AP-8 "L" command

[Jadams]

I have been working on a loop routine when I ran across this command in a program you had written for someone:  SEROUT Sio, Baud, ("!AP8", %00, "L", 2, 2) 

I couldn't find the "L" command in any of the AP-8 documentation.  It only list V, G, P, and X.  Can you point me to more information?

Thanks

[JonnyMac]

Unfortunately, I had a computer problem and lost that document -- so I only have the original AP-8 docs at the moment.

Loop is pretty easy:
-- the "L" is -- obviously -- for Loop (instead of Play)
-- the number that follows is the segment
-- the number that follows the segment is the number of loops; 0 is special in that it means until another play command (or "X")

[Jadams]

I played around with every number except the obvious - 0.  That's what I want to do, loop until another play command is given.

Thanks

Are there any other unpublished commands for the AP-8?

[JonnyMac]

Technically, they're not unpublished/undocumented -- our demo code for the AP-8 describes them.  There is an "F" command that can be used to fix the memory if you record past the end of Segment 7 (this will result in the AP-8 never finishing Segment 7 -- will just hang when audio finishes).

Here's the code that we had posted for the AP-8; you can see that the "L" and "F" commands are noted in the program comments at the top.  Hint: We always spell out product syntax in our demo programs.

' =========================================================================
'
'   File....... AP-8_Test_v1x2.BS1
'   Purpose.... AP-8 Features Test
'   Author..... EFX-TEK
'   E-mail..... teamefx@efx-tek.com
'   Started....
'   Updated.... 21 SEP 2007
'
'   {$STAMP BS1}
'   {$PBASIC 1.0}
'
' =========================================================================


' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------
'
' Demonstration program for the AP-8 Audio Player Board.  All commands are
' send to the AP-8 through a serial link at 2400 baud (OT2400 baudmode).
' The use of the open baudmode allows boards to be daisy-chained for up to
' 32 sounds from one I/O pin.
'
' Command syntax: "!AP8", address, cmd {, data}
' -- where 'address' is %00 to %11
' -- 'cmd' is a single character
' -- optional 'data' is a byte
'
' Valid commands:
'
'   "!AP8", address, "V"
'     -- requests version string from AP-8
'     -- should be followed by SERIN to receive three-byte string
'
'   "!AP8", address, "G"
'     -- retrieves current AP-8 status
'     -- should be followed by SERIN to receive one-byte status
'     -- status byte is bit-mapped:
'        * BIT7 : 0 = idle, 1 = playing
'        * BIT6 : 0 = regular play, 1 = soft looping (new to v1.2+)
'        * BIT5 : 0 = hard loop select, 1 = single-shot mode
'        * BIT4 : 0 = Play mode, 1 = Record mode
'        * BIT3 : reserved
'        * BIT2 : Segment switch 2 (0 = closed/on, 1 = open/off)
'        * BIT1 : Segment switch 1
'        * BIT0 : Segment switch 0
'
'   "!AP8", address, "P", segment
'     -- plays selected segment (0 - 7)
'
'   "!AP8", address, "L", segment, count
'     -- loops selected segment (0 - 7)
'     -- if count = 0, loops until "P", "X", or "F" commands
'     -- counted loops, 1 to 255
'
'   "!AP8", address, "X"
'     -- stops AP-8 (if playing) at selected address
'
'   "!AP8", address, "F"
'     -- fixes missing EOM on slot 7
'     -- use only if slot 7 recorded past end
'     -- only available in firmware versions 1.2 and higher
'
'
' Note: If ULN2803 interferes with serial transmission to RC-4, remove and
'       replace with ULN2003 (7 channels), leaving P7 contacts open.


