External Connectors of the CPC and CPC+

Printer Port

CPC (edge)

[CPC External Printer Connector]

Connector Type: 34 way 0.1" (2.54mm) P.C.B. edge

German CPC/Schneider CPC

Connector Type: 34-way Centronics female

Pin Function Input/Output

1 /STROBE Output

2 D0 Output

3 D1 Output

4 D2 Output

5 D3 Output

6 D4 Output

7 D5 Output

8 D6 Output

9 GND -

10 N.C. -

11 BUSY Input

12 N.C. -

13 N.C. -

14 GND -

15 N.C. -

16 N.C. -

17 N.C. -

18 N.C. -

19 GND -

20 GND -

21 GND -

22 GND -

23 GND -

24 GND -

25 GND -

26 GND -

27 GND -

28 GND -

29 N.C. -

30 N.C. -

31 N.C. -

32 N.C. -

33 GND -

34 N.C. -

35 N.C. -

Pin	Function	Input/Output
1	/STROBE	Output
2	D0	Output
3	D1	Output
4	D2	Output
5	D3	Output
6	D4	Output
7	D5	Output
8	D6	Output
9	GND	-
10	N.C.	-
11	BUSY	Input
12	N.C.	-
13	N.C.	-
14	GND	-
15	N.C.	-
16	N.C.	-
17	N.C.	-
18	N.C.	-
19	GND	-
20	GND	-
21	GND	-
22	GND	-
23	GND	-
24	GND	-
25	GND	-
26	GND	-
27	GND	-
28	GND	-
29	N.C.	-
30	N.C.	-
31	N.C.	-
32	N.C.	-
33	GND	-
34	N.C.	-
35	N.C.	-

CPC+

[Plus External Printer Connector]

Connector Type: 25-way D-type female

Pin Function Input/Output

1 /STROBE Output

2 D0 Output

3 D1 Output

4 D2 Output

5 D3 Output

6 D4 Output

7 D5 Output

8 D6 Output

9 D7 Output

10 N.C. -

11 BUSY Input

12 N.C. -

13 N.C. -

14 N.C. -

15 N.C. -

16 +5v -

17 GND -

18 GND -

19 GND -

20 GND -

21 GND -

22 GND -

23 GND -

24 GND -

25 GND -

Pin	Function	Input/Output
1	/STROBE	Output
2	D0	Output
3	D1	Output
4	D2	Output
5	D3	Output
6	D4	Output
7	D5	Output
8	D6	Output
9	D7	Output
10	N.C.	-
11	BUSY	Input
12	N.C.	-
13	N.C.	-
14	N.C.	-
15	N.C.	-
16	+5v	-
17	GND	-
18	GND	-
19	GND	-
20	GND	-
21	GND	-
22	GND	-
23	GND	-
24	GND	-
25	GND	-

Notes

BUSY is connected to bit 6 of PPI port B.
CPC can only send 6-bit data. D7 is GND.
On CPC+, bit 3 of CRTC register 12 (MA10) defines the state of D7.
The printer port is accessed using a I/O write and A12="0". The table below shows the correspondance between data written and signal:

Bit Signal

7 /STROBE

6 D6

5 D5

4 D4

3 D3

2 D2

1 D1

0 D0
/STROBE is inverted by the CPC/CPC+ hardware. When Bit 7 is written as "0", /STROBE will be "1". When bit 7 is written as "0", /STROBE will be "1".

Bit	Signal
7	/STROBE
6	D6
5	D5
4	D4
3	D3
2	D2
1	D1
0	D0

Aux Socket (CPC+ only)

[CPC Plus Auxiliary connector]

Connector Type: six contacts, six position FCC68 telephone socket

Pin Function Input/Output

1 +5v -

2 Common -

3 L.pen Input

4 Fire 2 Input

5 Fire 1 Input

6 Gnd -

Pin	Function	Input/Output
1	+5v	-
2	Common	-
3	L.pen	Input
4	Fire 2	Input
5	Fire 1	Input
6	Gnd	-

Notes:

This connector is used to connect a light-pen or light-gun to the CPC+
L.Pen is the same as the L.PEN signal at the expansion connector

Digital Joystick Connector (CPC)

[CPC Digital Joystick Connector]

Connector type: 9-pin D-Type male.

Pin Function Input/Output

1 Up Input

2 Down Input

3 Left Input

4 Right Input

5 Fire 3 Input

6 Fire 2 Input

7 Fire 1 Input

8 Common 1 -

9 Common 2 -

Pin	Function	Input/Output
1	Up	Input
2	Down	Input
3	Left	Input
4	Right	Input
5	Fire 3	Input
6	Fire 2	Input
7	Fire 1	Input
8	Common 1	-
9	Common 2	-

Notes:

Common 1 and Common 2 can't be accessed through software. Common 1 is used to select Joystick 1 and Common 2 is used to select Joystick 2.
Two joysticks can be connected to this single port if a joystick splitter lead is used. Common 1 and Common 2 are used to select the joystick and the state of the selected joystick (directions and fire button states) is available at connections 1-7.
As far as I know the signals are read-only.
It is possible to use this port as a general purpose input port.
The joystick port is connected to the keyboard matrix and can be read in the same way as reading the keyboard.

