Amiga CD32 FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the Amiga CD32 - includes how to expand the CD32 to a computer and how to use the CD32 as an external CD-ROM drive for other computers.

This FAQ about Amiga CD32 was compiled and written by Stuart Tomlinson with numerous contributions by others.

This is the FAQ for comp.sys.amiga.cd32 and rec.games.video.cd32. It's posted on the first weekend of each month. A lot of it is based upon the earlier FAQ by Edward D. Berger - thanks go to him for doing all the hard work. Another equally sized hand of thanks must go to Dan Cannon, who was the maintainer before I. Who has done the rest of this FAQ so far.

It's split into two parts. The first part holds the contents and the more general stuff. The second part holds the more technical stuff.

This document is freely distributable, but it's compilation copyright. No changes should be made to it and it can't be sold for profit or used as part of a commercial document without the author's permission. So there. If you're reading this on a CD-ROM collection then it could be out of date.

Some sections have wiring diagrams or details of how to connect non- CD32 specific peripherals to your CD32. These are taken from postings from Usenet or Email and the only guarantee is that it worked for the authors. There is a very good chance you could fry both your CD32 and the peripheral by accident. If you're not knowledgable in electronics, have somebody who is double check everything before turning the power on or buy a ready made adaptor instead.

Part I: Tech Spec

01 What are the technical details of the CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 01 What are the technical details of the CD32?

Part II: Controllers

02 What's the Competition Pro CD32 joypad like?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 02 What's the Competition Pro CD32 joypad like?

03 Is it possible to plug other types of controller into the controller port?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 03 Is it possible to plug other types of controller into the controller port?

04 Is it possible to connect a 6-button Megadrive or SNES joypad to the CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 04 Is it possible to connect a 6-button Megadrive or SNES joypad to the CD32?

05 Is it possible to use the CD32 joypad on normal Amigas?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 05 Is it possible to use the CD32 joypad on normal Amigas?

06 Is it possible to both connect both a joypad and a mouse and use them together?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 06 Is it possible to both connect both a joypad and a mouse and use them together?

07 Is it possible to connect more than two controllers?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 07 Is it possible to connect more than two controllers?

Part III: Software

08 What CDs will work with the CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 08 What CDs will work with the CD32?

09 How can I try to convince a game to work in PAL or NTSC?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 09 How can I try to convince a game to work in PAL or NTSC?

10 Are there any games with NTSC problems?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 10 Are there any games with NTSC problems?

11 Are there any games definitely without NTSC problems?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 11 Are there any games definitely without NTSC problems?

12 What CD32 bundles are available?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 12 What CD32 bundles are available?

13 What multimedia software is available for the CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 13 What multimedia software is available for the CD32?

14 What educational software is available for CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 14 What educational software is available for CD32?

Part IV: Audio

15 Is it possible to directly read the audio data from music CDs into memory?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 15 Is it possible to directly read the audio data from music CDs into memory?

Part V: CD+Gs/Karaoke CDs

16 Where do I get CD+Gs from?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 16 Where do I get CD+Gs from?

17 Can I use Karaoke CDs?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 17 Can I use Karaoke CDs?

18 How do I play CD+Gs/Karaoke CDs?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 18 How do I play CD+Gs/Karaoke CDs?

19 How do CD+Gs/Karaoke CDs work?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 19 How do CD+Gs/Karaoke CDs work?

Part VI: Photo CDs

20 Is it possible to display Photo CDs without expanding to a computer?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 20 Is it possible to display Photo CDs without expanding to a computer?

Part VII: Video CDs

21 What does the FMV cartridge do?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 21 What does the FMV cartridge do?

22 Where do I get Video CDs from?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 22 Where do I get Video CDs from?

23 Can I use CD-i Digital Video CDs?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 23 Can I use CD-i Digital Video CDs?

24 What are the differences between Video CDs and CD-i Digital Video CDs?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 24 What are the differences between Video CDs and CD-i Digital Video CDs?

