Journey Sound Mod
- Thread starter ThisOldGame
- Start date
xray2
Member
The hardware design is finalized and parts have been ordered but the board has a dedicated CPU so the features are software controlled. I am continuing to refine the code, incorporating optional ideas from the project goals sheet and feedback from testers. This will continue right up though the final round of field testing. This is not an open call for suggestions and the product will not be designed by a committee but if you have a KILLER idea, feel free to throw it out for vetting.
I will hold off on publishing final specifications until version 1.0 is ready to ship but I have listed a few features below which may be of interest.
1) always/never
This setting forces the Journey Sound Board to either always play the separate ways track or never. Great little option for either emulating the original cassette or excluding the song from the playback list after you've hear it for the 77'th time. (Mine is currently set on NEVER)
2) single/random
Works in conjunction with with the always/never option to either include or exclude the separate ways track.
3) halt/auto fade out at 3 minute mark
Useful for long, non-standard, songs that exceed the Journey arcade game's 3 minute bonus round window. Rather than an abrupt halt of the audio playback, the Journey cassette replacement board can be configured to fade out down to zero volume before terminating playback.
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Will this mod allow to play seperate ways in attract mode like the original or just at the end of the game?
xray2
Member
The Journey Sound board replaces the audio amplifier and the cassette player with new solid state circuitry. It does not modify the game play or game roms. At any point where the Journey game would have started the cassette player, the replacement sound board will play your sampled tracks from the SD card.
The difference is you can control which song(s) play and how they behave when the cassette player is switched off by the Journey game. For example, there is an option to gracefully fade the sound track volume down to zero rather than abruptly turning it off. This makes the experience feel like it was part of the original design and probably would have been had the designers had the technology we have now back in the early 80's.
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shertz
Well-known member
I may be in for one!
Sounds great! Thanks xray2 for doing this project your going to make Journey owners a lot happier especially the ones that don't have a tape or player in their games I like the fade feature also smoothes the song out like you said. Can't wait for the final product!
xray2
Member
pookdolie
Permanently Banned for excessive trolling.
Before I post something OT, just to say that this project is awesome, and I'm really glad Journey owners are getting a replacement for their machines.
But, somewhat in line with back2the80s' post: I've always wanted a mod which would allow me to play music through a game's speaker when a game is in attract mode. I.E. your 80s music is playing (quietly) through the speaker in your Pac-Man, you drop in a coin, the game sounds play instead; once your game is over, music comes back on.
(Yeah, it sounds ridiculous given all the other options we have today. I just thought it'd be cool.)
xray2
Member
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xray2
Member
Yup, kind of ridiculous but...
The board does have a test switch which initiates the audio playback. During testing I locked this on for continuous playback while testing the amp design. It might be possible to power up your journey and allow it to play as a true jukebox but I do not see a way for the player to know when a game is in progress and to stop playback.
No promises but I am open to discussion on the subject.
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WOW if it would play as a jukebox, when the game is not in play that would be so Awesome!!! WOW!!
I would set up up with the greatest hits. Would be cool if it would play like a jukebox until game is activated and when the game was activated it would function normal!!
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xray2
Member
If this is of major interest I think I could swap a few components which would allow you to install a remote "Journey Jukebox" switch. It would be a physical switch and would basically place the journey sound board into self test (jukebox) for an indefinite time while the switch is active.
I suppose you could bring the switch forward and have it readily accessible by opening the coin door or even out the back. You could go crazy with the concept this but I seriously doubt anyone needs a full remote control for their Journey.
Any opinions one way or the other?
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I suppose you could bring the switch forward and have it readily accessible by opening the coin door or even out the back. You could go crazy with the concept this but I seriously doubt anyone needs a full remote control for their Journey.
Any opinions one way or the other?
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pookdolie
Permanently Banned for excessive trolling.
If this is of major interest I think I could swap a few components which would allow you to install a remote "Journey Jukebox" switch. It would be a physical switch and would basically place the journey sound board into self test (jukebox) for an indefinite time while the switch is active.
I suppose you could bring the switch forward and have it readily accessible by opening the coin door or even out the back. You could go crazy with the concept this but I seriously doubt anyone needs a full remote control for their Journey.
Any opinions one way or the other?
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Mine shouldn't count `cause I don't own one.
But, djw90's "Would be cool if it would play like a jukebox until game is activated" was what I was thinking of and, if I owned a Journey, I can't think of a modification I'd want more.I'll bet you that, at some point before or during production, someone involved with the creation of that game wanted to implement an attract mode full of Journey songs. They were probably turned down for $$ reasons, which would've made sense at the time.
An attract mode "jukebox" at the flip of a switch would be pretty cool. As I see it, if possible, I would like:
1. normal "Separate Ways" live version for bonus round
2. optional "random Journey songs" for bonus round
3. jukebox/attract mode to play the songs from option 2 above that ceases at startup
Again, none or all would be awesome...I'm not picky!
1. normal "Separate Ways" live version for bonus round
2. optional "random Journey songs" for bonus round
3. jukebox/attract mode to play the songs from option 2 above that ceases at startup
Again, none or all would be awesome...I'm not picky!
I like this idea! This whould be great having all of journeys greatest hits play instead of just one journey song also will the songs be already downloaded on the media card or is this something we download on our own? I vote for this mod!
xray2
Member
#1 Done - Already exists in the pre-production cassette replacement!
#2 Done - Already exists in the pre-production cassette replacement!
I think a remote play/stop switch is doable without changing the existing pcb. No promises about an auto-stop feature but I'll give it some thought. It may be something you could wire in yourself at some point down the road along with a software update.
Next time Rich and I discuss the Journey project I'll bring it up.
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kerri369
Active member
how bout "i'd be happy with the original journey separate ways song" i'm thrilled that i'll be able to go to the bonus round with all that noise! nevermind all that extra work!
Me to........................
xray2
Member
The Journey cassette replacement will ship with a formatted 2GB Micro SD card containing just the non music files required for the player to operate. The kit will also include a USB to Micro SD reader/writer so you can add whatever music you like to your Journey arcade game from your PC. No copyrighted music will ship on the SD card.
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Perfect and how it should be.
