The Delfina Plus and Lite Setup Guide

[jkdsteve]

Try different versions of AmigaAmp. Think the 2
25 may be the most stable, if using that try the latest 3 version.

I would also place the mp3s locally on the drive for testing.

Good Luck,

Matt

I've definitely found 2.25 more stable than the 3 branch of AmigaAMP, all my mp3s are local. I even tried playing from RAM disk, even though my loading is set to File/1S so it shouldn't influence...and it doesn't seem to matter whether its a low bit-rate, high or variable.

I am sure it is an Interrupt problem, somehow the Delfina misses an IRQ response and the buffer overrun causes the lockup. I've experimented with various levels of overclocking but not got any magic bullet there.

The last thing I have left to try is move the Delfina to a different slot.

 

[matt3k]

@jkdsteve
I would certainly try a different slot with no other cards in it and see if that fixes it. I don't think it's an overclocking issue, if I remember right the lite ran fine at all clock speeds, it just wouldn't play smoothly at the slower clocks. That was 20 years ago so I can't be sure if I'm remembering correctly though.

You may want to try different audio players, even the basic cli player that came with the card. The other thing to do is make triple sure that the memory chips are all making good connection with the socket. My Plus failed because of this, so the sockets were removed and the memory was soldered right to the board.

My Delfina Plus is on the way back, once I get it I will do some testing on my own to see how it goes with your findings.

 

[jkdsteve]

@jkdsteve
I would certainly try a different slot with no other cards in it and see if that fixes it. I don't think it's an overclocking issue, if I remember right the lite ran fine at all clock speeds, it just wouldn't play smoothly at the slower clocks. That was 20 years ago so I can't be sure if I'm remembering correctly though.

You may want to try different audio players, even the basic cli player that came with the card. The other thing to do is make triple sure that the memory chips are all making good connection with the socket. My Plus failed because of this, so the sockets were removed and the memory was soldered right to the board.

My Delfina Plus is on the way back, once I get it I will do some testing on my own to see how it goes with your findings.

Glad to hear you got your card repaired!!!

I moved slots and it still crashes, been trying with DelfMPEG and just when I think it's more stable, it up and hangs on me.

You are right that DelfTweak is not necessary but anything above about 192kbps is shaky with the default 40MHz clock....it still crashes/hangs without overclocking anyway.

Currently just trying running DelfMPEG straight after SetPatch.....I suspect it will eventually die on me. Reducing the system to s single task is probably not the answer but it does eliminate some variables.

EDIT: More testing, it seems like the way to get this card to work for longer periods of time is to actually use a delfina.library variant which reports "Deflina has Crashed" as an error from the Watchdog task...simply ignoring that allows mp3s to play for much longer and seemingly without any performance penalty. I'm currently using 4.14

 

[sax]

How can I mixing the Paula's voice to Delfina lite? There is a mixer app, just I didn't find it?

I fount the mixing program. Working great, and DSP effects working fine too.

Overclocking didn't working (instant crash), so on 40 MHz sometimes plays MP3, sometimes freeze. :-( With MP2 a little bit better the situation. Can crash with 128 kbits, but it was already such that it played 320 kbits all the way through.

 

[matt3k]

@jdsteve This is madness! I found similar issues to you. I now have it running stable with the 4.14 lib with the watchdog. It is running stable though, playing music for 2 days without a crash. Using AmigaAMP 2.25 and so far perfect. It has to be: 1. OS 3.2 - Not a fan of this operating system in general it has not been 100 % for me. I upgraded over 1.314.1 which updated from 3.9. 2. AA3000+ - Something different with the hardware from a 3000. This is easy enough to test. 3. Warp Engine with the 060. This card ran perfect in my 3000D with a CS MKIII and 3.9 with the original setup described even under heavy multitasking. My system certainly isn't totally stable and it will crash if I wander around too much. When time permits I will diagnose further and may go back to 3.9 along the way. sax I will need to dig that up and find out. I never tried doing that. Just got it working somewhat reliably. Let me test it and get back to you. Does your system run reliable when playing MP3s? If so what is your system?

