Big game and up use more RAM for the sound counters/steps than the earlier games. That's the only difference. I've been through both's software multiple times trying to pirate sounds from Big Game to put into Meteor

Not been successful in that endeavor yet

I also noticed a problem in Nine Ball with the background sound being different that is the same kind of issue as in Meteor.

I have been holding off saying anything, because I know that sometimes 'noise' can be bad and help get away from the real issue, but I thought I'd share something -

I was running v24 (the 7-digit OS) for over a year now. On original hardware (do not know if my MPU had that trace fix or not) - without any issues. No sound issues at all.

Then, at some point back in this past December or January, it started showing the sound issue. I went ahead and rebuilt my SB-300. A LOT of chips for replaced (almost all of them, except for the timer), and caps all got replaced. This did NOT fix the issue.

Then I went ahead and got @barakandl 's MPU board. (For two reasons - to have a good 'test' board to swap out if needed, and to see if it helped with this.) Setting the DIPs to the v24 on IT (not sure if code was identical), the issue did NOT go away.

I have NOT replaced the timer on my SB-300 yet. That is next.

However! Here's something interesting. Back in May, had guests over, and was playing multi-player games. Everything seemed to be fine - except for the audio. A couple weeks after they left, I turn the game on, and notice that my HSTD is .. corrupted. Displays read "5<space>438". I have yet to reset the board, but.. thought I'd mention it in case it was important.

Also - at some point between the start of v24 and now, I replaced the sound cable. My **original** cable was ALL pins. The replacement I got was only 32 pins. (Hey, @barakandl - remember I mentioned a long time ago to make a second adapter for the audio cable, allowing it to use a ribbon cable? So in case new sound boards are released, it'd be easier to hooke them up? And you said 'nnaaah' .. and now you made a sound board, even, and STILL can't use a ribbon cable. )

Adding a two row ribbon cable would be nice but the reason I don't switch to that is the the original boards where not designed that way. Not everyone is going to replace both the MPU and Sound board at the same time and they may mix aftermarket brands. Sure I could have both connectors but then assembly and BOM goes up... by a negligible amount but still. Then I would also get email questions about where the connectors go and why there is an extra one etc... I had China make new 16p 0.1" and individual wires which works fine for SB100 and SB300. They are reasonably priced even compared to ribbon cables so I will probably never change to two row ribbon. Go back in time and tell Stern to do 2x16 ribbon instead. =D

I can email you a ROM file that will clear out the RAM back to FF and that should fix the replacement and original MPUs having sound issues. I am going to start including RAM clear software in the combo ROM.

Not sure what to make about the memory corruption. If the game ever jumps out of the software for whatever reason it can write crap to the NVRAM chip. Best guess is something like that happened at some point. Unplugging the J5 plug while the MPU is running is one way to possibly do it.

Eh, i was just being a dick. I'm not actually upset. I DO (and have) wondered hot 'iffy' connections could affect the soundboard, though.)

Haven't unplugged anything while the game's been up. Been solid, save for the sound!

Ah, awesome! Thank YOU!
I have the source for v24, and would like to add it in. Or have it added in to that version, if we can work that out!

The memory clear is a separate ROM file from the meteor ROMs. You would remove the Meteor v24 rom. Boot up the mem clear rom. Wait for the LED to start blinking. Then the RAM is filled with 00 and you can switch back to your meteor ROM. The sound problem will then be fixed. Audits will also be cleared back to all 00.

Sorry, I was referring to this part, here:

Could we get it added to the v24 ROM? (Either sending me the code you have, or I send you the source for v24..)

I don't know how to modify the sound bugged Meteor ROMs but the theory for the fix would be to write zeros everywhere sound values are stored in memory at boot up.

The "factory modified" meteor ROM version does not have the sound bug, so Stern must have realized there was a problem and fixed it in that version. Maybe you can compare the two ROMs and transplant the all the sound code from the factory modified ROM into all the custom ROMs that are based on the sound bugged Meteor. That is out of my skill set. I am good with hardware... software not so much.

Basically use the Factory Modified ROM if possible. If you really want the free /divide by 10/ home ROM / version 1 you must do a run of the memory clear software if you have bugged out sound. Then as long as you keep the MPU set for meteor the sound bug should never come back.

Ah, okay then! I can look into it. It's be nice if the true 7-digit fix could fix it itself like the Factory Fix one does - by wiping the needed areas. I'll look into it then. (I have NO trouble burnig ROMs - however, since I'm working on adding some small features to v24, I'd rather just nip it in the bud and prevent me from having to swap out ROMS because of some bad code of mine.)

Well, update on my machine -
The pinball gods hate me, sadly.