Analogue joystick connectors

[CPC Plus Analogue Joystick connector]

Connector type: 15-pin D-type female.

Pin Function

1 Gnd

2 Fire 1

3 X1

4 Com 1

5 +5v

6 Y1

7 Fire 2

8 Gnd

9 Gnd

10 Fire 1

11 X2

12 Com 2

13 Y2

14 Fire 2

15 Gnd

Stereo Sound connector

Connector Type: 3.5mm stereo socket

The sound channels (A,B and C) from the AY-3-8912 IC are mixed to produce two audio channels which are available at the stereo socket.

The channels are mixed as follows:

Channel	Audio Output Channel
A	Left Only
B	Left & Right
C	Right Only

Monitor Connector

CPC

[CPC Monitor Connector]

Connector type: 6-pin DIN female.

Pin Function Input/Output

1 Red Output

2 Green Output

3 Blue Output

4 Composite Sync Output

5 Gnd -

6 Luminance Output

Pin	Function	Input/Output
1	Red	Output
2	Green	Output
3	Blue	Output
4	Composite Sync	Output
5	Gnd	-
6	Luminance	Output

PLUS

[CPC Plus Monitor Connector

Connector type: 8-pin DIN female.

Pin Function Input/Output

1 Composite Sync Output

2 Green Output

3 Luminance Output

4 Red Output

5 Blue Output

6 Left Audio Channel Output

7 Right Audio Channel Output

8 Gnd -

Pin	Function	Input/Output
1	Composite Sync	Output
2	Green	Output
3	Luminance	Output
4	Red	Output
5	Blue	Output
6	Left Audio Channel	Output
7	Right Audio Channel	Output
8	Gnd	-

Note:

Red, Green and Blue are analogue outputs
Composite Sync is generated from Horizontal and Vertical Sync signals
Luminance is a signal
Red, Green, Blue, Composite Sync and Gnd are the only signals required for a colour display. (e.g. Amstrad CTM640 and CTM644 monitors)
Luminance, Composite Sync and Gnd are the only signals required for a black/white or green-screen display. (e.g. Amstrad GT64 and GT65 monitors).
Left and Right Audio channel are the same as the signals available on the CPC Stereo connector.

Cassette recorder connector

This connector is available on the CPC464, CPC664, CPC6128 and 464 plus.

[Cassette recorder connector]

Connector type: 5-pin DIN female.

Pin Function Input/Output

1 Remote Output (note 3 & 4)

2 Gnd -

3 Remote Output (note 3 & 4)

4 Data In Input (note 3 & 4)

5 Data Out Output (note 3 & 4)

Pin	Function	Input/Output
1	Remote	Output (note 3 & 4)
2	Gnd	-
3	Remote	Output (note 3 & 4)
4	Data In	Input (note 3 & 4)
5	Data Out	Output (note 3 & 4)

Notes:

The "Remote" signal is used to control the cassette player motor.
The signals can be accessed through software:
- "Remote" is connected to bit 4 of PPI port C.
- "Data In" is connected to bit 7 of PPI port B.
- "Data Out" is connected to bit 5 of PPI port C.
On the CPC it is possible to use "Remote", "Data In" and "Data Out" as general purpose input/output signals through clever programming of the PPI.
On the CPC+, which does not have a true PPI, "Remote" and "Data Out" can only be used for output, and "Data In" can only be used as input. (TO BE CONFIRMED!)

Expansion Connector

CPC

[CPC Expansion Connector]

Connector Type: 50-way 0.1" (2.54mm) edge

German CPC/Schneider CPC

Connector Type: 50-way Centronics female

CPC+

[CPC Plus Expansion Connector]

Connector Type: 50-way Centronics female

Pin Number Pin Signal Input/Output

1 Sound Output

2 Gnd -

3 A15 Output

4 A14 Output

5 A13 Output

6 A12 Output

7 A11 Output

8 A10 Output

9 A9 Output

10 A8 Output

11 A7 Output

12 A6 Output

13 A5 Output

14 A4 Output

15 A3 Output

16 A2 Output

17 A1 Output

18 A0 Output

19 D7 Input/Output

20 D6 Input/Output

21 D5 Input/Output

22 D4 Input/Output

23 D3 Input/Output

24 D2 Input/Output

25 D1 Input/Output

26 D0 Input/Output

27 +5v -

28 /MREQ Output

29 /M1 Output

30 /RFSH Output

31 /IORQ Output

32 /RD Output

33 /WR Output

34 /HALT Output

35 /INT Input

36 /NMI Input

37 /BUSRQ Input

38 /BUSAK Output

39 /WAIT (READY) Input

40 /BUS RESET Input

41 /RESET Input

42 /ROMEN Output

43 ROMDIS Input

44 /RAMRD Output

45 RAMDIS Input

46 CURSOR Output

47 L.PEN Input

48 /EXP Input (note 1)

