Yamaha CX5M music computer

[CJ_Miller]

No it is not a Mac, but it is relevant to me because it is a bit retro and fits in with my mostly Mac studio. It is a beautiful, black Z-80 based MSX computer with built-in MIDI and 4-operator FM synthesizer. They were so far as I know the only MSX format computers offered in the US. The big deal about the Yammies is that they were, at the time, one of the only "easy" ways to program Yamaha's DX synths - which were known for their unintuitive user interface.

This particular unit I bought off a guy via eBay, and was special because it came with some choice accessories. For $100 I got the CX5M, mouse, a crazy 3.5" floppy drive which looks like milspec hardware, extra memory cartridge, adaptor for using regular MSX cartridges, and seven programs - five music, two graphic. I can hardly wait to try it but I need to figure out the video output, which is a 5-pin DIN cable, and make an adaptor.

This lot is going to be a part of my FM synth rack, including my TX816 and a mixer. I do have some great DX/TX editors already, mostly on my Atari. But these are from the source, and when I am not using it to edit synth voices I can play crazy Japanese video games from the 1980s. And it arrived when the wife was out!

 

[ClassicHasClass]

Nice conquest. I have one with the keyboard, but I haven't gotten a place to set it up yet.

 

[Bunsen]

:O

 

[CJ_Miller]

:O

I know, this is out of character for me! Just like when I did a Google image search for Digidesign NuBus cards and saw your avatar in the lineup. :lol:

I was going to link to info about these but had trouble remembering where I saw it. Here! http://www.cx5m.net/ When I discovered it the site maintainer broke the links because they claimed too many people were abusing bandwidth... but they seem to work now. Includes manuals, schematics, cartridge ROMs, and other helpful info.

Nice conquest. I have one with the keyboard, but I haven't gotten a place to set it up yet.

No keyboard for mine yet, but supposedly the upgraded SFG05 synth in it can respond to MIDI. Also it seems easy to program its "toolbox" in BASIC for synth access, MIDI, and speech synthesis in Japanese. An excellent programmer such as yourself will have no problems with it.

As for the video out, the DIN jack can be readily adapted for RCA outs for composite video and mono sound (separate from the synth outs). I was hoping to do it last night but I was catching up on housework, reading, etc and it got away from me. Hopefully tonight I can get caught up with my immediate computer stuff.

There are many sites out there offering MSX ROMs! I am going to build a few cartridges with ZIF sockets for trying them out - after I verify that it even works in the first place.