XStation Firmware + Loader [2.0.2] - 2023-02-20

XStation Firmware + Loader [2.0.2] - 2023-02-20

• detailed research on the PSX data decoder, leading to tweaks on all Mechacon operations
• seeking optimized to have the decoder see any new data efficiently and as expected
• decoder data errors are generated when needed, with form and timing similar to the real drive
• reworked reset timings more (Parappa, Destruction Derby 2)
• Music Maker now loads the test song in 20 seconds consistently on PU-18 and PU-8 (optimized seek routines)
• xLoader embedded in firmware: console can start without loader.bin from now on (loader.bin still included for backward compatibility)
• troubleshooting: the embedded loader can run, even if there is no SD card detected
• ESP32 peripherals: replaced the pulse counter and timer units with the I2S engine for syncs (less complexity, more reliable)
• Redump format multi-bin files: improved masking of SD card access penalties when swapping files
• slow SD card events reworked: audio and FMV now just get a little slow, game data should successfully retry
• full PU-7 support (1.6.1 had partial)
• fixed: some quirks in 1.6.1 ironed out, increasing compatibility with some edge case situations
• fixed: APLL and/or SD card peripherals could attempt to initialize with out of spec settings

xLoader:

• main menu can save and exit on each item now, item selection wraps (quicker menu navigation)
• Pop'n Music and similar controllers: double directional inputs are ignored (SOCD masking)
• NeGcon analog trigger should work
• tweaked xStation wait routines, should improve reliability with early consoles
• embedded loader allows exclusive SD card access for file operations (speedup)

Usage

Extract update.bin and loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
Start your console into the loader (press and hold reset for a second if the loader doesn't start automatically).
Enter the options menu and select Update Firmware, then press Start.
The firmware will be installed and the console will reboot.
You may confirm the new version in the loader's options menu.

xLoader update 06/26/2022

xLoader update 06/26/2022

• select between regular and winter theme in the options :)
• fixed a bug that could cause pads to rumble while in the loader
• always reset pads to digital mode, fixes pads becoming unresponsive after running some games (Ape Escape, etc)

Usage

Extract loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
No firmware update is required for this.

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.6.1] - 2022-06-06

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.6.1] - 2022-06-06

• new reverse engineering details lead to a fully revised seek engine
• game load times reduced, sometimes drastically (Music Maker 50s down to 20s)
• sd card accesses minimized, entire seek chain can go without data
• I2S alignment tweaks after seek and spindle action, helps with CDDA becoming quiet
• Mechacon reset behaviour optimized, fixes disk swapping on some PU-8 machines (FF9)
• Mechacon quirks (skew measurement) now known and dealt with, removing a source of random behaviour
• sector error and delay behaviour modified, should cover more corner cases
• improved slow SD card handling

xLoader:

• fixes and updates for EARLY PU-8 and PU-7 compatibility
• fixes glitches in the "Working.." display, thanks to Hanzobi for lending me his machine
• due to the core becoming so much more efficient, folder based browsing can be near instant now
• Memory Card browser optimizations for the new MCPro update
• SetSession command avoids newly found Mechacon quirks
• classic theme is back :)

Usage

Extract update.bin and loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
Start your console into the loader (press and hold reset for a second if the loader doesn't start automatically).
Enter the options menu and select Update Firmware, then press Start.
The firmware will be installed and the console will reboot.
You may confirm the new version in the loader's options menu.

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.4.5] - 2021-12-11

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.4.5] - 2021-12-11

• adjusted Libcrypt patching for PAL titles, fixes Ape Escape and Parasite Eve 2
• seek to sd access has a small holdoff period now, works a bit smoother
• consistent use of 64bit variables when working with the main timer

xLoader:

• swapped fastboot method to the "warm boot" style, fixing the games broken in the last release
• it's winter! :)

Usage

Extract update.bin and loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
Start your console into the loader (press and hold reset for a second if the loader doesn't start automatically).
Enter the options menu and select Update Firmware, then press Start.
The firmware will be installed and the console will reboot.
You may confirm the new version in the loader's options menu.

