Classic computing fanatic Robert Value has spent the final month placing collectively a rotary encoder enter board for the RC2014 modular microcomputer — and has capped the undertaking off by constructing an RC2014 music participant which makes use of it for management.
“I needed to place collectively all my studying and construct a music participant for the RC2014,” Value explains. “This may run utilizing my RC2014 Traditional 2 pc. It makes use of the LCD Driver Module, and the YM2149 Sound Card Module from Z80Kits. As well as, it additionally makes use of my ROM board and naturally the Rotary Encoder Module.”
Spencer Owen’s RC2014 is a household of multi-board computer systems impressed by the Altair 8800 and different basic microcomputers. Sometimes primarily based round a Zilog Z80 processor, although with extra compact emulated variations accessible that swap this out for a contemporary microcontroller, the RC2014 will be expanded by using accent boards — like Value’s rotary encoder enter board.
“I used to be capable of tweak the prevailing PTPlayer instance code from the [Z80Kits] sound module to insert my rotary encoder detection routines into the principle loop,” Value explains of the proof-of-concept undertaking, which makes use of the rotary encoder to pick out from a variety of audio tracks. “Within the loop I’d then transfer the arrow within the show if crucial, and alter the present observe if the rotary encoder was pressed.
The undertaking serves as a capstone to a month-long effort to construct a rotary encoder enter module for the RC2014. (📷: Robert Value)
“The one factor I’ve discovered is that if I flip the rotary encoder too quick,” Value admits, “it doesn’t at all times accurately choose up the flip. It is because there may be much more occurring within the loop enjoying the music so the encoder isn’t being sampled as continuously as in my take a look at code.”
Extra info is accessible on Value’s weblog — although should you’re within the growth of the rotary encoder board itself, somewhat than the music participant, you will need to begin in the beginning.