 

[sax]

Thanks for this great thread! Now my Delfina Lite working fine with AHI, mixing, DPS, but Mp3 crash after 2-20 mins with delfmpeg. I think it is about the 40 MHz chip...


Now I have an A1200 (clockport) Delfina. I can mix the Paula's sound on it, but delfmpeg freeze sometimes too. (after 3-4 mins)

OS 3.9 on Amiga1200, and OS3.1 on A4000.

 

[matt3k]

Hi Sax,

The Delfina lite will get working with playing with the different libraries and trying them. Try the versions mentioned in the article and you should be fine. You can overclock the dsp, but it won't cause the crash it.

The clockport version should be able to use the last drivers (unlike the zorro delfinas) and that supposedly has fixed all the issues.

 

[Damion]

Something I wanted to add: I experienced the well-known random crashes with 2 Delfina Lites, even after finding the "best" library (which I _think_ was either the v4.14 , or one of the 4.16 variants). I replaced the DSP on one of them with the 66 MHz part found on the Plus (didn't matter). The crashes could happen within minutes, or sometimes after several hours (usually, a few moments after you started thinking it might finally be good... ).

In my case, it was the default OS 3.9 screensaver causing the crashes. I couldn't freaking believe it, but once I figured that out, I could leave it alone streaming net radio for a week without a single hiccup.

 

[reflex79]

still no way to get proper AmigaOS 4.1 drivers?

 

[matt3k]

Ok, I need help from my own help post ...

I picked up a Delfina Plus and I tried all the possibilties I can think of and still get crackling mp3 playback.

Does anyone have this figured out?

Running 3.2.2 in an Amiga 3000 and an 060.

Crazy that my original post worked with the card and now it doesn't, thinking it has to be OS or patch related...

 

[arnljot]

So, I now - after 14 years have my Delfina 1200 card from icomp installed in my A1200 on a clockport expander card.

On the card I also have a RTC module and a Freeway CP bought here at Amibay.

To get the card working I

• Installed AHI 6.0
• Installed MHIM Dev (protip: read the README closely... it says all you need to know)
• Installed dmdev
• Installed delfina.library v4.19
• Installed AmigaAMP

When it comes to the clockport installation on the Delfina, it's worth taking note that the red stripe is the "first pin". So on the clockport expander it should go on "pin 19" which is the first pin.

 

[reflex79]

So, I now - after 14 years have my Delfina 1200 card from icomp installed in my A1200 on a clockport expander card.

On the card I also have a RTC module and a Freeway CP bought here at Amibay.

To get the card working I

• Installed AHI 6.0
• Installed MHIM Dev (protip: read the README closely... it says all you need to know)
• Installed dmdev
• Installed delfina.library v4.19
• Installed AmigaAMP

When it comes to the clockport installation on the Delfina, it's worth taking note that the red stripe is the "first pin". So on the clockport expander it should go on "pin 19" which is the first pin.

on AmigaOS 3.2?

 

[arnljot]

on AmigaOS 3.2?

Yes, using Amikit.

 

[matt3k]

Does the delfina.library 4.19 work with zorro based Delfinas?

 

[arnljot]

Does the delfina.library 4.19 work with zorro based Delfinas?

I assume as much, it's from the informal "Delfina Support thread" over at a1k.org, all variations of Delfina has support over there.

This is from the version history of that library

---------------------------------------------------------------------
1.0 First beta release

---------------------------------------------------------------------
1.5 (9-Oct-95) First working release.

- Support for 32k, 64k and 128k memory sizes
- Watchdog task added, makes surviving dsp crashes easy
- Delf_Run() can be called from interrupts in asynch mode
- Asynch task can automatically interrupt Amiga on exit
- Removed Delf_AddDelfInt() and Delf_RemDelfInt()
- Added sigbit support to Delf_AddIntServer()
- Two new functions: Delf_AllocAudio() and Delf_FreeAudio()
for easy creation of realtime effects
- Delf_Read() and Delf_Write() work now

See the autodoc for more changes.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
1.06 (24-Dec-95) Merry Christmas..

