not Connected 39 Not Connected
15-25 GND 40 GND
26 SCSI 0 41 ATN
27 SCSI 1 42 GND
28 SCSI 2 43 BSY
29 SCSI 3 44 ACK
30 SCSI 4 45 RST
31 SCSI 5 46 MSG
32 SCSI 6 47 SEL
33 SCSI 7 48 C/D
34 Parity 49 REQ
35-36 GND 50 I/O
SERIAL PORT (DB9 MALE)
Pin Signal
1 Carrier Detect 5 GND
2 Receive 6 Data set ready
3 Transmit 7 Request to Send
4 Data Terminal Ready 8 Clear to Send
9 Ring Indicator
PARALLEL PORT (DB25 Female)
The parallel port has extra signal to ease the connection of scanners.
Pin Signal
1 Strobe 8 Data 6
2 Data 0 9 Data 7
3 Data 1 10 Acknowledge
4 Data 2 11 Busy
5 Data 3 12-16 Not Connected
6 Data 4 17 Select
7 Data 5 18-25 GND
MONITOR CONNECTOR (DB19 Male)
Pin Signal Pin Signal
1 Red 11 GND
2 Green 12 Composite Sync/Video
3 Blue 13 Horizontal Sync
4 Mono/Overlay 14 Vertical Sync
5 GND 15 External Clock Input
6 Red GND 16 External SYNC Enable
7 Green GND 17 +12V
8 Blue GND 18 M1
9 Audio out 19 M0
10 GND
SCC LAN-port CONNECTOR (8-pin Mini DIN Female RS-422)
Pin Signal
1 Handshake Output (DTR RS 423) 5 - Received Data
2 Handshake Input or External Clock 6 + Transmitted Data
3 - Transmit Data 7 General-purpose Input
4 GND 8 + Receive
ENHANCED JOYSTICK (DB15 Male)
Port A Port B
Pin Signal Pin Signal
1 UP 0 1 UP 1
2 DOWN 0 2 DOWN 1
3 LT 0 3 LT 1
4 RT 0 4 RT 1
5 PAD0Y 5 PAD1Y
6 FIRE 0 / LIGHT GUN 6 FIRE 1
7 VCC (+5 VDC) 7 VCC
8 Not Connected 8 Not Connected
9 GND 9 GND
10 FIRE 2 10 FIRE 3
11 UP 2 11 UP 3
12 DOWN 2 12 DOWN 3
13 LT 2 13 LT 3
14 RT 2 14 RT 3
15 PAD0X 15 PAD1X
MIDI PORT (DIN 5 Female)
MIDI OUT MIDI IN
Pin Signal Pin Signal
1 Thru Transmit 1 Not Connected
2 GND 2 Not Connected
3 Thru Loop Return 3 Not Connected
4 Out Transmit 4 In Receive
5 Out Loop Return 5 In Loop Return
New Operating System calls
This information maybe subject to change and is certainly not meant as
documentation for programmers
DSP-calls
Dsp_DoBlock(a,b,c,d) (void) xbios(500,a,b,c,d)
Dsp_BlkHandShake(a,b,c,d) (void) xbios(501,a,b,c,d)
Dsp_BlkUnpacked(a,b,c,d) (void) xbios(502,a,b,c,d)
Dsp_InStream(a,b,c,d) (void) xbios(503,a,b,c,d)
Dsp_OutStream(a,b,c,d) (void) xbios(504,a,b,c,d)
Dsp_IOStream(a,b,c,d,e,f) (void) xbios(505,a,b,c,d,e,f)
Dsp_RemoveInterrupts(a) (void) xbios(506,a)
Dsp_GetWordSize() (int) xbios(507)
Dsp_Lock() (int) xbios(508)
Dsp_Unlock() (void) xbios(509)
Dsp_Available(a,b) (void) xbios(510,a,b)
Dsp_Reserve(a,b) (int) xbios(511,a,b)
Dsp_LoadProg(a,b,c) (int) xbios(512,a,b,c)
Dsp_ExecProg(a,b,c) (void) xbios(513,a,b,c)
Dsp_ExecBoot(a,b,c) (void) xbios(514,a,b,c)
Dsp_LodToBinary(a,b) (long) xbios(515,a,b)
Dsp_TriggerHC(a) (void) xbios(516,a)
Dsp_RequestUniqueAbility() (int) xbios(517)
Dsp_GetProgAbility() (int) xbios(518)
Dsp_FlushSubroutines() (void) xbios(519)
Dsp_LoadSubroutine(a,b,c) (int) xbios(520,a,b,c)
Dsp_InqSubrAbility(a) (int) xbios(521,a)
Dsp_RunSubroutine(a) (int) xbios(522,a)
Dsp_Hf0(a) (int) xbios(523,a)
Dsp_Hf1(a) (int) xbios(524,a)
Dsp_Hf2() (int) xbios(525)
Dsp_Hf3() (int) xbios(526)
Dsp_BlkWords(a,b,c,d) (void) xbios(527,a,b,c,d)
Dsp_BlkBytes(a,b,c,d) (void) xbios(528,a,b,c,d)
Dsp_HStat() (char) xbios(529)
Dsp_SetVectors(a,b) (void) xbios(530,a,b)
De volledige beschrijving van bovenstaande functie's staat in de Falcon030
Developers Documentation.
