Colecovision Drum Machine Cart Created

Thanks to AtariAge for discussing their first title to be published for the classic ColecoVision console, called CVDRUM. According to their site, "CVDRUM is a new ColecoVision cartridge by E-Mancanics, based on popular software and hardware drum machines, that enables the user to create up to 9 different one measure musical rhythm patterns.. which can then be arranged.. [and] looped for musical performance. The tempos are also close enough that it can be used in concert with Paul Slocum's Atari 2600 SynthCart." The cart will be unveiled at the Austin Gaming Expo on July 26th.

Comments

Re:Commodore?

[bjb]

Wouldn't it make more sense to put these types of things on a Commodore 64/128 that already has a kick ass synth chip?

Yeah, sure.. it's already been done, but that's not the point. The point is that someone did it, its got very cool retro gaming geek value, and it is the first (?) exploit of the ColecoVision's capabilities to date. We've had the Atari SynthCart before and C64 toys before, we've seen the IntyOS just in the last two weeks, but nothing yet for ColecoVision.

However, I will agree that the ColecoVision's sound chip (AY-5-8910, I believe?) was nothing special. Using it for a drum machine is a bit limited. If I remember correctly, it has 1 white noise channel and 3 tone generators. Still, it made better music than my Apple ][ at the time (until I got the Echo ][+ card, which had the same chip).