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.4.4] - 2021-10-01

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.4.4] - 2021-10-01

• revert SD card seek shortcuts as some games require all data (example: Dr. Slump)
• tweaked small seek behaviour to still avoid some accesses
• games like this and load faster (Music Maker, Excalibur, likely all games with lots of small seeks)
• avoid data alignment issues when the SD card takes too long to seek
• drive resets: fix Parappa (NTSC-J) stage end FMVs
• accessing the CD lead-out area works properly now (Wing Commander 4, some homebrew disks)
• fixed multiple concurrent commands order and delays (Destruction Derby 2)
• fix FF8 PAL-E (Libcrypt)
• TOC parsing: support any number of PREGAP tags (unofficial TR2 translation)
• tweaked how queues are remembered across cold boots

xLoader:

• folder based browsing supports disk queues now
• Memory Card manager with Memcard Pro support: copy, delete or undelete files
• two known fastboot issues fixed (Crisis Beat and Elemental Gearbolt), leaving one title to be investigated yet (GT2 Revision 1)
• when editing a disk queue: press Start to fastboot the queue
• VRAM cleared on startup and fastboot, avoids visual glitches

Usage

Extract update.bin and loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
Start your console into the loader (press and hold reset for a second if the loader doesn't start automatically).
Enter the options menu and select Update Firmware, then press Start.
The firmware will be installed and the console will reboot.
You may confirm the new version in the loader's options menu.

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.3.0] - 2021-05-20

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.3.0] - 2021-05-20

• implement folder based browsing
  • can be enabled in the loader options
  • doesn't require game list scanning
  • multi disc queues not yet implemented (use regular mode for now)
• rewritten core to remove old dependencies for better maintainability
• avoid SD card access while seeking
• overall faster seek times
• use an SPI peripheral for the DSP sub bus (faster, more efficient)
• TOC parsing: malformed TRACK and INDEX tags fixed
• fix gamelist scanning errors / duplicate files for macOS Finder users

Usage

Extract update.bin and loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
Start your console into the loader (press and hold reset for a second if the loader doesn't start automatically).
Enter the options menu and select Update Firmware, then press Start.
The firmware will be installed and the console will reboot.
You may confirm the new version in the loader's options menu.

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.2.0] - 2021-03-22

XStation Firmware + Loader [1.2.0] - 2021-03-22

Core changes:

• fix a race condition that could lock-up the xStation when starting some games (Thanks SubElement!)
• preparation for folder based browsing and scan speedup
• free about 20k of memory, use it as additional sector cache

Loader changes:

• much faster file scanning
• when holding L2 + R2, all other inputs are ignored (for PS1Digital)
• pressing Start fast boots the last played game
• further improve error condition checks

Usage

Extract update.bin and loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
Start your console into the loader (press and hold reset for a second if the loader doesn't start automatically).
Enter the options menu and select Update Firmware, then press Start.
The firmware will be installed and the console will reboot.
You may confirm the new version in the loader's options menu.

XStation ESP32 Firmware + Loader [1.1.0] - 2021-02-24

XStation ESP32 Firmware + Loader [1.1.0] - 2021-02-24

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• SD card access reduced when seeking, helping support more cards
• data stream timings are now aligned to the I2S master clock only, no more reliance on the ESP32 crystal
• Tales of Destiny 2 can now disc swap correctly
• fixed Spyro 3 PAL (libcrypt)
• improved Gex: Enter the Gecko FMV performance
• improved seek accuracy and timing, helping titles that tend to hang on real hardware stay stable on xStation

Features

• Support for MemCard Pro and PS1Digital Game ID sending
• automatically corrects bad EDC/ECC when needed (homebrew, fan translations, patched games)
• PAL / NTSC selector for the loader
• snappier button response in the loader

Usage

Extract update.bin and loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
Start your console into the loader (press and hold reset for a second if the loader doesn't start automatically).
Enter the options menu and select Update Firmware, then press Start.
The firmware will be installed and the console will reboot.
You may confirm the new version in the loader's options menu.

1.0.5

XStation ESP32 Firmware + Loader [1.0.5] - 2020-11-26

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Improved accuracy of the SUBQ output signal
• SD card drive strength tweaks for SD card extenders
• Additional SENS subtimings + new sled move algorithm, improves general accuracy and particularly load times in Gran Turismo 2
• Image parser now ignores "leading dot" system directories such as .Trash
• Small loader tweaks, fixing Saga Frontier fastboot

Usage

Extract update.bin and loader.bin to your SD card 00xstation folder.
Start your PSX into the loader (press and hold reset for a second if the loader doesn't start automatically).
Enter the options menu and select Update Firmware.
The firmware will be installed and the console will reboot.
You may confirm the new version in the loader's options menu.

1.0.4

XStation ESP32 Firmware [1.0.4] - 2020-10-30

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Reset line better debouncing for PU-8 slow rise times
• Libcrypt protected games now work, no user attention required
• Fixed remembering path names with special characters

XStation Loader [1.0.4] - 2020-10-30

New Features

• NeGcon, Mouse and GunCon support

Bug Fixtures & Improvements

• Brushed up artwork
• Further 3rd party accessories tweaks