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Orbit - Casing and connectors revealed

Orbit - Casing and connectors revealed

van snout op 02-04-2012, 14:01
Onderwerp: Hardware
Labels: Orbit
Talen:

A little while ago, we reported about Project Orbit, which we then called an 'MSX on steroids'. Just now, more information on this interesting WORP3 project has been revealed - namely its casing and the connectors on it!

The front of the half rack-sized casing of the Orbit will feature the following connectors and switches:

  • Power switch
  • MIDI port
  • SD-Cart slot
  • 3x USB ports
  • MSX compatible cartridge slot and joystick port
  • 2.5mm Headphone jack

And there's more on the backside:

  • Power connector
  • 4x MIDI out ports
  • High speed coax based expansion port
  • HDMI port
  • USB port
  • Stereo audio in port
  • Stereo audio out port

The connectors indicate that this MSX has a strong focus on music, which has always been one of the strong points of MSX. But, in case you forgot, the Orbit is also planned to feature a Z80/R800 binary compatible CPU with a fully pipelined 32-bit architecture, 2GB of RAM and a high-end video processor with HD video out and a V9958 compatible subset.

But, the most interesting is - of course - how it all looks, so head over to WORP3 and check it out for yourself!

Relevant link: WORP3

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  • Orbit - Casing and connectors revealed
  • Orbit - Casing and connectors revealed

Reacties (27)

Van Wolverine_nl

Paragon (1160)

afbeelding van Wolverine_nl

02-04-2012, 15:56

This looks awesome! Probably sounds awesome too...
Are we sure this wasn't an Aprils' first joke?

Van meits

Scribe (6542)

afbeelding van meits

02-04-2012, 17:17

If the price is not scaring me off, I'm quite interested in buying one...

@ W: This "joke" started quite some months ago, so I think not...

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

02-04-2012, 22:19

Small remark, end the end the color of those proto' s will be some anthracite, maybe metallic.

Van Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

afbeelding van Jorito

02-04-2012, 23:31

Ah, that would indeed look much better than the current white. And I'm guessing the transparent logo won't be transparent in the end either?

Anyways, nice progress on the project!

Van spl

Paragon (1470)

afbeelding van spl

03-04-2012, 03:47

Wow! Smile

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

03-04-2012, 09:07

Jorito wrote:

Ah, that would indeed look much better than the current white. And I'm guessing the transparent logo won't be transparent in the end either?

Anyways, nice progress on the project!

Indeed, the logo button (also the cartridge lid) will get some paint too, it's transparent so that the light can pass trough it more easily !

Van Wolverine_nl

Paragon (1160)

afbeelding van Wolverine_nl

03-04-2012, 12:13

Quote:

@ W: This "joke" started quite some months ago, so I think not...

Okay, now I am interested when it is finished to buy it Big smile

Van Pac

Scribe (7007)

afbeelding van Pac

03-04-2012, 17:04

Let me ask, why MIDI-OUT ports x4? why not only x1? Sorry I'm ignorant on this...

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

03-04-2012, 21:53

@PAC: To have more MIDI channels, separate sets of synth' s and in total a higher MIDI bandwidth.

Van retrocanada76

Hero (555)

afbeelding van retrocanada76

03-04-2012, 22:42

And the white prototype will be sold for hundreds of thousands on ebay, like the Dragon MSX...

Van Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

afbeelding van Jorito

03-04-2012, 22:44

I'm sure WORP3 wouldn't mind that, but it's hardly realistic Tongue

Van anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

afbeelding van anonymous

03-04-2012, 22:58

Thank you WORP3, AFAIK MIDI can address 16 channels simultaneously, according to your reply that means 16*4=64 channels then, right? Could Orbit implement MSX-MIDI as default or at least to keep one of those MIDI outs for this? Yes maybe has no sense because only few games supporting it but Orbit would be a more MSX compatible device, bringing us this feature, now reserved only for turbo R owners, also for future developments.

