For people like me who began the computing with computers as Atari ST or Amiga and still possessing one, we still use it time to time for some instant of nostalgias by viewing some demos and/or by playing some old video games. However these computers are based on 3"1/2 floppy disk, so it's necessary to prepare them from a PC. And this is a real pain: you have to find a floppy disk in good condition, to format it with makedisk (under DOS because it doesn't work with Windows) from an floppy disk image, etc. After some long minutes of preparation, we boot up the Atari ST with this floppy disk and then we realize that the floppy disk lost some sectors and is unusable... This often occurs because in a lot of cases, the floppy disk drive of the computer is damaged.

Regarding Amiga floppy disks, it's impossible to create them from a PC because their format is totally incompatible with the PC controllers.
Anyway the tiredness of the floppy disk drive, the decline of floppy disks and their close disappearance required a fall-back solution to be able to use these computers in the future...

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive.
Since the beginning of the project (2006), the HxC Floppy emulators was designed to be very versatile and to support a large variety of computers / keyboards / samplers / CNC machines at a low cost.
Thanks to its versability the HxC Floppy Emulator supports most existing floppy formats.

Today the HxC Floppy Emulator is a well established floppy disk drive replacement solution present into the Retro-Computing domain, the Music domain and the Industrial domain.

At this day there are two differents floppy disk drive emulator :

- A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable. For more information on this interface, go to "USB HxC Floppy Drive Emulator" part.
- A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD. For more information on this interface, go to "SDCARD HxC Floppy Drive Emulator" part.

In the table below, you can find the list of supported/tested hardware/floppy file images:

Note : Some computer/hardware are probably missing in this list.
If you have tested the HxC Floppy Emulator successfully with another hardware or if you want a new file/hardware support, don't hesitate to contact me.

