XK-System (community project) > Software Development
SSL Computer Software - Development Documentation
Artur D'Assumpção:
Yaps, that's what I'm talking about.
Anyway, although this letter could be written and backed up by the community I think that someone with a current or previous relationship with SSL (a known and friendly face) should handle this contact, like a community ambassador.
Artur
retrocores:
The main E/G series computer was built around an off the shelf NM4 mini computer made by Computer Automation, with Total Recall handled by a Z80 based computer built be Research Machines.
I have a long term ambition to recreate the E/G series computer (including TR) on an FPGA; technically fairly straightforward (its late 1970's technology after-all), the challenge is getting information on the NM4 CPU card, SSL used several models throughout the history of the E and G series starting with the LSI-4/30 and finally the LSI-4/100.
Does anyone with access to the computer service manual know if SSL included the schematic of the CPU card? This would be very useful.
The computer automation museum website has a lot of information on earlier CA mini computers and some NM4 stuff, including the file system document which may be of use here. This dates from 1979 so almost certainly is how the earlier E series disks where formatted.
http://computer-automation-museum.org/ca/pdf/computer-automation/90-93440-00B0--NM4-Standard-Disk-File-Format/90-93440-00B0--NM4-Standard-Disk-File-Format.pdf
Hope this helps.
Steve.
marcmozart:
--- Quote from: retrocores on November 01, 2013, 10:38:30 AM ---Does anyone with access to the computer service manual know if SSL included the schematic of the CPU card? This would be very useful.
--- End quote ---
I'll check the computer service manual for that later today. Thanks for the info! Can't wait to see how we can develop these ideas further.
Artur D'Assumpção:
--- Quote from: retrocores on November 01, 2013, 10:38:30 AM ---The main E/G series computer was built around an off the shelf NM4 mini computer made by Computer Automation, with Total Recall handled by a Z80 based computer built be Research Machines.
I have a long term ambition to recreate the E/G series computer (including TR) on an FPGA; technically fairly straightforward (its late 1970's technology after-all), the challenge is getting information on the NM4 CPU card, SSL used several models throughout the history of the E and G series starting with the LSI-4/30 and finally the LSI-4/100.
Does anyone with access to the computer service manual know if SSL included the schematic of the CPU card? This would be very useful.
The computer automation museum website has a lot of information on earlier CA mini computers and some NM4 stuff, including the file system document which may be of use here. This dates from 1979 so almost certainly is how the earlier E series disks where formatted.
http://computer-automation-museum.org/ca/pdf/computer-automation/90-93440-00B0--NM4-Standard-Disk-File-Format/90-93440-00B0--NM4-Standard-Disk-File-Format.pdf
Hope this helps.
Steve.
--- End quote ---
Hi Steve,
Thanks so much for this information, this can be very very useful for my little project. I will start looking into the PDF today.
I think there's lots of information we could need to fully support and customize these consoles in the future. This will lead me to a new thread that I will post during the day that will be of interest to all community.
PS: someone send me those image files for the floppies please!
Cheers,
Artur
perfectsnd:
Is there a reason one has to recreate what a 30 year old computer did? Wouldn't it be much more forward to think how can we integrate these babies into the new more modern work flow. Shouldn't we be looking at how to integrate the recall into a Daw session or into just a modern program and how the automation of the VCA or Ultimation faders can be controlled from any standard DAW. We all know that the automation of the SSL can easily be run by any current smartphone. It is creating the hardware to convert the data to a useable format that is the hang up although there seems to be progress on that front by Pelle and Dramastic.
Thoughts?
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