Reset NVRAM using the ROM above - turned game on, went through audits and reset everything. Played game, still had sound issues. I thought, 'Hey, maybe one of the new audits in the v24 is affecting it!' So I put the RAM clear ROM back in, power game up. Got static out of the sound board, and lights would randomly flicker. Took ROM out, checked to make sure (idiot me) didn't bend a pin - nope. Reinsert ROM, this time get the expected flash. Remove ROM, turn game back on and play withOUT resetting audits. Still messed up sound.

Next step for me? Replacing the chip on the sound board.

What sounds are wrong? When the bug is happening the credit noise will be wrong(i think its a beep instead of explosion) and the spinner sound is missing or just a click that silences all other sounds.

After running the RAM clear software did you notice that the audits all got reset back to 00?

I'm having this issue where the sound for my spinner is basically just a rapid click. Guess I've been under a rock about this issue lol. My MPU is one of your earlier versions that had no option to choose the game. I had to pick the game upon ordering and I can't change it now. Will the roms on your site work with my older version? I have a friend who can burn the chip.

Thanks,
RC

The RAM clear should fix you up but your best option is to upgrade to the non bugged version of meteor as long as you do not require free play, divide by ten or etc..

Bottom of the page there is a zip file containing the RAM clear software.
https://nvram.weebly.com/mpu.html

If your board has a single chip at U2. Use the memclear_v2_U2.764 file onto a 2764 EPROM. Power up. Wait until the LED starts to blink. Then go back to your meteor ROM.

If you want the bug fixed version of meteor software I can email you that ROM file. If you mail the entire PCB back to me I will take care of it that way too.

Andrew

another idea is to try the bug fixed version of meteor as the sound bug does not exist in that version no matter the ram contents. if the sound is still wrong there is some other issue going on.

(1) - Yes, that is correct - the background noise is wrong, the spinner silences everything, and other (seemingly) random noises are cut off or distorted. (Like the explosion.)
(2) - No, everything got reset to either "blank" or "0000". In this state, I CAN play a game - no display in the credits window, but it'll start games. After manually resetting all audits to "00", then I have to add credits before starting.

I'm not TOO worried - at least, not until I get a new timer chip for the soundboard. It's been completely rebuilt, including bypass caps (and audio caps), and there's only two chips that have NOT been replaced on it.

Ah, good point! No wonder you get paid the big bucks. I didn't think of this; will give it a try tonight.

Well, this is interesting.

So, the board is pfutzed - SLIGHTLY. I'm missing some bass cap or a chip I replaced is bad - my bonus countdown is just 'wrong' (hard to explain), and some of the sounds sound different. This does not affect below.

That's not the interesting thing, though -
Booted up to the alt/fix. Everything sounded pretty normal. Had to reset all audits after changing. Peachy.
Played a couple games. Then booted back up into the 7-Digit ROM.
Sounds were PRETTY CLOSE to being on-point. The spinner sound played, but it seemed as if it was getting cut short. ALL other sounds (save for what I say above) sounded correct.

So I will stop my testing there for now, until I either go over my audio board again (or just get a new one). The rest of it can wait on my machine.

(2) the audits should all show 00 after the memory clear so it did not reset the ram properly. If you push the NMI button while the LED is blinking it makes the ram clear software it do a FF fill where the bug will still exist and most audits will be blank or show 0000. Boot memory clear, wait for led to blink, and then power down. Don't push the NMI. Then the audits should all show 00 and the sound bug goes away. If you used the 27512 sized file run it from U1 expanded ROM spot, if you used the 2764 sized file run from U2.

Yup, I'm not touching a thing - I'm putting U2 in (27C64), removing the jumper, turning on. Almost immediately (under a second) LED blinks a little faster than once/second. Turn game off, remove ROM, replace jumper, turn game back on. Will do it again tonight and grab a pic of the displays.

(Also, since it's working for other folks, I'm not blaming the MPU or the ROM. I seriously am some kind of Bermuda Triangle when it comes to //odd// issues with games.)

Hi,
Just joined the Meteor club. The machine plays fantastic but has the scoring bug. I'm a bit confused as to how to fix it. Do i replace the roms with the code fix? Can i buy these. Also i want to add the 7 digit displays so i take it that i need the correct roms for this? Do these roms come with scoring bug fix. Sorry for all the questions.

Use the 'Alternate' ROM on IPDB for the bonus bug, 6-digit.
The "7-digit bootleg" does not have the bonus bog, and runs slower due to how the 7th digit was implemented.
The "v24" version supports 7-digit natively, but has the bonus bug and COULD mess up sounds on your game.

