[Coco] Including an SSC

[Nick Marentes]

On 11/10/2014 10:27 AM, S Klammer wrote:
> Some, myself being one, do not have a multi-pak or comfortable with a
> hacked together Y cable.

I have one but it takes up my already limited desk space and with 
cartridges sticking up in the air, it doesn't allow me to slide the CoCo 
under the monitor stand anymore.

> BTW, although I do not have a multi-pak, I already have a SSC and an Orch90.
>
> Shain
>

I too have both but rarely use them.

The SCC cartridge is good although I don't think much of the speech side.

TooooRobotiiiiicFooooorrrMeeeeee.   :)

The sound chip is fine although it needs constant CPU intervention to 
have it play sophisticated sounds.

Many of the 80's arcade machines used this very chip but most had a 
second CPU devoted to feeding the sound chip with data.

That's why a modern microcontroller is ideal because it's a CPU and RAM 
and I/O in the one compact package (like my Teensey 3.1).

The Teensey would interface easily. Over 70Mhz, 64K onboard RAM, USB, AD 
conversion in a package about the size of a 2764 eprom for $20 (or less).

All that is missing is a header to connect to the CoCo bus....

... and now the argument has gone full circle.   :)

Nick