Modulon MSX Slot Expander

Paladin (814)

11-12-2014, 07:05

Very interesting and complete hw support.
Anyway it is more expensive than my MSX.
I mean, my target is to use only msx.audio and msx.music cartridges simultaneously.
Maybe a light version (without overclocking, powersupport) with only2 slots and volume switch would be enough for me.
Any project about this?

By o.geerdink

Hero (588)

11-12-2014, 08:10

My msx cost about 2500 guilders when I came out. Can't compare prices that way. For what you get if you need it the price is very good.

By gdx

Enlighted (6439)

11-12-2014, 08:36

The cartridge connectors and the casing are expensive. In addition the PCB is big. It is difficult to make a cheap homemade expander for sale.

By ro

Scribe (5063)

11-12-2014, 08:54

It looks like great value for little money. No cheap hardware in my house. need rock-solid stuff.

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

11-12-2014, 10:00

Very nice product, congrats !
€100 isn't a lot of money knowing that the housing is custom made/printed and that there is also a nice assembled pcb inside with a lot of expensive connectors. Also these devices are made in the tens instead of millions, which will drive the price enormously.

By Retrofan

Paragon (1339)

11-12-2014, 10:46

Cool item! But what about adding an additional flatcable like the Gouda and MK slotexpander?

By Lord_Zett

Paladin (807)

11-12-2014, 12:31

damn it. good work!!!. love the case. just bought some months ago a older slotexpander.

hmmm

By Manuel

Ascended (19685)

11-12-2014, 14:34

a flat cable would be nice indeed, because there can be quite heavy and long cartridges (like Music Module), imagine those in a Modulon in a VG 8020 or other MSX with only top cartridge slots.

By Prodatron

Paragon (1857)

11-12-2014, 15:06

Looking forward to have a look at them in Nijmegen! It's interesting, that it works with the PlaySoniq, as I heard, that this already has an internal slot expander?

By meits

Scribe (6576)

11-12-2014, 15:30

@Manuel: Sony 500,700,900 users are totally stuck without a flatcable...

By Retrofan

Paragon (1339)

11-12-2014, 16:21

@Meits: 1chipMSX users as well...

By giuseve

Paladin (814)

11-12-2014, 18:05

@Lord_Zett
Let's make a deal !
You can sell me your older one so you can buy this one.
Could you be interested in?
If you want let me see what you get and tell me if it works with FM-PAC + MUSIC MODULE
My mail giuseve AT libero DOT it

By flyguille

Prophet (3031)

11-12-2014, 18:26

wich side is the PIN 1? the one that has the switches or the other?

By raymond

Hero (653)

11-12-2014, 18:47

Manuel wrote:

a flat cable would be nice indeed, because there can be quite heavy and long cartridges (like Music Module), imagine those in a Modulon in a VG 8020 or other MSX with only top cartridge slots.

Looks like a very nice product, however I agree with Manuel, that a version with flatcable would be needed with a lot of MSX machines. I prefer it as well for my Turbo R, just to have not so many weight on the cartridge connector on the back.

By Retrofan

Paragon (1339)

11-12-2014, 19:31

Maybe Supersoniqs can release the flatcable (with separated Konami case sized cartridges on both sides) as add-on? That would be even better! People can then decide to use it or not depending on which MSX model is used.

By flyguille

Prophet (3031)

11-12-2014, 19:48

I asked wich side is the pin1, because if the pin1 is the side that don't has the switches, so any cartridge plugged will be facing over the cursor keys, atleast in my msx, and the secondary slot is not for a cartridge like connector, it is named BUS EXPANSION like a IDE connector but 50 pins.

By Manuel

Ascended (19685)

11-12-2014, 20:22

Meits: well, the Sony 900 has a back side cart slot too, so that will work, although (like with most models) it may give quite some stress on the connector/PCB and slot expander PCB.

By meits

Scribe (6576)

11-12-2014, 21:38

The design has been made to fit the MT Telcom modem case. Now I read that most of the collected cases went broken and Supersoniqs found a solution in 3D printing. So, the PCB is already designed so there's no other way than using that design.
How nice it would have been if this was known before so they chose for the regular slot expander design.
I really do like the features of Modulon, but since it's all in one cartridge I have no use for it. I'd love to have those features in my Gouda 5.0 slotexpanders in stead...

By Grauw

Ascended (10821)

11-12-2014, 22:29

I think it’s pretty sweet, slot expanders don’t grow on trees after all especially not those with a proper case and all those nice features, but everyone is getting obsessed about the extension cable…

Just buy a male and a female EDGE connector and a flatcable and make one yourself!

Here: http://www.ebsoft.fr/shop/en/home/21-bradboard-kit.html

By Latok

msx guru (3960)

11-12-2014, 22:35

Hear hear Grauw

By Manuel

Ascended (19685)

11-12-2014, 22:46

Perhaps it would be a nice service of SuperSoniqs to optionally include such an assembled "cable" (with the right length: too long will cause failure) for a fair price.

By mau_rizio

Resident (49)

11-12-2014, 23:41

Why not so sell it without the case? I will be cheaper and less problems making the case.