49 Gnd -

50 φ (4Mhz clock) -

Pin Number	Pin Signal	Input/Output
1	Sound	Output
2	Gnd	-
3	A15	Output
4	A14	Output
5	A13	Output
6	A12	Output
7	A11	Output
8	A10	Output
9	A9	Output
10	A8	Output
11	A7	Output
12	A6	Output
13	A5	Output
14	A4	Output
15	A3	Output
16	A2	Output
17	A1	Output
18	A0	Output
19	D7	Input/Output
20	D6	Input/Output
21	D5	Input/Output
22	D4	Input/Output
23	D3	Input/Output
24	D2	Input/Output
25	D1	Input/Output
26	D0	Input/Output
27	+5v	-
28	/MREQ	Output
29	/M1	Output
30	/RFSH	Output
31	/IORQ	Output
32	/RD	Output
33	/WR	Output
34	/HALT	Output
35	/INT	Input
36	/NMI	Input
37	/BUSRQ	Input
38	/BUSAK	Output
39	/WAIT (READY)	Input
40	/BUS RESET	Input
41	/RESET	Input
42	/ROMEN	Output
43	ROMDIS	Input
44	/RAMRD	Output
45	RAMDIS	Input
46	CURSOR	Output
47	L.PEN	Input
48	/EXP	Input (note 1)
49	Gnd	-
50	φ (4Mhz clock)	-

Notes:

This signal can be re-programmed as a input by using the PPI

Disc Drive 2 Connector (CPC664/6128/CPC6128+)

CPC

[CPC Disk Drive 2 Connector]

Connector Type: 34-way 0.1" (2.54mm) edge connector

German CPC/Schneider CPC

Connector Type: 34-way Centronics socket (female)

Pin Function Input/Output

1 READY Input

2 GND -

3 SIDE SELECT Output

4 GND -

5 READ DATA Input

6 GND -

7 WRITE PROTECT Input

8 GND -

9 TRACK 0 Input

10 GND -

11 WRITE GATE Output

12 GND -

13 WRITE DATA Output

14 GND -

15 STEP Output

16 GND -

17 DIRECTION SELECT Output

18 GND -

19 MOTOR ON Output

20 GND -

21 N.C. -

22 GND -

23 DRIVE SELECT 1 Output

24 GND -

25 DRIVE SELECT 0 Output

26 GND -

27 INDEX Input

28 GND -

29 N.C. -

30 GND -

31 N.C. -

32 GND -

33 N.C. -

34 GND -

Pin	Function	Input/Output
1	READY	Input
2	GND	-
3	SIDE SELECT	Output
4	GND	-
5	READ DATA	Input
6	GND	-
7	WRITE PROTECT	Input
8	GND	-
9	TRACK 0	Input
10	GND	-
11	WRITE GATE	Output
12	GND	-
13	WRITE DATA	Output
14	GND	-
15	STEP	Output
16	GND	-
17	DIRECTION SELECT	Output
18	GND	-
19	MOTOR ON	Output
20	GND	-
21	N.C.	-
22	GND	-
23	DRIVE SELECT 1	Output
24	GND	-
25	DRIVE SELECT 0	Output
26	GND	-
27	INDEX	Input
28	GND	-
29	N.C.	-
30	GND	-
31	N.C.	-
32	GND	-
33	N.C.	-
34	GND	-

CPC+

[CPC Plus Disk drive 2 connector]

Connector Type: 36-way Centronics female

Pin Function Input/Output

1 N.C. -

2 GND -

3 N.C. -

4 GND -

5 N.C. -

6 GND -

7 INDEX -

8 GND -

9 N.C. -

10 GND -

11 DRIVE 1 SELECT Output

12 GND -

13 N.C. -

14 GND -

15 MOTOR ON Output

16 GND -

17 DIRECTION STEP Output

18 GND -

19 STEP Output

20 GND -

21 WRITE DATA Output

22 GND -

23 WRITE GATE Output

24 GND -

25 TRACK 0 Input

26 GND -

27 WRITE PROTECT Input

28 GND -

29 READ DATA Input

30 GND -

31 SIDE 1 SELECT Output

32 GND -

33 READY Input

34 GND -

35 N.C. -

36 GND -

Pin	Function
1	Gnd
2	Fire 1
3	X1
4	Com 1
5	+5v
6	Y1
7	Fire 2
8	Gnd
9	Gnd
10	Fire 1
11	X2
12	Com 2
13	Y2
14	Fire 2
15	Gnd