YM
This section is a 1:1 conversion of the utility I did about 15 years ago. The old routines were translated to java and 100% reused. For that reason the description that follows will be in huge passages just a copy and paste of the old readme file.
YM
For this conversion I did not build an own panel, it is sufficient if you right click on a ym file and chose "build vectrex YM".
A process will start which translates (if possible) the selected file to a vectrex assembler include. There is no way to chose different settings, as I reduced YM-Conversion to always chose the optimal packrate. This in turn means, that conversion may take quite a few seconds, look at the message window to get the current status of conversion.
In opposite to the "original" routines, there is no need to unpack (lharc) the "YM"-files beforehand. LHARC files can be processed by java, so no external help is needed.
Three files are generated:
a main file, as a player example
an include file which contains the "player" subroutines (always the same)
and an actual data file which contains the data
Following is the original readme file from way back in time:
(but edited to not tell lies...)
Hi!
I tried to write a packer for YM files to be able to be "runnable' on vectrex.
The idea to this came from two other people, namely:
Ville Krumlinde and Ville Gustavsson
Thanks guys!
In this directory you find a couple batch files, which convert *.ym files to *.bin files. These *.bin files are "playable' vectrex binaries (no graphic, just sound) (well a title is displayed now).
This converts an ym file to a binary, it may however produce fairly large files. They may even be to large for vectrex to handle (> 32Kb).
Samples in ym files are not supported, neither are loops or other not simple things like drums... and and and
My packer does not come near the original ym-file size (the lharced once). Perhaps another programmer wants to try to fiddle some more bytes out of the files. But consider this: you must unpack them on a vectrex with not much RAM.
Programmers point of view - vectrex side: The unpack routines generally use about 2000-3000 cycles per "round' but there are peaks that reach about 5000-6000 (though "seldom'). The unpacking is "streamed' the routine uses constantly 161 bytes RAM. The unpacker is a "bit' optimimized, though there could probably be done much more. The routine itself uses about 600 bytes.
The packer is a mixture of three schemes:
First a dictionay scheme (this is what takes the time... finding a good dictionary)
Shannon/Fanno bit coding (huffman is implemented to, but for some reason or another I use Shannon/Fanno)
RLE
Enjoy...
Malban
PS The code is not all that cleaned up... pitty... but right now - I couldn't be bothered...
If you look for a good collection of YM-Files: http://pacidemo.planet-d.net/aldn/index.html
The package "ST synth musics" contains nearly 4000 pieces of music!
Tracker
There are at least to PSG trackers, which are available under windows:
Arkos tracker: http://www.julien-nevo.com/arkos/
WYZTracker: https://sites.google.com/site/augustoruiz/
Ymer YM2149: http://www.fedepede04.dk/Ym2149.html
As far as I know both of them are still activily developed, mainly to support other equipment like:
CPC Computer
MSX Computer
Spectrum Computer
Atari ST
and other
As of yet no "direct" player for these trackers exist. If I have MUCH spare time in the future I might tackle the one or the other Don't wait for that!
I would rather prefer YOU would write a vectrex player and send it for inclusion to VIDE!