POKEY

POKEY, an acronym for Pot Keyboard Integrated Circuit,[1] is a digital I/O chip designed by Doug Neubauer at Atari, Inc.[2] for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers. It was first released with the Atari 400 and Atari 800 in 1979 and is included in all later models and the Atari 5200 console. POKEY combines functions for reading paddle controllers (potentiometers) and computer keyboards as well as sound generation and a source for pseudorandom numbers. It produces four voices of distinctive square wave audio, either as clear tones or modified with distortion settings.[3] Neubauer also developed the Atari 8-bit killer application Star Raiders which makes use of POKEY features.

For other uses, see Pokey (disambiguation).
POKEY in an Atari 130XE

POKEY chips are used for audio in many arcade video games of the 1980s including Centipede, Missile Command, Asteroids Deluxe, and Gauntlet. Some of Atari's arcade systems use multi-core versions with 2 or 4 POKEYs in a single package for more audio channels. The Atari 7800 console allows a game cartridge to contain a POKEY, providing better sound than the system's audio chip. Only two licensed games make use of this: the ports of Ballblazer and Commando.

The LSI chip has 40 pins and is identified as C012294.[4] The USPTO granted U.S. Patent 4,314,236 to Atari on February 2, 1982 for an "Apparatus for producing a plurality of audio sound effects".[5] The inventors listed are Steven T. Mayer and Ronald E. Milner.

No longer manufactured, POKEY is emulated in software by arcade and Atari 8-bit emulators and also via the Atari SAP music format and associated player.

Features
  • Audio
    • 4 semi-independent audio channels
    • Channels may be configured as one of:
      • Four 8-bit channels
      • Two 16-bit channels
      • One 16-bit channel and two 8-bit channels
    • Per-channel volume, frequency, and waveform (square wave with variable duty cycle or pseudorandom noise)
    • 15 kHz or 64 kHz frequency divider.
    • Two channels may be driven at the CPU clock frequency.
    • High-pass filter
  • Keyboard scan (up to 64 keys) + 2 modifier bits (Shift, Control) + Break
  • Potentiometer ports (8 independent ports, each with 8-bit resolution)
  • High Resolution Timers (audio channels 1, 2, and 4 can be configured to cause timer interrupts when they cross zero)
  • Random number generator (8 bits of a 17-bit polynomial counter can be read)
  • Serial I/O port
  • Eight IRQ interrupts

Versions

By part number:

  • C012294 — Used in all Atari 8-bit family computers, including the Atari XEGS, as well as the Atari 5200 console. The suffix on the chip refers to the manufacturer:
    • C012294B-01 — AMI
    • C012294-03 — Signetics
    • C012294-19 — National Semiconductor
    • C012294-22 — OKI
    • C012294-31 — IMP
  • 137430-001 — Part number sometimes used in Atari arcade machines for POKEY.
  • 137324-1221 — Quad-Core POKEY used in Atari arcade machines Major Havoc, I, Robot, Firefox, and Return of the Jedi.[6]

Pinout
Atari POKEY (C012294) pin-out
Pin NamePin Number(s)Description
A0 - A336, 35, 34, 33Memory Address Input
ACLK27Serial Clock Output
AUD37Audio Output
BCLK26Bi-direction Clock I/O
CS030Chip Select
CS131Chip Select
D0 - D738, 39, 40, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6Data Bus I/O
IRQ29Interrupt Request Output
K0 - K523, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18Keyboard Scan Output
KR1 - KR225, 16Keyboard Row strobe Input
P0 - P714, 15, 12, 13, 10, 11, 8, 9Potentiometer (Paddle) Scan
R/W32Read/Write I/O Control
SID24Serial Input Data
SOD28Serial Output Data
Vcc17Power +5 Volts
Vss1Ground
Ø27Phase 2 Clock Input

Registers

The Atari 8-bit computers map POKEY to the $D2xxhex page and the Atari 5200 console maps it to the $E8xxhex page.

POKEY provides 29 Read/Write registers controlling Sound, Paddle input, keyboard input, serial input/output, and interrupts. Many POKEY register addresses have dual purposes performing different functions as a Read vs a Write register. Therefore, no code should read Hardware registers expecting to retrieve the previously written value.