>>>New : Support status list can be found here!<<<

Supported Computer/Hardware	Supported File Formats	Notes
Atari ST (STE/STF/Falcon...)	*.ST	9,10,11 and 18 (1.44MB) sectors/track format supported.
	*.DIM
	*.MSA
	*.STT	Steem Imager file format.
	*.IPF
	*.STX / Pasti	Warning : Alpha version/unstable.
	"Non images" files.	The HxC Floppy Emulator software allows to create an virtual FAT12 (Atari ST/ MS DOS) floppy disk containing files present in a PC folder.
	*.IMA Hard Disk Image	Hard disk drive emulation done by the HxCMount driver. More details on : http://hxcmount.atomas.com/
Amiga (500/600/1000/1200...)	*.ADF
	UAE / Extended ADF	New and old version supported.
	*.ADZ	Based on the zlib.
	*.DMS	Based on xdms.
	*.IPF	26/03/2008 > New software and CPLD core -> Full support of protected floppies image. Variable bitrate and flakeys bits protection are now supported.
	"Non images" files.	The HxC Floppy Emulator software allows to create an virtual AmigaDOS floppy disk containing files present in a PC folder.
Amstrad CPC6128/CPC6128+	*.DSK
	*.DSK (extended)
	*.IPF
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3	DSK and Extended DSK
	TRD (BetaDisk)
	SCL (BetaDisk)
	*.FDI
	*.IPF
MSX2	*.DSK	Warning : The MSX2 computers often used a non-standard floppy connector pinout. Before plugging the HxC Floppy Emulator please check that the pinout is compatible.
Thomson TO8D MO5 + CD90-640	*.SAP	Based on Libsap.
	*.FD	FD files can be loaded with the raw image loader (in the gui software) with these parameters : MFM-256bytes/sector or FM-128bytes/sector, 16 sectors/tracks, 2 or 1 sides.
Oric+MicroDisk	*.DSK	Oric & MicroDisc support tested at the Infoticaires 2008 convention party
C64 + 1581	*.D81	Alpha version. Waiting for tests on real hardware.
Dragon 32/64	*.VDK Dragon 32/64 disk image
Sam Coupé	*.MGT
	*.SAD
TI99/4A	TI99 PC99	MFM & FM tracks supported.
	TI99 V9T9 (*.V9T9 / *.PC99)
TRS-80	*.JV1
	*.JV3	JV3 support done by Gustavo E. A. P. A. Batista. Thanks to him. Here a video demo JV3 write support done by David Barr. Thanks to him too ! :) And another video here !
	*.JVC	Jeff Vavasour Color Computer Disk Image
	*.DMK
Acorn A3000	*.ADF
Acorn BBC	*.SSD
	*.DSD
	*.ADL
ACT/Apricot	ACT Apricot disk image
Robotron KC 85/X	*.TD0
Kaypro 4-84	*.IMD
RML 380Z/480Z	*.IMG	More details on the forum
CamputerLynx	*.LDF	Tests on the real hardware done .
PC-6601/PC6601SR	*.D88
PC88	*.D88
x68000	*.HDM	360RPM, 500Kb/s, 8 1024Bytes sectors, 2 sides, 77 tracks floppy format.
	*.XDF
FM Town II	*.D88 *.BIN (raw image)
Super Wildcard DX-SWC3201	*.SMC	Create a MS-DOS FAT12 floppy disk containing the SMC Super NES / Super Famicon ROM file.
PC	*.IMG/*.IMA/*.IMZ	720kB and 1.44MB floppy image files supported
Korg DSS-1 Keyboard	*.DSK (CopyQM)	Note : Here a demo : http://www.reflexmusic.de/DSS-1/
Korg Is40 Keyboard	*.IMG/*.IMA/*.IMZ MS DOS Floppy disk image
Ensoniq EPS Keyboard	*.EDE *.GKH	Here a video demo.
Ensoniq SD-1 Keyboard	*.EDV	Note : The floppy file image must have the *.EDV extension
Ensoniq Mirage Sampler	*.EDM	Note : The floppy file image must have the *.EDM extension
Ensoniq ASR-10	*.EDA
Ensoniq SQ-80	*.EDS
Ensoniq TS-10	*.EDT
Kurzweil K2000	*.KRZ
Oberheim DPX1 Sampler	*.DPX	Here a video demo.
Emax & Emax II Sampler	*.EM1 & *.EM2	Note : The operating system image (emaxos.emx) must be present in the same folder than the bank files.
Prophet 2000 & 2002	*.IMG
E-mu Emulator	*.EMUFD
E-mu Emulator II	*.EMUIIFD
	*.EII	Note : The operating system image (emuiios.emuiifd) must be present in the same folder than the bank files. Credits & Thanks: E-mu Emulator I & II support was possible thanks to Jan Kiefer who supply all necessary materials and supports, to the Software Preservation Society team for the reverse engineering of the EmuII Floppy disk format, and to Kris Van de Cappelle (EMXP developer) for the tests and EmuII technicals informations.
E-mu SP1200	*.SP1200FD	Here a video demo. Thanks to rosefloyd for the tests on the SP1200 hardware!
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-83S	*.IMG/*.IMA/*.IMZ MS DOS Floppy disk image	Note: The virtual floppy disk image can be generated from midi files with the software.
Yamaha TX16W	Raw sector images/Floppy dump	More details on the forum
Roland G800	*.IMG/*.IMA/*.IMZ MS DOS Floppy disk image	Note: The virtual floppy disk image can be generated from midi files with the software. Here a video demo.
Roland W-30	*.TD0 Floppy Disk Dump
Roland S-330	*.TD0 Floppy Disk Dump
Roland S-50	*.IMG/ raw sector images
Roland MV 30	Floppy Disk Dump
Roland MC 300	Floppy Disk Dump
Akai S900/S950 Sampler	*.IMG/ raw sector images	Here a video demo
Akai S01	Raw sector images/Floppy dump	More details on the forum
Akai ASQ-10	Raw sector images/Floppy dump
Akai MPC60 MKII	Raw sector images/Floppy dump.	More details on the forum
Akai MPC2000	Raw sector images/Floppy dump.	More details on the forum Here a video demo
JB-Lighting Licon	*.IMG/*.IMA/*.IMZ MS DOS Floppy disk image	Note: The virtual floppy disk image can be generated from files with the software.
ALESIS DataDisk	Raw sector images/Floppy dump.	More details on the forum.
TD0 Teledisk format	*.TD0	Teledisk file format: Normal and advanced compression supported.
IMD file format	*.IMD	ImageDisk File format Note: supported modes: MFM & FM.
MFM file format	*.MFM	Internal format of the software: contains encoded tracks.
AFI file format	*.AFI	Advanced floppy image: Contains Track data, variable bitrate, flakey bits informations.
HFE file format	*.HFE	File format used by the SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator
VTR file format	*.VTR	File format used by the VTrucco Floppy Emulator (variant of the SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator)

