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Shadow
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 355 |
1541U or Chameleon?
So when I was at LCP2011 I saw that many were running 1541U:s, and even the compo entries were ran from one, so it seems like it's been a established hardware.
So I'm looking into getting one. But then I started reading about the Chameleon, which seems to promise to do almost the same, plus even more.
As the Chameleon is still seems to be in beta stages, I guess it's not easy to get any info on whether it's a better choice or not, but I thought I'd ask anyway.
1541U users though I guess there will be plenty of here, so let me ask you - how's compatibility? Does older trackloading demos run? What about disk-swapping, how many multidisk demos survive the freeze-switch-disk-resume cycle? |
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Frantic
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 1635 |
I have to say that I don't understand how the Chameleon could provide "Stereo SID chip emulation (at 1 Mhz sample rate, very clean sound with no aliasing!)" when being in standalone mode. It says it does on this page:
http://www.syntiac.com/chameleon.html
How the hell do you write to a SID that is not connected to the C64 (other than through the serial cable I suppose)? :)
//FTC |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11181 |
what? standalone mode. ie, no c64 connected. it then emulates a complete c64, including (stereo) sid. |
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Frantic
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 1635 |
oh.. that sort of standalone mode. :)
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Oswald
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 5034 |
my problem with the chameleon is that it would feel like I've plugged a c64 into my chameleon and not vica versa. Whats the point ? It can be a standalone c64 anyway, so why ? |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11181 |
why not? :) personally i prefer the real c64 keyboard anytime, thats enough of a reason for me :) some might even like that then they can hear a real sid. or that they can use joysticks :) |
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Mr. SID
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 424 |
So is it then possible to turn off the VGA output and all the C64 emulation part of Chameleon and only use it as a fancy 1541U replacement? |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11181 |
noone forces you to use the vga output, no. you can always connect a regular monitor =)
however, disabling the c64 "emulation" stuff is not possible, that would make some things impossible (like the turbo mode, or not needing an iec cable). |
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SIDWAVE
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 2238 |
Quote: I have to say that I don't understand how the Chameleon could provide "Stereo SID chip emulation (at 1 Mhz sample rate, very clean sound with no aliasing!)" when being in standalone mode. It says it does on this page:
http://www.syntiac.com/chameleon.html
How the hell do you write to a SID that is not connected to the C64 (other than through the serial cable I suppose)? :)
//FTC
the expansion port is wired to the sid and vic by cbm design, in old days you could get sid expander and other stuff.
thats what jens has exploited.
BOGG had a FM synth card he tried to use, thats when he left C64 to go for midi music. |
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MaD ][
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 23 |
Quote: STandalone mode? You mean it was possible to have 1541U plugged only by serial cable (working like disc drive emulator?) sounds very cool.
AFAIK 1541U2 has the ability to become standalone by using the optional tape adapter cable.
If you take a closer look at the connector you'll see a jumper named "J8" where you can read the words "Pass Power to Ultimate" (take a look here http://www.1541ultimate.net/content/images/c2n_extender_c64side..).
The Ultimate-II tape adapter consists of 2 plugs (one fits on the bottom of our beloved 1541U-II and the other one plugs into the CASSETTE port of C64); afaik there are 2 different plugs for the 1541U-II the first you can see here were shipped with an additional mini-USB connector in place of the "J9" placeholder you'll see here http://www.1541ultimate.net/content/images/c2n_extender_c64side.. ... the newer plug is simpler than the predecessor and only provides the "J4" connector.
Anyone can confirm that?
BTW: I own the Chameleon and both version of the 1541Ultimate and must say that the latter is is the best 1541 replacement to date, if you have to order one please consider the bundle with the optional tape adapter. On the other hand Chameleon is still in development stage (at least on the firmware side since hardware is considered production and final) and far from being usable as the only solution; Chameleon has it's own advantages over 1541U-II; IMHO I suggest to wait and see how the firmware development evolves.
just my $0.02 |
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Hermit
Registered: May 2008
Posts: 208 |
I bought a Turbo Chameleon 64 at the end. I'm quite pleased with it in the first 2 days, amazing work! \o/
The 1541 emulation wasn't as good as I expected (only some demos worked, maybe I didn't adjust some settings properly), but on the other hand the VGA output and some other aspects won the battle. Oh, and it arrived fast after Vesalia received the payment :)
I like the 2 panel file-browser, but I couldn't find 'copy .prg files' function yet what I missed in the MMC64 Replay too. Maybe with some updates this important thing will be put in, or hopefully there are some plugins to handle .prg and for faster d64 read/write operations...
1541U is a really beautiful project, but I didn't have a chance to try how good it is. It must be top quality for what it's capable of, according to what I've read about it.. |
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