This problem is solved for some registers by Operating System "Shadow" registers implemented in regular RAM that mirror the values of hardware registers. During the Vertical Blank the Operating System copies the Shadow registers in RAM for Write registers to the corresponding hardware register, and updates Shadow values for Read registers from the hardware accordingly. Therefore, writes to hardware registers which have corresponding shadow registers will be overwritten by the value of the Shadow registers during the next vertical blank.

Reading values directly from hardware at an unknown stage in the display cycle may return inconsistent results (an example: reading potentiometers). Operating System Shadow registers for Read registers would usually be the preferred source of information.

Some Write hardware registers do not have corresponding Shadow registers. They can be safely written by an application without the value being overwritten during the vertical blank. If the application needs to know the last value written to the register then it is the responsibility of the application to implement its own shadow value to remember what it wrote.

NameDescriptionRead/WriteHex AddrDec AddrShadow NameShadow Hex AddrShadow Dec Addr
AUDF1Audio Channel 1 FrequencyWrite$D20053760
POT0Potentiometer (Paddle) 0Read$D20053760PADDL0$0270624
AUDC1Audio Channel 1 ControlWrite$D20153761
POT1Potentiometer (Paddle) 1Read$D20153761PADDL1$0271625
AUDF2Audio Channel 2 FrequencyWrite$D20253762
POT2Potentiometer (Paddle) 2Read$D20253762PADDL2$0272626
AUDC2Audio Channel 2 ControlWrite$D20353763
POT3Potentiometer (Paddle) 3Read$D20353763PADDL3$0273627
AUDF3Audio Channel 3 FrequencyWrite$D20453764
POT4Potentiometer (Paddle) 4Read$D20453764PADDL4$0274628
AUDC3Audio Channel 3 ControlWrite$D20553765
POT5Potentiometer (Paddle) 5Read$D20553765PADDL5$0275629
AUDF4Audio Channel 4 FrequencyWrite$D20653766
POT6Potentiometer (Paddle) 6Read$D20653766PADDL6$0276630
AUDC4Audio Channel 4 ControlWrite$D20753767
POT7Potentiometer (Paddle) 7Read$D20753767PADDL7$0277631
AUDCTLAudio ControlWrite$D20853768
ALLPOTRead 8 Line POT Port StateRead$D20853768
STIMERStart TimersWrite$D20953769
KBCODEKeyboard CodeRead$D20953769CH$02FC764
SKRESTReset Serial Status (SKSTAT)Write$D20A53770
RANDOMRandom Number GeneratorRead$D20A53770
POTGOStart POT Scan SequenceWrite$D20B53771
SEROUTSerial Port Data OutputWrite$D20D53773
SERINSerial Port Data InputRead$D20D53773
IRQENInterrupt Request EnableWrite$D20E53774POKMSK$1016
IRQSTIRQ StatusRead$D20E53774
SKCTLSerial Port ControlWrite$D20F53775SSKCTL$0232562
SKSTATSerial Port StatusRead$D20F53775

In the individual register listings below the following legend applies:

Bit ValueDescription
0Bit must be 0
1Bit must be 1
 ?Bit may be either 0 or 1, and is used for a purpose.
-Bit is unused, or should not be expected to be a certain value
labelRefer to a later explanation for the purpose of the bit.

Audio

Pokey contains a programmable sound generator; four audio channels with separate frequency, noise and voice level controls.

Each channel has an 8-bit frequency divider and an 8-bit register to select noise and volume.

  • AUDF1 to AUDF4 – frequency register (AUDio Frequency)
  • AUDC1 to AUDC4 – volume and noise register (AUDio Control)
  • AUDCTL – general register, which controls generators (AUDio ConTroL)

POKEY's sound is distinctive: when the four channels are used independently, there is noticeable detuning of parts of the 12-tone equal temperament scale, due to lack of pitch accuracy. Channels may be paired for higher accuracy; in addition, multiple forms of distortion are available, allowing a thicker sound. The distortion is primarily used in music for bass parts.

One of the sound-engines developed for the Atari 8-bit family was called the AMP engine (Advanced Music Processor). This was used by the musician Gary Gilbertson.

Audio Channel Frequency

The AUDF* registers control the frequency or pitch of the corresponding sound channels. The AUDF* values also control the POKEY hardware timers useful for code that must run in precise intervals more frequent than the vertical blank.

