AKAI FMX-008 Flash ROM new project

tOri wrote:If anyone will kindly ask me for permission I think it will be granted. Why not?

OK, cool, thanks. There is a small chance that someone I know may be interested in making and selling some. I'll wait to see how your testing progresses before asking them.

Hi,

Sure.

Cheerz
tOri

tOri wrote:Hi,

Keep in mind that this is middle stage of project. I need to assemble and test it in real machine. I have s2000 with 1.5 firmware so it will be possible to boot system from Flash afaik.

Cheerz
tOri

It will be possible but also keep in mind, you can remove the EPROM from your S2000, solder in 4 more DIP pins and move the jumper, you can fit the 32 pin and fit the 2.0 EPROM (as it's 32 pins, 4 megabit) into it and it will boot 2.0 just fine, no disk required after that.

Hi,

richie wrote:

tOri wrote:Hi,

Keep in mind that this is middle stage of project. I need to assemble and test it in real machine. I have s2000 with 1.5 firmware so it will be possible to boot system from Flash afaik.

Cheerz
tOri

It will be possible but also keep in mind, you can remove the EPROM from your S2000, solder in 4 more DIP pins and move the jumper, you can fit the 32 pin and fit the 2.0 EPROM (as it's 32 pins, 4 megabit) into it and it will boot 2.0 just fine, no disk required after that.

Yes, I know it but these cloned FMX008 will be used to boot-up and store samples too

Cheerz
tOri

just want to comment so i can be kept updated

Hi all,

The project has been practically completed. I checked - it works. i immediately formatted Flash and transferred OS 2.0. Now the sampler starts in almost no time You see floppydisk ejected.

https://reversing.pl/projekty/fmx008/fmx008.html

Below some photos:




SYSTEM BOOT






Personally, I will not build clones for the willing for various reasons (age, health an so on...) but nothing prevents someone else from doing it. just ask first formally for permission to use the prepared documentation.

As always - I give everything for free. May AKAI live happily ever after.

Cheerz
tOri

P.S. if anyone has a Yamaha SY99 and would like to do a firmware upgrade to version 1.57 then I could also help for a reasonable fee...

Hi,

P.S.S - I was curious so I assembled second clone of FMX008.

It works well (as expected



You see there how jumpers should be set on boards (A or B)



My AKAI S2000 now has a large flash installed which I wish all owners of compatible samplers...Project closed.

Cheerz
tOri

Whoa, You are not messing around

Are these flash cards compatible with mpc 2000/2000xl ?

Hi,

Despite adversity, I try to move forward

I saw MPC2000XL schematics and only can say - no - MPC2000 Flash connector pinout is upside down relative to the one on the s2000 - cloned s2000 FMX008 is incompatible.. Pin 1 in the MPC is pin 60 in the s2000, pin 2 in the MPC is pin 59 in the s2000 and so on... If angled PCB adapter swaps pins in place then it is possible to connect. if not -there is a need to design a new PCB. Sorry... besides, I don't have an MPC2000 for validation and testing.

Cheerz
tOri

AI generated LOL!

not sure 100% on this because it has been years... but i seem to half way remember the connector for this inside the mpc2000xl being different than the one inside the mpc2000 classic... so in one of them (the 2000XL i think) you may have needed an adapter to fit that expansion in the unit. no idea if that was just for the shape of the connector or was it also an adapter that changed the pinout order.

Hi mr_debauch,

I think the same because PCB mainboards of classic and XL seems to be a bit different (different placing of pins to similar tracks) but without physical measures (voltage using multimeter) I can't say more - unfortunately...There is simple way to check position of connector. You can measure +12V voltage. In my S2000 it is connected to pin1 but on MPC2000XL schematics I see it connected to pin60 and of course it is possible that MPC classic and xl have different pin order (mirrored connector, haha) So... FMX-008M differs from FMX-008 and probable you need different angled adapter when you using FMX-008M with classic or XL version of MPC. Clever? I don't think so but I know practices like this in past when you need to buy many additions because manufacturer want to sell more stuff only.

Cheerz
tOri

yes and those models of MPC were the first models to include expansion modules, before that the previous models came fully loaded (except for the VGA expansion on the 3000 and the SCSI on the MPC 60)

even the S series didn't really have too many expansions really.

Hi,

I sat down to design a 16MB Flash card which on two cards will give 32MB in the S2000 sampler and compatible. I will present the results in a while because I need to make full new project, order PCBs, components and assemble and test it all. A little luck will be needed.

Btw. I listed one card on ebay for bidding.

Cheerz
tOri

Hi,

OK. I made new project and new PCB (4 Layer). It is 16MB FlashROM card for s2000, s3000XL and s3200XL. Should work but I will be sure after assembling and testing prototype. Two cards can give you 32MB FLASH as I wrote earlier - for system or/and samples in Autoload for example or something else...

Please cross fingers

Cheerz
tOri