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

11-12-2014, 23:59

Modulon is very cheap for what it offers, if you want a cheaper basic expander, the one sold from the Repro Factory is available too.

By meits

Scribe (6576)

12-12-2014, 00:17

There is nothing wrong with the price at all... For its features it can be considered the cheapest... Supersonics always know how to cram the craziest of features intro a cartridges, features you'd never expect... And then all is assembled friggin' professionally... Imho they're in the top three of leading hardware designers AND producers... How often have we seen designs of great stuff that never got past a (half) finished prototype...
I like them, their ideas, their stuff and above all, their service and comunications...
And if a extension cable becomes available with two foolproof connectors on each side I am surely ordering one, eventhough I already have two of the slotexpanders I consider the second best after Modulon

By KdL

Paragon (1485)

12-12-2014, 00:22

I like this expander!

By syn

Prophet (2135)

12-12-2014, 00:26

lol
ppl making hardware without case: "PLEASE give me a case"
ppl making hardware with case "I don't need a case"

Like st1mpy said 100 euros is a good price a slotexpander especially considering the extra functionality.. I paid about 100-120 or so for a second hand gouda 5.0 which is the average price I have seen them go.

Great job, the case looks excellent.

By max_iwamoto

Paladin (674)

12-12-2014, 04:22

Nice Expander! I would like one too. And also would like a cable with it for few extra $$$.

By boblet

Master (187)

12-12-2014, 15:47

If people don't like the case I'm sure they can just take the case off

Maybe when there's demand for 10,000 of them you can get them for under €20 a go, as it is making a physical thing in small quantities it's doing well if it's only €100.

I wonder how many of them you could daisy chain together, I want to see the super desk eating expanded many modulon MSX monster thing

By Lord_Zett

Paladin (807)

12-12-2014, 16:55

giuseve wrote:

@Lord_Zett
Let's make a deal !
You can sell me your older one so you can buy this one.
Could you be interested in?
If you want let me see what you get and tell me if it works with FM-PAC + MUSIC MODULE
My mail giuseve AT libero DOT it

its a idea.

By Lord_Zett

Paladin (807)

12-12-2014, 16:57

if im getting on i need blue!!! darkstonne blue. damn.... f*ck the cable this is good hardware!!!

hail the SuperSoniqs Hardware Hero's!

By Ivan

Ascended (9373)

12-12-2014, 22:28

Wow! Nice MSX slot expander. A really good alternative to Carchano's Mini Slotexpander (hard to find nowadays).

By giuseve

Paladin (814)

13-12-2014, 08:53

Lord_Zett wrote:

giuseve wrote:

@Lord_Zett
Let's make a deal !
You can sell me your older one so you can buy this one.
Could you be interested in?
If you want let me see what you get and tell me if it works with FM-PAC + MUSIC MODULE
My mail giuseve AT libero DOT it

its a idea.

Ok, send me a mail with some photos of your expander and make your request including an insured shipping to italy.

By Sander

Founder (1872)

14-12-2014, 11:49

We will investigate building a connector cable. However, designing the pcb's for both end of the connector, scout cartridges for one end and 3D design the other end and print it, order the pcb's and cables, test it... Well, looking at the time it took us to get from idea to final product (2 years) for the Modulon I'm afraid we will not satisfy everyone needs on short notice.

By Manuel

Ascended (19685)

14-12-2014, 14:02

But you don't have to! Just make sure you're having fun doing it Thanks a lot for offering this great new hardware to the MSX community! Much appreciated.

By Sander

Founder (1872)

14-12-2014, 15:06

Thnx. BTW: If people really want to order it without the case, mail me and we work something out.

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

14-12-2014, 18:18

Regarding the connector cable for use in MSXs with inconvenient slot position, this cable must be the simplest and the cheapest solution, and every MSX user should be able to make this cheaply.

By Retrofan

Paragon (1339)

14-12-2014, 18:27

@st1mpy: nice! Can you build one for me? Perhaps you could sell more of them (Multi-order) like I did with the DalSoRi And maybe you also could put the cartridgeconnector inside an Overrich cartridge? (like the MK/Gouda slotexpander, cartridge is the same as DalSoRi)

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

14-12-2014, 18:31

I actually want to make one atleast because when I inserted philips music module in the sony hb-f700 it covers the slot next to it as well... this might be a common problem with many cartridges/machine combo.
I'll try to source the parts anyway.

By Grauw

Ascended (10821)

14-12-2014, 19:17

Just gotta worry about not connecting the ends in the wrong way. Better to put a cartridge at least around the MSX end.

By Manuel

Ascended (19685)

14-12-2014, 22:08

Yeah, I arleady blew up a game and slot expander because I inserted it wrongly (it didn't have a case). I'm glad my GT survived it though.

By roadfighter

Champion (467)

19-12-2014, 12:27

Grauw wrote:

Just gotta worry about not connecting the ends in the wrong way. Better to put a cartridge at least around the MSX end.