Each AUDF* register is an 8-bit value providing a countdown timer or divisor for the pulses from the POKEY clock. So, smaller values permit more frequent output of pulses from POKEY, and larger values, less frequent. The values $0hex/0dec to $FFhex/255dec are incremented by POKEY to range from $1hex/1dec to $100hex/256dec. The actual audible sound pitch is dependent on the POKEY clock frequency and distortion values chosen. See Audio Channel Control and Audio Control.

AUDF1 $D200 Write

Audio Channel 1 Frequency

AUDF2 $D202 Write

Audio Channel 2 Frequency

AUDF3 $D204 Write

Audio Channel 3 Frequency

AUDF4 $D206 Write

Audio Channel 4 Frequency

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Audio Channel Control

The Audio Channel control registers provide volume and distortion control over individual sound channels. Audio may also be generated independently of the POKEY clock by direct volume manipulation of a sound channel which is useful for playing back digital samples.

AUDC1 $D201 Write

Audio Channel 1 Control

AUDC2 $D203 Write

Audio Channel 2 Control

AUDC3 $D205 Write

Audio Channel 3 Control

AUDC4 $D207 Write

Audio Channel 4 Control

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
Noise 2Noise 1Noise 0Force VolumeVolume 3Volume 2Volume 1Volume 0

Bit 0-3: Control over volume level, from 0 to F.

Bit 4: Forced volume-only output. When this bit is set the channel ignores the AUDF timer, noise/distortion controls, and high-pass filter. Sound is produced only by setting volume bits 0:3 . This feature was used to create digital audio via pulse-code modulation.

Bit 5-7: Shift register settings for noises/distortion. Bit values described below:

Noise ValueBits ValueDescription
0 0 0$005-bit then 17-bit polynomials
0 0 1$205-bit poly only
0 1 0$405-bit then 4-bit polys
0 1 1$605-bit poly only
1 0 0$8017-bit poly only
1 0 1$A0no poly (pure tone)
1 1 0$C04-bit poly only
1 1 1$E0no poly (pure tone)

Generating random noises is served by reading 8 bits from top of 17-bit shift register. That registers are driven by frequency 1.79 MHz for NTSC or 1.77 MHz for PAL. Its outputs can by used independently by each audio channels' divider rate.

AUDCTL $D208 Write

Audio Control allows the choice of clock input used for the audio channels, control over the high-pass filter feature, merging two channels together allowing 16-bit frequency accuracy, selecting a high frequency clock for specific channels, and control over the "randomness" of the polynomial input.

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
17 vs 9 PolyCH1 1.79CH3 1.79CH2 + 1CH4 + 3FI1 + 3FI2 + 464 vs 15 kHz

"1" means "on", if not described:

Bit 0
$01: (15 kHz), choice of frequency divider rate "0" - 64 kHz, "1" - 15 kHz
Bit 1
$02: (FI2 + 4), high-pass filter for channel 2 rated by frequency of channel 4
Bit 2
$04: (FI1 + 3), high-pass filter for channel 1 rated by frequency of channel 3
Bit 3
$08: (CH4 + 3), connection of dividers 4+3 to obtain 16-bit accuracy
Bit 4
$10: (CH2 + 1), connection of dividers 2+1 to obtain 16-bit accuracy
Bit 5
$20: (CH3 1.79), set channel 3 frequency "0" is 64 kHz. "1" is 1.79 MHz NTSC or 1.77 MHz PAL
Bit 6
$40: (CH1 1.79), set channel 1 frequency "0" is 64 kHz. "1" is 1.79 MHz NTSC or 1.77 MHz PAL
Bit 7
$80: (POLY 9), switch shift register "0" - 17-bit, "1" – 9-bit

All frequency dividers (AUDF) can be driven at the same time by 64 kHz or 15 kHz rate.

Frequency dividers 1 and 3 can be alternately driven by CPU clock (1.79 MHz NTSC, 1.77 MHz PAL). Frequency dividers 2 and 4 can be alternately driven by output of dividers 1 and 3. In this way, POKEY makes possible connecting of 8-bit channels to create sound with 16-bit accuracy.