VIDEO SETMODE
int setmode( int modecode );
The setmode( int modecode ) call is used to place the Falcon/030 SHIFTER
into a specific mode. A bit-encoded value (called a "modecode") is passed
to setmode() to set the mode. setmode() returns the previous mode that
was set.
To help make the building of modecode values easier, here is a table of
defines:
#define VERTFLAG 0x100
#define STMODES 0x80
#define OVERSCAN 0x40
#define PAL 0x20
#define VGA 0x10
#define TV 0x0
#define COL80 0x08
#define COL40 0x0
#define NUMCOLS 7
#define BPS16 4
#define BPS8 3
#define BPS4 2
#define BPS2 1
#define BPS1 0
Using these defines, you can build a modecode for any possible mode.
For example:
For True Color Overscan:
modecode = OVERSCAN|COL40|BPS16;
For ST Medium Compatibility mode on a Color Monitor/TV:
modecode = STMODES|COL80|BPS2;
For ST Low Compatibility mode in PAL on a Color Monitor/TV:
modecode = STMODES|PAL|COL80|BPS2;
For 256 color, 80 column mode on a VGA monitor:
modecode = VGA|COL80|BPS8;
If you have a modecode and wish to know how many bits per pixel it has,
use the following:
if( modecode & NUMCOLS ) == BPS16 )
do_something_cool(); /* You have true color mode */
The setmode() call will return the previous modecode set. You must use
this value to get back to whatever mode you were in before you made your
setmode call.
int mon_type(void)
The mon_type() function will return the kind of monitor that is currently
in use. Here are the possible return values:
0 = ST monochrome monitor
1 = ST color monitor
2 = VGA monitor
3 = Television.
void ext_sync( int flag )
This function sets or clears external sync. If flag is set, external
sync is enabled. If flag is clear, then internal sync is used.
SOUND-calls
locksnd();
Used as a semiphore to lock the sound system. From other applications.
unlocksnd();
Used to release the sound system for other applications to use.
soundcmd(mode,data);
This command is used to get or set the following sound parameters. If a
negative number is used as the input then the current setting is returned.
MODE OPERATION MEANING
O LTATTEN Sets the current left channel output
1 RTATTEN Sets the current right channel output
2 LTGAIN Sets the current left channel input gain.
3 RTGAIN Sets the current right channel input gain.
4 ADDERIN Set the output of the 16 bit signed adder to
receive it's input from the ADC, Matrix or
both.
5 ADCINPUT Set the input the the ADC. The input can either
be the left and right channel of the PSG or the
left and right channel of the microphone.
6 SETPRESCALE Used for compatability. This prescale value
is used when the DEVCONNECT() internal
prescale value is set to zero.
setbuffer(reg,begaddr,endaddr);
This function is used to set the play or record buffers. REG selects
playback or record, while begaddr and endaddr are the buffers beginning
and ending locations.
(int) reg - (0) Sets playback registers.
- (1) Sets record registers.
(long) begaddr - Sets the beginning address of the buffer.
(long) endaddr - Sets the ending address of the buffer.
setmode(mode);
This function is used to set record or playback mode. The modes are as
follows:
MODE OPERATION
(int) 0 8 Bit Stereo
(int) 1 16 Bit Stereo
(int) 2 8 Bit Mono
settracks(playtracks,rectracks);
This function is used to sets the number of record or playback tracks.
setmontracks(montrack);
This function is used to set the output of the internal speaker to one of
the four tracks currently playing. The internal speaker is only capable of
outputing ONE track at a time.
setinterrupt(src_inter,cause);
This function is used to set which interrupt that will occur at the end of
a frame. If the frame repeat bit is on, this interrupt is used to allow
for double buffering the playing or recording of sound. Interrupts can
come from TimerA or the MFP i7.
buffoper(mode);
This function is used to control the operation of the play or record
buffers in the sound system. The input to this function is a bitmap. If
mode is set t0 -1 then the current status of the buffer operation bits is
returned. NOTE: The sound system contains a 32 byte FIFO. When
transferring data to the record buffer, software MUST check to see if the
record enable (RE) bit was cleared by the hardware. If the bit was cleared
then the FIFO is flushed, if not then software must flush the FIFO by
clearing the record enable (RE) bit.
dsptristate(dspxmit,dsprec);
This function is used to tristate the DSP from the data matrix.
gpio(mode,data);
This is used to communicate over the General Purpose I/O on the DSP
connector. Only the low order three bits are used. The rest are reserved.
