Manufacturer “HiSoft”
6 expansions in database
Aura
Manufacturer
HiSoft, UK
Date
1995
Amiga
A600, A1200
Interface
PCMCIA
  • 12 or 16 bit stereo soundsampler
  • the 16 bit version has an AD1847 DSP
  • direct to hard disk recording
  • up to 60 kHz sampling into RAM
  • up to 40 kHz sampling to hard disk
  • 72 dB signal to noise ratio
  • six RCA connectors:
    • 1 stereo input for digitizing
    • 1 stereo input for mixing the Amiga sound
    • 1 stereo output
  • the sampling software supports playing and editing of 8 / 12 / 16 bit mono and stereo samples
  • supported by OctaMED from v5.04
  • AHI driver
Photos
HiSoft Aura - front side
front side
HiSoft Aura - back side
back side
Driver / Installation Disk
Vintage Advert

Advert (GB)
1994-12

Advert (GB)
1995-02

Clarity 16
Manufacturer
Microdeal / HiSoft, UK
Date
1997
Amiga
any Amiga
Interface
parallel port, serial port
  • 16 bit stereo soundsampler
  • up to 44.1 kHz sampling rate
  • can play up to four samples simultaneously on an A1200, only one on an A500
  • audio connections:
    • 1 stereo input (2× RCA)
    • 1 stereo output (2× RCA)
    • 1 MIDI In
    • 1 MIDI Out
  • there's no audio mixer for the Amiga audio output
  • the hardware and the bundled sampler software lacks an input volume slider
  • the sampling software does not output anything while sampling - it cannot be monitored when to start and stop the recording
  • connects to the Amiga via the parallel and serial ports
  • AHI driver
Photos
Microdeal / HiSoft Clarity 16 - Exterior front side
Exterior, front side
Microdeal / HiSoft Clarity 16 - Exterior rear side
Exterior, rear side
Microdeal / HiSoft Clarity 16 - Case opened front side
Case opened, front side
Microdeal / HiSoft Clarity 16 - Exterior top side
Exterior, top side
Microdeal / HiSoft Clarity 16 - Exterior bottom side
Exterior, bottom side
Vintage Advert

Advert (GB)
1993-10

Advert (GB)
1993-12

SMD-100 (Squirrel MPEG)
Manufacturer
HiSoft, UK
Date
1996
Amiga
A1200, A2000, A3000, A4000
Interface
SCSI port
    MPEG video decoder
  • decodes Video CD 1.1 and 2.0, Karaoke CD 1.0 and CD-i movie standards
  • display resolutions of 352×288 at 25 Hz (PAL), 352×240 at 30 Hz (NTSC)
  • automatic scaling of output to PAL or NTSC using either PAL or NTSC discs
  • built-in RGB genlocking capabilities for use with 15 kHz computer genlocking systems
  • can be used as a stand-alone unit connected to a SCSI CD-ROM drive
    • can be connected to any television or video recorder that has a SCART, Composite or S-VHS input
    • all display and playback functions are controlled from the infrared remote control: play, pause, fast forward, rewind, slow motion, track select, output signal select, genlock select and standby
  • can be used as a device in a chain of SCSI peripherals connected to a computer
    • extra software is required to control the SMD-100 and to recieve the incoming video signal
  • 24 bit RGB, Composite video, S-VHS and stereo audio output through the 21 pin Euro/SCART connector
  • two 50 pin SCSI connectors for connecting to the SCSI CD-ROM drive or the computer's SCSI bus
  • DB9 video connector for genlock connection
  • four DIP switches for setting the SCSI ID and termination
  • requires at least a 2× SCSI CD-ROM drive

Squirrel & Surf Squirrel
Manufacturer
HiSoft, UK
Date
1995 & 1996
Amiga
A600, A1200
Interface
PCMCIA
    SCSI 2 controller
  • Surf Squirrel (1996) has an additional RS232 serial port, Squirrel (1995) is SCSI only
  • does not use DMA transfer - no CPU time when accessing SCSI devices
  • may be inserted or removed without rebooting or switching off the Amiga
  • no automount and autoboot capability - requires a boot disk
  • 50 pin Centronics SCSI connector
Driver / Installation Disk
Vintage Advert

Advert (GB)
1994-12

Surf Squirrel
Manufacturer
HiSoft, UK
Date
1996
Amiga
A600, A1200
Interface
PCMCIA
    SCSI controller
  • 53C96 controller IC
  • up to 2.5 MB/s transfer speed (2× faster than the original Squirrel)
  • no autoboot ROM - booting requires an initial floppy access for drivers at power-up
  • 50 pin Centronics connector
    serial interface
  • 16C550 controller IC
  • 57600 bps transfer rate on a basic A600
  • 115200 bps on a basic A1200
  • 230400 bps with accelerators
  • DB9 serial port
  • supported by Linux
Photos
HiSoft Surf Squirrel - Board front side
Board, front side
HiSoft Surf Squirrel - Board back side
Board, back side
HiSoft Surf Squirrel - Exterior with cable top side
Exterior with cable, top side
Driver / Installation Disk

Whippet
Manufacturer
HiSoft, UK
Date
1997
Amiga
A600, A1200
Interface
PCMCIA
    serial interface
  • uses the same circuit board as the Surf Squirrel but lacks the SCSI related components
  • 16C550 serial controller IC:
    • 57600 bps transfer rate on a basic A600
    • 115200 bps on a basic A1200
    • 230400 bps with accelerators
  • DB9 serial port
  • supported by Linux
Photos
HiSoft Whippet - board front side
board, front side
HiSoft Whippet - Exterior top side
Exterior, top side
Driver / Installation Disk