To download the software please go to the software section.

Here are the main features of the SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator:

You can found some details about this board here : SDCard_HxC_Floppy_Emulator.pdf

Rev C/F user manual: SDCard_HxC_Floppy_Emulator_User_Manual.pdf

Slim Rev A user manual: Slim_SD_HxC_Floppy_Emulator_User_Manual.pdf

Hardware/software specifications

> 40Mhz PIC18F4620 based. (Rev B, C & 3"1/2 rev F)
> 64Mhz PIC18F46K22 based. (3"1/2 Slim version)

- Floppy interface: HE10 34 pins floppy connector

> Shugart compatible mode supported.
> PC compatible mode supported.
> Two floppy disk drives emulation. (Two floppy disk drive emulator in One !)

- Power supply

> 5V +/- 10% standard power floppy connector input.
> 500mA max. (80mA in standby).

- User Interface

> 3 LEDs ("Power LED","Floppy access LED"," SDCard access LED ").
> 3 buttons ("Next","Select/Eject","Previous").
> 1 audio transducer.
> 2*16 chars Alphanumerical LCD.
(Note : LCD and buttons can be put on an external front panel)
> On screen display software for Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and Amiga Computers

- SDCard support

>SD Card up to 2GB.
>SDHC Card supported up to 32GB.

- SDCard Filesystem

>FAT12/FAT16 & FAT32 supported. Subdirectory and long name file supported.

>Multi-Volumes/Images support:

- More than 8000 HD (1.44MB) Floppy Images on a 32GB SDCard !
- More than 16000 DD (720KB) Floppy Images on a 32GB SDCard !

- Read / Write support

Track mode based floppy emulator (Full track pre-encoded in the HFE image file)

> Read support: Most of existing formats (FM/MFM/GCR/Amiga/E-mu track...) supported.
Custom tracks supported.

> Write support:ISO MFM/DD 128/256/512/1024/2048/4096/8192Bytes sector write supported.

> Write support:ISO FM /SD 128/256/512/1024/2048/4096Bytes sector write supported.

> Any data mark supported : 0xFB, 0xF8, 0xF9, 0xFA

> Amiga Write support.

> E-mu (Emulator I / II / SP1200) Write support.

> Low level format support !
The host machine can format the image with the right disk setup exactly as with a real floppy disk ! No need to already have an image with the right format, just make it by formatting it !

- Floppy bitrate supported

> 125/150/250Kbits/s (FM/SD floppies)
> 250/300Kbits/s (MFM/DD floppies)
> 500Kbits/s (HD floppies)
(others bitrates possible)

(Note : Variable bitrate not supported. So protected floppy disk image (IPF and STX file format) file support will be only partial ! If you look for a device supporting IPF / STX please a have a look to the USB HxC Floppy Emulator device)

- RPM

> 300 RPM , 360 RPM supported.
(others RPM possible).

-Tracks / Side

>Up to 255 tracks per floppy.
>1 or 2 sides.

- Additionnal features

> Firmware update via the SD Card.

> Last Loaded Floppy Image autostart at power up.

