PROPHET64 & MSSIAH Userforum

Actually, you're probably right about toggling the PCB rather than the Cartridge. I had interpreted it as a cartridge enable/disable. This is logical to assume when you consider how the multi-cart expanders work.

In Koney's case however, he's not shorting anything to ground so the switches can be wired as on/off and it doesn't matter what's on the throw of the switch.
Koney, why don't you try dumping the cartridge to disk using MDUMP. That way you'll be able to tell if the bypass switch is working correctly. You'll also have a backup of your software you can use in another machine as well, although I don't know if the user license agrees with that. Certainly it shouldn't be distributed.

Last edited by Jaicen (2006-07-24 15:00:14)

Jaicen wrote:

Koney, why don't you try dumping the cartridge to disk (...) a backup of your software you can use in another machine as well

Don't think so.
From what I read in the manual, there's constant traffic between the cart and the C64, as it can't hold all the menus at once.
So you'd have to program a cart/disk fix and alter the software.
And you need to dump ALL the content of the cart, not just the bit you get at boot-up.

About the vagina... must've been because of the pics I watched before drawing this one...

First I try to dump it to see if the bypass is working and then I will tell if the dumped software works. I'm not very interested in having a copy, still it wuldn't be bad...

Once loaded the required appz it doesn't access anymore at the cart, at least it seems like it doesn't....

What about if (like me) you've got all manner of clutter on your desk, so your C64 is in a sliding desk type thingy??
How much of a ballache is that to have to move shit, remove cables, slide the C64 out from under the desk, unplug the cart, plug the cables back in, then start what you wanted to do.
Contrast that with; Flick switch, turn on C64. See where i'm going with that?!

I used the program to dump the cart.

I got a 17kb file so I think it' just the menu. Maybe the range the program saves to disk is too small...

I tried to convert it to .CRT but I get asked for a cartridge type. I don't know it. I tried a few and also by leaving the command option empty. No way.

I tried to dump also GORF to make a try, but when I get the "turn the swith now" message and I swith it the computer hangs...


THe thing is getting tricky...

why not finally making any music with it, before trying to hack it?
I don't think this was the idea of the ALIEN. Even if you are probably used to it, it was still a software where the programmer needed hundreds of hours with programming. So why not buying a 2nd cart as a 'backup' before trying to copy it.

And why don't i hear any music of you instead of discussing pro's and cons???

firestARTer wrote:

why not finally making any music with it, before trying to hack it?
I don't think this was the idea of the ALIEN. Even if you are probably used to it, it was still a software where the programmer needed hundreds of hours with programming. So why not buying a 2nd cart as a 'backup' before trying to copy it.
And why don't i hear any music of you instead of discussing pro's and cons???

First, very important, I'm not trying to hack the cartridge. Even if a backup copy woildn't be bad to me I'm not trying to  hack it. I just want to BYPASS it.

Second, I cant make music without midi. I am not putting you hurry, still I can't make music. I had for 5 years a TR-909 and now I nearly hate the way it's sequencer is programmed, so I'm not putting seriuoisly in a similar thing, without even syncing!

Third, what I do is also for fun. I realize that bypassing the cartridge can be not so necessary, but I like to put the hand in the commodore64, it's a way of living it, of putting imagination in it. This will lead on making music also.


Said this you can close this discussion if you want 8)

I don't close this topic since i don't want to censore it.
But it is what i think about it. You should imagine the people who really put free time in projects like this. ( Hey, thats  what i do aswell...)  And then see the people who try to get the code out of the cart or already complaining what could have been done better without even discovering all its features.
Again, thats what making music with a old homecomputer is all about. To live with it's limitations and still try to get the best out of it.

And by the way, there are copyright statements in the manual and also in the sales terms, you all agreed for :
''The Prophet64 Cartridge, the software and contents are under copyright by prophet64.com.'

For me, i don't like the idea that you guys already start to think about copying, hacking the cart etc.
Things like that doesn't motivate developers to develope such great software.

well, thats my point of view. You should all now feel bad and start to make music.

@ Koney, read the manual and use the sequencer, i swear you, you can synchronize it to your midi-stuff very soon.
I am still motivated in developing, even if i am a bit angry now.

firestARTer wrote:

@ Koney, read the manual and use the sequencer, i swear you, you can synchronize it to your midi-stuff very soon.
I am still motivated in developing, even if i am a bit angry now.

I can't belive you're angry fo real! First we weren't trying to "hack" YOUR device but the cart and second as you know the people has always hacked software, lot of people from the scene became coders because they ENJOYED the challenge in hackig/cracking software. All the commodore64 communuty always thought this is a point of strenght...

We all bought the cartridge, we all will be buying the midi interface, we all would buy future releases and we all want  to hack it one day

As to synchronize...no, I dont need it. I need to WRITE everything on my sequencer. What If at half of the song I want to make some editing? I have po play it from the beginning everytime? What If I want to play a rythm originally written for a 909? Sorry no way, I need full midi to do something...

Anyway to show respect I promise I'm not talking about hacking the cartridge anymore.

Jaicen wrote:

That's like Enzo Ferrari being mad because people are changing the tyres on his car!

I disagree with that. I bet he'll kick your ass if you would try to read out the board computer or clone the car just to make a 'backup'.

Jaicen wrote:

It's so damn cheap anyway what would be the point?!

Exactly!

Jaicen wrote:

I don't appreciate being told that i've made you angry and that I should feel bad for trying to help someone integrate something into their setup. I see where you get your name now.

hehe... feel much better after sleeping very well   But i keep the fire burnin'

Jacien wrote:

Anyway, back on to lighter things, i've painstakingly knocked up a demo of some shit dance track I've been working on. It took a lot of timestretching and cutting and pasting, but I managed to get it in sync in my software and i've uploaded a rough mix for you all to enjoy. Not because I feel bad you understand (since I was laying it down when the post was entered), but for the sheer joy of hearing my C64 wail! Now get on over to PROPHET 64 SONGS and relax for 30 seconds!

Ah damn, i can't listen to it since i am at work right now. This afternoon i will dig it!

@Koney, hehe, you don't have to kill yourself. I go on with developement


So hopefully my last post in this topic:

Make MUSIC not WAR!

You want me to draw a joystick mod too?

I have fitted a switch to disable the p64 cartridge as described by markus and it works exactly
as described. I can now leave my p64 cart in my c64 all the time and use my c64 for other things.

The website that describes how to fit a bypass switch for a cart was give by AXIMAXI. It`s
http://markus.brenner.de/cartridge/index.html. Does anyone know where I can get a 1351 mouse? I have tried ebay but they seem to be a rare exotic item.