Metaphoric V2

[OldWer]

Hello everybody,

It took me much longer than I thought, but the design files for Metaphoric V2 have finally been uploaded to GitHub: https://github.com/OldWer/Metaphoric

Metaphoric is an Oric clone with the memory subsystem based on the OriClone-1 project and some additional features:

• Composite video output (RCA socket)

• TRRS audio-video socket for connecting "jack to 3xRCA" cable

• Footprints for both original AY-3-8912 chips and for (much cheaper) AY-3-8910 chips (or other 40-pin clones)

• Ability to use 7905 or 7805 power regulator and also to power the Metaphoric using an external +5V power supply

• Two Atari-standard joystick ports on the keyboard PCB — one is an IJK „Stingy” port, the other is a cursors+space joystick for games that do not support IJK but are controlled with cursors or make it possible to redefine the keys.

• Easily accessible RESET and NMI buttons on top of the keyboard.

• Easily accessible switches for changing the ROM between Oric-1 and Oric Atmos and for disabling the IJK interface (it may interfere with the operation of printer port and it can also corrupt sound in games that do not support IJK, e.g. Manic Miner)

• Automatic hardware V-sync hack

This is how it looks now:

I have sold two kits to my friends and still have two kits available. The price for the full kit (pcbs and all the components, keys, keycaps, 3d-printed case) is 120 euro (please note that the keys are desoldered from unused broken mechanical keyboards that I bought cheaply some time ago and that the white keys shown on the photos are NOT available). The price can be reduced by 10 euro for those who have their own keys and keycaps (I will still include the red keycaps for Oric-specific keys) and by another 10 euro for those who are willing to provide their own resistors and capacitors (these are cheap components, but putting them in separate bags takes ages); all the other components, such as ICs, IC sockets, transistors, connectors etc. will be included. If anybody is interested, please let me know.

[ibisum]

Awesome! I hope you will find a way to get a larger production run done .. I would love to have one of these for my Oric collection, but don't have the funds for it at the moment - otherwise I'd jump on this opportunity.

Maybe a bigger production run in the future? What do you see as being a hindrance to that happening, most of all?

[kenneth]

Great and very nice project !
If an UVPROM memory is used, is ROMDIS pinout compatible ?

[OldWer]

ibisum:

Maybe a bigger production run in the future? What do you see as being a hindrance to that happening, most of all?

I don't think that's gonna happen; if there is enough interest, I may assemble another five kits, but I am certainly not ready for bigger endeavors . If some good souls take these two kits from my hands, I will recoup the costs of creating the Metaphoric, and if someone would like to produce the Metaphoric in bigger numbers, the files are there and I certainly won't mind.

kenneth:

If an UVPROM memory is used, is ROMDIS pinout compatible?

I am not sure what you mean by that? The UVPROM that I used certainly gets disabled e.g. when using LOCI.

[Sodiumlightbaby]

Wow, that is looking amazing! Congratulations indeed

[kenneth]

I am not sure what you mean by that? The UVPROM that I used certainly gets disabled e.g. when using LOCI.

My question was about the drives. You gave me the answer.

[Chema]

Great project. Congratulations!

[ibisum]

Understood, re: workload and commitment/responsibility.

I for one would love to find a way to finance a production run, so that there could be a ‘new era Oric’ available for enthusiasts to get into .. shall we try to organize this as a community, perhaps with crowd-funding? If anyone is interested, let’s discuss it.

Perhaps alongside a LOCI/OCULA and/or ORICOM peripheral plan, as well? Imagine that: a 21st Century Oric with really powerful peripherals, on the market, attracting new enthusiasts. I think there’s a market for this, folks …

[Bieno]

Amazing project ! I think there is a market for an upgraded Oric. Not to sell hundreds but a good run.