MMC64
Encyclopedia
The MMC64 is a cartridge for the C64
home computer
, which plugs into the expansion port. It was developed in 2005 by Oliver Achten, production and sale is done by the Commodore hardware accessory company Individual Computers
, although the MMC64 is sold by other retailers as well.
and SD
flash memory media. It can handle almost all media up to 4GB. It is a solution for Commodore users to transfer data between the Commodore 64 and a PC. The PC does not need to have a parallel port, which is a requirement for the popular x1541 interface.
It has a pass-through expansion port, allowing to use another cartridge together with the MMC64.
The MMC64 also provides an Amiga
style clock port for extra hardware, supporting the RRnet Ethernet interface and the "mp3@c64", which allows playing of mp3
files from the flash memory.
The MMC64 is sold "bare" without a case, which means that users who desire protection need to manually modify full cases to match its dimensions (and the dimension of pass-through expansion port Cartridges).
which is updated for new features, better compatibility and other improvements.
There is also an alternative BIOS (software download link) available from another developer. Documentation and source code are provided to facilitate development of additional plugins and alternative BIOS images.
The cartridge has a file browser that is launched automatically upon start, although the auto-launch feature allows for different file browsers. It can execute .PRG files on the flash media right from the file browser and write .d64 disk image
files to disk, although this is very slow with the built-in diskwriter, so most people use a faster plugin (software download link), although this plugin does not work on metal C128Ds due to timing issues. (The latest version of the BIOS, 1.03, removes the slow built-in .d64 writer in order to make space for more useful BIOS features; it is recommended that people use the much faster plugin for this task.)
There is a SID
music file player built in that allows playing SID files from the HVSC
on a real 6581 or 8580 SID chip (in the computer).
If the "R" key is pressed upon startup, the MMC64 reads the disk in the drive and saves it to the flash media as a disk image. This is slow compared to other solutions like the RR-Net based Warpcopy or the x1541 parallel port
interface, but faster implementations are being worked on.
The MMC64 cannot handle multi-file programs, since it does not emulate a floppy disk drive. Any program that must load further data from the flash will not work, although a .d64/.d71-mount plugin seeks to alleviate this issue by replacing the DOS
file access routines to simulate the presence of a floppy drive.
s, e.g. games), a .d81 writer for 1581 disk images, and others.
Also available is a .d64/.d71 mount plugin that allows reading from a disk image residing on the flash media. The drawback is that a Retro Replay is needed as well. As with the IDE64
IDE interface for the Commodore 64, the program or game has to use standard KERNAL
file access routines and not rely on a software fast loader, which unfortunately is the norm, since the Kernel-routines are very slow when accessing a normal 1541. Games and programs fixed for the IDE64 usually work on MMC64 as well using this plugin.
Reading and writing from/to a disk image on the flash media so far is only possible with the .dfi plugin. However, the .d64 needs to be converted to .dfi and the program itself has to be modified with Dreamload as its fast loader (version 2.7 or above). Dreamload is compatible with all kinds of regular disk drives as well as Commodore compatible harddrives, IDE64, and now also MMC64. A .dfi file is a more convenient and compatible container for a .d64 file.
The MMC64 has an autostart feature that allows to run an arbitrary program named 'BOOT.BIN' in the /SYSTEM64 directory (e.g. a selection menu or an alternative file browser) instead of the built-in file browser. Many users prefer the TNT file browser for its ability to display long filenames and browse/launch from within .d64 files. The autostart can be temporarily disabled by holding the Commodore key upon starting the computer or permanently from within the BIOS's configuration menu.
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
, which plugs into the expansion port. It was developed in 2005 by Oliver Achten, production and sale is done by the Commodore hardware accessory company Individual Computers
Individual Computers
Individual Computers is a German computer hardware company specializing in retrocomputing accessories for the Commodore 64, Amiga, and PC platforms. Individual Computers produced the C-One reconfigurable computer in 2003...
, although the MMC64 is sold by other retailers as well.
Hardware Features
The MMC64 serves as a read/write interface for MMCMultiMediaCard
The MultiMediaCard is a flash memory memory card standard. Unveiled in 1997 by Siemens AG and SanDisk, it is based on Toshiba's NAND-based flash memory, and is therefore much smaller than earlier systems based on Intel NOR-based memory such as CompactFlash. MMC is about the size of a postage...
and SD
Secure Digital card
Secure Digital is a non-volatile memory card format developed by the SD Card Association for use in portable devices. The SD technology is used by more than 400 brands across dozens of product categories and more than 8,000 models, and is considered the de-facto industry standard.Secure Digital...
flash memory media. It can handle almost all media up to 4GB. It is a solution for Commodore users to transfer data between the Commodore 64 and a PC. The PC does not need to have a parallel port, which is a requirement for the popular x1541 interface.
It has a pass-through expansion port, allowing to use another cartridge together with the MMC64.
