3rd part
HOW TO CONFIGURE THE FLASH MODULE TO WORK ON THE DRAGON
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Most probably the flash will arrive to us with software for the CoCo, so we need to erase it.
The procedure we shoud apply, using some tools I included in the pack, is this
1) We CLOADM"FERASALL.WAV" or DWLOAD"FERASALL.BIN", it will ask you for the slot number where the Flash module is,
you can answer 0 (for no MPI) or 1-2-3-4
Once selected, the chip will be fully erased. Don't worry if it lasts some time. The program sends only one command to
the chip but it takes long to do the task.
2) We need to flash the Program Manager, I call it DFEM (Dragon Flash Eeprom Manager), we will use CLOADM"F16KFM.WAV"
or DWLOAD"F16KFM.BIN", again it will ask where the module is.
3) Finally we will flash a customized version of the DP50E that will start the DFEM, for this step we CLOADM"F16KDP.WAV" or DWLOAD"F16KDP.BIN"
From that point on, we may start/restart the Dragon/Tano while pressing the button on the flash module.
The Basic will call the DP50E and this will exec the DFEM so the main menu will be displayed.
On entering the program, it verifies if the EEPROM database exists, and if it is not yet created, it will create/format the EEPROM as needed.
POSSIBLE HARDWARE SETUPS
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Apart from our Dragon and the Flash Module, we need some way to access/load program files to RAM from some external hardware
in oder to flash them into the module with the DFEM
These are the choices I have tested
- A drivewire serial to USB converter, conected to a PC(Mac) where we are running a Drivewire server (DW4)
This is my preferred setup! Alternative: any small Arduino/R-Pi that does the same function.
By the way, here you can see one adapter for that setup
http://tormod.me/products.html
- A Tandy Multi-Pack (MPI) or a mini-MPI, together with a CoCo-SDC
This one has the advantage of enabling us to use the Orchestra 90CC from the flash module to access the score-disks
from the CoCo-SDC, despite the procedure is a bit tricky. I explain it below
Someone could also try to replace the CoCo-SDC in this last setup with a drive controller but this has not been tested by me.
HOW TO PLAY ORCHESTRA 90CC SCORES FROM THE COCO-SDC USING THE COCO-FLASH
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- Set the MPI to the slot where we have the CoCo-Flash module
- Start the Dragon/Tano while pressing the button on the module
- Exit the program with '3'
- DWLOAD"SWMAP1.BIN" or CLOADM"SWMAP1":EXEC so that the DP50E gets copied into RAM (MAP1)
- SDRIVE1,"MUSICA" ... assuming that MUSICA is a folder where we have up to ten VDK with ORC90 scores.
This changes to the slot where the SDC is
If you don't remember the folder name, you can use SDIR to find it out as usual with the CoCo-SDC
- SLOTN4 (or the number where we have the flash), to set the MPI switch back to where the Flash is.
Use the number 1-2-3-4 upon where you have the Flash module
- POKE&HFFDE,0 to switch to MAP0 because programs reside in ROM (Flash)
- EXEC&H1400 to enter the DFEM
- '1' to go to Program Management
- Search for the Orchestra90cc and press 'S' to start it
- Press Shift-Enter on the credits screen (recommended to be able to play at double speed)
- Now we need to change 'internally' to the slot where the SDC is
In my case is slot #1, so I enter command '0' and enter in Orchestra (commands 0-1-2-3 switch to slots 1-2-3-4)
- Now you can work with Orchestra using the contents of the selected disk in drive 1.
Remember that pressing the button on the SDC changes to the next numbered disk in that folder (only works on drive 1)
As I want to listen to all of the scores in the disk, I do enter
- Y * (and shift Enter)
You can connect the stereo audio jack output on the Flash module to any amplifier to listen to the music.
Enjoy!
pere