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KARST VAN OOSTEN / AUDIO ARTS C64 SID PROJECT
 I got a couple of old c64's here, and a lot of sids, 8 6581's of which one is a true 6581 R4 and two 8580's. My little project is to see if I can develop a c64 application in 6510 assembler to get more out of sid than sidstation, hardsid and prophet64 can do. For example try to implement FM synthesis. The hardware part of the project is to pimp c64s with audio in and out, pots, additional sidchips (up to 8, and no use of cartridgeport for CS) and (true) midi (not just sync) so the c64synth can be adressed from your pc/mac sequencer as a fully polyphonic synth. Also got my hands on a Wersi board. Really cool. I'd like to see if I can do some cool things with that:). Also see the C64 sid music section of the audioarts forum !
Below is my log so you guys can check my progress:
Screenshot showing all Sid parameters editable on screen. It will be possible to edit presets on the c64 with the new SID-O.S.
*** AudioArts C64 SID Project *** Plan + Progress log: ***
HARDWARE:
- [done]audio output trhough RCA
- [done] drilled hole and ubstalled jack connector for audio input
CONTROLLING:
- [done] modified a guitar volume pedal and connected it to a joystick subD connector to control paramters using poty.
- drill 4 holes and, insert pots and connect them to pot axy and bxy.
ADD EXTRA SIDS FOR TRUE POLYPHONIC PADS ETC:
- [done] obtain 7 extra sidchips
- [done] find out how to work 8 sidchips without using cartrdige port for CS
- order components
- pimp c64 with 7 additional sidchips.
MIDI:
- [done] obtain schematics
- obtain or create midi interface
SOFTWARE:
- [done] installed emulators on my pc and started refreshing my assembler programming skills
- [done] made c64 bleep in different waveforms!
- VISUAL INTERFACE -> shows parameters on screen in a no-nonsense yet decent way
- [done] shows individ. bit-content of sid adress %20c64%20joypedaal.jpg) $d404
- [done] bits be visually toggled using nummeric keys "1" to "8"
- [done] show content of all sid adresses on screen in above descbrided way
- [done] implement navigation system
- [done] content of all adresses can be altered using nummeric keys "1" to "8"
- SOUNDENGINE -> implementation of all standard SID parameters
- osc 1
- [done] $d404 ote on/ note off
- [done] $d404 waveform select
- [done] $d404 sync
- [done] $d404 ring mod (AM)
- [done] $d405 and $d406 ADSR
- ...
- osc 2
- [done] note on/ note off
- [done] ADSR
- [done] waveform
- osc 3
- [done] note on/ note off
- [done] ADSR
- [done] waveform
- [done] osc3 modulator parameters (osc&env)
- [done] filters
- implement FM synthesis
- implement additional LFO's and ENV's
- MIDI
- implement midi
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The useful c64 links for SID fans and developers:
* Info over SID (includes pin config): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_SID
* SID-station: http://www.sidstation.com/ , a midi box with a sid chip in it that cost 950 and has fancy knobs
* AudioArts SID project: http://www.audioarts.nl/getNews.php?ID=19
CONNECTION BETWEEN C64 AND PC:
* XE1541 kabel (connect 1541 c64 diskdrive to pc)
vividly step by step explained how to easily solder it yourself:
http://us.geocities.com/vteramos/Paginas/XE1541en.html
* starcommander (program for xe1541): http://sta.c64.org/sc082.zip
(doesnt run in xp, boot from DOS and save yourself hours of troubleshooting)
* there are other possibilties, like a paralel cable and IDE64 that i still need to check.
C64 EMULATORS:
* Vice64 (the best emulator): http://www.viceteam.org/
* Frodo (a small funny one that plays on all platform, even cellphones)
C64 SOFTWARE
* Turboassembler 5
MIDI:
* din sync cable:
*midi to sync boxen to be used with din sync cable:
Dtroinics MS-06: http://www.engineersatwork.nl/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=58&products_id=519
Doepfer MSY-2
* schematics of a full c64 midi interface: http://www.joogn.de/i/c64_midi.gif
* picture of a finished custom c64 midi interface:
http://www.youngmonkey.ca/background/museum/music_equipment/custom/C64-MIDIInterface.html
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WHAT ARE THESE? MIDI INTERFACES?
Got my hands on two userport interfaces of which the guy that gave them to me told me they are c64 midi-interfaces. I opened one of them, but there was so little electronics inside that i'm in doubt wether they are full mdi interfaces. I looked up the code on the green thingy and it turned out to be an opto coupler. This points in the right direction. But as i am told a c64 midi interface needs a seperate clocking device because internal clock of c64 insn't fast. And this isn't there. Also there's no UART inside. So what are these cables? are they dinsync cables? Please help me out and mail me
 
De green thingy says '6n138' which i googled and turned out to be an optocoupler. (sorry my cam isn't able to photograph from this close that's wy the pictures are a bit blurry).
update 12-02-2008 :
* I never discoverd what the above thing is. Probably a midi sync device (no full midi cartridge)
* I work with a prophet 64 cartridge now together with the firestarter midi interface that goes in the user port. It works really fine. Firestarter and prophet64 are working together now on releasing a cartridge that has both prophet64 and midi integrated in one box and will have full midi controllerimplementation (not just 4 controllers)
* i've put the development of my software on hold and am working with Prophet64. Maybe later I'll continu this project.
BELOW IS SOME INFO I FOUND ABOUT HOOKING C64 AND/OR 1541 IDSKDRIVE UP TO PC THROUGH THE SERIAL PORT :
The XE1541 extended cable is a serial cable that connects Commodore machines or drives to the PC parallel port.
To make use of this cable you will need the following hardware: A PC with a parallel port and a Commodore 64/128, VIC20, 1541, 1570, 1571, 1581, or any other serial bus port Commodore product.
The XE1541 cable has been designed to work with all modes (EPP/ECP, SPP & PS/2) of parallel ports on almost all PC motherboards. The cable has been reported to fail to work with certain motherboards, including ones with the ALI 5 chipset and some laptops. Check your motherboard's manual or visit the manufacturer's homepage before trying this cable!
The XE1541 cable works in DOS and is compatible with the following software:
Star Commander
64HDD
mnib
mtap & ptap
VC1541
It will not work in a multi-tasking environment such as Windows XP. It will work on a Windows 98 system which has been booted directly to DOS.
Length: Approximately 5 feet.
Important! Do not plug or unplug cables while your equipment is switched on.
The XE1541 extended cable is © by Nicolas Welte and Wolfgang Moser, 1997. |
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XM1541 |
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The XM1541 extended cable is a serial cable that connects Commodore machines or drives to the PC parallel port.
To make use of this cable you will need the following hardware: A PC with a parallel port and a Commodore 64/128, VIC20, 1541, 1570, 1571, 1581, or any other serial bus port Commodore product.
The XM1541 cable has been designed to work with all modes (EPP/ECP, SPP & PS/2) of parallel ports on almost all PC motherboards. The cable has been reported to fail to work with certain motherboards, including ones with the ALI 5 chipset and some laptops. Check your motherboard\'s manual or visit the manufacturer\'s homepage before trying this cable!
The XM1541 cable is compatible with the following software:
Star Commander
cbm4win
cbm4linux
It will work in a multi-tasking environment such as Windows XP. It will not work with 64HDD. 64HDD requires a XE1541 cable.
Length: Approximately 5 feet.
Important! Do not plug or unplug cables while your equipment is switched on.
The XM1541 multitask cable is © by Michael Klein and Nicolas Welte, 2000. |
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