Orbit - Casing and connectors revealed

A little while ago, we reported about Project Orbit, which we then called an 'MSX on steroids'. Just now, more information on this interesting WORP3 project has been revealed - namely its casing and the connectors on it!

The front of the half rack-sized casing of the Orbit will feature the following connectors and switches:

Power switch
MIDI port
SD-Cart slot
3x USB ports
MSX compatible cartridge slot and joystick port
2.5mm Headphone jack

And there's more on the backside:

Power connector
4x MIDI out ports
High speed coax based expansion port
HDMI port
USB port
Stereo audio in port
Stereo audio out port

The connectors indicate that this MSX has a strong focus on music, which has always been one of the strong points of MSX. But, in case you forgot, the Orbit is also planned to feature a Z80/R800 binary compatible CPU with a fully pipelined 32-bit architecture, 2GB of RAM and a high-end video processor with HD video out and a V9958 compatible subset.

But, the most interesting is - of course - how it all looks, so head over to WORP3 and check it out for yourself!

Relevant link: WORP3

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Comments (27)

By Wolverine_nl

Paragon (1160)

02-04-2012, 15:56

This looks awesome! Probably sounds awesome too...
Are we sure this wasn't an Aprils' first joke?

By meits

Scribe (6544)

02-04-2012, 17:17

If the price is not scaring me off, I'm quite interested in buying one...

@ W: This "joke" started quite some months ago, so I think not...

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

02-04-2012, 22:19

Small remark, end the end the color of those proto' s will be some anthracite, maybe metallic.

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

02-04-2012, 23:31

Ah, that would indeed look much better than the current white. And I'm guessing the transparent logo won't be transparent in the end either?

Anyways, nice progress on the project!

By spl

Paragon (1470)

03-04-2012, 03:47

Wow!

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

03-04-2012, 09:07

Jorito wrote:

Ah, that would indeed look much better than the current white. And I'm guessing the transparent logo won't be transparent in the end either?

Anyways, nice progress on the project!

Indeed, the logo button (also the cartridge lid) will get some paint too, it's transparent so that the light can pass trough it more easily !

By Wolverine_nl

Paragon (1160)

03-04-2012, 12:13

Quote:

@ W: This "joke" started quite some months ago, so I think not...

Okay, now I am interested when it is finished to buy it

By Pac

Scribe (7011)

03-04-2012, 17:04

Let me ask, why MIDI-OUT ports x4? why not only x1? Sorry I'm ignorant on this...

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

03-04-2012, 21:53

@PAC: To have more MIDI channels, separate sets of synth' s and in total a higher MIDI bandwidth.

By retrocanada76

Hero (559)

03-04-2012, 22:42

And the white prototype will be sold for hundreds of thousands on ebay, like the Dragon MSX...

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

03-04-2012, 22:44

I'm sure WORP3 wouldn't mind that, but it's hardly realistic

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

03-04-2012, 22:58

Thank you WORP3, AFAIK MIDI can address 16 channels simultaneously, according to your reply that means 16*4=64 channels then, right? Could Orbit implement MSX-MIDI as default or at least to keep one of those MIDI outs for this? Yes maybe has no sense because only few games supporting it but Orbit would be a more MSX compatible device, bringing us this feature, now reserved only for turbo R owners, also for future developments.

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

04-04-2012, 08:44

PAC wrote:

Implementing a support for the MSX-MIDI will not be a problem, it's a simple interface but it's not on the priority list yet

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

04-04-2012, 08:46

Jorito wrote:

I'm sure WORP3 wouldn't mind that, but it's hardly realistic

Absolutely not, it will make getting the Orbit produced (when it's finished) a lot easier

By Pac

Scribe (7011)

04-04-2012, 10:55

Quote:

Implementing a support for the MSX-MIDI will not be a problem, it's a simple interface but it's not on the priority list yet

Well, at least it's on a provisional list, Thank you for the answer.

By MsxKun

Paragon (1124)

04-04-2012, 11:20

I like the MIDI-ports- I could plug 4 MIDI devices to them, but i doubt I'd use more than 1 anyway, specially cause the lack of software for that.
If MSX-MIDI is on the list... how's the default MIDI port usage? It would be nice to be software configurable, so you can use them as MSX-MIDI or as a regular Music Module MIDI port (and others).

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

04-04-2012, 12:42

The idea (nothing more then that at the moment) is to make somekind of MIDI mapper that will reroute all of your incoming midi channels to an midi out port and or music device.

By Gradius2

Hero (652)

05-04-2012, 00:44

As far I can see, this is an Altera emuling Z80/R800, I would like to see a V9990 emu in there too, not limited to old V9958.

Another thing it would be useful is more slots, much more slots! 4 at least, only 1 will be kind killer.

Any ETA for this puppy?

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

05-04-2012, 11:59

BTW we are talking about MIDI but from the beginning were not specified the MSX audio features, is it possible to know which ones? MSX-MUSIC, MSX-AUDIO, SCC, etc.

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

05-04-2012, 13:03

@Gradius2:
I've got no plans for supporting the v9990 as it was never supported by the MSX standard and it's (newer) capabilities are not that what you would like while using/managing HDTV resolutions.
BTW an FPGA isn't emulating !

@PAC: I will implement a nice new audio synth which I will not discuss right now. Overall it will be at least compatible with PSG,SCC and Music.

By shaiwa

Champion (392)

05-04-2012, 14:11

Very interesting!
Hope the price of the end product is at a nice level
This one is going on my "wanted" list

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

05-04-2012, 15:14

Gradius2 wrote:

Any ETA for this puppy?

I'm working as hard as possible to have a working example at the Nijmegen fair in 2013 !

By Gradius2

Hero (652)

05-04-2012, 15:49

WORP3 wrote:

I'm working as hard as possible to have a working example at the Nijmegen fair in 2013 !

Thanks, lets hope is stable too (stable is better than speedy release).

By dumfrog

Resident (45)

07-04-2012, 01:02

No RoHS directive problem this time ?
I'm still frustated that the One Chip MSX wasn't distributed in Europe

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

10-04-2012, 13:59

It's almost impossible to buy a non ROHS component, so the ROHS directive shouldn't be any problem

By Gradius2

Hero (652)

11-04-2012, 20:03

Any idea on price yet?

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

11-04-2012, 22:47

Nope. To get to a definitive price it's absolutely necessary to know how many units should be produced !
First thing first. The first goal is to have some working units on the next Nijmegen fair.

Orbit - Casing and connectors revealed

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