Crystal Clear Audio Mod for Sega Mega Drive 2 & Genesis 2, version 1.0

EDIT: These samples have been removed off mediafire because they were terrible. See the new recordings in post #342 of this thread

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Originally Posted by infinateeff

Nice! any audio samples?

I wish I could find a good deal on a CDX... I wanted one since I saw the adds back in the day...

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http://www.mediafire.com/?4hb20fk61o892f9
(modded - Super Fantasy Zone)

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?8z8672bf2825l23
(unmodded - Super Fantasy Zone)

Note: There is a lot of noise on the power rail I used for the CCAM. Youll hear it when the tracks are silent- thats going to be fixed with a 7805 and better power supply bypassing. So keep in mind that has nothing to do with the audio upgrade.

I notice the biggest difference around 2:08- 2:15 on both tracks.

EDIT: Realized I did not record these right. I used "Wavepack" instead of "PCM WAV" by accident. So they are not even remotely loss-less-- actually more like MP3 quality. Ill make new recordings later if there is interest.

Yeah, CDXs have gotten really expensive, I'm lucky I have these 2 left from when they were cheaper (one unmodded and one modded). Ive been looking for a broken one so I can fix my CD portion but geeze are they selling for too much money.

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Yeah, I always thought the general consensus was that the CDX sounded so good that it didn't need a CCAM.

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I was never that impressed with the CDX sound honestly, it has a lot of interference noise that I am still working on fixing. I haven't had an MD2 in a long time though, so I can't really compare. But the 315-5684 is the problem, it's a poor opamp mixing stage by todays standards. I put an OPA376 in my CCAM and soon Im going to add a split power supply with an OPA1612 for even better audio :) Im also working on seperating the audio power lines in the 315-5660 for less interference. The CDX is a great little system but it suffers a lot from everything being crammed in so tightly.

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I'm glad to here you have it working. Looks good. Please keep us updated with the progress and keep those great pics coming. I may attempt to do this to my CDX at some point.

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Make sure to check back here or my website before you do. Im going to post tutorials soon because it is really tricky working with so little space. I'm hoping to shed some light on CDX modding in general.

-Segasonicfan

Oh life is good, and omp is my hero :)
Thanks to the service manual uploads, there is finally a full internal schematic of the 315-5684 chip!

Also, Ive traced out almost the entire output circuit for the CDX audio...its unreasonably complex and I will update my very shoddy hand-drawn schematic for it later :P

I sat down today to compare some Genesis / Megadrive sound comparision between the CCAM and the Pioneer Laseractive. I personally get the feeling that the CCAM sounds clearer than the Laseractive BUT don´t get me wrong the Laseractive sounds really good.

What is the minimum and recommended wattage on the resistors?

As low as it can go. I use 1/16W mainly.

http://i45.tinypic.com/ftfw60.jpg

(Row O solder joint 6 -7 gave me some issues but they are corrected now.)

http://i46.tinypic.com/16i7iih.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/qsqjgj.jpg

This is my messy CCAM :sweat: I bought a DIY kit from retrogamer343. It took me over 12 hours to make it! :huh: I probably never going to build another DIY kit again! If you want to save time and health buy the SMD version instead! It is worth every penny.

http://i48.tinypic.com/1qjznd.jpg

A big warning on this resistor! It is mounted wrong!

Hi all, figured this'd be the best place to ask.

Could anyone tell me how to get line out on a VA7 ?

All I've found is tapping the connector for the headphone jack but that's
not exactly optimal as it would be after the volume slider has been introduced
to the circuitry.

I've seen that pins 55 & 56 on the 315-5487 are FM audio out left and right
but what I want are points for final mixed (FM+PSG+CD+32X) audio where I can
tap clean left and right channels. Anyone super familiar with the VA7?

Thanks in advance.

Nice to see that my layout still going strong :)

With out it i wouldn't be able to perform the mod. Thank you so much for the help / diagrams / photos. :love:

I personally think my soldering looks like a mess :sorry: But it was no walk in the park :daze:

This looks so awesome. Haven't noticed the audio quality differences until now. Already PM'd retrogamer343 for info on his boards!

I was wondering after doing the CCAM if i use the Master System converter. Do i get better sound or would not notice any difference?