- Memory check improved, works correctly on all machines
- It's possible to align memory allocations
- Support for preferences program (not released yet)
- Note the new version number system, 1.06 is really newer
version than 1.5

---------------------------------------------------------------------
2.00

- Improved internal multitasking in Delfina
- Tidied autodoc, amigaguide version added
- Support for modifying Delfina attributes
- Preferences support removed, new DelfPrefs program uses
attributes
- Fixed some bugs in watchdog

---------------------------------------------------------------------
2.01

- Found a serious bug in Delf_AddPrg, L: space relocator didn't
handle mixed "dc" and "ds" statements.
- Memory check improved again, now it should work in all cases.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.00 (03-Jun-96) Where are the dates on previous releases?

- delf_cause now documented
- delf_causeq added
- Added interrupt queue to delf_cause
- Some new tags
- Fixed bugs in delfina code, now works with delfser.device
- More informative watchdog messages
- Survives crashes better
- Input monitor function

---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.01 (18-Jul-96)

- DA_Overrange tag was buggy. (thats why DelFX needs 3.01)
- Delfina seems to crash with no apparent reason sometimes, doh.
The bug was presented in 3.00, haven't found it yet.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.02 (26-Aug-96)

- The above "3.00" bug fixed.
- Null pointer jumps are now catched by the watchdog.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.03 (13-Dec-96)

- Friday the 13th part XXIV: Jason gets aligned.
- Severe bug: Delf_AddPrg cleared the alignment information,
so if you are reloading the same prg it won't get aligned.
Fixed now. (should fix the infamous AHI crashes too)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.00 (20-May-97) Biggest update so far! File size nearly doubled!

Bug fixes:

- Delf_Run's queue couldn't wrap-around properly. This
caused delfser crashes, for example! Fixed.
- Delf_Run's queue could lost an interrupt in some cases.
This caused the "fake" crash requesters. Fixed.

New features and improvements:

- 68020+ only!
- Entirely new audio system. See other documentation for info!
- Old audio system removed. Emulation code is provided for
OctaMed SoundStudio, but other old programs don't work at all!
- AHI programs can take advantage of Delfina-specific features
using a new function, Delf_AHIModule().
- Preferences file format is now tag based.
- Memory allocation handled much more efficiently. It's
faster now and uses less memory on Amiga side.
- Notification using Delf_StartNotify() about preferences
changes.
- Watchdog keeps track of Delfina's CPU load and uptime now,
can be queried with DA_Uptime, DA_CPULoad and DA_Freetime.
- Delf_CopyMem() can copy LDATA now.
- Delf_CopyMem() has a new copy mode, DCPF_16BITH.
- Delf_AllocMem() can allocate internal memory, with a new
attribute DMEMF_INTERNAL.
- Delfina kernel size nearly doubled, so it doesn't fit to
internal memory anymore. P:$ff00 - P:$ffff used now too.
- Dropped support for sample rates 8kHz and 9.6kHz.
- Removed tags DA_Mono, DA_uLaw, DA_ALaw, DA_8bit, DA_16bit.
- Added a 24bit integer division routine delf_div to the kernel.
- New kernel functions for sample rate conversions.

- New functions: Delf_AddModule(), Delf_RemModule(),
Delf_FindModule(), Delf_SetModAttrs(), Delf_StartNotify(),
Delf_EndNotify() and Delf_SetPipe(), Delf_AHIModule().
- Removed functions Delf_Read() and Delf_Write().
- Functions Delf_AllocAudio() and Delf_FreeAudio() are now
obsolete.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.01 (26-Jun-97)

- Lite support
- DA_UpdateMod notify requests generated correctly on
Delf_RemModule()
- Uses same startup code as 3.03, now should work on all models

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.02 (02-Jul-97)

- Minor bugfixes in Lite code
- Vector offsets for some kernel functions changed!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.03 (17-Jul-97)

- Lite DCPF_16BITH copy mode much faster.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.04 (21-Jul-97)

- Bumped version, no changes made. I prefer having
same library version and archive version.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.05 (09-Sep-97)

- "Line2 as mic" works now, in prefs.. (Lite)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.06 (18-Sep-97)

- I accidently removed the Octamed emulation from 4.05.. It's
here again! This only affects Classic users.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.07 (03-Oct-97) (not released, shipped with some Lites)

- Classic: fake crashes should be finally gone now.
- Lite: LDATA copying worked only with 16bith mode.
- Some changes in Lite memory access code.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.08 (04-Dec-97) (not released)

- Complete rewrite of all Lite memory functions, is a lot
faster and more reliable. BUT it takes too much CPU
time on Delfina side. Time for another rewrite, sigh.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.09 (05-Mar-98) Back to the drawing board..

