Omnimaga
Calculator Community => Other Calculators => Topic started by: LincolnB on July 19, 2011, 01:22:15 pm
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I own a ti-84 plus. Browsing around on ticalc.org and other such sites occasionally leads me to a download to USB software, for calculator, like msd8x and usb8x and such things.
My question is, what all can I do with usb devices on a calculator? I know I need to buy an adapter but I don't know exactly what kind, the specs, etc. What drivers have been written to interact with usb devices? I guess what I'm looking for is some complete documentation on the subject. I've heard of how brandonw wrote a driver to interact between the mouse and Doors CS, where can I download that? There's a lot of questions here, and I pretty much would just like to know what you guys do about USB devices interacting with calculators. :)
I have a similar set of questions, for the subject of doing sound on a calculator. Again, what kind of adapter do I need? What software is available for it?
Thanks.
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Oh, my, if it wasn't right before lunch, I would answer all those questions for you. Since I am about to eat, I'm sorry, but I'll only answer these few.
There is no complete documentation for the calculator. If you know z80 (And I mean really well) you can look at brandonw's svn (which I will not link to, nor should anyone link to anything of brandonw's. PM me for a link) and learn from that code like I did/am doing. This page (http://wikiti.brandonw.net/index.php?title=83Plus:OS:84_Plus_USB_Information) isn't complete, but has quite a few resources with it. Definitely be sure to go down to the very bottom under the "In other News" section.
EDIT: Also note, that even brandonw and I can't give you complete documentation. I usually go to brandonw for questions, but I would definitely study his code. (again, I'm not putting a link here)
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You can make the adapter for usb yourself. here (http://www.ti-wereld.nl/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11) is described how to do it. (Sorry, it's in dutch. I don't know an english tutorial, but you can use google translate)
for sound, there is thrusound. Search for it on ticalc. You can buy an adapter for sound at some hardware shops.
EDIT: keep in mind: msd8x does not work with every usb flash drive.
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Basically you just find a female a and a male mini-b or a (either will work atm, preferably mini-a b/c there's less work for later (and yes I know in the end it has to be mini-a but I dealt with that ??)), cut the cables, strip off some of the outside shell. Keep the mesh-like stuff on.
Strip the colored wires on both sites, twist like colors together and wrap with electrical tape.
Kind of twist together or whatever the meshy part, tape together. Wrap whole assembly in electrical tape.
Now, look at the smaller plug.
(http://zaurus.daemons.gr/menaie/mirror/usb-miniA&B.jpg)
Which one does it look like?
If it's A, you're done and ready to use it.
If it's B, read this
http://ourl.ca/7646/142328
or get yourself familiar with a soldering gun :P
You'll need to link pins 4 and x somehow to make it work.
http://pinouts.ru/connectors/usb_a_b_male.gif
As for the omni link, it's supposedly a "temporary" way to do it but I've had it that way with mine for quite a while now and it works..
[wikiti]msd8x[/wikiti] [wikiti]usb8x[/wikiti]
Useful info and stuff. Good idea to browse through for a while.
EDIT: there's also [wikiti]USBtools[/wikiti], which allows you to do stuff like use a keyboard or mouse.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask ;)
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For the record, I wouldn't strip the USB cable. I just bought a mini-A to A female. It was pretty cheep, IIRC.
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For the record, I wouldn't strip the USB cable. I just bought a mini-A to A female. It was pretty cheep, IIRC.
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I use something like this most of the time. Just not many people have access to that sort of thing ;)
For the record, I'm using a converted adapter from this kit and it's great, tho there are definitely cheaper alternatives out there.
imo it's a good thing to have a kit like this anyway =P
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Emerge-Tech-3-USB-2.0-Universal-Cable-Kit/12575355
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Can I just buy the right adapter on amazon or something? And what size are the sound jack adapters?
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Headphones are normally 3.5mm. The calc's port is 2.5mm.
(iirc?)
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Headphones are normally 3.5mm. The calc's port is 2.5mm.
(iirc?)
Yes.
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Thanks. What music creation utilities are there for on-calc music editing? If there's none, I'm totally making one.
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There's a MIDI converter for Axe (link (http://omniurl.tk/3666)) and it seems like it's maintained.
Also squidgetx made a guitar-like program, I think it was called Axesynth.
As for playing, there's multiple ways--Trusound, DCS, and a few more I can't recall atm :P
Idk if there's a real song maker, sounds like a good project idea to me :)