Multiface ST

[X3peri_MENTaL]

Does anyone know if there is a working Multiface ST cartridge image about and where it can be obtained (I assume it is compatible with Steem).

Thanks
X3peri_MENTaL

[hakim]

Multiface ST is not very useful on STeem, you are much better off with the Debug build of STeem...

regards,
hakim

[ggn]

So, anyone has a dump of it? The Steem authors mention that it's working, so there must be at least one guy who has a dump of it

[Mug UK]

I nearly won one on ePrey for the simple reason of dumping the ROM but got pipped at the post.

[aktiv8]

Checking on teh past threads it looks as if there are one or two members with multiface ST's so can any of them do a dump?

Threads Im thinking of are:

http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.ph ... =multiface
http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.ph ... =multiface

[[ProToS]]

MultifaceST dump attached

[aktiv8]

and many thanks go to Protos for supplying

[bodkinz]

Hmmmm.. I just looked in my desk draw... I have a Multiface ST ... one of the wires has come out though..

[Mug UK]

That happend to the one I borrowed years ago from Slasher Bog .. luckily it was easily repaired.

[X3peri_MENTaL]

Hmmmm.. I just looked in my desk draw... I have a Multiface ST ... one of the wires has come out though..

That happend to the one I borrowed years ago from Slasher Bog .. luckily it was easily repaired.

Damn, they're fragile

My Multiface is now is 2 pieces unfortunately , and I hardly ever touch it - both wires seem to have just popped out by themselves!

How easy is it to reattach the wires to the box? Is there anything actually holding the stripped back part of the wires in place within the white connector on the blue box, or are they just held in place by means of a tight fit?

[Dew-It]

What is a multiface ST? I have heard of it before. Is this some sort of copier? I think I saw this in one of my old ST format magazines.

[Mug UK]

It was an early attempt at a Freeze Frame type cartridge for the ST.

[Steven Seagal]

The Multiface ST dump posted in this thread is compatible with Steem.
In Steem SSE I'm adding a feature that emulates the 'Freeze' button of the cartridge, by triggering MFP interrupt 15 (mono detect).
The cartridge intercepts the "mono" line of the monitor, that's the purpose of the cable.

The problem is:

In the manual they state that the cartridge is transparent, and that the menu appears only if you press the button at startup, which seems reasonable.
But in Steem it boots directly on the cartridge menu, and two reviews I read suggest this behaviour.

I wonder if the manual is wrong, or if different revisions behave differently (red, blue, etc.).

Anybody with the real hardware?

[dlfrsilver]

the Multiface for ST is the equivalent of the Multiface 2 for Amstrad CPC. Made by the same company

[insanity]

I know that with the Ultimate Ripper Cartridge, you had to hold reset down (the ST reset button), flick a switch on the cartridge, then release the reset button and the URC would kick in... keeping the switch on meant you also couldn't boot past the URC menu!

Can you switch the Multiface on after bootup?! I seem to remember the bootup sequence checking the cart port prior to the disk etc.

I have a Multiface for the Spectrum somewhere... loved that thing!

[ijor]

Never owned a Multiface, but it is obvious that if all you emulate is just the mono detect intercept, then the cartridge would be present and active all the time. The hardware, obviously, has some custom logic that can make it transparatent and hidden (no cart rom present), or present (cart rom present).

Not sure exactly how the logic activates itself. Possibly pressing the button after power up switches itself on. You would need to perform some testing, to find out. May be some reverse engineering of the cart firmware in the worst case (but probably not needed).

In anycase, you have to emulate the full hardware behavior, not just the mono detect.

[Steven Seagal]

Ah yes I see now, in that case, emulation is OK already, when the file is inserted, the cartridge is active.
I didn't think about this. I was only looking at the cartridge code. Thx.
Still the magazines (referenced at atarimania) are ambiguous about this. Conclusion: do nothing else for the moment.

I will also look at the Ultimate Ripper Cartridge, so that next version of Steem SSE could contain some grouped cartridge emu improvements.

[Maartau]

I will also look at the Ultimate Ripper Cartridge, so that next version of Steem SSE could contain some grouped cartridge emu improvements.

*** *** ***

Multiface ST Manual :

http://www.spiny.org/atari/hardware_docs.html

https://archive.org/details/multiface_st_1989

[Steven Seagal]

The Ultimate Ripper Cartridge has a sort of "dongle" too, in the RS232 port, so it definitely was a good idea to add this feature!
The "dongle" was used to freeze games by using an interrupt ("ring").

Here's the future Steem menu, with new buttons for 'Switch off' and 'Freeze'.
'Switch off' makes the cartridge transparent, like it wasn't there.
'Freeze' would be useful on Multiface and URC.

Note: the URC cartridge isn't user friendly, one should read the manual. If enabled, it starts on a white screen.

[Maartau]

Simply great, thanks Steven .

[insanity]

Note: the URC cartridge isn't user friendly, one should read the manual. If enabled, it starts on a white screen.

It's waiting for F1/F2 to be pressed, depending on whether you want it loaded into high or low memory I believe.

[Steven Seagal]

It's waiting for F1/F2 to be pressed, depending on whether you want it loaded into high or low memory I believe.

The best is to quote the manual:

THE ULTIMATE RIPPER: EASY INTERRUPTING 100 % EFFICIENT

When you wish to interrupt your program, push the reset button, put the cartridge switch on and release the reset button. At that moment your ATARI is under the control of the cartridge. Several possibilities are the offered;

1) Push the F1 or F2. The software of the cartridge occupies a certain amount of memory, and so will overwrite a part of it. To retreive the overwritten part and move in another place in memory, push the F1 function key. If you don't want to move it, push the F2 key.

2) Push the F7 key, and once software is in the drive, you will be able to enter infinite lives in the software.

3) Push the F9 key to make a jump at the address contained in the $30 vector (This function is only useful to programmers)

4) If your cartridge remained ON and you switched your ST on, a fix screen appears. It is not necessary to switch it off.

Pushing the F10 key does a normal reset. This function key enables you to leave your cartridge always ON. For a normal use of your ATARI, you are advised to switch the cartridge OFF.

But not even a "Press F10 to boot your Atari normally" message appears.

[rcamp48]

I have a working Multiface ST Cartridge a green one , but it will not work with my STE...... anyone want it ?????

rcamp48