- Deleted 4.08 stuff, back to 4.07 model. Improved 4.07 Lite
routines for better stability.
- Output is now muted if Delfina crashes. This should fix the
"KRRRNAAA"-effect.
- Added new DCPF_32BITL mode, not yet documented (sorry). AHI
driver needs this for HiFi output.
- Delfina now lowers samplerate earlier in low-CPU situations.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.10 (04-Apr-98) Some bugfixes

- Above "better stability" removed, now using exactly the same
copy routines as in 4.07.. I won't touch the low-level
functions again, I promise.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.11 (30-Nov-98)

- Delfina 1200 support added
- More accurate sample rate conversions

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.12 (11-May-99)

- 74MHz support for delf1200 added

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.13 (09-Jun-99)

- Fixed bugs in Lite code, now works with delfser.device
(same bug as with Classic in v3.00.. dejavu. )

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.14 (15-Sep-99)

- Delfina Plus support! "Turbo" copymodes currently only for
writes, reads will be implemented later. 3x speedup in most
modes!
- Cocec rates changed for D1200 and Plus. 12, 24, 36 and 48kHz now.
- Silly bug: All 74MHz cards were really running at 77MHz, which
resulted in wrong codec frequencies and other problems. Fixed.
- Initial board reset is now more reliable, should fix bootup
problems.
- There were some unnecessary interrupts generated by Delfina.
Fixed.. Should lower system load.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.17 (10-APR-08) Some Improvements
- Improved semaphore handling
- Local-expansion port added
- Flipper DSP frequency corrected

4.18 (06-APR-21) Support for additional clockports
- Added support for PrismaMegamix
- Added support for A1K ZorroLanIDE
- Added support for Hamag's "Dicke Olga"

4.18b2 (07-APR-21)
- Added support for Kickflash OS4 clockport
- Fixed a small bug in "Dicke Olga" detection code (expansion.library
was closed too early)

4.19 (11-NOV-21)
- Added support for A1200 "Fast Clockport" adapter
- Added support for Freeway USB

As you see, this text refers to both A1200 version and Lite version at least as I can find when skimming over the text.

 

[matt3k]

Hmm. Most of the more recent ones 3.17 were only for the clockport version.

Thanks for the info, can you point me to where I can download the latest lib?

 

[arnljot]

Thanks for the info, can you point me to where I can download the latest lib?

Sure, the link is in my previous post "Delfina Support thread" over at a1k.org

it's from the informal "Delfina Support thread" over at a1k.org

When you go there (and you possibly have to log in) you'll see the following:

You can then click on the filename and you will then download the latest version by Scrat.

Why it's not published on aminet is a mystery to me, but I'm grateful that somebody will take their time to maintain software that's provided to me for free.

 

[matt3k]

I'm fairly certain that this is only for the Delfina Flipper clockport version and will not work on the Delfina Plus, Delfina Lite, and Delfina all zorro cards.

I translated a bunch of pages and that is my take.

Has anyone tried the lib on one of the zorro card delfinas?

Could someone reach out to the author and see if he supports them?

I was just about to go back to AmigaOS 3.19 to try and get it running stable once again...

 

[arnljot]

I'm fairly certain that this is only for the Delfina Flipper clockport version and will not work on the Delfina Plus, Delfina Lite, and Delfina all zorro cards.

I think you're right about that. The initial post is from the guy who bought the remainder stock of flippers from Jens at icomp in 2019.

I apologize for the wasted time, I was just using google translate and navigating that site too and misunderstood when they were talking about Delfina in big box amigas.

 

[reflex79]

it's so bad that delfina lite gets no support at all