Part VIII: Magazines

25 Are there any Amiga/CD32 magazines with CD-ROMs?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 25 Are there any Amiga/CD32 magazines with CD-ROMs?

26 Are there any other magazines for the CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 26 Are there any other magazines for the CD32?

Part IX: Internet

27 What Usenet newsgroups are dedicated to CD32 discussion?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 27 What Usenet newsgroups are dedicated to CD32 discussion?

28 What on-line mags are available?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 28 What on-line mags are available?

29 Are there any CD32 pages on WWW?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 29 Are there any CD32 pages on WWW?

Part X: Expansion

31 Is it possible to use the Aminet, Fred Fish, etc... CDs without an expanded CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 31 Is it possible to use the Aminet, Fred Fish, etc... CDs without an expanded CD32?

32 How do I stop my CD32 resetting when I take the CD-ROM out?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 32 How do I stop my CD32 resetting when I take the CD-ROM out?

33 How do I use my CD32 as a CD drive or slave drive for another computer?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 33 How do I use my CD32 as a CD drive or slave drive for another computer?

34 How do I attach a keyboard to my CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 34 How do I attach a keyboard to my CD32?

35 How do I use my CD32 as a computer?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 35 How do I use my CD32 as a computer?

36 What are the SX-1 jumper descriptions?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 36 What are the SX-1 jumper descriptions?

37 How do I connect up an external 3.5" IDE drive to the SX-1?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 37 How do I connect up an external 3.5in IDE drive to the SX-1?

38 Sometimes I have problems with my SX-1 and CD32 setup, causing freezing, and HD lock ups. They seems to be power related, how do I solve these?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 38 Sometimes I have problems with my SX-1 and CD32 setup, causing freezing, and HD lock ups. They seems to be power related, how do I solve these?

39 How do I read Mac CD-ROMs?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 39 How do I read Mac CD-ROMs?

40 Is there an RGB output on the CD32 to connect my multisync monitor?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 40 Is there an RGB output on the CD32 to connect my multisync monitor?

41 Can Amiga 1200 trapdoor or PCMCIA expansions be used with CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 41 Can Amiga 1200 trapdoor or PCMCIA expansions be used with CD32?

42 Where can I find the programs mentioned above?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 42 Where can I find the programs mentioned above?

Part XI: Emulating a CD32

43 Which machines stand a chance of running CD32 games?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 43 Which machines stand a chance of running CD32 games?

44 What are the differences between the Archos, CD1200, CD4000, and Squirrel CD drives?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 44 What are the differences between the Archos, CD1200, CD4000, and Squirrel CD drives?

45 What's good/bad about a CD drive using the PCMICA or trapdoor slots?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 45 What's good/bad about a CD drive using the PCMICA or trapdoor slots?

46 What do I need to do to run a CD32 game if I don't have the Archos, CD1200, CD4000, or the Squirrel CD drive?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 46 What do I need to do to run a CD32 game if I don't have the Archos, CD1200, CD4000, or the Squirrel CD drive?

47 What can go wrong?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 47 What can go wrong?

48 Are there any incompatiblities when using an Archos CD drive?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 48 Are there any incompatiblities when using an Archos CD drive?

Part XII: Software developers

49 Are there any licence agreements that have to be made to produce CD32 software?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 49 Are there any licence agreements that have to be made to produce CD32 software?

50 How do I master my own CDs?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 50 How do I master my own CDs?

51 What are the authoring capabilities available for the CD32?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 51 What are the authoring capabilities available for the CD32?

52 What are the popular development tools?: amiga cd32 FAQ: 52 What are the popular development tools?

Part XIII: Other

30 Jargon: amiga cd32 FAQ: 30 Jargon

53 Pinouts: amiga cd32 FAQ: 53 Pinouts

54 Addresses: amiga cd32 FAQ: 54 Addresses

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