Hmmm but then they will insert the cartridge in the wrong way at the end of the flat cable ..... Using such a cable is tricky as it is.
Like Sander stated you need something on both end so you wont make that mistake.
Making a cable like this is easy if you can obtain the components,witch is probably more difficult then it seams.
And then you have to use it wisely.
For those who don't see that this is a great product for the price, maybe Ericb can provide his slot expander [url=http://www.ebsoft.fr/shop/en/home/20-expander-4x-.html[/url]
Great work Supersonics, keep it up.

By Randam

Paragon (1431)

19-12-2014, 17:12

Will there be modulons that can be bought at the fair or do you have to make a reservation or something?

By Grauw

Ascended (10821)

19-12-2014, 19:34

roadfighter wrote:

Grauw wrote:

Just gotta worry about not connecting the ends in the wrong way. Better to put a cartridge at least around the MSX end.

Hmmm but then they will insert the cartridge in the wrong way at the end of the flat cable ..... Using such a cable is tricky as it is.

Yes but at least you can plug that side in correctly once and never disconnect it :).

By Sander

Founder (1872)

20-12-2014, 22:04

@Randam: we will try to print some more, but since it takes about 17 hours to print one, and looking at the orders coming in it's best you order one, pay for it, so it can go into the order queue of the 3D printing factory. Pick up at Nijmegen is no problem. But visitors with paid reservations will be served first, naturally.

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

03-01-2015, 15:17

Received mine today! Thanks Sander!
The case is really nice.

By svBEERs

Champion (345)

08-01-2015, 17:11

Yesterday I´ve received my “modulon” at home. I haven’t had too much time to test it but it looks reaaaally awesome. Congratulations to all “SuperSoniqs” people for its amazing job!!!

By karloch

Prophet (2159)

09-01-2015, 22:45

I filled the order a month ago form but I got no answer... Will try again.

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

19-01-2015, 20:21

The on/off switch is great, used it to run SD Snatcher sound through my F1 Spirit SCC.

By msxtrd

Champion (277)

10-12-2016, 11:11

Any information on when it might get available again? =)

By msxtrd

Champion (277)

10-12-2016, 11:14

Does someone have the name of the socket? Just want to know what to search for. (regarding the socket on the adapter cable pictured above).

By djh1697

Paragon (1736)

11-12-2016, 20:53

Edge connector?
http://www.fabian.com.mt/en/products/webshop/1726/edge-conne...

By Albert Pieter Dotinga

Resident (39)

31-01-2017, 18:44

Hello who was looking for MT Telcom modem cases i got abouth 6 for sale incl modem

By enribar

Paragon (1224)

31-01-2017, 22:11

I'm interested to buy a Modulon, but I wrote to SuperSoniqs and didn't have answer...
Are Modulons still available to purchase?

By syn

Prophet (2135)

31-01-2017, 22:16

I saw a picture of a box full of pcbs on facebook, there is a new batch coming.

Not finished yet though. Probably best to wait for the official announcement. I am interested in one too.

By Sander

Founder (1872)

31-01-2017, 23:08

Everyone who order stuff that's not available (yet) is automatically put on the reservelist for that item. Currently we are busy with shipping out MIDI-PAC2's for people who reserved a MIDI-PAC some months ago. We will get back to everyone who send in mails or orders, eventually.

By Sander

Founder (1872)

31-01-2017, 23:12

Modulon will be available again when we got the enclosures ready. We have no estimate at the moment. If you want one, make an order and we put you on the reservelist. If you have ordered this item before (when it was out of stock), you are already on the reservelist. Don't wait to long: this batch is, when it's finished, for a big part already reserved.

By Gregory

Champion (295)

19-05-2023, 12:56

What is the purpose of the oscillator in the modulon? So it's supposed to have normal audio output in overclocked system. Can someone give an example.

By meits

Scribe (6576)

20-05-2023, 11:34

It indeed is for audio. What kind of example do you wish to get?

By Gregory

Champion (295)

20-05-2023, 17:10

I'm just thinking that the audio will be normal speed but the rest of the program will be overclocked.

By sdsnatcher73

Enlighted (4307)

20-05-2023, 18:50

Yes that is the use case here. In a MSX with 7MHz (which is an after market upgrade) the bus usually is also running at 7MHz. But audio chips use the bus frequency and expect it to run at 3.5MHz so the sound will be pitched to high. With your sound cartridges in the Modulon they will get the 3.5MHz they expect and music will be playing at the right pitch (unfortunately the internal PSG will still be affected)…

By meits

Scribe (6576)

21-05-2023, 18:45

This is MSX-Music + MSX-Audio at 7MHz.

By Gregory

Champion (295)

22-05-2023, 08:39

Like nails on a schoolboard.

By meits

Scribe (6576)

22-05-2023, 10:29

The oscillator prevents that from happening

By sdsnatcher73

Enlighted (4307)

27-05-2023, 14:21

I do wonder about the I/O in such case. Or are the 7MHz mods introducing waits on I/O access. Otherwise the MSX will put data on the bus too fast for the slower clocked carts to receive…

By roadfighter

Champion (467)

28-05-2023, 22:23

Well there are FM-pac and music modules with an internal patch with it's own clock signal and they sound normal on a 7Mhz computer. So the internal oscillator in the modulon would do the same thing.

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