This call, depending on the mode, can be used to set the direction of the
I/O bits, read the bits, or write the bits.
devconnect(src,dst,srcclk,prescale,protocol);
This function is used to attach a source device to any of the destination
devices in the matrix. Given a source device, this call will attach that
one source device to one or all of the destination devices. This call also
sets up the source clock and prescaler, protocol and protocol source if
used.
sndstatus(reset);
This function gets the current status of the codec. buffptr(pointer);
This function returns the current position of the play and record data
buffer pointers. These pointers indicate where the data is being
read/written within the buffers themselves. This function is also used to
determine how much data has been written to the record buffer. See
buffoper().
The above is not yet complete. Atari has also routines for
JPEG and audio conversion.
--
Piet* van Oostrum, Dept of Computer Science, Utrecht University,
Padualaan 14, P.O. Box 80.089, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Telephone: +31 30 531806 Uucp: uunet%mcsun%ruuinf%piet
Telefax: +31 30 513791 Internet: piet@cs.ruu.nl (*`Pete')
Article: 6027 of comp.sys.atari.st.tech
Path: i2unix%corton%mcsun%uunet%van-bc%jonh.wimsey.bc.ca%jhenders
From: jhenders@jonh.wimsey.bc.ca ( John Henders )
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st.tech
Subject: Re: DSP in the Falcon
Message-ID: <H.op5odQJVpyw@jonh.wimsey.bc.ca>
Date: 1 Sep 92 01:20:24 GMT
References: <H.H8xksAVnXI6@kynes.bison.mb.ca> <469@muller.loria.fr>
Reply-To: jhenders@jonh.wimsey.bc.ca
Organization: One of these days for sure
Lines: 27
X-Software: HERMES GUS 1.03 Rev. Apr 14 1992
In <469@muller.loria.fr>, Steven Eker writes:
=Things which the 56001 should be useful for include software sound synthesis
=& matrix*vector multiplcation (the basis of 3D vector games).
=If the DSP DMA is implemented right (does anyone have a programmer eye view of
=this yet?) is should be possible to use it as an extremely fast graphics
=processor for polygons/phong shading/texture mapping (I wonder if anyone
=will bother to write an "Ultima Underworld" type game for the Falcon?).
=I worry about this though - the DSP is 24 bits and the 68030 is 32 bits
=so there's plenty of room for Atari to screw up...
For anyone who hasn't seen the latest AEO, the Falcon appears to
have been design as a 24 bit computer, partly to maintain compatability
with existing software. This doesn't mean third party boards etc can't
extent that, but it explains the 14 meg memory limit. The other captures
from Jim Allen posts to GEnie say that the Falcon chips all seem to talk
at 16mhz. Another poster mentioned here that there's an 8bit processor to
dsp channel, I guess for uploading code into the dsp, though I don't
know if that means you can't tell the dsp to load a program from a memory
location itself, which would be faster, I'd guess.
Motorola says the top speed the 56001 is clocked at is 33mhz, so the
ad/da converters must be the parts clocked at 50mhz.
--
jhenders@jonh.wimsey.bc.ca
Article: 6050 of comp.sys.atari.st.tech
Path: i2unix%corton%mcsun%sunic%dkuug%imada!micro
From: micro@imada.ou.dk (Klaus Pedersen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st.tech
Subject: Re: DSP in the Falcon
Message-ID: <1992Sep3.182630.19435@imada.ou.dk>
Date: 3 Sep 92 18:26:30 GMT
References: <H.H8xksAVnXI6@kynes.bison.mb.ca> <469@muller.loria.fr>
<H.op5odQJVpyw@jonh.wimsey.bc.ca> <262@artech.UUCP>
Sender: news@imada.ou.dk (USENET News System)
Organization: Dept. of Math. & Computer Science, Odense University, Denmark
Lines: 20
clint@artech.UUCP (Clinton Keith) writes:
=The adc/dac channel is driven off the DMA clock, which is driven off a
=sub-divided horizontal scan rate. The 525 scan line rate sub-divided
=by 12, 24, 48 and 96 give the 6250, 12500, 25000 and 50000 bytes per
=second DMA/CODEC rate. This is the same as the STE/TT.
In the very techie "test" of the Falcon in the German C'T you can read a
differend story:
"[external/internal clock, prescale 4-24 or 128]. Internally there is a
27.175MHz clock to select the for the STe known sampling rates of
12.5KHz, 25KHz and 50KHz, or 32MHz in order to use the full bandwidth of
the memory transfer, with an sampling rate of 62.5KHz on eight 16bit
channels. This is also the upper limit for the external clock."
(if the about dosn't make any sense then it is probaly because my german
is even worth than my english)
-Klaus