Eventually, the v24 version will be fixed to correct the sound issue and bonus bug.

That's already been done. It's just not on ipdb yet since they are slow as heck to post updates. I sent them the requested scan of the eight ball deluxe manual they were looking for almost a year ago (maybe more) and it's not posted yet.

Has it? I don't have a copy, and I thought I had the last one. Can you forward it please?
Also, is it still v24? I would forward it to barakandl so he can update his MPU.

v27

I suppose it helps if you are the author of the mod, then you always have the latest version.

Pffft, dick. After I gave you some help, and then you tell me you're no longer gonna work on it, now you come out and say this? I'm hurt. You have it posted somewhere so I can find more issues with it?

Well, I did think it was "done" but after finally nailing down what seems to be the fix for the bad sound being a couple locations needing zeros, then watching some new players get screwed by the spinner still turning on drain (spins went into the next players' ball) I decided to tweak it a little.

I also found another bug where if you start p1 game, score a bit and decide to add p2, your score zeroes out until you score again (it doesn't wipe any of the score) - really it's the 'last player' that gets zeroed (p2 on p3 add, p3 on p4 add).... plus I made it freeplay with a dip instead of all the time. The stock rom footprint is very full at this point. Oh yeah, the 25k rocket sweep bonus is in there too, now dip switch settable.

I think I sent IPDB v26 I'm still testing v27.

If you add some mods to yours then you'll have the latest codebase (of yours!)

Mind forwarding v26? Because of issues with Jay and IPDB, it will likely be a while before it's posted. (It's not up there now, and depending on when you sent it, it could be a while before it is posted up there.

v26 didn't have the options to turn on/off the sweep bonus and freeplay which I put into v27 but I am still working on v27 I think there might be a major bug in there (actually might be all the big game based versions)

I'm going to swap a stock board back in there next week to see if I'm hearing things wrong. If I am as a suspect, the sound code is going to need more massaging. Ever notice any "extra" silence between sounds? I played a stock meteor a couple weeks ago and noticed the sounds flowed together better.

The stock code was ported to the big game base but that doesn't mean the timing is 100% correct on things. The stock data didn't work with the stock big game code which is why it was changed anyway. I'm on a long uphill battle trying to understand how an sb-300 produces sounds, so that new sounds can be produced. I'd really like to have an in-circuit debugger for the hardware in the game along the lines of pinmame but hardware is not my forte.

I HAVE noticed this - BUT - my SB300 is also really old and seriously hacked. (No, I don't have a new replacement yet!) Up until we found that the RAM has to be zeroed out, I figured all MY issues were just coming from a bad board. (In fact, I'm still having other issues that IS because of the board still, so.. I put very little thought that my_ issues are because of things outside the sound board. Heh.)

Understood though - if you want a tester (like on v24 last year), lemme know. Be glad to do some testing on OEM and barakandl 's MPU.

Yeah I don't think the silence is normal. I'll play around on my large supply of OEM boards with and without NVram as well as probably every revision of Andrew's boards. Probably send you a test version once I determine what's different (probably a timer somewhere.....)

First things first is I have to remove the non-working background sound quash that doesn't work... like, at all. I'd always assumed it did from RGP years ago but I guess no one (including me) ever tested it until v27. I don't WANT to remove the bg sound, people that get meteor, get it, and all other people that don't like it.... tough

BG sound dip switch selection?

I have no problem with BG sound until it gets to the 2nd octave and its like a dog whistle.... then i'd rather have it turned off.

No, the Meteor folded into Big Game's operating system sound.

I don't think I've heard the dog whistle big game sound in big game yet, but my hearing high frequencies isn't what it used to be. One bonus of getting old.

Probably the only bonus.

err.. big game sounds great i think... its meteor's background sound. i meant to say dip switch control for meteor's background sound would be nice if easily possible.

Didn't even realize people were complaining about that. Interesting. Guess I need to start popping and catching up on RGP again. In either case, awesome. Good to hear then.

No, it was one guy several years ago re: the BG sound in meteor. I posted a fix that apparently no one (including me) ever tried.... and it didn't work.

RGP is dead as a doornail, it's people posting accidentally on old threads, John Robertson replying to everything, JT amusements replying back to John, and franknfurter trolling as usual.

*snrk* Glad I didn't miss much then. Heh.

Our Submission Tool was broken for the longest time, sorry.

Manual 1220 is now in the 1981 EBD listing, replacing Manual 0B87 there.

If you are talking about Meteor, I have nothing in my ToDo pile for Meteor Roms. I did add a bug fix but that was 2017.

It's 5am here and I may have misread this thread.

Please email me if I've missed something. Thanks,