> Fast floppy image loading (<<1second), no conversion time.

> Floppy Emulator ready at power up! Boot sequence possible right after the power up !

> SD Card Direct Access mode : Direct Floppy to SD bridging.

> Host control : The host machine can send a command to the emulator to change the current selected image.

> File image renaming embedded function.

> Supersized DOS Floppy emulation! : Up to 5 MB free per floppy image file !

> Data integrity security of the original system respected ! :
CRC fields present into the HFE images ! No direct usage of not secured IMG/IMA/”ISO” images or direct flash media bridging without CRC in floppy emulation mode !

SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator Mechanical drawing (Rev B/C):

Firmware :

Please go to the download section to get the latest version.

Host control tool (Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Amiga) :

With this tool the host computer can access directly to the SDCard to select files images and change the SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator settings.

With this tool the LCD screen and the buttons are becoming optional / useless. You can even remove the LCD screen to put the SD HxC Floppy Emulator inside the Amiga/Atari/CPC computer without case modification.

Actually Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and Amiga versions of this tools are available.

Here a video-demo of this tool:

Note : Please go to the download section to get the latest version.

Here are the main features of the USB HxC Floppy Emulator:

Hardware specification:

- Read only Floppy emulator (SD,DD,HD & ED mode)
(!!!!!! No Write Support !!!!! Have a look to the SD Card version for the write support!)
- USB 1.1 device interface (based on the FTDI FT245.).
- MFM, FM and GCR compatible (can handle custom encoding).
- Bitrate between 63Kbits/s and 1MBits/s.(250 differents bitrates by step of 62.5ns).
- Variable bitrate, flakey bits and long tracks, custom tracks support (emulating of copy protected floppies).
- Can emulate floppies up to 128 tracks.
- "jumper free" Design : Device configuration on the software.
- Flexible Floppy Interface: Shugart, IBM PC and Amiga compatible.

To see the list of computer tested with it, please go to this List

All necessary informations to build your own USB HxC Floppy Emulator is available here.

The hearth of the USB HxC Floppy Emulator is a MAX EPM7128S CPLD from Altera with 128 Macrocell. This chip is connected to a 32KB SRAM used as buffer and a FT245 from FTDI for the USB communication.

Warning : Do not disconnect the Floppy interface cable while the USB is connected. This may damaged the emulator and your equipements. Always disconnect the USB cable before connecting/disconnecting the Floppy interface cable.

Schematic of the USB HxC Floppy Emulator:

USB HxC Floppy Emulator CPLD: The bitstream to use to program the CPLD is available here. To program this chip you can use Quartus II and an Altera compatible JTAG probe (The ByteBlaster for example). The programmer software can be downloaded on the Altera website. Note : The EPM7128S CPLD can be remplaced with the Atmel ATF1508AS. Once programmed the CPLD got this pinout -> There are four LEDs on the board: D1 : Power LED D2 : Select LED :Is on when the target computer acccess the floppy disk. D3 : Step LED : Is on when the target computer is stepping/changing track. D4 : Link LED : This is the USB link status: Is on when dialoging the host PC. The VHDL sources are available here : VHDL USB HxC Floppy Emulator sources

How to build its own USB HxC Floppy Emulator?

This software act as the floppy server with the USB HxC Floppy Emulator.
This program also allows you to convert floppy image files for the SDCard based HxC Floppy Emulator.
Supports many input floppy image file formats: List of the supported floppy image formats.

Notes:

- Operating systems supported :

-> Windows 98 / 2000 / XP / Vista / Seven.
-> Mac OS X.
-> Linux.

- The USB HxC Floppy Emulator support is based on the FTDI D2XX Direct Drivers.
If you have the USB HxC Floppy Emulator you must install this driver.

The lastest software sources codes can be donwloaded on the SourceForge project page :
http://sourceforge.net/projects/hxcfloppyemu/

Note : Please go to the download section to get the latest version.

Click here to download the latest version.