' -----[ Revision History ]------------------------------------------------


' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  Sio             = 7


' -----[ Constants ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  Baud            = OT2400                ' baud jumper out
SYMBOL  Addr            = %00                   ' both address jumpers out

SYMBOL  Yes             = 1
SYMBOL  No              = 0


' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  status          = B0                    ' status (B0 for bit access)
SYMBOL   Playing        = BIT7                  ' 0 = idle, 1 = playing
SYMBOL   SoftLoop       = BIT6                  ' 0 = normal, 1 = soft loop
SYMBOL   HardLoop       = BIT5                  ' 0 = hard loop, 1 = regular
SYMBOL   PlayRec        = BIT4                  ' 0 = Play, 1 = Rec

SYMBOL  id0             = B2
SYMBOL  id1             = B3
SYMBOL  id2             = B4
SYMBOL  segment         = B5                    ' loop control
SYMBOL  switches        = B6                    ' board switch settings
SYMBOL  ctrlChar        = B7                    ' used for Debug Home


' -----[ EEPROM Data ]-----------------------------------------------------


' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------

Reset:
  DEBUG CLS


' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------

Main:
  SEROUT Sio, Baud, ("!AP8", Addr, "V")         ' get version
  SERIN  Sio, Baud, id0, id1, id2               ' receive ID string
  DEBUG "AP-8 Version ", #@id0, #@id1, #@id2    ' display it
  PAUSE 1000
  DEBUG CLS

  FOR segment = 0 TO 7
    IF segment = 7 THEN Loop_It

Play_It:
    SEROUT Sio, Baud, ("!AP8", Addr, "P", segment)
    IF id0 > "1" OR id2 >= "2" THEN Get_Status  ' no auto status as of 1.2
      SERIN  Sio, Baud, status                  ' clear auto status byte
      GOTO Get_Status

Loop_It:
    IF id0 = "1" AND id2 < "2" THEN Play_It
      SEROUT Sio, Baud, ("!AP8", Addr, "L", segment, 2)

Get_Status:
    SEROUT Sio, Baud, ("!AP8", Addr, "G")       ' get status
    SERIN  Sio, Baud, status

Show_Status:
    IF PlayRec = Yes THEN Mode_Error            ' AP-8 in record mode

    switches = status & %00000111               ' isolate switch bits
    IF switches <> %111 THEN Switch_Error       ' error if any closed

    ctrlChar = 1
    DEBUG #@ctrlChar                            ' home cursor
    DEBUG "Segment #", #segment, CR             ' show board status
    DEBUG CR
    DEBUG "Idle / Playing....... ", #Playing, CR

Check_Soft_Loop:                                ' soft looping available?
    IF id0 = "1" AND id2 < "2" THEN No_Soft_Loop
      DEBUG "Normal / Soft Loop... ", #SoftLoop, CR
      GOTO Show_Status_2

No_Soft_Loop:                                   ' no
    DEBUG "Normal / Soft Loop... ", "N/A", CR

Show_Status_2:
    DEBUG "Loop / Single........ ", #HardLoop, CR
    DEBUG "Play / Record........ ", #PlayRec, CR
    DEBUG "Segment Sw2.......... ", #BIT2, CR
    DEBUG "Segment Sw1.......... ", #BIT1, CR
    DEBUG "Segment Sw0.......... ", #BIT0, CR

    IF Playing = Yes THEN Get_Status            ' allow to finish
  NEXT

  DEBUG CLS, "Demo complete."
  END


Switch_Error:
  DEBUG CLS
  DEBUG "Please set AP-8 segment select", CR
  DEBUG "switches to OPEN, then restart", CR
  DEBUG "the program."
  END


Mode_Error:
  DEBUG CLS
  DEBUG "AP-8 is set to Record mode; please", CR
  DEBUG "move PLAY/REC jumper to PLAY."
  END

[Jadams]

Thanks again, that answers a whole bunch of questions of me.

One of these days, I'll graduate from AP-8 to AP-16.  Then I'll probably bug you with more questions about that board.

[JonnyMac]

By then most questions will have been asked an answered -- all you have to do is read through the forum posts!  ;D

[gadget-evilusions]

  Hint: We always spell out product syntax in our demo programs.

Which is why demo programs are so wonderful. I do alot of copy and paste from them to my programs.