Music System - Load a file within ACUTER

[Alberto Calò]

Hi there,

Hopefully somebody can shed some light on my issue.

I have followed the instructions on page 31 of the Altair 8800 Simulator documentation by David Hansel on how to get the music system to work.

I have managed to hear the music through my speakers. However, I have failed to load a file  within ACUTER.

After starting and ending the capture, I get an error message saying:

[data file #1 not found]

Thanks a lot in advance!

[da...@hansels.net]

I just tried this here and found that there's one bit of information missing in the instructions

that I believe is causing the problem you're experiencing: The ACR device must be mapped
to some interface. If ACR is not mapped (the default) then that means that no ACR is
emulated, i.e. ACUTER won't see an ACR present and just won't send any data out.

So there's nothing to be captured.

The solution is pretty simple: Go into the configuration editor, select 'E' to edit serial cards
then '2' to configure the ACR. In there press 'i' to map the ACR to a host interface. Ideally
choose one that's not currently in use otherwise (except USB Native as that will block
if no cable is connected to the USB Native port). You can map it to the primary interface
but then you'll get some garbage printed to the screen while loading (GET).

Hope that helps!

David

[Alberto C.]

Hi David,

Many thanks for coming back to me.

Great news! I have followed your instructions and it worked. I have selected the primary interface to map the ACR and indeed I have got some garbage printed to my screen while loading the file :)

The only problem is that the music plays at a very slow speed. Shall I try to map it to a different interface?

Thanks again for helping out! Much appreciated.

[da...@hansels.net]

Playback speed within the Music System is set by sense switches SW15-SW8. The reason it is playing
slow for you is most likely that you still have some of those switches in the UP position (from loading the file).
Just make sure SW15-SW8 are all down before issuing the PLAY command.

David

[Alberto C.]

Of course! My bad, I should have noticed that!

Thanks a lot!