Possible channel configurations:

  • four 8-bit channels
  • two 8-bit channels and one 16-bit channel
  • two 16-bit channels

Potentiometers

POKEY has eight analog to digital converter ports most commonly used for potentiometers, also known as Paddle Controllers. The analog inputs are also used for the Touch Tablet controller, and the 12-button, video game Keyboard Controllers. Each input has a drop transistor, which can be set on or off from software. The timers can also be used to support a light pen, by connecting a photodiode to the drop transistor, which captures the timer when the electron beam in the television passes by the pen. The vertical position of the pen had to be read separately.

POT0 $D200 Read

SHADOW: PADDL0 $0270

Paddle Controller 0 Input

POT1 $D201 Read

SHADOW: PADDL1 $0271

Paddle Controller 1 Input

POT2 $D202 Read

SHADOW: PADDL2 $0272

Paddle Controller 2 Input

POT3 $D203 Read

SHADOW: PADDL3 $0273

Paddle Controller 3 Input

POT4 $D204 Read

SHADOW: PADDL4 $02704

Paddle Controller 4 Input

POT5 $D205 Read

SHADOW: PADDL5 $0275

Paddle Controller 5 Input

POT6 $D206 Read

SHADOW: PADDL6 $0276

Paddle Controller 6 Input

POT7 $D207 Read

SHADOW: PADDL7 $0277

Paddle Controller 7 Input

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Each input has 8-bit timer, counting time when each TV line is being displayed. This had the added advantage of allowing the value read out to be fed directly into screen coordinates of objects being driven by the paddles. The Atari Paddle values range from 0 to 228, though the maximum possible is 244. The Paddle controller reads 0 when turned to its maximum clockwise position, and returns increasing values as it is turned counter-clockwise ending at its maximum value.

The Paddle reading process begins by writing to POTGO which resets the POT* values to 0, the ALLPOT value to $FF, and discharges the potentiometer read capacitors. The POT* values increment as they are being scanned until reaching the resistance value of the potentiometer. When the Paddle reading is complete the corresponding bit in ALLPOT is reset to 0.

The Paddle scanning process can take the majority of a video frame to complete. The Atari Operating System takes care of Paddle reading automatically. The Paddles are read and paddle scanning initiated during the stage 2 vertical blank. Paddle values are copied to shadow registers. (Note that Paddle triggers are actually joystick direction input read from PIA.)

A faster mode of scanning the Paddles is possible by setting a bit in SKCTL. The reading sequence completes in only a couple scan lines, but the value is less accurate.

ALLPOT $D208 Read

Potentiometer Scanning Status

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
Paddle 7Paddle 6Paddle 5Paddle 4Paddle 3Paddle 2Paddle 1Paddle 0

Each bit corresponds to one potentiometer input (the POT* registers). When paddle scanning is started by writing to POTGO each paddle's bit in ALLPOT is set to 1. When a paddle's scan is complete the corresponding bit in ALLPOT is reset to 0 indicating the value in the associated POT* register is now valid to read.

POTGO $D20B Write

Start Potentiometer Scan

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
--------

Writing to POTGO initiates the potentiometer (Paddle) scanning process. This resets the POT* values to 0, the ALLPOT value to $FF, and discharges the potentiometer read capacitors. As each potentiometer scan completes the bit corresponding to the potentiometer in ALLPOT is cleared indicating the value of the associated POT* register is valid for reading.

Serial input output port

Contains:

  • serial input line
  • serial output line
  • serial clock output line
  • two-way serial clock data line
  • registers SKREST, SEROUT, SERIN, SKCTL, SKSTAT

POKEY is a sort of UART. Usually one of the doubled audio channels is used as baud rate generator. The standard baud rate is 19.2 kbit/s, the maximum possible baud rate is 127 kbit/s. A byte put into the SEROUT register is automatically sent over the serial bus. The data frame contains 10 bits: 1 start bit, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit. The voltage levels are 0 V (logical 0) and +4 V (logical 1). It is possible to connect the Atari serial port with an RS-232 port by means of a simple voltage converter.

Each input/output operation causes POKEY's internal shift registers to change value, so when programming for POKEY, it is necessary to re-initialise some values after each operation is carried out.

SKREST $D20A Write

Reset Serial Port Status (SKSTAT).

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
--------

A write to this register will reset bits 5 through 7 of SKSTAT which are latches to 1. The latches flag keyboard overrun, Serial data input overrun, and Serial data input frame error.

SEROUT $D20D Write

Serial port data output byte.