The MMC64 also provides an Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
style clock port for extra hardware, supporting the RRnet Ethernet interface and the "mp3@c64", which allows playing of mp3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
files from the flash memory.
The MMC64 is sold "bare" without a case, which means that users who desire protection need to manually modify full cases to match its dimensions (and the dimension of pass-through expansion port Cartridges).
Built-in features
The MMC64 has a flashable BIOSBIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
which is updated for new features, better compatibility and other improvements.
There is also an alternative BIOS (software download link) available from another developer. Documentation and source code are provided to facilitate development of additional plugins and alternative BIOS images.
The cartridge has a file browser that is launched automatically upon start, although the auto-launch feature allows for different file browsers. It can execute .PRG files on the flash media right from the file browser and write .d64 disk image
Disk image
A disk image is a single file or storage device containing the complete contents and structure representing a data storage medium or device, such as a hard drive, tape drive, floppy disk, CD/DVD/BD, or USB flash drive, although an image of an optical disc may be referred to as an optical disc image...
files to disk, although this is very slow with the built-in diskwriter, so most people use a faster plugin (software download link), although this plugin does not work on metal C128Ds due to timing issues. (The latest version of the BIOS, 1.03, removes the slow built-in .d64 writer in order to make space for more useful BIOS features; it is recommended that people use the much faster plugin for this task.)
There is a SID
MOS Technology SID
The MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID is the built-in Programmable Sound Generator chip of Commodore's CBM-II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128 and Commodore MAX Machine home computers...
music file player built in that allows playing SID files from the HVSC
The High Voltage SID Collection
The High Voltage SID Collection is both the name of a project to build a collection of music created on the MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID sound chip in Commodore CBM-II, Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 home computers and the collection itself...
on a real 6581 or 8580 SID chip (in the computer).
If the "R" key is pressed upon startup, the MMC64 reads the disk in the drive and saves it to the flash media as a disk image. This is slow compared to other solutions like the RR-Net based Warpcopy or the x1541 parallel port
Parallel port
A parallel port is a type of interface found on computers for connecting various peripherals. In computing, a parallel port is a parallel communication physical interface. It is also known as a printer port or Centronics port...
interface, but faster implementations are being worked on.
The MMC64 cannot handle multi-file programs, since it does not emulate a floppy disk drive. Any program that must load further data from the flash will not work, although a .d64/.d71-mount plugin seeks to alleviate this issue by replacing the DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
file access routines to simulate the presence of a floppy drive.
User-configured features
MMC64 allows user-supplied plugins for additional functionality not available in the BIOS. Many plugins already exist, including picture displayers for various Commodore pictureformats, .wav/.raw audio players, a fast .d64 writer plugin, an alternative SID player, an animation player for .ani files, viewers for ASCII text files, a reader for .t64 tape images, a launcher for .crt cartridge files (only those that do not employ custom ASICASIC
ASIC may refer to:* Application-specific integrated circuit, an integrated circuit developed for a particular use, as opposed to a customised general-purpose device.* ASIC programming language, a dialect of BASIC...
s, e.g. games), a .d81 writer for 1581 disk images, and others.
Also available is a .d64/.d71 mount plugin that allows reading from a disk image residing on the flash media. The drawback is that a Retro Replay is needed as well. As with the IDE64
IDE64
The IDE64 interface cartridge is an expansion port device for connecting ATA devices to the C64 or C128 computers.-Hardware:There were several somewhat different versions of this cartridge over the years. The interface was designed by Tomas Pribyl and Jan Vorlicek in 1994...
IDE interface for the Commodore 64, the program or game has to use standard KERNAL
KERNAL
The KERNAL is Commodore's name for the ROM-resident operating system core in its 8-bit home computers; from the original PET of 1977, followed by the extended but strongly related versions used in its successors; the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Plus/4, C16, and C128...
file access routines and not rely on a software fast loader, which unfortunately is the norm, since the Kernel-routines are very slow when accessing a normal 1541. Games and programs fixed for the IDE64 usually work on MMC64 as well using this plugin.
Reading and writing from/to a disk image on the flash media so far is only possible with the .dfi plugin. However, the .d64 needs to be converted to .dfi and the program itself has to be modified with Dreamload as its fast loader (version 2.7 or above). Dreamload is compatible with all kinds of regular disk drives as well as Commodore compatible harddrives, IDE64, and now also MMC64. A .dfi file is a more convenient and compatible container for a .d64 file.
The MMC64 has an autostart feature that allows to run an arbitrary program named 'BOOT.BIN' in the /SYSTEM64 directory (e.g. a selection menu or an alternative file browser) instead of the built-in file browser. Many users prefer the TNT file browser for its ability to display long filenames and browse/launch from within .d64 files. The autostart can be temporarily disabled by holding the Commodore key upon starting the computer or permanently from within the BIOS's configuration menu.