APU Sweep: Difference between revisions

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''NOTE: The term "shifter result" used in the following description is equivalent to [shift-result + current period]. That is, it does not mean the result of the right-shift alone.''
''NOTE: The term "target period" used in the following description is equivalent to [shift-result + current period]. That is, it does not mean the result of the right-shift alone.''


When clocked by the [[APU Frame Counter|frame counter]], the divider is ''first'' clocked and then if the reload flag is set, it is cleared and the divider is reloaded.
When clocked by the [[APU Frame Counter|frame counter]], the divider is ''first'' clocked and then if the reload flag is set, it is cleared and the divider is reloaded.
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The channel's 11-bit [[APU Pulse|raw timer period]] is shifted right by the shift count (using a barrel shifter), then either added to or subtracted from* the channel's raw period, yielding the target period. When the channel's current period is less than 8 or the target period is greater than $7FF, the channel is silenced (0 is sent to the [[APU Mixer|mixer]]) but the channel's current period remains unchanged. Otherwise, if the enable flag is set and the shift count is non-zero, when the divider outputs a clock, the channel's period is updated.
The channel's 11-bit [[APU Pulse|raw timer period]] is shifted right by the shift count (using a barrel shifter), then either added to or subtracted from* the channel's raw period, yielding the target period. When the channel's current period is less than 8 or the target period is greater than $7FF, the channel is silenced (0 is sent to the [[APU Mixer|mixer]]) but the channel's current period remains unchanged. Otherwise, if the enable flag is set and the shift count is non-zero, when the divider outputs a clock, the channel's period is updated.


Note that the sweep unit can silence a channel ''even when the enabled flag is clear'' and even when the sweep divider is not outputting a clock signal. To fully disable a sweep unit, write $08 to turn on the negate flag so that the final shifter result is not greater than the channel's period and therefore not greater than $7FF.
Note that the sweep unit can silence a channel ''even when the enabled flag is clear'' and even when the sweep divider is not outputting a clock signal. To fully disable a sweep unit, write $08 to turn on the negate flag so that the target period is not greater than the channel's period and therefore not greater than $7FF.


For reasons unknown, pulse channel 1 hardwires its carry input rather than using the state of the negate flag, resulting in the subtraction operation adding the '''one's complement''' instead of the expected two's complement (as pulse channel 2 does). As a result, a negative sweep on pulse channel 1 will subtract the shifted period value '''minus 1'''.
For reasons unknown, pulse channel 1 hardwires its carry input rather than using the state of the negate flag, resulting in the subtraction operation adding the '''one's complement''' instead of the expected two's complement (as pulse channel 2 does). As a result, a negative sweep on pulse channel 1 will subtract the shifted period value '''minus 1'''.

Revision as of 17:07, 14 May 2011

A NES APU sweep unit can be made to periodically adjust a pulse channel's period up or down.

Each sweep unit contains the following: divider, reload flag.

$4001 EPPP.NSSS Pulse channel 1 sweep setup (write)
$4005 EPPP.NSSS Pulse channel 2 sweep setup (write)
bit 7 E--- ---- Enabled flag
bits 6-4 -PPP ---- The divider's period is set to P + 1
bit 3 ---- N--- Negate flag
bits 2-0 ---- -SSS Shift count (number of bits)
Side effects Sets the reload flag

NOTE: The term "target period" used in the following description is equivalent to [shift-result + current period]. That is, it does not mean the result of the right-shift alone.

When clocked by the frame counter, the divider is first clocked and then if the reload flag is set, it is cleared and the divider is reloaded.

The channel's 11-bit raw timer period is shifted right by the shift count (using a barrel shifter), then either added to or subtracted from* the channel's raw period, yielding the target period. When the channel's current period is less than 8 or the target period is greater than $7FF, the channel is silenced (0 is sent to the mixer) but the channel's current period remains unchanged. Otherwise, if the enable flag is set and the shift count is non-zero, when the divider outputs a clock, the channel's period is updated.

Note that the sweep unit can silence a channel even when the enabled flag is clear and even when the sweep divider is not outputting a clock signal. To fully disable a sweep unit, write $08 to turn on the negate flag so that the target period is not greater than the channel's period and therefore not greater than $7FF.

For reasons unknown, pulse channel 1 hardwires its carry input rather than using the state of the negate flag, resulting in the subtraction operation adding the one's complement instead of the expected two's complement (as pulse channel 2 does). As a result, a negative sweep on pulse channel 1 will subtract the shifted period value minus 1.