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

04-04-2012, 08:44

PAC wrote:

Thank you WORP3, AFAIK MIDI can address 16 channels simultaneously, according to your reply that means 16*4=64 channels then, right? Could Orbit implement MSX-MIDI as default or at least to keep one of those MIDI outs for this? Yes maybe has no sense because only few games supporting it but Orbit would be a more MSX compatible device, bringing us this feature, now reserved only for turbo R owners, also for future developments.

Implementing a support for the MSX-MIDI will not be a problem, it's a simple interface but it's not on the priority list yet Wink

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

04-04-2012, 08:46

Jorito wrote:

I'm sure WORP3 wouldn't mind that, but it's hardly realistic Tongue

Absolutely not, it will make getting the Orbit produced (when it's finished) a lot easier Big smile

Van Pac

Scribe (7007)

afbeelding van Pac

04-04-2012, 10:55

Quote:

Implementing a support for the MSX-MIDI will not be a problem, it's a simple interface but it's not on the priority list yet

Well, at least it's on a provisional list, Smile Thank you for the answer.

Van MsxKun

Paragon (1124)

afbeelding van MsxKun

04-04-2012, 11:20

I like the MIDI-ports- I could plug 4 MIDI devices to them, but i doubt I'd use more than 1 anyway, specially cause the lack of software for that.
If MSX-MIDI is on the list... how's the default MIDI port usage? It would be nice to be software configurable, so you can use them as MSX-MIDI or as a regular Music Module MIDI port (and others).

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

04-04-2012, 12:42

The idea (nothing more then that at the moment) is to make somekind of MIDI mapper that will reroute all of your incoming midi channels to an midi out port and or music device.

Van Gradius2

Hero (652)

afbeelding van Gradius2

05-04-2012, 00:44

As far I can see, this is an Altera emuling Z80/R800, I would like to see a V9990 emu in there too, not limited to old V9958.

Another thing it would be useful is more slots, much more slots! 4 at least, only 1 will be kind killer.

Any ETA for this puppy?

Van anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

afbeelding van anonymous

05-04-2012, 11:59

BTW we are talking about MIDI but from the beginning were not specified the MSX audio features, is it possible to know which ones? MSX-MUSIC, MSX-AUDIO, SCC, etc.

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

05-04-2012, 13:03

@Gradius2:
I've got no plans for supporting the v9990 as it was never supported by the MSX standard and it's (newer) capabilities are not that what you would like while using/managing HDTV resolutions.
BTW an FPGA isn't emulating !

@PAC: I will implement a nice new audio synth which I will not discuss right now. Overall it will be at least compatible with PSG,SCC and Music.

Van shaiwa

Champion (392)

afbeelding van shaiwa

05-04-2012, 14:11

Very interesting!
Hope the price of the end product is at a nice level Wink
This one is going on my "wanted" list Cool

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

05-04-2012, 15:14

Gradius2 wrote:

Any ETA for this puppy?

I'm working as hard as possible to have a working example at the Nijmegen fair in 2013 !

Van Gradius2

Hero (652)

afbeelding van Gradius2

05-04-2012, 15:49

WORP3 wrote:

I'm working as hard as possible to have a working example at the Nijmegen fair in 2013 !

Thanks, lets hope is stable too (stable is better than speedy release). Wink

Van dumfrog

Resident (45)

afbeelding van dumfrog

07-04-2012, 01:02

No RoHS directive problem this time ? Wink
I'm still frustated that the One Chip MSX wasn't distributed in Europe Evil

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

10-04-2012, 13:59

It's almost impossible to buy a non ROHS component, so the ROHS directive shouldn't be any problem Wink

Van Gradius2

Hero (652)

afbeelding van Gradius2

11-04-2012, 20:03

Any idea on price yet?

Van WORP3

Paladin (864)

afbeelding van WORP3

11-04-2012, 22:47

Nope. To get to a definitive price it's absolutely necessary to know how many units should be produced !
First thing first. The first goal is to have some working units on the next Nijmegen fair.