I'm a newbie here, but I got my very first Sega, a Model 1, which I'm near positive was non-TMSS, when I was 10. It was brand new. Yes, I just aged myself.

Anyway, I picked up a Model 1 that I found for a reasonable price, and it's the dreaded VA7! So lucky I found out about this CCAM mod, so I just PMd retrogamer343 myself, and am just waiting to hear final costs and an install guide, and then once I get that mod done, I plan to do the RGB mod and then install either one of the custom Component or Composite boards. I'm going to be so happy to have a Sega Genesis back and in working order!!!

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Originally Posted by ncc74656m

I'm a newbie here, but I got my very first Sega, a Model 1, which I'm near positive was non-TMSS, when I was 10. It was brand new. Yes, I just aged myself.

Anyway, I picked up a Model 1 that I found for a reasonable price, and it's the dreaded VA7! So lucky I found out about this CCAM mod, so I just PMd retrogamer343 myself, and am just waiting to hear final costs and an install guide, and then once I get that mod done, I plan to do the RGB mod and then install either one of the custom Component or Composite boards. I'm going to be so happy to have a Sega Genesis back and in working order!!!

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I love it when people say they're going to do a mod to a system for something it already does. "I'm going to s-video mod my model 1 snes w00t!"

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Originally Posted by ncc74656m

I'm a newbie here, but I got my very first Sega, a Model 1, which I'm near positive was non-TMSS, when I was 10. It was brand new. Yes, I just aged myself.

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Welcome, I was 13 when the Mega Drive was released, I didn't get my first Mega Drive though until I was late 20's/maybe early 30's.

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Originally Posted by ncc74656m

Anyway, I picked up a Model 1 that I found for a reasonable price, and it's the dreaded VA7!

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Yes I have a Genesis model 1 VA7 myself. It came in a "not working lot" that I got shipped from America (there were 2 model 1'a and 2 model 2's of which one was a VA2.3 woot woot) it just needed the cart slot cleaned and it worked, I then found out how horrible a model 1 can sound (we didn't get VA7 in Australia)

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Originally Posted by ncc74656m

So lucky I found out about this CCAM mod, so I just PMd retrogamer343 myself, and am just waiting to hear final costs and an install guide

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Never done a CCAM mod, it's on a "to do" list, just way way way way down. More than happy with the Genesis 2 VA2.3 with Ace's first audio mod.

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Originally Posted by ncc74656m

I plan to do the RGB mod and then install either one of the custom Component or Composite boards

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These consoles do RGB and composite as they are, I personally use a RGB to component converter. I will stop short of saying it is the best way for video for these consoles as there are better options (XRGB Framemeisters etc) but for the average bloke it's fine (and cheaper).

I made plenty of mistakes this time when i mounted the SMD version of the CCAM. This is some things YOU SHOULD NOT DO!

1.Cutting the wrong trace: You can see the where i cuted the trace wrong (Red circel)
What happend? I ended up with no sound effects (No PSG)

2. Bridge the FML / FMR: I removed the resistors but bridged the pads (Purple circel)
What happend? It "worked" but some sound effects where missing and it was replaced with muffled rattle noise.

3. Mounted a "self switching" RGB led 3mm (Red, green and blue)
What happend? Every time the LED change colour you will hear a very low "Nyyyyyaaaahhhnn"

http://i47.tinypic.com/oho6lc.jpg

http://oi47.tinypic.com/2pqrlzk.jpg

My Sega Megadrive II VA1 - retrogamer343´s CCAM SMD version- You can see the bridged FML and FMR (Red circel)

Right now i got 2 CCAM units.

Sega Megadrive II VA1.8 - CCAM through hole version (DIY) Assembly time: + 12 hours
Sega Megadrive II VA1 - CCAM SMD version. Assembly time: 1 - 2 hours

Which one should i buy? If you crazy and cheap you buy the DIY. I really recommend the CCAM SMD version from retrogamer343 you save alot of time.

Conclusion: To all of you that havent made the CCAM: Do it now! It is totaly worth it. Makes your model II sound better than the HD and the laseractive. Now the HD model sounds like a modell II http://www.ah.fm/forum/images/smilies/crazy.gif