Hardware MP3 decoder?

[Bodie_CI5]

Sorry for necrothreading.

Very recently, we reassembled my A4000D and am still a little confused over the types of hardware mp3 decoders. I have an Apollo 040 processor installed in my A4000 with the Zorro cards only (I have a Mediator, but do not want to use it -- want to keep it as native as possible) (plus 128megs of RAM IIRC). Trying to play mp3's is for all intents and purposes a no-no, so I would like to beef this baby up a little with an mp3 hardware decoder (so I can begin using the A4000 more).

What would be recommended for my set up? The MAS (even though it is VERY difficult to find now) or the Delfina? And will the Delfina allow me to listen to mp3's out of the box without slowing down my Amiga? Please note, I am not one of the most technical of users, so please keep it simple for the simpleton that I am :-D

Thanks all

[Bodie_CI5]

Hello Tenacious and thanks for your reply.

MasPlayer does an excellent job and has never caused a crash. It will work with a 7 Mhz 68000 Amiga! It plays well with AmigaAmp, Amplifier and AminetRadio.

Man, hate it how I can't find one , you think they will ever re-produce them again? Just before my long hiatus from anything Amiga, I had the chance to get one; serves me right haha.

I've owned the Delfina for years and have never got it to work (it crashed my system as soon as executed), stopped trying after a few months.

Ouch! I'm still tossing up whether I should buy one, but this prospect kind of scares me. Would it be the result of your 060 you think? I think I saw the Delfina in stock in Vesalia's website earlier today, but I can't get their website to go beyond the opening page at the present moment. I hope someone who has a similar config to mine would be able to post and clarify whether they too have problems with the card and whther their computer does not slow down whilst listening to mp3's.

I forgot to add in my previous post, I also have an X-Surf (no. II IIRC) if this makes any difference.

Thanks a million, once more, for your helpful post!

[Bodie_CI5]

Yeah, I've read through a couple of threads over at EAB on this, seems some have had the problems, too.

Looks like a waiting game on eBay, then, for the MAS.

[Bodie_CI5]

Hi pVC, and thanks for your reply.

As MASPlayer was a DIY project originally, maybe you could find the needed docs and make it yourself.

My friend, trust me, were I to engage in such a project, instead of mp3's, I would make it all wrong and and end up watching Blu-rays on our A600 instead; all by mistake! hehe

So I guess you're saying I should go for the Delfina. Is it easy to get it working with my A4000's X-Surf? If the Delfina would work in my system as it currently is (Jens I have read somewhere on EAB doesn't like Apollo cards), I wouldn't want to be faced with stability issues if was to find an 060 somewhere just as Tenacious seems to encountering. Or would it depend on other factors you think?

In saying all this, pVC, please don't feel that I would blame you for anything that could go wrong if I were to buy a Delfina. So, please, feel free to speak freely with me. Your advice is most welcome

Hi Tenacious,

About a year and a half ago, Amigakit found a new source and had them in stock for a while.

That's right, my brother told me about it back then. My reply was "nah, don't give a f*** about Amigas anymore". And so you now find me in this predicament haha.

That is so unlucky with you situation. I wonder why Jens has not looked into this problem.

I've personally never seen an Mp3@64 stocked anywhere. Perhaps I checked in the wrong places at the wrong time.


-Edit-

This is one of the reasons why I am being so careful and in asking, being so inquisitive (hope I'm not being too overly demanding of you all)

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=57365

[Bodie_CI5]

I like to down a few shots of the Glenlivet

Sold and bought :pint:! Hopefully Vesalia reply to me pronto, I want the card quick-smart.

Thanks Damion!

[Bodie_CI5]

There's a MAS player and other rare Amiga hardware bits for sale on the New York Craigslist: http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/sys/2168967703.html .

I've got the free version CraigslistPro+ set up to search all cities in the US & Canada for the computers for sale category.  All I need to enter is the keyword "Amiga".  Kinda like cheating with my iPod touch.

BTW, I've got the MP3@64 from Vesalia shortly before they ran out early last year.

Hello Rabbi, and thanks for the heads up.

I've ordered the Delfina from Vesalia, if I seem to be running into problems with it, I will definitely be looking at Craigslist as an alternative to eBay.

How good is the MP3@64? I've only ever seen it it in passing mentionings here and there, I don't think I've ever seen a reply from an actual owner talking about it. I would be most interested in an appraisal, as it were.

Again, thank you for your advice!

[Bodie_CI5]

Sorry, but that MAS MP3 decoder & a couple of other rare Amiga bits apparently were sold very shortly after my posting.  It was sitting for 5 days & no sales of anything listed appeared to have taken place before my posting.

Something should pop up again should my Delfina endeavour not be fully feasible.

I'll let you know about the MP3@64 when I've installed & tested it, but it won't be for some time because I've got other personal issues I need to deal with first. :-(

Whatever it is, I hope it is solved expeditiously and everything be on track once more for you. We'll still wait for your appraisal

Let us know how the Delfina works out for you.  Best of luck!

Thank you and I will do so

Cheeers