Overview
The HxC Floppy Emulator replaces the physical 3.5" floppy drive with a device that reads disk images from an SD card. All 150 factory ZD library disks are available as image files, and the HxC allows you to store and switch between them instantly.
Compatible Hardware
- HxC SD Floppy Emulator (Jean-François Del Nero) — the standard choice
- Gotek drive + HxC or FlashFloppy firmware — budget alternative, same result
SD Card Setup
- Format the SD card as FAT32.
- Download the HxC manager software (Windows/Mac/Linux).
- Place disk image files (.img or .hfe format) on the SD card.
- The Emax factory library ZD images are available in our sound library.
Installation
Physical Installation
- Remove the original floppy drive (see floppy belt guide steps 1-2 for access).
- The HxC mounts in the same drive bay using the same screw holes. Most units fit directly; some require a simple adapter bracket.
- Connect the 34-pin ribbon cable to the HxC (same connector as original drive).
- Connect the 4-pin power connector (same Molex connector).
Jumper Configuration
The Emax expects the drive to respond as Drive B (DS1). Set the HxC drive select jumper to S1 (not S0).
OLED Display
The HxC has a small OLED display and two buttons for disk selection. You can route these to the front panel through the existing disk slot opening, or leave them accessible through the top with the lid off.
Using the Library
- Press the HxC button to cycle through images on the SD card.
- The Emax sees each image exactly as it would a physical disk.
- The complete factory library loads in seconds rather than minutes.
Notes
- Write protection: the HxC can write back to image files, preserving your saved sounds per disk.
- The FlashFloppy firmware on a Gotek achieves the same result for less cost, but requires flashing the Gotek firmware first.