Ming Micro Setup Guide

Published on Jan 16, 2017 Jordan Bartee

See the Ming Mecca label for more.

Ming Micro - Portable 8-bit Video Synthesizer on Kickstarter

Published on Feb 8, 2016 Jordan Bartee



Some details via https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...:

"Ming Micro is a USB-equipped portable video synthesizer that generates retro computer graphics in realtime. Drawing inspiration from the 8-bit era of personal computers and videogame consoles, it puts a fully featured chip-graphics engine at your fingertips. Every engine parameter is controllable via standard MIDI CC and Pitch Bend messages, from large-scale object properties all they way down to individual pixel placements.

Four main elements make up Ming Micro's graphics engine:

Sprites — small moveable objects that can be freely positioned anywhere on the display
Tiles — graphical blocks that are positioned on a 10 x 12 grid to compose scenes
Tile Maps — diagrams that specify which Tiles get drawn in which grid locations
Palettes — color definitions used to render the Tiles and Sprites
Each element contains parameters for shaping its presentation in the final scene. For instance, each Sprite contains an X and Y location, as well as a bitmap index to control its graphical content and animation. All four systems and their corresponding parameters combine to create the final video stream.

For maximum authenticity, Ming Micro outputs NTSC composite video at 240p / 60 fps, the same format and resolution used by classic videogame consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Sega Master System (SMS). Compared to computer-emulated pixel art, Ming Micro's output has a natural softness and a variety of subtle analog artifacts native to the format.

In addition to its primary video capabilities, Ming Micro also contains a simple digital audio synthesizer, providing two square wave generators and a dual-mode noise generator. The audio synthesizer can be used in conjunction with the graphics engine to create audio-visual patches, or in isolation as a standalone sound generator."

You'll find additional details including how to fund this project on their Kickstarter page here.

Ming Mecca Tutorial Series - Episode 1: System Introduction

Published on Dec 24, 2014 Jordan Bartee

"Table of Contents:

00:45 - Tiles
01:24 - Object and Orient Controls
01:48 - Palettes
02:24 - Maps
02:44 - Dynamic Map Destruction
03:07 - Control Core Analog Outputs
05:22 - Glitch Modes
06:18 - Sprites
07:15 - Clipping
08:20 - Collision and Gate Outputs
09:48 - Triggering Audio with Collisions
11:10 - Sprite 1 Directional Inputs
12:01 - Sprite 1 Speed
12:15 - Sprite 1 Gravity
13:47 - Multi-Map Composition
14:18 - SD Card Slot / User Graphics

Visit http://specialstage.systems for more info!"

Ming Mecca Voltage Controlled Video Game Console Now Shipping

Details here.

"With the heart of a video synthesizer and the brain of a videogame console, Ming Mecca is the first of its kind: an ontological toy, a videogame easel, and a love letter to all things retrofuture. Designed for use in Eurorack format synthesizers but built to meet the demands of even the most seasoned micro-galactic interlopers, Ming Mecca modules will take your rig where no rig has gone before."

Ming Mecca: Voltage Controlled Videogame Console

Published on May 2, 2013 Jordan Bartee·56 videos

"Ming Mecca: Voltage Controlled Videogame Console
For more information, visit http://www.specialstagesystems.com

Download the trailer in high quality here

Download the song here"

Playlist:
Ming Mecca // Debut Trailer
Ming Mecca // World Core: Features Overview
Ming Mecca // Control Core: Features Overview
Ming Mecca // Snake-Scroller
Ming Mecca // 10 PRINT

MING MECCA: World Core test #1

YouTube Uploaded by crudface on Oct 29, 2011

"First test of my new MING MECCA World Core technology. Running Andre' LaMothe's HEL GFX engine on a Parallax Propeller, interfaced to a modular synthesizer. Visit my blog for more details: http://specialstageblog.wordpress.com/"