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ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 11:56 am
by nollkolltroll
I've worked on an audio/video player for some time now, but have moved on to other projects lately. I've now decided to release the project as is, rather than just bury it. I consider the code stable and readable, but the demo audio and video file is not as good as it could be. The audio conversion completely borked the middle channel, it does not sound right at all.
Source is included, so have at it, ask questions and play around as you like. Have fun!

What is it? An audio/video player that uses the ZXpand+ with fw 1.12 or later to stream a 128x94 pixel b/w video file @25fps and AY audio @50 updates per second. The .p and .bin files should be placed on an empty FAT16 formatted SD-card, FAT32 did not work for me.

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:03 pm
by Moggy
WOW WHAT A PIECE OF WORK!!! :ugeek: :ugeek: :ugeek:

Excellent work my friend a pity you cannot continue with it, :( how did you create the video? So smooth and a good story line too, although I had to adjust the vertical hold on my monitor as at first the image was flipping like crazy but after that all good.

I hope somebody runs with this (Charlie,Andy c'mon guys you know you want to) :lol:



Once again great work. :D

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:48 pm
by sirmorris
Congratulations Adam!

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:07 pm
by nollkolltroll
Moggy: The video is not mine, just a conversion of Bad Apple, search youtube. It has been converted to all the old platforms. Have a look at the BBC micro edition ;)
The audio is an AY cover of the original song, which sounds really good originally, but as I wrote, the middle channel is mangled in the conversion somehow.
I could continue polishing this product, but I find the tech aspect of programming the interesting part. The polishing to get a really nice final product is not my thing...

It would be possible to write a semi-simple script to take an AY-song and a video-file that is converted automatically to a zxavpp-compatible file if anyone would spend the time.

Of note is the fact that the zxpand+ is capable of streaming 37.5kb per second continuously to the poor old ZX81!!! (25fps, 1.5kb/frame)

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:09 pm
by Moggy
sirmorris wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:48 pm Congratulations Adam! I will make it my life's work to finish this for you.
FTFY. :lol:

Sorry Charlie just had to. :D

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:13 pm
by Moggy
nollkolltroll wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:07 pm Moggy: The video is not mine, just a conversion of Bad Apple, search youtube. It has been converted to all the old platforms. Have a look at the BBC micro edition ;)
The audio is an AY cover of the original song, which sounds really good originally, but as I wrote, the middle channel is mangled in the conversion somehow.
I could continue polishing this product, but I find the tech aspect of programming the interesting part. The polishing to get a really nice final product is not my thing...

It would be possible to write a semi-simple script to take an AY-song and a video-file that is converted automatically to a zxavpp-compatible file if anyone would spend the time.

Of note is the fact that the zxpand+ is capable of streaming 37.5kb per second continuously to the poor old ZX81!!! (25fps, 1.5kb/frame)
Thanks for the info Adam I will seek it out and I'm sure others will take up the challenge as unfortunately I don't posses the skills needed. :(

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:18 pm
by nollkolltroll
Someone could probably spend WAY too much time just fixing the greyscale conversion just right and syncing the notes to the videoframes. Not to mention actually rearrange the musical piece...

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:27 pm
by Andy Rea
very cool, indeed, i shall download and when i get down my list of 7561327 things to do i might have a tinker...

great work

regards Andy

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:28 pm
by sirmorris
If you want to mail me the converter you used for the audio I will have a look, Adam. I've just noticed a turbo ay version of the song with 6 channels... :twisted:

Re: ZXpand+ A/V player

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:32 pm
by Moggy
Andy Rea wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:27 pm very cool, indeed, i shall download and when i get down my list of 7561327 things to do i might have a tinker...

great work

regards Andy
That's an unusual number Andy, try the bug fixed issue 2 ROM instead, the number might be smaller then ( that's after doing number 1 on the list writing the decompiler :twisted: )

@Charlie Wherefore can yon 6 chunnle beesty beef hound good sir knight?