ZX Microdrive Emulator

Raspberry Pico ZX Spectrum Microdrive Hardware Emulator by TomDDG

Hardware emulation of 8 microdrives for the ZX Spectrum only, its main features are:

• Supports all 8 Microdrives from one device
• Supports downstream real h/w Microdrives
• OLED screen with buttons to navigate the menu – includes load, save & format cartridges as well as other options (see menu section). No additional toolkits, software or connections needed as all managed from the menu
• FAT32 & exFAT supported Micro SD cards up to a theoretical 256TB (tested 2GB, 4GB and a lowly 64GB which can easily fit every Spectrum game and program ever made multiple times)
• Reset button just in case (also makes it easier to flash the Pico)
• Buzzer in case you like a buzzing sound to “simulate” the drive motor
• Can copy the contents of a TAP to a blank Virtual Microdrive Cartridge
• Cartridge defragmentation option which can significantly speed up loading times for unoptimised cartridges
• Fully powered from the Spectrum & boots instantly
• Unfortunately you do still need an IF1 and ribbon cable to connect

Load up the SD card with all your favourite games and programs and enjoy hours of nostalgia with the blistering 15kB/sec transfer rate. Yes you can now load a game in a few seconds!

Tip

Tom highly recommend you use a modern regulated PSU with your Spectrum. Older unregulated PSUs, which will now be 40yrs old, could push voltage spikes through to the ZXPicoMD as it is connected directly to the 9v input. The Traco used in the design should filter out most but if you also use the barrel jack to switch your computer on and off (pull out and back in) something called barrel bounce could happen which results in very large spikes, too large for the Traco to filter out. This comes with a PCB that makes it easier for you to mod and add filter capacitors to the circuit if planning to use with an original PSU, these will help filter the voltage spikes and protect the Pico.