Delfina - Some questions

[MrZammler]

I'm thinking of getting a delfina card (the one listed on amigakit), and wanted to ask some questions before adding it to my shopping list.

So,

What's the current status with its software (a new libs release was made a few months ago). Does it work ok now, are the crashes that where reported gone? How stable is it?

I was thinking to connect it on the 26-pin header of my X-surfII. Is that ok? What are the advantages over a clockport? Should I expect any problems with the rest of my setup? (A3000, PIV, Algor, XSurfII, A2088)?

Are there any neat stuff that take advantage of the DSP besides the mpeg decoder? It seems there is a developers package somewhere... ?

I was thinking that I would connect it's sound output to my Picasso IV sound in, then connect the paula sound from the picasso to one of the delfina's inputs. Would this setup work under whdload, i.e. still have sound through when whdload takes over the system?

Thanks!

[keropi]

dunno about the software side, but as for the x-surf connection, look HERE (mfilos found this)

 :-D

[MrZammler]

Yep, that's a clockport connection though. Thanks!

[Matt_H]

With the Zorro-based Delfina Lite, I've plugged the native audio out jacks into the Delfina's input 1. Native sound continues to work when WHDLoad is running, as long as the card has been initialized (which should happen automatically in user-startup anyway).

Booting without a startup-sequence is the only occasion I don't have native audio.

[pVC]

Booting without a startup-sequence has the audio, if you've booted with user-startup once. At least here with Delfina Lite.

About DSP use.. I think there was some effects thing in drivers package, can't remember or check just now, but for me the most important thing is the mpeg-decoding. You can decode mp3 audio with Amplifier, AmigaAmp, DelfMpeg etc and Frogger can use audio hw decoding with videos too.

[sandpiper]

MrZammler,

I've been using a Delfina Flipper connected to the clockport of an X-Surf for several years in an A2500 with Blizzard 2060, PIV, X-Surf, Subway (on the other X-surf clockport) and a GVP I/O and have never experienced any hardware issues. I was experiencing the crashes/lockups caused by the delfina library but since I installed the updated version a few months ago, I have not observed a single lock-up/crash. I use it almost exclusively to play mp3s with AmigaAmp (mhi driver). I am quite happy with it.

Unfortunately there don't appear to be many programs that take advantage of the DSP besides decoders. I don't know of any.

I don't know why you would need to pipe sound through the PIV. The Delfina has AHI drivers and many outputs.

[Matt_H]

@ pVC

Booting without a startup-sequence has the audio, if you've booted with user-startup once. At least here with Delfina Lite.

Okay. I must have been confusing "boot with no startup-sequence" with "cold boot with no startup-sequence" :-)

@ sandpiper

I don't know why you would need to pipe sound through the PIV. The Delfina has AHI drivers and many outputs.

I think the point would be to only have a single audio output for the whole computer.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, just routing the Delfina's audio out to the PIV would probably suffice. No need to add an additional loop.

[sandpiper]

@Matt_H

I think the point would be to only have a single audio output for the whole computer.  EDIT: Now that I think about it, just routing the Delfina's audio out to the PIV would probably suffice. No need to add an additional loop.

I use the Delfina to do this. Amiga audio output to one of the inputs of the Delfina + all other inputs. The Delfina then mixes them into a single output. I don't know why you would need the PIV for this. Are you doing something special?

[MrZammler]

About the mixing thing. Since the delfina will stay inside the A3000, it will not have physical access to it from the outside. (Unless I go for some modding).

The PIV has 2 internal sound inputs, and provides me with a 3.5mm audio out jack at the back of the card.

However, the PIV doesnt mix these 2 inputs. You need to use an app from AmigaOS to switch between them each time you'd like to listen to either one. So, by feeding the paula to the delfina, and then the delfina output to the PIV, I'll get both of these mixed and outputed from a single jack.

EDIT: I should also mention that the PIV is separated from the scandoubler, so the paula audio is already fed to the PIV via a normal internal audio cable.

[countzero]

MrZammler wrote:

EDIT: I should also mention that the PIV is separated from the scandoubler, so the paula audio is already fed to the PIV via a normal internal audio cable.

do you have the scandoubler ? (inside your A3000 or somewhere else ?)

[jj]

Why would you have a seperate scandoubler in a3000? there is one built in isnt there ?

[aggro_mix]

With the latest driver it should be possible to use with the 26-pin header on the X-Surf

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47368

[MrZammler]

countzero wrote:

do you have the scandoubler ? (inside your A3000 or somewhere else ?)

Yep, I do have the PIV scandoubler. It's just connected to the rest of the PIV via ribbon cables. The onboard A3000 scandoubler is not used anymore.

[keropi]

damnit, now I feel the need to order a delfina from amigakit...
 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

edit: yep, just got one...  :roll:

[amigakit]

Thank you!