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
--------

This is a parallel "holding" register for the eight bit (one byte) value that will be transferred to the serial shift register for output one bit at a time. When the port is ready to accept data for output a Serial Data Out interrupt informs the Operating System that it can write a byte to this output register.

SERIN $D20D Read

Serial port data input byte.

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
--------

Like SEROUT, also a parallel "holding" register. This holds the eight bit (one byte) value assembled by the serial shift register reading the data input one bit at a time. When a full byte is read a Serial Data In interrupt occurs informing the Operating System that it can read the byte from this register.

SKCTL $D20F Write

Serial Port Control

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
Serial BreakSerial Mode2Serial Mode1Serial Mode0Serial Two-ToneFast Pot ScanEnable KB ScanKB debounce

Bit 0: Enable "debounce" scanning which is intended to eliminate noise or jitter from mechanical switches. A value of 1 enables POKEY to use an internal comparison register while scanning keys. A key must be detected in two simultaneous scans before it is identified as pressed, and it must be seen released for two consecutive scans to be considered released. This should be enabled to maintain normal keyboard handling with the Operating System.

Bit 1: Set to 1 to enable keyboard scanning. This should be enabled to maintain normal keyboard handling with the Operating System.

Bit 2: Set to 1 to enable fast, though less accurate Potentiometer scanning. Fast Pot scanning increments the counter on every cycle and returns a usable result within two scan lines. The Operating System uses the slow Pot Scanning which increments the counter once every 114 cycles (scan line) taking a frame (1/60th second) to produce a result. The OS reads the Pot values during its Vertical Blank Interrupt (VBI) and copies the result to the potentiometer Shadow registers in RAM. It then resets POTGO for the next read during the next VBI.

Bit 3: Enable Serial port two-tone mode. When enabled, 1 and 0 bits output to the SIO bus are replaced by tones set by timers 1 and 2. This is ordinarily used for writing analog tones representing digital data to cassette tape.

Bit 4-6: Clock Timing Control for serial port operation. Bit values described below:

Port Control [6:4]Bits ValueInput ClockOutput ClockBidirectional Clock
0 0 0$00ExternalExternalInput
0 0 1$10Channels 3+4 (async)ExternalInput
0 1 0$20Channel 4Channel 4Output Channel 4
0 1 1$30Channel 3+4 (async)Channel 4 (async)Input
1 0 0$40ExternalChannel 4Input
1 0 1$50Channel 3+4 (async)Channel 4 (async)Input
1 1 0$60Channel 4Channel 2Output Channel 4
1 1 1$70Channel 3+4 (async)Channel 2Input

Bit 7: Forces a known 0 output, so that timer 2 can reset timer 1 in two-tone serial output mode.

SKSTAT $D20F Read

Serial Port Status

Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
Serial in frame errorSerial in overrunKB overrunRead Data readyShift KeyLast Key Still PressedSerial Input Busy-

KBCODE $D209 Read

SHADOW: CH $02FC

Keyboard Code

Eight IRQ interrupts
BREAK
Break (BREAK key interrupt)
K
Keyboard (keyboard interrupt)
SIR
if Serial Input Ready (read interrupt from serial rail)
ODN
if Output Data Needed (write interrupt from serial rail)
XD
if eXmitend Data (serial transmission end interrupt)
T1
Timer 1, timer 1 interrupt
T2
Timer 2, timer 2 interrupt
T4
Timer 4, timer 4 interrupt

Interrupts can be set on or off from software by register IRQEN. IRQSTAT register contains interrupts status.

Keyboard

Six key register of actually pushed keys (K0 K5), which contains values from 00 to 3F. Contains 2 control values. One of them acts as decoder of all 6 values. Second control values is used to decode special key values — CTRL, SHIFT and BREAK.

References
  1. "I. Theory of Operation". Atari Home Computer Field Service Manual - 400/800. Atari, Inc. pp. 1–11.
  2. Hague, James (2002-06-01). "Interview with Doug Neubauer". Halcyon Days. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  3. "Chapter 7: Sound". De Re Atari. Atari, Inc. 1982.
  4. Michael Current, "What are the SALLY, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE chips?", Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
  5. Atari, Inc. (1979-01-24). "Apparatus for producing a plurality of audio sound effects". United States Patent. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  6. "Atari Pokey Differences".
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