I have recently acquired an NMS-1205 and even though it's working perfectly I'm not too happy with the volume of its output (over the cartridge slot). I've only been able to find 1 page describing this problem and also giving a solution: it suggests to replace the resistor R41 with a heavier or a variable one. Can anybody confirm that this is the way to increase the volume of the NMS-1205?
I was also wondering what the variable resistor, VR1, which is located next to R41 is for.

MTIA,

Eli-Jean

As you probably know, every Music Module is like that. I'm afraid I can't help you with your problem, but I have one small question: why don't you just use the output on the right of the module?

the NMS-1205 is not intended to give true sound output through its cartridge connector, in most cases the result would sound crappy anyway... like Fonadcio said, there are two cinch outputs (not stereo, both give the same signal) on the right of the cartridge... I suggest you use one or two of them to connect the thing to the audio-input of your TV or Amplifier. You'll like the results

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I suggest you use one or two of them to connect the thing to the audio-input of your TV or Amplifier. You'll like the results

So, what is the prefered way to hook up an MSX that has got both an FM-PAC and an NMS1205 module to a tv/hifi? I mean, my hacked FM-PAC also got a cinch output, but if I use that, plus the output of the NMS1205 to hook up a stereo sound to my tv, then I won't get to hear the PSG anymore, right? If on the other hand I only hook up the NMS1205 externally to my tv and hook up the MSX itself, which has the FM-PAC sound that comes over the cartridge connector combined with the PSG, to my tv as well then I'd still have stereo, but unfortunately the NMS1205 would also be heard through the MSX connector, albeit much less strong than the FM-PAC/PSG sound. So, this would give me: NMS1205 on one audio channel and FM-PAC+PSG+Not-so-loud-NMS1205 on the other.

There are of course also some combinations possible where I hook up stuff to the tv AND my hifi, but then you'd end up having to use two remotes to control all the volumes

Yup... nicest would be to use a mixing panel ^^;

Anyway, some trivia about the NMS-1205 audio outputs. You can use it as a mono extension device too (or rather, female-female connector)
It doesn't matter if the NMS-1205 is connected to the MSX or not, it doesn't need to be powered for this to work.
I dunno how or why it works, but it does

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II've only been able to find 1 page describing this problem and also giving a solution: it suggests to replace the resistor R41 with a heavier or a variable one.

Hi

Can you point me to thiis page?

Thanks
JP

Yeah... I have so many things connected to the SoundBlaster Audigy Line IN: TV card output, MSX output and Roland MT-32 interface output... The problem is that none of them sounds correctly. My Music Module sounds SO low (of course, I can't use the external outputs since I can't connect more things to the PC sound card, problem that prevent me from even thinking about getting a Moonsound) and the MIDI interface even LOWER. So I guess that I need a good mixer, but... Will just a mixer do the job? I think that I need an amplifier-mixer thing, but these ones are so expensive.

Any suggestions?

Oh, by the way, I removed from the Music Module the chip that had the ROM of the program built in with it (quite annoying since the program started in every MSX boot). Is it possible to remplace it with the MSX-Audio BASIC extensions so the Music Module would be a true MSX-Audio? (Compile games would detect it without pokes) Or there is any way to turn this cartridge into MSX-Audio?

I found this at Hans page: http://www.funet.fi/pub/msx/mirrors/hanso/hwdoityourself/mmaudio.pdf

But I do not understand it... The chip that I removed had this writting:
NEC Japan
D27256D
GM@21V'>PGM@21V

8549KX054

It has 28 pin.

Actually, buying a mixer would be going a bit overboard, but it would work fine. If your receiver is not too bad you could just buy an un-amplified mixer. They are indeed a bit cheaper. The advantage of a mixer is that you can easily set the volume/gain for each sound device independantly so they all sound at pretty much the same volume.

About connecting your Music Module. You can go two ways with this one. The easy way, which I suggest, and the hard way. If you really want to do a nice job I suggest finding yourself a nice suitable op-amp for audio use which uses 5V. You can then place it between the sound output of the Music Module and the pin connecting to the MSX slot. You'll probably also need additional volume control, I suggest using the one present on the MM for controlling the input volume. No-one records on their module anyways...

You should be able to find sound on pin 49 of the cart connector. CHECK THIS THO! I'm not entirely sure. The easy way is to hook the whole thing up as you suggested. MSX one channel, MM the other channel. You could simply cut pin 49 on the cart so that the MM doesn't sound on both channels. The downside ofcourse is that an FM-PAC game would only sound on one channel, instead of two.

Anyways, good luck...

Perhaps the problem is not in the Music-Module, but in the computer that you are using. Some MSXs have the same problem: PSG too loud. It is easy to fix, it is a matter of replacing just one resistor. I did it with my NMS-8245 and with my SVI-738. This way you will hear perfectly all the sound systems: PSG, SCC, FM-PAC and Music-Module.

Kind regards,

Ed Robsy

Mine got amplyfied to the same volume as an FM-PAC so it is possible... Don't ask me how it was done, a friend of Hans Oranje did it for me...

Yep, there were/was possibilities to increase the volume of the music module and/or the msx itself...

Ok, I will try to get a mixer, so I can use the external output of the Music Module. And, futhermore, I will be able to put a Moonsound also (ehm... when I have enough money to order one ^^U).

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Perhaps the problem is not in the Music-Module, but in the computer that you are using. Some MSXs have the same problem: PSG too loud. It is easy to fix, it is a matter of replacing just one resistor. I did it with my NMS-8245 and with my SVI-738. This way you will hear perfectly all the sound systems: PSG, SCC, FM-PAC and Music-Module.

Does that affect to the MSX with built in FMPACs?

I suppose that PSG and FM-PAC volumes are adjusted if both chips are built in, but perhaps they are not proportional to other external chips, like Music Module or FM-PAC. But, again, I am not a hardware freak, I just know what I did to my poor little SVI.

Regards,

Well, in Music Module case... The volume is horribly low. Without using any external output of the cartridge, the sound through the MSX standard output is so low and crappy. As I'm planning to go to MadriSX, I don't have money available, but as soon as I can I will buy a mixer.

By the way, what do you think about this one?: http://www.sixstardj.com/beheurub1.html

I don't know too much about mixers and amplifiers, so, I would be thankful if someone recomend me a mixer with good price/quality relationship, or at least give me some tech specifications references.